OK, we weren’t really wrong, it WAS hard choosing shower gel and shampoo and getting the hot water distributed throughout the building….and, we did spend an awful lot of time on that logo. But, isn’t it funny how time changes perception??
SO – just weeks away (or so they say) from being “official,” I present to you
Choosing the right coffee!
If you’ve ever 1) lived in Italy, 2) visited Italy, or 3) met an Italian you know how important caffe is to the livelihood of this society. So, why I am surprised this has been such an important venture in our quest for opening the perfect Italian B&B, I don’t know…but, I am.
After five weeks of meeting with reps from Calabrese coffee companies, Mauro, Gugliemo, and Aiello (not ONE of which was EVER on time to the meetings, by the way), we ventured outside of Bella Calabria. Convinced Lavazza would save the day we anticipated our meeting with confidence, suppressing only a hint of last-chance desperation. The guy arrived at the B&B, scruffy-faced and un-tucked. Ok. He unloaded not one, but two macchine for us to try.
Forgiven!
This dishevelled company man, you see, was the ONLY rep who actually let us taste the coffee BEFORE we dropped, well, let’s just say, a whole bunch o’ euro on a machine. Without going into all of the gory details, the machines were sporca, sporca, sporca, and, well, that was something we just couldn’t forgive!
Anyway – it all worked out in the end when we chose a bellissima Saeco that offered us a choice of five grind settings, eight coffee-strength positions ranging from Italian espresso to American dirty water, ahem, I mean coffee, a high-powered cappuccino steamer, and a cute littler warming table.
So, as we would say in Calabrese, “Voi nu café?”
Mmmmmm…delizioso. We drink Illy imported from Italy, but we just use a stove top espresso maker.
Voi nu cafe must be regional dialect? Voi is you or your and cafe is coffee, but what is nu?
“Nu” is kind of like saying una or another way to say “A”…like “Want a coffe?”
Auguri on the new coffee machine, Cherrye!
We have a Saeco machine as well, the best one according to my husband.
I hope one day to taste your coffee as one of your bed and breakfast customers!
Mmmm have a cup for me!
you don’t mess with the cafe–yes it must be very good–please make sure the decaf isn’t bitter.I don’t know why but inexperienced barristas in Spain would make bitter decaf…I just want to help you out so your ready when I come to your b&b — oh I wish! :)You’re living my dream–only mine was in Spain!
Nice looking machine. In Washington state coffee is also important. I love coffee and have become a coffee snob since living here. It’s nuts I know.
J-I drank Illy a lot when I was in Texas cause I could actually get it there! Giula is right. The “nu” part is like “a”. It is Calabrese dialect, which I don’t really know at all. Unless I mess up Italian and happen to fall into dialect! ha!
Thanks, Giulia.
Gabriella – I am hoping you haven’t had any problems with your Saeco. We really like ours so far.
Poppy – I hope one day to SERVE you some coffee from our B&B!
Louise – I like your new pic! And, yes. I will have a cup for you. I had two this morning…one of those was for you!
rjlight – THanks for the heads up on the decaf. To be honest – I hadn’t even CONSIDERED that. YIKES! Really – thanks a ton!! Also, I’ve never been to Spain. Did you just love it??
No grazie ma pigghiu nu cappucc’ a mia 😉