Oggi ho scoperto

una bella cosina…At the cafe where I have been going for a couple of weeks regularly now they make a cafe’ macchiato correctly. It is a miracle, a shocker, an utterly delightful finding. Not only do they have nice tables and friendly service, but they make their drinks true to form and their respective names. And just when everything was beginning to feel so completely false. This is my first autumn in America in three years and it feels monumental. This coffee just might save me. This is at Cafe Grumpy on Meserole Ave at Diamond Street here in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It is a plug because they know me here now and they deserve a good word.
The cafe’ macchiato is a lost art form in America and most of the fault falls upon Starbucks, with their giant sugar filled milk cocktails. A cafe’ macchiato done properly is a tiny little drink. It is a pillow of comfort, a pillow because of the frothy milk that has stained (macchiato means stained in Italian) the perfect shot of espresso. In the morning it doesn’t shock you awake like a regular cafe’ but eases you in, reminding you that there is no need to rush. In the afternoon it provides the caffeine and the sweet sugary taste necessary for a mid-day pick-me-up. At cafe’ Brunellesco (on via degli Alfani near the facolta’) they could predict what we wanted based on the look in our eyes, most days my eyes said “macchiato”. A cappuccino after noon is unheard of and the most important cafe’ for me always occurs in the afternoon. I was often prone to order the “doppio” during the later hours of the day, dinner wasn’t until at least nine and one must find ways to push through and gather energy to continue.
Again I think of cool Italian fall days sitting outside at the little round tables with pigeons and cigarette smoke and beggars with exceptional hygiene and nothing in this clean country compares. This morning I went to hit some tennis balls over at the handball courts and the garbage not yet picked up from the weekend gave me a certain comfort. So yes garbage and strong coffee remind me of Italy and this is a good thing. You may have your doubts but garbage and strong coffee are a perfect pair for a number of reasons. Here are a few:
1. They both have a pungent smell (often complimentary depending on what kinds of establishments one frequents)
2. The garbage not being collected indicates that someone is inside enjoying a cafe’ before work
3. The coffee can be inconsistent as are public services
4. Coffee makes you feel more awake, garbage reminds you we aren’t living in paradise (ok it is more far-fetched but just try it out)