Sweet, Sweet Caffeine

An ode to coffee. I love it and I shan't try to deny it. Living in London has taught me much about this precious substance. There is nothing I love more than sitting with a friend, in a fabulous coffee shop and soaking up the joy. I love the first sip of coffee. To those who fought for revolution.... We own them much for laying the legacy that we enjoy today.

I found a great website, with some fabulous historical coffee trivia....
www.cocoajava.com

"Cowboy coffee"? It was said they made their coffee by putting ground coffee into a clean sock and immerse it in cold water and heated over campfire. When ready, they would pour the coffee into tin cups and drink it.

Turkish bridegrooms were once required to make a promise during their wedding ceremonies to always provide their new wives with coffee. If they failed to do so, it was grounds for divorce! (Ouch!)

Beethoven who was a coffee lover, was so particular about his coffee that he always counted 60 beans each cup when he prepared his brew.

Infidels only consumed this delightful beverage until Pope Clement VIII found it to his taste and lifted the ban which had long denied Christians the enjoyment of this pleasurable and stimulating beverage. (just as well, or church in London would be a pretty boring place!!)

Both the American Revolution and the infamous French Revolution were born in coffee houses. The American Revolution grew from roots planted by patriots in the Green Dragon (some say it was the Green Lion) Public House in the Lloyd's District of London. The infamous French Revolution happened in 1789 when the Parisians, spurred on by Camille Desmoulins's verbal campaign, took to the streets and two days later the Bastille fell, marking the overthrow of the French Government and changing France forever.

I was with a friend last night, and she was trying to get me to appreciate the joy of poetry. I didn't really get her enthusiasm, until I stumbled across this little gem. Now I love poetry....

IRISH COFFEE By Allen L. Johnson

- My caffeinated riff on a favorite poem: "William Butler Yeat's Lake Isle of Innisfree"

I will arise and go now, to sip my morning coffee.

And read the morning paper--sports, politics, and trade.

Nine flavors will they blend me there, of roasted araby

Ground finely by the bean-loud blade.

I might take some tea later, when tea comes dripping slow

Dripping Jasimine, mint, ginseng, from silver rings.

The afternoons are quiet there, sometimes even slow

And evenings people study things.

I will arise and go now, and start my busy day

But after hitting Starbucks, not before

And while I'm stuck in traffic, out on the pavement grey

I'll savor the last drops and yearn for more.

(C) 1998 by Allen L. Johnson, Portland, Oregon

Now, if that is not enough to convince you of the virtues of caffeine... Then you can check out this link to find out how much coffee is too much ... death-by-caffeine (thanks Sarah).