I love coffee. I know others that love it more than I do, but that does not diminish the intensity with which I miss a good old American brew. Ever since I was a waiter at the Orange Plaza Diner I have loved a good cup of Joe. I actually enjoyed free coffee there and I asked one of the cooks to pick a day and count how many cups I drank. When I found out that I had consumed 9 cups, it actually scared me a little and caused me to cut back. But the steeped bean had already become deeply embedded in my psyche, and I actually found myself feeling withdrawal during that time. Recent studies have found that coffee protects the retina of diabetics, and so may have prevented me from going blind; but there is still the "too much of a good thing" side of the issue. I have since found that 2 cups a day are sufficient and on the days where I have no coffee, I do not feel badly. I take this to mean that I have found a good compromise with my craving.
When I first started coming to Japan, I discovered that coffee can be found here, just not the variety that I am accustomed to. Green tea rules the land and coffee is roughly Vice Presidential in its powers. Not Cheney level, but more Quayle like in its influence. I have had occasion to get coffee from Starbucks and I thought it was decent if not stellar in quality. When I started at Berlitz, I found that a tall cup from Starbucks was a great way to start my morning and they even had an American Blend! I bought this "coffee" until one day I observed how they made it. I had assumed that it was brewed; but no, they start with a squirt of syrup and then add hot water! This is a blasphemous, and most terrible abomination!! I then decided that I would only order from the menu propped up next to the register, hoping that this coffee would always be freshly brewed. I have not yet forgiven them though. . .
At home in Japan I have tried over cup strainers, french presses, and even instant coffees. The cup strainers were too weak, as is the french press; and both are a pain to clean. I am therefore left with instant coffee to slake my cravings. I know what you are thinking "how can a real coffee drinker stoop to such a level as to accept instant?". Well, the technology surrounding instant coffee must have improved over the years. I remember my first taste of it years ago as being very nasty. This stuff is actually pretty good, and I love coffee enough that I am willing to overlook its flaws in Japan.
The other day I was shopping and thinking about how the existence of a new element had been
confirmed. The new element has an atomic mass of 117 and I found this product on the shelf and just had to buy it. My first thought was "Taste number 117! What a coincidence, I bet it tastes pretty good too after 116 previous experimental tastes!" It then dawned on me that I was looking forward to drinking this instant coffee and I experienced a little cognitive dissonance. Am I still a coffee lover? Is this really coffee? What would Sir Isaac Newton think? Did he know coffee? The dude did a lot of science, just think of what he could have accomplished with a nice arabica helping him out!While I miss many aspects of my life in America, I have to confess that friends and family are most definitely missed the most. If you agree and want to show it, please follow this blog or drop a comment in the section below reserved for just that purpose.
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