The concept of a cup of coffee to go (café apporter or café à emporter) just doesn’t exist here. This was confirmed by my Dutch flat mate. “Maybe the Häagen-Dazs on the corner,” I was told. I did find one place, “The Coffee Shop” that understood the idea but they just put it in a styrofoam cup and send you on your way. I have to say, crossing Place Louise with an open and hot cup of coffee is NOT an enjoyable way to start the morning.
Now, living in a shared flat (I have two flat mates one is a Pakistani guy and the other is a Dutch girl. Both are really nice and I’ve enjoyed talking with them in the off chance we meet in the kitchen) presents the delicate problem of what can I use and what can’t I. (Also, what works and what doesn’t.) So, in the conversation regarding the possibility of Häagen-Dazs (yes, there is a Häggen-Dazs restaurant around the corner from my place) she mentioned the Phillips Senso coffee maker collecting dust in the kitchen. Evidently it was one of the previous renters’ and it was left behind. AhaH! Coffee!
Of course it needed a damn good cleaning and it takes those stupid little pods, so it’s not like I can make a pot and siphon off cup after cup as I like to do, but at least I can get a quick cup before work.
Of course, I do like just sitting in a café, taking 30 minutes for so to down a small cup. (Coffee is served espresso style here, not in the Vente-Stupido size of dear old (and, I must say, missed) Starbucks.)
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A Vento-Stupido latte is sometimes the only thing that keeps my eyes open through the work day! Don't knock it :-P
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