The Best Cup of Coffee

A view of Lantau Island, Hong Kong

The Best Cup of Coffee I Ever Had

It might have been due

To the light drizzle we faced

As we disembarked from the ferry

Onto Lantau Island.

It could have been the camaraderie

Of good friends

Coming together for a weekend

Of hiking and camping.

We set out with our backpacks and folded tents

On the gradual incline of a path

That would wind its way

Above the bay

And up the gentle mountainside.

Cool air prevailed

As the light rain fell.

That coolness settled

Into our hands and feet

When the sun dropped down below

The crest of the low-lying hills.

I have had so many cups of coffee

In the courses of my days.

Coffee at home

At friends’ tables

In fine restaurants

At roadside diners.

I have sipped coffee from steaming mugs

On winter days,

From fine china

On summer evenings

And from the basic white cup

Of a sidewalk café in Paris.

My taste in coffee

Has covered many brands

And many roasts.

Sometimes it had to be a robust French roast,

Sometimes a mellow “house roast” blend.

There were seasons when I expected

That sharp edge of a dark roast

To pierce through the cloaking of cream

That I stirred in.

Other seasons required the light and buoyant taste

Of a “breakfast blend.”

There have been days upon days

When I endured the tepid results

Of a new brand of coffee with a great ad campaign,

Looking forward to the last scoop in the bag

When I could return to

The tried and true

Of the hardy favored brand

That I should have never departed from in the first place.

Many have been my days of coffee,

But it was on that first night

While camping on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island

That all past and future cups

Came into focus.

All coffee would henceforth be

At best, a valiant attempt to compare.

Just before the night began to step in

We decided that we had found our campsite.

There was a small creek for water,

And a level area to pitch our tents.

Our first task was to start a fire.

Wood was gathered and the fire was started.

“Now we need to get us some coffee,”

Our friend and hiking guide said.

He had some tablets

That would purify spring water.

Just to be safe

We boiled the water sufficiently

In addition to adding the tablets.

With water ready

My only cup was a plastic cereal bowl

And my coffee was instant powder stored in my bag.

Yet with the cold of night settling in,

Feet wet from hiking in the rain,

And good friends gathered,

That cup of instant coffee

Make from purified creek water

Drunk from a plastic bowl

Remains in my memory

The best cup of coffee

I have ever had.

                                                        ~ CK

______________________

Photo: "Beaches on Lantau Island, Hong Kong," from Peanuts or Pretzels travel site:
http://www.peanutsorpretzels.com/things-to-do-in-hong-kong-lantau-island/



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