Tiers of Coffee

In my life, there are three general tiers of coffee preparation effort. The classiest coffee I make is coarse-ground locally-roasted coffee in a French Press. It's quite good, but also quite a lot of effort to grind the coffee, wait for the brew, and then to clean up after.

Yes, it is pictured in front of a tea sample backdrop. Aesthetic, but not relevant.

Sometimes the results are worth the effort, but sometimes not. However, I can definitely recommend an electric tea kettle (not pictured here) as a good general kitchen appliance for making water hot in a hurry. Coffee, tea, instant ramen, cocoa mix, and more are simplified and expedited with that device.

The next tier is a basic drip machine. I got this diminutive plastic monstrosity (is that an oxymoron?) at a garage sale for $2, and it's perfect for brewing up enough for 1-2 people. It takes up less counter space than a bigger machine, but still uses the same basket-style coffee filters which are dirt-cheap and widely available. Setup and cleanup are also simpler than the press.

However, there are also times when this is still too much wait and too much bother. I need hot brown caffeine juice now! Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Instant coffee. It ain't great, but it's easy. The aforementioned electric kettle also provides hot water here, and the time between merely being awake and a state approaching actual alertness is greatly reduced. I can always make a better cup later if I want more, too.

I don't know whether I am elevating the cheap coffee or polluting the snack, but this is @generikat's

She shared some of it with me when I visited her homestead yesterday. I also used a fancy mug I got as a souvenir from

However you manage to consume your caffeine today, enjoy!

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Photos and composition alike via smartphone, for whatever the excuse is worth

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