The magic of a cup of coffee
How the right cup of coffee can get you pretty much through everything.
Three days ago, I joined a co-working writing group where we were given a prompt.
The closest thing I have even seen to magic is….
At first, I had no idea what to write. I looked around me in discomfort fishing for ideas in my mind. But then I realized that magic is very much a part of my life.
I simply hadn’t realized it because it came to me in a different shape from what I would have expected.
So, here’s my meeting with magic. It was written and edited in just 90 minutes so there might be some oversight.
And you know the most enchanting thing of all? This post is getting me back here on Substack after three months of quiet during which some personal stuff has been going on.
I’m so glad to be here now and to be sharing about this topic.
Are you a coffee lover? I mean, you’re here, on Coffee Secrets, you must have some sort of connection to the beverage, right?
I’m asking because I haven’t always been passionate about coffee and I know this comes as a bit of a surprise to those who’ve known me for a while, especially those who have found me on Instagram.
I never used to even go to cafès much. However, drinking coffee has been the closest I have come to magic and has added sparkle to my days.
In 2014, I was experiencing some health issues and was sick for a long time. It took me a while to recuperate and I didn’t go out much.
Everything was difficult for me then, even just crossing the street.
But I do remember that one day, I was out with my partner, it had been very cold and I was exhausted by the effort I’d made. We popped into a café and sat at the table. I even remember where it was, it was in the tiny town of Correggio, in the province of Reggio, in Emilia Romagna back when I lived there.
I didn’t think I could handle a coffee so I ordered a cappuccino. Italians order cappuccinos a lot in winter because for us it’s filling and warms us up.
On the side, I also ordered a cornetto con cioccolata. It was 5 in the afternoon and it was dark outside.
I bit into the cornetto and the fresh chocolate came spurting out in my face and around me. But it was so tasty that I couldn’t have cared less.
I’d been feeling lousy right until then. But biting into that cornetto, getting chocolate all over my face, sipping the cappuccino, looking around the cafè and bam! just like magic, everything felt right and I felt safe and better.
Now, that’s not magic, you’ll remark. I just needed some food in my body.
And you’d be right but it was so much more than that.
It was the ambiance, it was the clatter of china, it was the chiacchiericcio in the background, it was the joyful exuberance of the chocolate.
All this created what would have a lasting impact on me.
Since then, without my even realizing it, cappuccino or caffè al bar, became my little corner of peace and quiet joy during the day.
I began to enjoy every aspect of going to a cafè. Not just the actual coffee but the whole world around it.
The gentle hum of the coffee-making machine.
The sound of the spoon stirring the sugar in the cup.
The smell of warm cornetti.
The conversations.
The voices of the baristas taking all the different orders.
The “ Ti offro un caffé?” floating around, signs of friendship and connection in a crazy world.
Years later, when I became a passionate user of Instagram, I discovered the pleasure of taking pictures of my coffee. This added another layer of sparkle to my magic ritual and helped preserve fond memories.
Caffè al bar is something that works wonders both on a good day and on a bad day.
On a nice day, it adds lustre that enriches that feeling of gratitude.
On a bad day, it brings some mundane, reassuring moments to the soul. The bar becomes a refuge during a storm and the cup of coffee is a contemplative ritual that encourages much-needed peace of mind.
Il caffé al bar, cannot be drunk in a styrofoam cup. It HAS to be drunk either al bancone ( at the bar) or al tavolo ( at a table).
You can stand and just have a caffé veloce or you can decide you need more time or maybe indulge in a chat while sipping your coffee.
✨The magic comes while you get ready to drink it, decide if it was good or bad, will you be coming back here or not?
✨The magic is the cup of coffee becoming a much-needed coccola ( pampering) in turbulent times.
When you decide, I’m stopping for a quick coffee, you’re sending a clear message to yourself that you matter and that you’re going to give yourself a reward for being an awesome human being.
Back in early 2014, a caffé al bar was my way of easing into my healing journey and getting grounded after what had been a big blow.
Caffè al bar then evolved to become so many magical things for me.
A space where I got to know communities better when I moved to Cremona.
A way to work and make my online business have the social aspect that I craved.
But always, throughout the years, caffé al bar has preserved that element of magic.
In unpredictable times, when I’m not even sure WHAT I feel or what is happening, going for a quick coffee is always a good idea.
Who knows what might happen?
You might meet someone and have a special uplifting conversation
While stirring your sugar something clicks in your mind and you get a great idea.
Or nothing happens, just some very good coffee and some time for yourself. That in days like these, is not little at all. All for one euro. That’s magic in itself!
If you love Italy and are passionate about coffee, here are some suggestions for when you do come here.
Use the bar as a way to get to know the country better. Try going to the same cafè for more than one day in a row. You’ll begin to notice the same people, maybe you’ll strike up a conversation, who knows? Build a connection with the community.
Read the papers there. Most cafés have local papers available to clients. Have a look at the headlines and get a sense of the area you’re in. It can be a great way to find local events to attend and explore new places.
Have caffè al bancone or at the table. Both require different levels of mindfulness. Even at the bancone ( that is standing) you still take time to take in the beverage and appreciate what you’re doing, you’re not just gulping the drink mindlessly. Take a second to appreciate the cup, the taste of coffee and the smells around.
Now, for me, coffee has been a magical experience that has helped me connect with myself and my needs. But of course, it doesn’t have to be coffee for everyone else.
Each of us has different things that prompt and spark that sense of wonder and magic in their days.
So, what I’d really love to know is what is that thing, that activity that helps bring peace and sparkle to your days? Let me know below.
I’d love to hear from you, no matter what you have to say. Hi coffee lover, leave a comment and let’s chat
Truly one of the great pleasures of Italy is the cafe life, especially with you. I recall your introducing everyone in our retreat group in Gaeta to the pleasures of the marocchino one afternoon when we’d stopped our walk for una chiacchierata. For the purposes of a sad comparison I’ll point out that to have a coffee at a cafe where I live in Connecticut I have to drive twenty minutes and pay three times what it costs in Italy.
Funny you should ask... As I got the notification of your incoming post, my first thought was... “should I make myself a coffee to enjoy whilst reading this? Hehehe. I read an article this morning that compares the ritual of having coffee at a bar or pasticceria to going for a meal at the restaurant and getting the same kind of gratification.