A Fancy Cup

A few months ago, I treated myself to a gift: A Nespresso coffee machine. Since, I’ve enjoyed tinkering and researching to learn more about it.

This morning, I had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Usually, I am off to a run already, but I raced yesterday. Today was a rest day. I could take my time brewing and enjoying my coffee. I selected a glass mug. I love using a glass mug for Nespresso coffee because you can see the artful layers coffee, foam, and creamer.

I poured a finger of milk in the bottom of the cup after some contemplation. I typically use oat milk. I don’t like regular milk, and I’m also lactose intolerant, not that this small amount would bother me. However, the oat milk doesn’t look as pretty in the glass cup. I heated the cup of milk in the microwave for ten seconds, then frothed the milk with my milk frother. A nice foam layer rested on top of the milk.

I placed my frothy cup under the Nespresso machine and selected a pod. The poor selection reminded me that I have a package of refills coming soon. Yum! I chose one of my “barista creations” pods, meaning there is already flavor in it. I wouldn’t need to add any syrup. I placed the “golden caramel” pod in my machine and pressed the button.

I stared as the steady stream of golden brown liquid poured out of the machine and into the frothy milk. A brown spot appeared in the milk, and grew. I put my eyes parallel to the counter and watched the layers form. A warm, toasty coffee smell filled the area around the machine. Finally, when the liquid level was almost to the brim of the cup, it stopped brewing.

There were three layers: dark brown, golden brown, and white. The top of the cup was white, with that golden brown circle in the middle of it. I grabbed a spoon and lazily swirled the foamy top, drawing a spiral in the froth. It didn’t look instagram-worthy, but it looked delicious. I snapped a pic before heading to the couch to sit and drink it, with no TV, no book, and no phone. It was sublime.