The Ritual of Coffee at Embassy Coffee
It’s a warm and windy morning. The blue sky outside the window at Embassy Coffee Company is lightly speckled with fast running clouds. We came on our bikes, parked them around the back, and came through the side door, into this quiet space. Now, we can sit and enjoy our twice-a-week ritual of savouring good coffee. Chris, the owner, welcomes us and takes our order. As we find our seats, he starts the process of making the coffee. Soon, it’s ready, and he remembers the half and half before we ask for it. We pick up our slate trays with mug and coffee, sit back down, and take that first sip. All of a sudden, we are in another place. Even though, the traffic outside is relentless and impatient, it all melts away in this space, dedicated to coffee lovers.
Only a few weeks ago, Embassy Coffee opened its doors in the little brick building that was once a shoe cobbler’s shop. I remember when I used to come visit the German man who sold nice leather shoes here. He kept my favourite pair of hiking boots going for a good twenty years. But the times change, and now, in this spot sits a wonderful coffee shop where those passionate about coffee can come and enjoy it. It’s not only about the coffee, though. It’s also about the gestures, the time taken, the surroundings, the people. In this simple and minimalist environment, folks who care about café culture find a home.
As I take a sip, I watch Chris going through his rituals: weighing the beans, grinding them, warming the mugs and the carafes with hot water, slowly pouring the water through the coffee, and watching the dark liquid come through the filter. Deliberate, patient, thoughtful movements make this coffee different from so many others. And this is why Jim and I are here. We don’t want our coffee on the run, or in styrofoam, or from an assembly line. We tend to prefer our coffee off the beaten track. When we travel, we often find a place to sit and savor and soak in the surroundings. Now we can do that right here, in our town. And if coffee isn’t your thing, Deb will make you a smoothie or juice. I had Bright Life instead of my usual morning orange juice, and it zinged! She also creates little toast platters to go with the coffee.
Twice a week, we let Embassy Coffee enrich our lives. We chit chat with Chris and Deb and other customers. We sip our coffee and take our time and soak in the good life before we head out into the world. With its low-key vibe, it’s one way we have found to keep sane in the middle of the jungle.
