Thursday 22 January 2009

Heaven is THE Perfect Cup of Coffee

Among the many many joys of being a foodie and living in Europe has been experiencing the unparalleled perfection of coffee. In Swiss-Romande (the french-speaking part of Switzerland), one must clearly understand the subtle differences between a café crème, a café au lait, a cappuchino and the revered café renversé in order to get exactly what you want.

The café renversé quickly became my preferred coffee of choice. I believe an actual translation means 'knocked-over coffee', however in short, it is a strong espresso with slightly more heated milk and just a touch of crema. Crema being that delicate foam that forms at the top of the coffee. My favoured beverage is available at any one of the multitude of obliging cafés and boulangeries around Geneva but the cost over time would require my dipping into a non-existant trust fund. Enter Nespresso, every local barrista's preferred coffee maker and hey, who can resist a company boasting George Clooney as their global spokesperson.

We've been enjoying our Nespresso since our first week in Geneva over 3 years ago, and have valiantly tried to replicate a perfect café renversé by heating up milk in a pot on the stove and/or using a plunging coffee frother but something was always slightly missing. It just didn't taste quite like the ones I ordered at Globus, until one week ago...

C2 recently marked a milestone birthday and our great friends and fellow Montrealers/Calgarians, Nathalie and Marc gifted him with an automated Nespresso milk heater/frother. Globus eat your heart out and keep your 5.00 CHF per cup, given enough of this now perfect brew, I could rule the world.

7 comments:

Jawahara said...

I want! Renverse is so addictive and I want to make my own. So jealous.

Melissa Miller said...

Note to Jawahara: automatic heater/frother soon for sale in Corsier.

C. said...

I'm not listening, I'm not listening lalalalalalalal

Jen said...

When we returned home from our visit to Geneva, I spent time and money trying to find somewhere that could duplicate the coffee we drank with you both, with no luck.

I've often thought of your coffee maker at home with longing...perhaps we will have to see if one can be bought here in Calgary....

Unknown said...

Oh MM, if you stay I'll gladly do without the perfect renverse. :-(
But since I doubt you'll want to stay without the captain and the girls....I'd love to buy yours.

C. said...

Note to Jen: You can buy Nespresso machines at Williams & Sonoma in Calgary :)

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