Saturday, March 20, 2004


under a tuscan moon

today's a beautiful spring-like day, in contrast to the lousy weather we've been having this week.

so i'm sitting here in my sunny golden living room so near the bklyn promenade watching the helicopters dart like dragonflies around the towers of wall st. drinking two espressos: the supreme bean/joe-to-go bella luna and the counterculture toscano while listening to david hykes' "hearing solar winds" on headphones.

every time i play this for someone their immediate reaction is, wow, great theremin. that the music is entirely improvisational vocals amazes them. however it's a very meditative music and great for drinking coffee.

a coffee pro i completely respect -- the florida-based, total-quality rebel al critzer -- is bringing the bella luna to the mass market. he swears it's the best american espresso he's ever tasted.

and i have to agree it's a great espresso, albeit a tad more darkly roasted than is my idea of perfection. but it's great in milk drinks, very dark caramel taste, and makes a killer americano. all good.

the indispensable people at counterculture -- i suppose one could exist without them, but why? why? would it cross anyone's mind to do so? -- have their own delicious blend in the toscano.

again, this is roasted a hair beyond the northern-italian moment where i prefer my espresso (as the name suggests, it's reminiscent of a tuscan-moving-on-to-lazio color) but is still an excellent cup. there might be a sort of hint of pipe tobacco in it. . .

to be fair to it in comparison to the bella luna, i also tried it as an americano after dispensing with a shot in my morning cappuccino.

yum-mers. these espressos both make delightful afternoon americanos. highly recommended.

i guess it's the combination of bella luna, sunny day, and harmonic solar winds that give today a unique ha-tha, optimistic breath-based espresso yoga. . .whoops! almost time to go stand on my head!

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