One of my biggest worries always while traveling is coffee. I like to know I have a way of making for myself a cup before my day starts. To tell you the truth, I enjoy having my coffee in my sleep clothes, hair disheveled, face unwashed. I don't like having to greet the world before I've had my coffee, so generally am not a fan of going out to cafes for my breakfast when I can have it at accommodation.
So always, while traveling, I go through these laborious calculations - how long am I on the road? Is it worth bringing a pack of coffee with me or should I just trust the road? Will I have to go without caffeine, and will that become perilous for bystanders? Is there room in my bag for the moka pot?
(Spoiler alert: there seldom is.)
So generally, I try to book apartments and Airbnbs, since I enjoy that ability. I tend to look at the listing and plan ahead. And while I'm not pretentious about accommodation, coffee is a non-negotiable.
It just so happens I've booked one of the single, coolest AirBnBs ever for my stay in Graz. Very geeky and sci-fi, very up my alley. As a bonus, it also happens to be the actual home (or perhaps previous home, I'm not sure) of the owners, so it's much better stocked than your basic Ikea-furnished rental.
Besides, with cool mugs like these, why even bother going to a cafe?
Anyway, I arrived in the city late and after dark, so didn't get to create much of an impression about the place. I was exhausted anyway, so maybe my impression wouldn't have been so friendly.
Which led to my making impressions on the first morning. Lucky me. I went scrounging for coffee through the many hectic cupboards. They have one of those espresso machines, but I'm not so keen. Besides, I had my heart set on this huge R2D2 mug. Just think how many espressos would've been necessary to fill that.
Luckily, I discovered a container of kaffee and a pan and went about making my coffee the old-fashioned way, by boiling and stirring continually. It's the coffee of childhood. Before we knew of moka pots and espresso machines and French presses, this was how you made coffee. I love it still when I go visit someone, to sit with them in the kitchen while they prepare our coffee this way. It's very intimate. Little things, eh.
I then took my coffee out onto the balcony, and had my first proper encounter with the city. And what a stunning view. I'm not used to mountains. I don't often go since you seldom encounter beaches there. But with the sun high, the days warm and a huge coffee in hand, I reckon they're not so bad at all.
Luckily it's early, and the Creator Days aren't starting for a while. I think I'll sit here and listen to some tunes. And the birds. Maybe read a bit. Maybe scrounge up some pancakes.
It's done me good, having these two trips back to back. I'd forgotten the subtle resilience of the road, the way it makes you less bothered by petty things, the feeling of anything might happen. I missed it.
Hey, your appartment is way cooler than mine then :)
Did you notice that morning filtered coffee tastes 100% same in all hotels across all countries and continents? I wonder what's the magic behind that. How's that even possible!
Ah yes but yours was much closer to the restaurant. Beats my R2-D2 mug any time.
And yes, there's a special shop but you have to own some sort of hotel to be able to access it.
How did I miss this, oh to think in advance how would be the first coffee in Graz, I like your ways girl, if one doesn't have the first cup assured it's not possible to think about organizing anything else of the day.
Preparing coffee as in childhood, sounds great, very homely to inaugurate an AirBnB like that, those rituals are part of a nice way of waking up. It hadn't occurred to me to ask you about your accommodation when we met; if I had seen this in time, I might have told you in person how enviable your chill morning was! 🤣
I think this was on the first day of BuzzParty. A coffee to start off a long chain of coffees shared with lovely Hivians, right? :D
The image belongs to millycf1976 and was manipulated in Canva.
You have a cool cup.
I drink coffee about 3-4 times a day. I would probably drink more but I also like to buy juice. My favorites juices are pineapple / peach and grapes.
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I used to bring coffee while traveling but not anymore. I simply just go to local roaster, try their local's coffee selection and ask them to have it on filter. I also have drip bag when I am traveling too, it is easier to use and you'll get great coffee without relying too much on cafe. Have fun during the Hive's Creator Day 😊
When I traveling I never miss to check on a coffee shop to stop by and have their freshly brewed coffee
The flat looks homely, indeed!
I prefer small Airbnb-like these.
I think it's a brilliant idea to be prepared with your coffee, and I can relate to not wanting to get dressed early in the morning. A great thing for travel is some Japanese drip coffee. We used to use them a lot when we lived in the Philippines. I'm not sure how readily available they are in Europe, though.
Enjoy :)))
I can't go anywhere without thinking about my coffee. Wherever I go I dream of going with my thermos of black, concentrated coffee. And that's how I like to drink my coffee, disheveled and in my pajamas. That way of making coffee the old-fashioned way is the best. The taste is different than nowadays in machines. I embrace you from afar
This is such a great read! I really enjoyed following your coffee journey. Such a well-written piece, and I could totally picture you scrounging through the cupboards and enjoying that first cup on the balcony.
And the sci-fi Airbnb sounds amazing! And that R2D2 mug? Uh! It's Iconic!
Wow! your apartment is very nice and looks so relaxing. A very good place to enjoy coffee.
I really liked the image of the mountains and the sun caressing every detail of the landscape, you can really feel the tranquility.
Traveling is another state of mind that life offers us. We can put aside the worries that plague us in that place and enjoy new experiences in new places.
Continue enjoying your coffee in that lovely R2 D2 mug, it's very pretty and eye-catching by the way.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.☕
Excellent Saturday.