The Coffee Conundrum

Most of the western world is addicted¹ to the thick, black slurry called coffee. While it is true that our coffee consumption has dropped, since we changed the office for SaltyPaws, we really appreciate a soy cappuccino in the morning. Also, there is nothing much really to make a sunrise feel better than a Skipper mug of Espresso.

When selecting the equipment for the SaltyPaws, I have been giving the coffee conundrum ample thought. The options are roughly:

• Forgo coffee (this one did get all the consideration possible in a fempto second)
• Instant coffee (Juck, this is undrinkable!)
• Run boiling water through a filter (dangerous)
• Nespresso (Don't like to sip the morning brew with George Clooney's face in my mind, and also expense per cup, capsules are not worldwide available)
• French press, combined with coffee grinder (this is a good option, and in our case the back-up)
• Espresso machine (yes, a bit overboard, but we enjoy it every day). Also needs: Inverter, solar panels, sufficient batteries to deliver the amps.

We use our coffee machine to make espresso, cappuccino, tea, instant soup and instant noodles. There is nothing better on a night shift than a quick cup of instant soup or noodles. Using the steam/water pipe from the coffee machine is a much safer alternative, compared to boiling water in a pan, and then poring this in the instant cup. Remember, we only do this in bad weather conditions. The kind of conditions where spilling boiling water over yourself or your cat is even less desirable than normal, but all the more likely.

At first Elizabeth and I where not of one mind when it came to the coffee machine. The arguments to take it have been along the lines of: “But we already have it, we might just as well bring it along”. Which was countered by: “I don't want it to take up any space in the kitchen” Followed by: “we will find space somewhere outside of the kitchen”. Initially I thought to have a special cabinet installed specially for the coffee machine. Later I found space on the desk in the owners hull, next to a 240v socket. Finally the coffee machine was given it's place on a space of the kitchen top, which is hard to use for e.g. cutting vegetables. It has proven very prudent to place the coffee machine in the kitchen, as we have experienced several spills, especially when we forgot to empty the water tray. The coffee machine is placed on an anti-slip mat, and it hasn't moved, even in 9 Beaufort. You can ask Elizabeth now if it is OK to take the coffee machine away, and weather she could use the instant coffee or the french press instead. I am sure the answer would very unladylike, and more in line with what a hardcore sailor like captain Haddock would say if they found out they are days away from land, and they run through their last bottle of whiskey.

1When I say addicted, I mean I could give it up any day, really, really, but I just don't want to.