The heady aroma of naturally-flavored caramel coffee fills the house. Yes, this morning I’ve exchanged my usual Folgers Colombian ground for caramel. It’s hot, it’s strong, and it’s good.
Do you ever wake up too early but you figure you’d might as well get up and start the day rather than trying unsuccessfully to get back to sleep? This morning, not even the roosters are out of bed yet. I know this because I don’t hear any of them crowing.
Coffee is a great way to start the day. Darcy and Flora do. If you’ve noticed in all four of their cozies, coffee helps them solve mysteries. Really! I don’t think they could solve a single one without it. They have their favorite coffee shop too–Dilly’s. It is the place for Levi’s citizens to gather and discuss the latest happenings. They just happen to serve the best blueberry pancakes and fresh-ground coffee Darcy has ever tasted–except for Flora’s, of course.
Ned and her pals have their favorite gathering place too–Grandy’s. It is especially welcome when the unpredictable March weather makes being out of doors just a bit uncomfortable. Ned’s favorite beverage at Grandy’s? Caramel mocha coffee with lots of whipped cream.
In reality, nobody could make a better cup of coffee than my mother. She made it strong and she liked it hot. If it got even the least bit cool, she’d replenish the cup. Nothing was more repulsive than cold coffee.
My brother-in-law Ray also made a good cup of coffee. On the mornings I’d be at his and Helen’s house, he always got up early and started the day with coffee. A warm memory is sitting at the breakfast table drinking coffee as he shared the newspaper with me. When Helen got up, we’d have breakfast.
At Tracy and Carlene’s, Tracy would make the coffee each night for the next morning and pre-program it before we all went to bed. He and Carlene slept later than I did. I’d wake up early, press the button to start the coffee, and when it was ready, I’d pour a cup and take it with me down the hill to the lake. Loons swam on the lake while the sun rose above the line of trees to the east and painted the lake in soft tones of pink. Every once in a while, there’d be a splash as a sharp-eyed fish hawk dived down for his breakfast. A cup of coffee and the beauty of the lake helped the day begin.
Little Sand Lake by Missy Day Albrecht
Nobody is more of a coffee connoisseur than my son. Matt comes by this trait naturally, from a long line of coffee drinkers. One of my favorite things is chatting with him and Dawn and sharing a cup of his good coffee.
As I’ve written this, I’ve enjoyed a couple of cups of caramel coffee and now my eyes are open and I’m ready for the day. It seems to me that somewhere out there in the darkness of early dawn, I hear a rooster crow.
Made with precision, served with love: a good cup of coffee and a good cozy mystery.
Speak Your Mind