Edible Voices
Editor’s note: The COVID-19 crisis has hit us all; we have been heartbroken, uplifted, unmoored. To help document the moment, Edible Jersey is sharing a few stories from our community.
EDIBLE VOICES
Isolation Espresso
Coffee is one of the little things that can make a difference in a quarantine.
Editor’s Note: The COVID-19 crisis has hit us all; we have been heartbroken, uplifted, unmoored. To help document the moment, Edible Jersey is sharing stories from our community.
Quite possibly the only thing keeping us all going at a time like this is our minds. Which have proven to be a lot more powerful than we all previously thought. Everyone is getting creative. People are making their own clothes, planting, baking, cleaning, writing, composing. The list is endless. People are learning new things they never thought they could do before. This isolation is perhaps the best (could be debatable) time for a creative mind.
I, however, have discovered that I can make my own espresso from home. The coffee shop I frequent in town remains open, but my decreasing bank account from lack of income begs me not to go. This left me in my kitchen. I live in a family of coffee drinkers. My dad gets a triple espresso at least once a day and he is deemed “espresso man” at two different coffee shops across two different states. My older brother made his own coffee using a coffee press while he was in Africa. My mom has been to Europe so many times that the coffee here should not even bother to try to compare, but she does her best with that. And perhaps the least coffee cultured is my younger brother who can somehow survive off of the sugary concoction that is Dunkin’ coffee.
I, however, have discovered that I can make my own espresso from home.
Anyway, day whatever quarantine and I just want coffee, but I only drink lattes. This makes things complicated unless you have a very expensive espresso machine (which I do not have). Upon discussing my predicament with my mom, I found out that we have a Moka pot which would make espresso. I also found out that we had some kind of expensive Italian espresso beans that my dad had bought on sale months ago (which honestly if you put a sale sign on anything with a slightly Italian name my dad will probably buy 20).
We filled up the bottom of the pot and added the grinds in the middle and then put it over the stove and after a few minutes the espresso made its way to the top. I only managed to burn myself twice on it, which if you know me you know that this is a success story. I then added almond milk and ice and sat down to drink it. The espresso was fine, but my latte was not. After some begging I managed to convince my dad to get vanilla syrup and whole milk. This resulted in me making a successful iced vanilla latte that could put any coffee shop to shame (not really, but a girl can dream).
So whether you’re learning a new language, taking care of your kids, or simply making a cup of coffee, remember that it’s the little things that mean the most in the end.
Photos: Moka pot above courtesy of writer
Photo by Andre Baranowski. andrebaranowskiphoto.com; Instagram: @andrebaranowski9
BEAN THERE, DONE THAT: NJ COFFEE ROASTERS
We at Edible Jersey love our coffee. Our team recently shared some of their favorite local NJ coffee roasters with us and their list is below. Although most café spaces remain closed due to the COVID-19 crisis, these roasters will be happy to ship their quality, thoughtfully sourced coffee beans direct to your door. Order online via their websites. Some also offer curbside pickup of a cup or a bag!
Afficionado Coffee Roasters
New Jersey
afficionadocoffee.com
Black River Roasters
424 US Highway 22 West
Whitehouse Station
908.823.4715
blackriverroasters.com
The Coffee bouTEAque
325 9th Street, Store #22
Beach Haven
609.492.4500
coffeebouteaque.com
Endgrain Coffee
10 Pitman Avenue
Pitman
856.553.8887
endgrain.coffee
Fair Mountain Coffee Roasters
171 First Avenue, Suite 8
Atlantic Highlands
732.708.0800
fairmountaincoffee.com
Penstock Coffee Roasters
13 South 3rd Avenue, Suite C
Highland Park
732.455.2994
PenstockCoffee.com
Rojo’s Roastery
243 North Union Street
Lambertville
609.397.0040
Also: 33 Palmer Square W, Princeton, 609.924.7600
rojosroastery.com
Small World Coffee
14 Witherspoon Street and 254 Nassau St.
Princeton
shop.smallworldcoffee.com/coffee
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