The one advantage of having friends who travel the world, friends who are as passionate as I am about the small things in life, is that they bring little gifts that excite me to no end. So my dear friend Shane returned from Brazil with a packet of organic Spress Café ground coffee! 

Brazilian coffee is renowned as a strong, dark roasted brew. Even the smell when I opened the vacuum packed ‘brick’ was dark and foreboding. As someone who prefers a full bodied, medium roast espresso, I was prepared to enjoy the experience, but find it too strong and dark.

I was wrong! Yes, it is strong and dark, which as a rule makes my tastebuds close up and hide, but in the case of this coffee I could still taste and smell the mysteries of Brazil long after I finished the espresso.

Thanks, Shane.

PS: Shane, do you remember the hot chick back in 1992 who sold both of us a pair of leather boots in Rio de Janeiro? We would have bought anything from her…