In the unlikely event of any stray passing readers finding themselves lacking in reading matter, this link to a recent essay by Keith Pandolfi: The Case for Bad Coffee,
at a website called seriouseats.com, comes highly recommended by yours truly.
The essay makes one stop to think about one's own coffee-stained memories, or cheapo wine quaffing recollections, or flavourless economy meals with precious remembrances firmly attached. Nothing is ever bad or cheap or flavourless in certain circumstances - what really matter are those precious moments, forever imprinted in our memory banks.
Java Jive is an obvious choice. It was written by Ben Oakland and Milton Drake in 1940, originally performed by The Ink Spots. This is a later, 1970s, version by The Manhattan Transfer :
Not as obvious to most is the song that springs immediately to my own mind whenever coffee is mentioned. The song isn't about coffee, but the first line is.
Coffee black, cigarettes, start this day, like all the rest,
First thing every morning that I do, Is start missing you....
I like the song, it reminds me of an old friend who used to sing it often, and to my ear sang it even better than the original Don Williams 1970s recording. Don Williams sings it in the video below, backed by some images from the movie Brokeback Mountain. The song was written by Wayland Holyfield.
If you're a coffee drinker, why not have an extra cup in honour of the day? I'm a bit of a Philistine when it comes to coffee at home. I use instant, as do (or did) many Brits. I'm picky about the type and brand though. I'll use only Nescafé Colombian instant, Starbucks Colombian instant (a tad expensive, but good) and Nescafé Freeze Dried - but the latter is hard to find in Oklahoma, and exorbitant shipping charges preclude buying it online.
