Stick to the 'devil' you know

It’s probably cultural snobbery or sheer stupidity when someone invites you for something they’re clueless about. Maybe they’ve developed new tastes or style; however, I still say, it’s better to stick to the devil you know than cause a complete fool out of yourself.

Yes, I’m speaking about that perfectly made cup of coffee. To those that know me, they have probably heard about my moans and groans about coffee and those that know me very well, they’ll probably know that it’s also my first love (that’s what I call it).

Recently, I was invited by an old friend whom I have not seen in ages for coffee and a catch-up session. How excited I was the invite popped up, I couldn’t even contain my excitement.

Truth be told, I’m a coffee lover who has reached the connoisseur title yet, but I know a good cup of coffee when I taste and sometimes, when I see one and so I suggested a much closer date for an afternoon of good times and my friend suggested a coffee spot. It was a new spot for me and he had assured that they make the perfect cup.

Finally our day came. We get there and as usual, I start with a filter coffee, just to be on the safe side. Those who don’t know what a filter is – it’s just a normal coffee with or without milk. Reason for my reluctance in buying a cappuccino is I wouldn’t regrettably spend my 20 rand on something which taste more of frisco than a cappuccino, NO! That’s how much I value it and thank goodness I didn’t or else I probably would have died and come back 5 days later.

So our coffees arrive and the excitement I felt was indescribable, I somehow felt like a happy kid again, like I always do when I have that special cup and a good convo. Without a waste of time, my friend took the first sip of his and with a little anxiety coupled with a double shot of excitement; I took my first sip as well. With the expression of sadness in my face after that sip, I try again, thinking that maybe, just maybe, it’s a coffee brand I wasn’t familiar with so I took a second sip.  This time, it wasn’t a sip but rather a gulp and my critical thinking tool came up in full force together with my not so impressed face and some sadness in between. All these traits meant something and that something - the coffee was horrible and bitter, in fact, it made me grumpy the whole day and throughout the catch up session, I ended up schooling my friend about good coffee. How it must not be too hot or too cold. The poor guy felt like he was probably in a science lecture but he needed to hear it and it felt good to bore with my coffee experience, I felt like he deserved it for making a fool out of me.

However, I’m pretty sure he’s not the only one that has had his friends or associates as victims of such pathetic abuse where a friend would invite you of something that he or she has little knowledge of. I’m sure there’s gazillions of people who still think it’s a smart move. I still say and will say – stick to what you know.

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