No.131 “I just want black coffee…”

The exact quote is: ” We have two kinds Arabica or Columbia .” The quote comes from the movie “Coffee in Berlin.”

The whole day, “Nico” the main character in the movie, seeks out what some would describe as the Holy Grail… ” a  cup of black coffee.” Every time when he thinks he has it, the rug is pulled from underneath his feet. The coffee machine has been cleaned…the movie set coffee thermos has run dry… When he enters the coffee shop it’s almost like he’s Rip Van Winkle. When faced with a board above listing all the coffees…he stands in silence , in total awe. And just like Rip Van Winkle he feels like a man waking from a long sleep..and asks the barista just for a cup of black coffee. A simple request that leads to  a lecture on all the nuances of coffee. He starts to  whine, that all he wants is a cup of coffee…And even then he is again faced with the irony of having to make a  choice between two coffees. And still, we watch in wonderment because he’s short on cash …so the barista pours it down the drain right in front of him. Again, it is grabbed from his trembling fingers so he can’t quench his parched throat. I wondered if the author of Coffee in Berlin, Jan Ole Gerster had been told the story of Peter Klaus as a child . The story is an old German folktale and runs parallel to Rip Van Winkle’s  story line. With more research I found out that Johann Karl Christoph who wrote Peter Klaus was actually inspired by Washington Irving’s story in 1819. Makes you wonder.. right?  In the movie Coffee in Berlin, Nico is in deep trouble for his father now knows that he dropped out of law school two years previously and forgot to tell him. Both his father and Nico’s girlfriend are irritated with Nico.  A nomadic life within the city’s confines. He’s also irritated his psychologist. This man has the power to release him from his hellish existence and help him get his driver’s licence back. But instead of being kind and generous in his ways Nico finds him mean-spirited . He seems to enjoy playing mind games with Nico. The psychologist seems to relish inflicting as much pain on Nico as he can. In the end…denies him the privileges… Luckily, for Nico, Berlin has an amazing  transportation system.  Getting around town is a breeze. But what he really wants is his car. It reminds me of coffee. One step forward…two steps back. Some how his drifting ways are starting to affect all parts of his life. The day just gets worse and worse till he actually sees someone he just met die . The late night hours just swing into the next day  with the same kind of feeling of unending tragedy. With Rip and Peter they both go into the mountains to leave their troubles behind . Hear music, and then drink themselves into 20 years of slumber . By the time they wake up everyone is either dead or has forgotten.  Jan Ole Gerster, when he returned to Berlin in 2000 was actually questioned why he had moved back? They thought he had missed everything ..was too late…(Missed the wall coming down…) I’m glad he did because this German tragic-comedy probably evolved from his experiences .

 

Classic Black and white film about Berlin and Coffee…..called Coffee in Berlin

Don Francisco’s Kona Blend …100% Arabica Coffee

100% Columbian Supremo Coffee Beans 2 lbs.

Gourmesso Lungo Italico Forte by Berlin Coffee Roasters…

 

No.104 Black Coffee…

The exact quote is: ” Coffee …to go…right?”  The quote is from the movie everyone should see…Coffee in Berlin. This movie was written and directed by Jan-Ole Gerster. It was released in 2012.

So the main actor of this movie Nik spends the whole movie moving around an exaggerated  day of  obstacles. From an almost breakup of a girlfriend to a father who has decided to maybe replace him with his assistant. I would call it an extremely bad day. What he really wants is a good cup of coffee…but for this day he’s like Indiana Jones in that he has to jump across canyons of space only to be back stabbed by one of his comrades all for a golden head. To Nik, coffee is but a symbol of the golden head. At one point his bank card is eaten in an ATM…In another moment the machine is broken. Can the day get any worse?  Of course!  He missed the last call… The machine was just cleaned-no more orders …HIs ulitmate misfortune that day was …he doesn’t have enough money. In a posh coffee shop with an overly talkative barista he’s found himself in a version of cacophony of coffee hell in that there’s too many versions of coffee. To add to his torture there’s too many types of coffee beans with their added explanations.  He also notices with added trepidation that the prices have  escalated beyond his means. He whines at one point all he wants is plain black coffee. He  almost achieves his quest but is robbed from ecstasy… when faced with lack of funds. He can only watch in total disbelief as the barista pours it down the drain in front of him. I believe,  that this barista has  sadistic behaviors hidden underneath her chatty exterior. She probably should be a hedge fund person instead of a barista.  Just thinking about this barista makes me feel sweaty…I felt dizzy getting up from my chair…my footsteps were miscalculated and unsure. That someone can have such power over another is a daunting idea. It was probably a hellish experience to see his precious portion of black gold being tossed.  Another version of torment for Nik were all the types of coffee concoctions this woman could create. I heard one description in the new movie called appropriately “Coffee Shop.” I found it on Netflix. A cute chick flick that has romantic overtones is how I would describe it.  In it, a coffee patron comes in and orders: ” A med triple caramel dream with half a pump of coconut and a third of the caramel. ”  These words would have tormented Nik.  Max, a regular at this fictional coffee shop asked the question ” Did he order a coffee or a wedding cake?  Which was a perfect quip to the over exaggerated sweet concoction. All Nik wanted was a cup of black coffee…was that such a hard request to fill?

 

A classic Black and white movie on trying to order black coffee…

Just a fun, romantic movie about interactions around a coffee shop.

 Major Dickason’s blend ..Dark Roast