DeeKnow’s Grotto

In a desperate period of mental inactivity this afternoon I set upon the idea of sampling a Ristretto coffee at afternoon tea to get me through what was left of the day.

For the non-offianado's, a Ristretto is a double shot of coffee but dispensed in a half-pour. You use the double handle but dump it into a one of those dinky demi-sec espresso cups. The theory is that most of the Caffeine hit comes from the extraction of Oil from the beans that happens very early on in the pour, so with a double dispensor your get most of two cups of jolt but stopping short on the water content.

Some of my table-mates nodded with interest as I discussed the beverage preperation whilst beginning to sip away at it, others looked at me as if I was some kinda of crazed druggie. The truth is, most of the staff at work are probably addicts whether they like to admit it or not, and its hard not to be with a commercial grade espresso machine at hand.

A well prepared espresso has a creamy head on it that contains the meat of the actual caffeine hit, and it generally thins out as you make your way to the bottom of the cup. The layer on top of the Ristretto tho appeared to be much thicker, more of a blanket, and it was still wrapped lightly but comfortably round the interior of the vessel long after I'd finished consuming the rest of the drink.

This in itself made for interesting table talk, but by time I made my way back to the office it seemed business as usual, just a pleasent, if flavoursome coffee interlude. A few minutes later however, back in the safety of my office, it hit me.... 

WHAM!!!  ZOT!!!  KAPOW!!!

The God shot (as the Ristretto is known in Coffee circles) had rudely taken total possesion of my feeble mind, and for a good 15mins or so I was struggling to concentrate on any single thing for more than a few seconds. It was actually kinda shocking, and I'm not easily shocked. I just couldn't beleive the mighty effect the double doseage had.

Thankfully I came out of the experience reasonably quickly and seamlessly switched modes into what was probably the most productive work afternoon of the year so far. I'll be steering well clear of religious Coffee from now on though, during work time at least. (what's that Coffee rehab phone line again?)

10:52:12 PM