I recently aquired a new coffee maker. I had one of those single pod machines prior and it served me well but I was ready to graduate to something that offered more choice. I no longer wished to be at the mercy of the pod makers in terms of beans. I wanted to be able to choose a higher quality product and also one that I knew to be ethically grown. I wanted to be able to grab a bag of beans from a small roaster at the farmer’s market or sign up to a bean subscription. I couldn’t do those things with a pod machine.
I’ve agonized over this purchase for a year. In the world of small appliances, you really get what you pay for and some brands just aren’t worth the money. In the end, I choose a $300 machine which is a LOT of coin for coffee. Thankfully, I managed to do some money voodoo to get it for pretty much free, depending on how you look at things. I had a $60 gift card to a store, and so I signed up for that particular store’s newsletter. Then I waited. I waited until a 20% off coupon landed in my inbox. I also sold my old camera on VarageSale for $200 and planned to use the cash towards this purchase.
When I arrived at the store, wouldn’t you know it…..out of stock. I had dragged my kids to the mall, bought them lunch and then there it was, the let down. But there was a machine on display so I convinced the clerk to sell me the display model AND to give me 10% off because it was without a box and manual. When it was all said and done, I still had money in my wallet. And I added another $20 to the stash by selling the old pod machine too.
I decided to celebrate this new member of the family by offering a FREE printable for your coffee bar. After all, coffee is as much about the ritual as it is the caffeine. Waking up in the morning, smelling that earthy aroma, pouring the cup, watching the steam rise, adding the cream and sometimes a bit of sugar, stirring it ’round, feeling the warmth of the mug in your hands, the first sip. Nothing can begin until after that first sip.
This quote is from Ken Kesey (One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest) and it envelops exactly what the coffee ritual is for me every day. I hope it resonates with you too.
TO PRINT: Printables are free! I ask that you register for a user account prior to downloading this. It’s free and I don’t use that info for anything – you won’t get any emails unless you want them and tick the check box. This just allows for a bit of security as downloads are high resolution and I’d hate to see them on a t-shirt somewhere! It’s simple and easy to access just CLICK HERE.
Tack it up on a cork board. Tuck it into a frame. Stick it to the fridge. It’s up to you. This file is free to you for personal use because I appreciate that you stop by now and then. Enjoy.
UPDATE: The coffee machine I speak of in this post has served us well for years but now sits in the pantry. The reason is, I found pour over vs drip coffee a no brainer.
Nice!
Free or seemingly free rocks!
That’s a nice loooking machine. Bake me something and I will be right over!