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History and Joys of Coffee in Europe

Cappuccino & Pastel de Natas in LisbonThis is more of an overview of coffee in Europe rather than a history of coffee timeline. In the summer of 2022 I got to travel to Lisbon, Portugal and to Italy, and drinking coffee in Europe has ruined me for American coffee! I haven’t been able to duplicate the exact experience back here in America, but I sure have gotten close with my own Mr. Coffee Cafe espresso maker and using quality beans like Lavazza Espresso Beans from Italy – which I get at Costco. (I like Starbucks’ dark roasted beans, too.) There are many benefits in drinking coffee, which these countries in Europe have capitalized on in their way of consuming this incredible beverage. They have truly turned it into an art. There’s no way to describe it – you just have to go to Europe and try it for yourself.

Coffee has been a popular beverage for centuries, and it is a staple in many cultures around the world. In Europe, coffee drinking has a rich and varied history, and it remains a beloved part of daily life in many countries.

Coffee arrived in Europe in the 16th century,

and it quickly became popular among the wealthy elite. Coffee houses began to appear in cities across the continent, and they became gathering places for intellectuals, artists, and politicians. These coffee houses were often called “penny universities” because for a small fee, customers could listen to discussions and debates on a wide range of topics.

Today, coffee is enjoyed by people from all walks of life in Europe. In fact, many European countries have their own unique coffee culture and traditions. Here are some examples:

Coffee in ItalyCold, refreshing coffee Shakeratu in Florence

I had Italian coffee in Bologna, Florence, and Assisi, and it was so rich it was almost caramel-like. An intense experience that makes the teeny tiny espresso and cappuccino’s make sense there (one cup I had at a pizzeria could literally be served at a doll’s tea party, it was that tiny – but rich and delicious and a perfect end to perfect pizza.) Italy is famous for its espresso, which is a strong, concentrated coffee served in small cups. Italians typically drink espresso in the morning and after meals, and they often enjoy it standing up at a café bar. In Italy, it is considered a faux pas to order a cappuccino too late in the day, as it is seen as too heavy. Some say never order any after breakfast, some say don’t order cappuccinos anytime after Noon. And apparently no Italian has one after dinner. This may be due partly to the fact that milk is harder to digest and is best not taken late in the day. It’s also rather filling.

In my daily routine now, I have a tiny Italian-style cappuccino, macchiato or espresso with my breakfast, my morning treat. I then switch to American-style coffees to sip slowly throughout the day while I work. I do usually use milk, we sure like our lattes and cappuccinos here in the US. They do tend to fill me up, but I don’t see that as a bad thing necessarily.

I found that coffee drinking in Portugal seemed to be the same as coffee in Italy, or any neighboring countries like France and Spain, is my guess.

Coffee in France

In France, coffee is typically served with breakfast or after dinner. French coffee is often made using a French press, which is a simple but effective brewing method that produces a full-bodied, flavorful cup of coffee. French cafes are also known for their pastries and baked goods, which pair perfectly with a strong cup of coffee.

Spain

Spanish coffee is a social beverage that is often enjoyed with friends or family members. Spanish coffee is typically served in small cups, and it is often made using a stovetop espresso maker. In some regions of Spain, such as Catalonia, coffee is often enjoyed with a shot of brandy or other liqueur. I got to try one of these liquored Spanish coffees while traveling in Ireland in 2019. That was very cool!

Turkish coffee

In Turkey, coffee is an important part of daily life and is often served during social gatherings. Turkish coffee is brewed using a special pot called a cezve or ibrik, and it is typically served in small cups with a side of Turkish delight or other sweet treats. In Turkey, it is customary to read the fortunes of the coffee grounds left in the cup after drinking. You also have to stop drinking before you get to the bottom or you will get a mouthful of grounds.

Coffee in Scandinavia

In Scandinavia, coffee is a beloved beverage that is consumed throughout the day. Scandinavians are known for their love of filter coffee, which is often served in large mugs. In Sweden, coffee breaks are known as fika, and they are an important part of the workday. During fika, co-workers gather for coffee and pastries, and they take a break from work to socialize and recharge.

To me, this sounds more like American-style coffee drinking – large mugs, the larger the better, with plenty of milk and sweetened flavor or sugar. Maybe we got it from them. It gets cold where I live in Colorado, so I want a good-sized hot beverage to sip slowly. But I’ve never cared for the giant cups many American’s like, maybe because I’m partial to European-style espressos. I use mugs anywhere from my tiny espresso cup to small cups (about the size of a mandarin orange) to a regular-sized mug like you might also use for tea. No bigger.

Overall,In Lisbon

coffee drinking is an integral part of European culture, and it continues to evolve and change with the times. Whether you prefer a strong Italian espresso, a smooth French press coffee, or a sweet Turkish coffee with dessert, there is something for everyone in Europe’s vibrant coffee culture. So the next time you’re in Europe, be sure to take some time to enjoy a cup of coffee and experience the local coffee culture firsthand.

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Law of Attraction works with Coffee, too

I’ve been studying, applying and learning the Law of Attraction with great fun and success. I can tell you the Law of Attraction works, and I love to share my Law of Attraction Tips and Law of Attraction secrets whenever I can.

Law of Attraction Tips

By the way, all the books I recommend can be found on Amazon.com, and I’m an affiliate with them, so if you click on the link and order anything from Amazon, I may get a small kick-back, allowing me to buy a cup of coffee once in a while.

For beginning the Law of Attraction journey, I recommend all books by Esther and Jerry Hicks, and watching or listening to all YouTube videos under the name Abraham Hicks (or Esther Hicks). Their message inspired The Secret DVD and really teaches the basics in the most understandable way.

Next I’ve been studying and doing the homework in the books by Nanice Ellis, starting with Is There a White Elephant in Your Way and then Seducing the Field. This is more advanced work clearing out personal blockages and getting into the flow.

I also like Lacy Phillips’ innovative and unusual method and perspective on Law of Attraction Tips. She offers courses on her website with various subscription or purchase options, and her Expanded Podcast is free. I love how she uses the Human Design method and shows how various types of personalities will manifest things in slightly different ways.

For instance, I’m a nonspecific manifestor. If you tell me to set a very specific money goal to come to me by a specific date (like in the Napoleon Hill book), I’ll balk at that and put up all sorts of resistance. I manifest in a more relaxed, general, trusting way. I live in the feelings, play with details when I want but don’t attach my results to them, adding the phrase “this or something better” to the end of my asking so that I don’t even limit the universe/God/Source on what is brought to me.

Sometimes as a nonspecific manifestor I just allow the ideas of what to ask for flow into my mind. I think “oh yes, that would be nice,” and don’t give it much more thought (although this process may repeat itself a few times and I spend several seconds on it each time). Next thing I know, that specific item or situation just appears in my life a day, week or month later, and I’m so surprised and delighted!

Coffee and the Law of Attraction Tip

This is what happened recently with coffee. I love my Mr. Coffee Cafe Espresso Maker (see review here), but lately I’ve found that drinking such strong coffee (cappuccinos and lattes with espresso shots) several times a day has been a little too much for my body, making me too jittery, upsetting my stomach sometimes, etc. I wanted to switch to a regular, lighter American brew, but even making the Americano was too strong.

So I was thinking about it and wishing I had a regular drip coffee maker. Preferably one where I could program it to automatically brew a pot when I’m up in the morning, wouldn’t that be nice?

Then I got to visit my brother in Chicago for a few days, and try his wonderful coffee maker that also grinds the beans fresh every morning before brewing it when he gets up. Very cool!

But we didn’t have it in the budget to buy a new coffee maker just yet, so I was just thinking about it once in a while, not giving it much thought, but affirming how much I’d like to have the coffee make itself for me every morning.

Lo and behold, a month passed, then my daughter decided to move to California, so she returned the old Gevalia drip coffee maker I’d loaned her (something I’d saved from a long time ago in a box for when my daughter moves out, and then forgot about it).

So wow, I had a drip coffee maker. Then I discovered it has a simple and easy programming system, so I can set it up the night before and set the program. It then turns on and brews the pot right on time for when I’m up. If I’m up and ready before 6am, which I often am, I simply push a button to turn off the program and it brews the pot immediately.

So cool! Just by thinking about it a few times, voila – I received a regular drip coffee maker which brews the pot for me in the mornings. I love it! Now I can have two to three cups of java every morning, topping it off for extra heat as needed. And it’s not too strong. I find it tastes just as good even though the grounds sit in the maker all night long.

The Law of Attraction Works

I hope you found these Law of Attraction tips useful. The Law of Attraction works, even with something as simple as a  programmable drip coffee maker. I have lots of stories like these, of the time I manifested just the right wooden pieces to fit together to make a medieval chandelier for my re-enacting, or the very unusual antique three-legged stool I manifested after missing out on the first one I spotted at an antique mall, or even the brand new package of women’s underpants my friend manifested on the side of the road when she didn’t have enough money to buy some. They were in her size of course!

Law of Attraction Tips

Do you have fun stories of these kinds of miracles? Please tell us below, I’d love to hear from you! Once you get into the flow, amazing and funny things happen.

Again, these books can be found on Amazon.com:

  • The Law of Attraction by Esther and Jerry Hicks
  • All other books by Esther Hicks
  • Is There a White Elephant in Your Way? by Nanice Ellis
  • Seducing the Field by Nanice Ellis

Also be sure to check out The Expanded Podcast by Lacy Phillips, and Manifest It A.L.L. by Emryald Sinclaire

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