It’s September so Summer is officially over (for the Northern Hemisphere at least…)
It’s been an odd Summer for me. I haven’t been able to drink much coffee because of my health taking a nosedive in March but that didn’t stop me visiting coffee shops and drinking cold barista made drinks. Instead of cafe latte, matcha lattes were my best friend – alongside the occasional cold brew.
I’ve learnt a lot during the Summer as a result of my diet restrictions. Things like how to make cold brew coffee which I attempted with Bag #47 (Coffee Genius, Jaen Peru).
I even started making my own matcha after buying myself a small kit. I now own my own chasen bamboo whisk (with stand), ceramic chawan bowl and furui sieve. I decided to learn how to make my own matcha drinks as I realised it was important for me to have that moment in my day to step away and make a morning drink.
Of course I enjoy drinking what I make it home because it’s tasty – but when the whole process of making coffee was off the table, I realised what an attachment I had to making myself a drink. It’s a moment of self-care and mindfulness; a chance to focus on the task at hand and craft something with a whole lot of care and attention. That peace and joy seems to double when I make my matcha. In those moments, I understood some of the beauty spoken about in The Way of The Tea. I may try and find a book about the subject to read in the Autumn.
As we enter Autumn; I look forward to watching nature change around me. To watch the leaves on the trees crisp and darken into warmer earthy colours after such a dry and incredibly hot UK Summer. I’m also excited to get back into pumpkin spice flavours, sweetening things with maple syrup and dusting baked goodies with cinnamon sugar. Of course the drinks become less iced and more warm and if I’m feeling particularly indulgent, I’ll top them with whipped cream. I need to find a good vegan whipped cream because of my stomach issues but that is just another part of the adventure ahead.
Autumn has always been that season of slowing down and putting comfort first: you can start wrapping up in blankets and donning thicker layers. The longer nights call for sitting on the sofa and reading books. This is especially welcomed after what always feels like a busy Summer out and about. I am looking forward to taking a moment of respite over the next few months.
Most importantly, the start of Autumn will mark a momentous occasion – I get to switch my yellow Gaggia Classic Pro (Bumblebee) back on and make coffee at home again. This is probably the most exciting change in the season.
I look at Summer and say thank you but turn to face Autumn and say,
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