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Fred Bruning's avatar

Sanka, Postum, aluminum coffee pot on the stove and Farberware for special occasions. All the essentials. Need anything more?

Fred Bruning's avatar

Rich -- No need for another donut -- ever -- after Chock full. Thanks/fb

Fred Bruning's avatar

Touching story, Peter. When watching our favorite team -- the one skating aimlessly around MSG this season -- need something a lot stiffer than Nescafe.

Fred Bruning's avatar

When in Dixie, we're Waffle House regulars and, so far, have escaped injury as elite northeast tea drinkers. Oboy, those pecan waffles, crusty, skinny-style home fries, maybe a scrambled egg on the side. Lucky you.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Gran could have helped redesign the nutrition triangle -- coffee, crumb cake, maybe some snow pudding.

Fred Bruning's avatar

You are a model of moderation, John -- and a guy who has pumped out great copy for a long time aided only by a half-cup of coffee. Without pots of English Breakfast tea, I'm nowhere.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Great to see the coffee bubble into that glass thimble on top -- I remember.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Maybe instant coffee is the secret to contentment, Bob. I may give it a try.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Home-brewed best. Same for sangria.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Nice story -- and never doubt your mother.

Richard Cassiano's avatar

In the '70's my business would sometimes take me to Manhattan, and my trip was not complete without stopping at a corner Choke Full of Nuts store, and having a wholewheat donut dipped in coffee. Such a delicious taste that I never had duplicated anywhere else. I stopped eating donuts decades ago and now enjoy a K-cup coffee once a day. In between my K-cups I have half cups of Nescafe instant decaf.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Rich -- No need for another donut -- ever -- after Chock full. Thanks/fb

Peter Ruffner's avatar

Nice piece and enjoyed the instant coffee reference. I always had on hand a jar of instant coffee in my house for my Dad’s consumption when he often visited to watch the Islanders play in cable until he died at 91+ in 2014. Brought back great memories!

Fred Bruning's avatar

Touching story, Peter. When watching our favorite team -- the one skating aimlessly around MSG this season -- need something a lot stiffer than Nescafe.

thomas demoretcky's avatar

Fred, the key words in this week's missive are, "I have never been a coffee drinker. . .". Starbuck's is the perfect place for people who do not like the taste of coffee. They have concocted many disguises for their battery acid flavored beverages. But coffee definitely is not one of their flavors. You mention Dunkin; their coffee is better by far---you can even dunk in one of the stale donuts they sell. Of course, if you are ever down South, there is Waffle House, purveying the most reliably good coffee of any franchise joint anywhere.

Fred Bruning's avatar

When in Dixie, we're Waffle House regulars and, so far, have escaped injury as elite northeast tea drinkers. Oboy, those pecan waffles, crusty, skinny-style home fries, maybe a scrambled egg on the side. Lucky you.

John Jeansonne's avatar

Lovely stuff.

My father drank coffee, though in moderation. He often would ask for "just half a cup," so for one of his birthdays, we bought what was literally half a cup--cut in half.

I never drank coffee until my first job, at UPI in NYC. After some midnight-to-8 am shifts, I suddenly had an 8 am to 3 pm shift and was walking to the bus stop, passed a coffee shop, and went for some caffeine. But often just have half a cup.

Fred Bruning's avatar

You are a model of moderation, John -- and a guy who has pumped out great copy for a long time aided only by a half-cup of coffee. Without pots of English Breakfast tea, I'm nowhere.

Jamey L's avatar

I remember Gran with her coffee and Entenmann's coffee cake! We are very spoiled now with Aldo's. Pair that with a scone and I am in heaven.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Gran could have helped redesign the nutrition triangle -- coffee, crumb cake, maybe some snow pudding.

Barbara Decter's avatar

Only had instant growing up… good old Nescafé. Now I brew my own Dunkin Donuts in an old Farberware percolator. Tried the pods (landfill wasters) and went back to the percolator. Thanks for reminding me of my own mom.

Fred Bruning's avatar

Great to see the coffee bubble into that glass thimble on top -- I remember.