Ken's Scardey Coffee

Saturday 16^th January 2010

It was a terrible dream, he tossed and turned as he saw it all unfold…. Ken had locked Mary (the overlocker) in the J’burg clothing factory where he worked. Not overnight, but for the whole Christmas holiday. It was a terrible mistake, and when he arrived back in the New Year, there was poor Mary, parched and barely able to speak (she was dead actually). The horror. Sylvia (the accountant) comes in and being of a very nervous and anxious sort breaks down. Ken’s guilt and Sylvia’s suffering were bordering on hysteria.

Suddenly a little springy man comes through the door. He is a caffetiere, and has Jimmeny Cricket arms and legs (Disney style) with spats and little white gloves. As he bounces along his little lid (which is his hat) bobs up and down too. He sits Sylvia down and pats her on the back and announces that he is Mr Scardey Coffee, and he is going to make everyone a nice cup of coffee, which will calm everyone’s nerves, and everything will all be all right again. And so it was. Hence Ken’s Scardey Coffee.

This recipe is a tribute to Mr Scardey Coffee. Whenever there is a crisis, or whenever we deserve it, and always on Saturdays and now on Wednesdays too (to celebrate mid-week and sometimes on Tuesdays when we think it’s Wednesday, and then again on the Wednesday when it is Wednesday), and when we have Chelsea Buns, or if we feel risky and always if someone comes over, we have a Scardey coffee, and it is all OK again! Even when there is no crisis, we can always think of one….. Ahh.

I always have the smallest cup because it is quite strong.

Ken always has the largest mug because it is quite strong.

Ken always makes this because he does it best.

Ken’s Scardey Coffee

For one soul (and ones soul)

coffee, filter, Latin American, x1.5 scoops (tbsp) per person. Percol is the brand we use.

water, boiling, a little, just enough to cover

milk, semi-skilled

Boil the kettle and pour over coffee in a caffetiere. Leave to brew. Heat the milk in the pan. Whist heating, get your gadget primed. It is the pumper, and worryingly it is on it’s last legs and I can’t find another one. This is a plastic mini bicycle pump thingy with two perforated discs inside and it froths the milk. You can measure the milk to nearly fill the chosen mugs or play guessing games on volumes for fun (sad). If you like sugar put that into coffee first and stir, then add frothy milk.

This is a long blog about a small issue. But it is not as long as the ritual business of Ken’s tea.

Amanda Nantgwynfaen

www.organicfarmwales.co.uk