In which, it turns out, coffee is anything but simple.

"Espresso is probably the most intolerant method of preparation of any food or drink in the world."
—James Hoffmann

I originally intended to call this coffee cup, red^‡. It was to be a look at how the serving of coffee influences how we perceive it in terms of flavour and enjoyment. There's been some study of how environment influences taste, and I have a memory of a study in which coffee tasted sweeter when drunk from a red cup. ¹ I'd done some experiments myself and found that there was some truth to this; that coffee flavour and enjoyment is influenced by the cup it's served in. This process of crossmodal perception is well documented. In my case, a red coloured heavier earthenware cup was sweeter, fuller-bodied, more satisfying, more alive and characterful. As I began to write it ran away from me, as things do, and

So after dropping my lovely Pixel Android phone once too often, I was forced to procure a new one but inpecunity got in the way, but thanks to the generosity of one of my friends (thanks, Will) I do have a rather lovely-looking Apple iPhone 11, yet I am unable to use THE PHONE THAT I OWN because I have to create an Apple ID. The process has been…troublesome, let us just say, and after two whole days of

four parts of her-

her hair,  flowing in waves,  almost burgundy 

her  lipstick,   fire engine bright, just as urgent

her heels,  crimson and electric 

lastly, 

her coffee mug,  ceramic and Bone white,

                                                               except for a single printed