3mm:
Im Sang-soo’s The Housemaid, 2010
For the past two years, our faithful espresso machine has always sat on the kitchen counter, ready to serve a fresh mug of coffee at any given moment. It greets us good morning, helps us wake up from a particularly sleepy afternoon, and delivers well-brewed beverages that warm the soul during wintry seasons. But in the past two years, we’ve never even thought of using the built-in milk frother.
This afternoon, after a long day of running errands and walking around outside in the beautiful, mild May weather, my mother and I decided to try making homemade cafe lattes. We paired illy espresso and milk foam with a dash of cinnamon and a tiny dollop of honey. The result? Absolute DERICIOUSNESS. I think we’ve found our new hobby for the summer. We want to learn how to master the art of creative latte milk foam designs… haha finally tapping into our secretly shared dream of becoming baristas.
I am reminded of the Korean drama, “Coffee Prince,” which I never saw but have heard is a must-see and a feel-good series. I remember for a while following the drama’s end, barista lessons were a hit amongst young couples in Seoul. The set that was utilized for the drama (as the protagonist’s studio) has been turned into a quaint cafe nestled within hills and beautiful trees — a secret hideaway from the busy streets of Seoul and one of my favorite places to visit every time I return to Korea.
At the expense of possibly sounding far-fetched, over-the-top, or even too idealistic and naïve, I’d like to believe there are few things as easily satisfying as the combination of the perfect latte and good company.
