Roman's Magical Cup of Midnight Coffee

My friend Roman claims that we are fated to work through the unresolved issues from our past lives in this life. As if to prove the point, one of his past lives has taken to using my coffee pot to brew itself a cup of spiritual catharsis. After a winter evening of courses and discourses, when the rest of the guests are digesting peacefully, this particular past life is restlessly experimenting with coffee and alcohol.

He begins with a pot of potent coffee and just the right porcelain cup. He takes this steaming brew to a quiet corner of the dining room. There, under the dripping candelabra, he begins picking up various bottles clustered on the marble top of the Victorian server. Just about anything can end up in his mug -- port, sherry, cognac, vodka, cassis -- even absinthe. When he has finished pouring all manner of liqueur and liquor into this poor cup of coffee, he doesn't just drink it. He proclaims it to be the most perfect, the most artful, the most invigorating of liquid delights, and then he downs it quickly. His search for the penultimate caffeinated potion will often lead him to repeat the experiment several times.

Which brings me back to Roman's theory of past lives. Since there is no logical rationale for this rite of gastric self-flagellation, I can only conclude that Roman is indeed being driven by his spectral inner needs. The maker of this cup of coffee is obviously the doomed soul of an alchemist. As he lifts the cup to his lips, I can see the glint of a 16th century genius, a Hapsburg prince immersed in the castle laboratory, ever optimistic that the latest batch in the bubbling pot is about to turn to gold. At that moment, he becomes a spirit chasing spirits.

For Roman the alchemist, here follows a few stanzas of verse to honor your quest, in this life, to find a magical cup of midnight coffee.

Roman at the Bar
There is no drink ere so fine
As one that’s made at midnight time.
Brew the coffee very hot,
Pour the brandy shot by shot.
Don’t omit the crème de menthe
Or the smuggled absinthe.
Oh look! "Hooray, hooray!
There’s half a bottle of Grand Marnier!"

You stand and ponder spoon in cup;
You stir and drink the potion up.
Soon your brain begins to fall
From alchemy of alcohol.
Tomorrow it will take its toll,
This cup of coffee for the soul.

* * *

Those of you who are still thirsty may wish to try the following coffee drink this holiday season; it is suitable for anyone with a reasonably tolerant digestion and disposition:

Midnight Mass
Mix half of mug of freshly ground, freshly brewed strong coffee (a Moka Java, Sumatra etc.) with a tablespoon of Dutch cocoa.
Add:
1 Shot Tia Maria
1/2 Shot Amaretto
1/2 Shot Creme de Cacao
A dash of half-and-half

Garnish with whipped cream.