Oh, Espresso !

A Cup of Espresso pic 4
Originally uploaded by Mr. phelps.

What is espresso? Many books have been written on the subject and many people dedicate themselves to realizing a better-tasting cup. A good barista is constantly striving for espresso perfection. Making espresso is a continual battle against the array of environmental factors and variables. The desired end result is similar to calculus: convergence on the limit. I equate a delicious espresso with an Aristotelian play containing three curtains: a beginning, middle, and end -- followed by a delicious lingering aftertaste. The picture above was almost converging on the limit. That cup of little brown bubbles had great extraction timing, a fantastic heavy body with a buttery mouth-feel, a subtle sweetness and a great finish. Marvelously yummy.