Good morning, Coffee Lovers!

     Did you know that long before Starbucks or Caribou Coffee came along, the Brazilians had their steamy, aromatic coffee bars – called “barzinhos” – serving up little cups of dynamite?

     Scattered along the boulevards and backstreets of Rio and São Paulo, these places can be a little gritty around the edges. The one I used to frequent resembled an Old West saloon, filled with urban cowboys, where you’d belly up to the bar and order yourself a shot. It even had a brass foot rail to elevate your sandals. (But gratefully, no spittoons!)

     Having worked in Louisiana and sampled Cajun coffee, I figured I knew all there was to know about strong coffee. (Down on the bayou, it ain’t strong enough unless you can float a nail in it.) But the Brazilians have taken the art to new heights. In fact, I suspect they use centrifuges to enrich their coffee beans, the way uranium is enriched to make atomic weapons.

     As if the caffeine alone weren’t enough to jolt your heart, the Brazilians heap spoon after spoon of sugar into the brew. It’s as if they’re testing the laws of physics to see how many teaspoons can be dissolved in a single demitasse.

     Despite the risks, I recommend you try a “cafezinho” and load it up with sugar. You’ll fly out the door with a palpitating heart. You’ll dance your way to work. You’ll rethink everything you ever knew about coffee!

BONUS THOUGHT: The worst cup of coffee I ever had was in Jordan. It was so bad, with those hard, chewy grounds in the bottom, it made me want to take up tea.