A Pleasant Sunday with Family and Back to Denver

 

My Aunt and my Cuzzies at the golf course against the Denver Skyline

A full day in Denver was planned for Sunday and we made a wonderful day of it. It started with some family chat time on the front porch. I discovered I have at least one cousin who is addicted to the New York Times Spelling Bee. 

Tom, Jonni, & siblings Eric & Yvonne

 

Then we were off for breakfast at the Denver Public Golf Course. 

 

Once full of coffee and filling breakfast foods, we had a special local in mind. Cousin Yvonne did her homework before arriving in Denver. She read about an African American owned coffee shop, the Whittier Cafe and we headed there to enjoy some additional liquid eye opener, with perhaps, a dollop of cream.

. 

The little shop had a surprise - an Ethiopian coffee ceremony was scheduled for today. One of the reasons for the ceremony is to welcome guests. We were ready to be welcomed! So in we went - our Carter luck revealed the traditional ceremony had just begun. Soon we were each clutching a warm or cold cup of beverage and settled down to watch a young, Ethiopian born woman perform the Coffee Ceremony.

The gist of the ceremony is the pouring of hot water over beans, and there is a progression of three times in which water is poured onto the original coffee grounds. The first brewed pot is STRONG. With each of the additional brewing, the coffee is progressively smoother. After each of the 3 brewings, the young lady poured coffee into sampling cups and passed out the samples to her eager audience. 

The ceremony certainly gave feelings of friendliness and inclusion, and in that light, the Carter family chatted among themselves and with other customers watching the ceremony. And the coffee samples? Delish! Each round of coffee was notably different from the preceding round. 

The Mural

The last round of coffee served up is called 'Baraka'. That final round of coffee is considered a blessing and is known as the “one for the road”. So having had our 'one for the road' we prepared to leave, but first we requested the young lady join us for photo op in the outdoor dining area of the shop. 

Alas, the end of our Carter Colorado Pop-up Reunion is nigh, for tomorrow we all head home. We had a lovely time cousins! Can't wait to do it again.