Americano, Two Parts Hot Water

This morning, I — a self-declared billionaire of time — rode my bicycle out for coffee.

Still Highlands — just not the familiar spot I’ve been loyal to for more than ten years.

My Americano was topped up with hot water from an electric kettle.
No hissing espresso machine.
No dramatic cloud of steam like at the old place.

The coffee was still strong.
It just lacked… a touch of familiarity.

I began drinking coffee as a university student in Huế.

Back then, cà phê kho was my favorite.
The lady on Bến Nghé Street would reheat the brewed coffee in a small aluminum ladle over charcoal, then pour it into a tiny ceramic cup.

One đồng per cup — a tiny coin in those days.

A poor student didn’t always have one đồng to spare.
Some mornings I skipped breakfast for that bitter sip.
I wouldn’t even touch the free tea, afraid it would wash the taste away too quickly.

I let the bitterness linger, then walked to the library,
reading Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, or Charles Dickens,
waiting for the dormitory cafeteria to open.

Now it’s 35,000 đồng per cup.

By that measure, coffee has gone up 35,000 percent.

But in return, I can have it whenever I want.
Morning, noon, afternoon, or night — no more skipping meals to earn a sip.

Back then, I had no money and craved coffee.
Now I have coffee — and find myself craving the feeling of those days instead.

After nearly fifty years, at roughly 50 milliliters per cup,
I may have consumed close to one cubic meter of coffee.

One cubic meter of memories — not just dark liquid with a bitter taste.

It doesn’t need to be overly strong.
It doesn’t need to be harsh.
Just two parts hot water added — that’s my perfect balance.

This morning wasn’t the old place.
But it was still a good morning.

Huế probably no longer has one-đồng coffee.
Yet somewhere, perhaps, there’s still a student skipping breakfast
for that very first bitter sip.

If so, I hope he keeps his taste for it… for another fifty years.

As for Mr. Old Man, tomorrow morning it will still be two parts hot water —
strong enough, and just enough to remember.

____

Mr. Old Man