Yesterday's Coffee, Today's Latte

My weekend has begun with a small assault at 6 AM by my little niece.  Followed by great cup of cappuccino at my sister's place.

It has been murderously hot in Tokyo, so we decided to play safe and visit a local cafe. This popular cafe, furacoco remodeled an old Japanese house in a residential area in Chiba.
野田にあるfuracocoというカフェに行ってきました。古民家を改造したという店舗、マクロビのご飯。その筋の方々には大変有名なお店だそうです。ご飯がすうっごく美味しかった。また行きたい〜〜。

Lea was very curious of her surroundings.

Food is all organic / macrobiotic.  The lunch set was extremely good and artistic.

They've got a kitchen wear shop as well.
ショップにはステキなもの満載で、しかもなんか安い気がする。やっぱり場所代が加算されてないからでしょうか。

I couldn't resist -  I bought this large coffee mug (Hinako Hirano pottery in Gifu) and a wooden spoon for steamed white rice.
この大きめのマグカップ。岐阜の平野日奈子さんの器。有名な方らしいですが、知らなくても一目惚れできるくらいステキです。　

Then I found a shop card of a knit cafe not far from furacoco.  We were curious, and decided to check it out.
This small knit cafe, Kupu, was also in the middle of a suburban residential area.  Very strange it was, but a very nice cafe.

Unfortunately Kapu is very far from where I live (takes 2 hours), but the owner is fairly known crafter in Japan, and I'd love to visit there whenever I get a chance.
She told me she is starting a knitting class for men, and 5 guys have already signed up!!
furacocoに置いてあったショップカードをなんとなくめくってみて、天王台（我孫子です）にニットカフェがあることを発見！妹夫婦と「どうせ外は暑いし」といって、カフェの梯子をしてみました。kupuという小さいお店ですが、ほんと素敵で、近所にこんなお店欲しかったな〜。なんと、８月から男性向けの教室もスタートだとか。手作り好きの男性が皮などで小物を編みたいと、既に５人も集まっているんだとか。

Back home, last night, I discovered that my espresso machine still works, and that it is much easier to use it than I had thought.  So I started to use it again... I think latte I make is so much tastier than I drink at cafes, despite the fact that I use Starbucks Espresso Blend.
そして、昨晩。何となく家にあるエスプレッソマシンを使ってみる気になったのです。５年以上ホコリを被っていた代物。なんか面倒だなと思っていたのだけど、使ってみたら思いのほか簡単だし、掃除も思ったより簡単だし、なにしろラテが極ウマ。スタバのエスプレッソブレンドを使っても、スタバより美味しいような。。。