The Simple Life: Making Coffee the Costa Rican Way
March 24, 2009
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” –Leonardo DaVinci
This is my sister’s chorreador. It is the only device she has for making coffee. You may recall from my previous post, Our Daily Bread (and Coffee!), that coffee time (cafecito) is a pretty big deal in Costa Rica, where she lives. Every morning and afternoon for the past two weeks while I stayed with her, this little contraption reminded me of just how simple life can be.
At my house we have had all sorts of fancy coffee-makers, most of which I never learned to fully operate. Some have built-in grinders, timers, flavor-optimizers, temperature regulators, milk steamers, etc. They are often expensive, have parts that break or need to be replaced, and sometimes don’t even make great coffee!
The chorreador has been used in Costa Rica for a long time without any significant design changes. There is a stand with a hole on top, which holds a cloth filter that is sewn onto a wire ring. The ring keeps the filter from falling through and holds it open. Ground coffee is placed into the filter, a receptacle is placed under it, and boiling water is poured in. That’s it… there is no need to change or complicate the system.
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” –Confucius
It kind of makes me wonder why we DO complicate so many things in the name of progress, convenience, laziness, and status. Are all the modern gadgets and devices we have really making our lives simpler?
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” –Albert Einstein
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I love it!
We actually have a chorreador, but at this time, it’s only sitting in our coffee area looking pretty. I think it’s time we retire our power hungry unit and press our “green” coffee maker into action. I will admit they do make really good coffee, and I do get the sense of a simplier life whenever I use one! Lisis, while you are in Costa Rica, I may sell our car as well. After all, I have a bike.
Very elegant! I think you could market this in the US.
Thanks! It is almost 6:00 am right now (in CR) and I am about to have some now-famous chorreador coffee. It is so easy to wake up early here because it is completely daylight by 5:30 and there is always delicious coffee waiting for me.
In today’s case, I have the added incentive of needing to be at the immigration office at 7:00am to beg for permission to go home. Maybe if I catch them early, they won’t be as cranky as they were at the airport. Keep your fingers crossed!
@ Jeff: Don’t sell the car just yet… if I make it to ATL today, I won’t want to ride home on the handlebar.
Hi Lisis,
I have often wondered why some gadgets require so many features when you want to do something simple. The coffee machine is the best example.
Hope all goes well at the immigration office!
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coffee made that way is for sure the best.
I don’t have a chorreador, but I do have a French press (which also yields a simple and delicious cup of coffee). Coincidentally, I bought it in Costa Rica, from Cafe Britt! However, I should say “did have a French press” because I recently dropped it, and the glass shattered into a million pieces!
I need to get a replacement…
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Hi Lisis,
So why DO we like to complicate life? For example, we already have telephones, email, texting and instant messaging. So why on earth do we need twitter?
Oh, and don’t even get me started on coffee.
A cup of coffee with a friend is one of the greatest pleasures in life for me.
I also like the simple methods. I make coffee at home using a French Press.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” (Leonardo DaVinci)
I love that. What a genius.
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Hi Lisis,
A simple life always stick with the real happiness. But the unfortunate thing is most people are unable to see it since they are deceived by the media and marketing campaigns.
Cheers for a simple life!
Yes, we are led to believe we need much more than we actually do.
@ Alison: Are you hinting that I should get you a replacement?
@ Michael: I am SO not having the coffee discussion with you… we’ll just have to agree to disagree. I am Costa Rican: my blood is 40% coffee! As for twitter, I’m gonna get you on there yet. You’ll see… it is much simpler than it seems.
@ David, Vikum and Jeff: I’d gladly buy you all a simple cup of coffee for sharing your thoughts with me. =-)
PS: It’s so nice to be home!
We used a cloth filter too in Canary Islands, but we were not as ingenious as set up a stand for it. Curious
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@ Miguel: I’m not sure if Costa Ricans are particularly ingenious, but they do tend to be a little laid back (lazy?), so standing around holding the filter is probably WAY more work than they are willing to do for that cup of coffee.
Welcome back, Lisis!
Your blood is 40% coffee, huh? That’s rich. I bet the other 60% is all sweeteners.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you do convince me to get on twitter. Still doesn’t make a good idea, though.
@ Michael: You know it, baby! I make my coffee like I make my life: bold, comforting, and sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet. =-)
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Can it be used for making tea?
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That is something that I have seen my grandmother do. In her home she has similar cloth filters, but without the other contraption. Her cloth filter has a wire handle and looks like one of those butterfly nets. Anyway, she has one for making coffee and one for tea. I must ask her where she got those.