For me, there simply isn’t a better coffee than a morning cup in the bush.

The Klein Karoo is our regular bush escape – at Cabine du Cap – and our current lockdown home.

It’s hard to say what I look more forward to – the evening gin and tonic or the morning coffee. We’ve got Nespresso machines for guests, but it’s hard to ignore the Bialetti Moka Express Coffee Maker, sitting on the shelf, staring down at me.

You simply cannot reproduce that flavoursome kick any other way. Or rather, should I say, ‘skop’.

As we wile away the lockdown days at the cabin, I was reminded of one of my favourite books – Cabin Porn – which I have lying around on the coffee table.

It occurred to me that this needs a second volume, ‘Coffee Porn’, because what I witnessed this morning was quite something.

We’ve got a small Bialetti for singles and a monster for sharing.

As all true farmers and men of the wild, I wake up first, around 5AM, and heat up some milk in a silver tin cup.

I then fill the small Bialetti to just above the valve and pack in some Terbodore coffee.

This morning I was a bit naughty and used the Nicaragua Rajuanse Estate Honey Process strain.

From Terbodore’s online shop, this description:

Honey process is quite a popular process in Central American coffee-growing countries. During this process, coffee is dried with some or all of the mucilage remaining on the parchment encasing the seed…Honey process coffees feature significantly less acidity than washed or natural processed coffees.

Rajuanse Estate is located in a mountain valley in Matagalpa, Nicaragua…The farm also has an ongoing project with the Engineers Without Borders organisation, to be able to supply neighbouring communities with potable water from the farm’s water springs and making them part of the maintenance and better practices to avoid polluting existing waterways in their daily water usage.

Great – not only does it taste amazing, but I’m supporting a good cause. This is why it’s my current fave.

Before you ask, yes, Terbodore is certified as an essential goods supplier, and can deliver.

Back to my coffee, and everything comes together at the same time – like a symphony. The milk is hot in the cup and I add the brew to it. It’s strong and, oh my goodness, it tastes so good.

Look at this:

That’s living.

The pot then goes back on the shelf. As a purist, I rarely clean it.

The birds are chirping. The dew is drying. A buck in the distance. And look at this – a little Cape wagtail for the team, right on cue!

A touch blurry, but you have to be quick with the ol’ wagtail.

Today’s going to be a good day. I think we need to finish off that treehouse.