Espresso Me to Nirvana!

Niya Christine's 365 Paintings Per day #9. Copyright 2013

9/365 Paintings of 2013

“Express Me Into Nirvana” is what I feel when I walk into a coffee house. The sounds of the espresso engines roaring, milk foaming against the backdrop of a brick wall. Baristas laughing about nothing at all, happy for the buzz of talk and coffee. And the smell, oh the smell of coffee. For a second we are important, happy people with things to say, concepts and emotions to express. Back to a time when society ran around in numbers, tribes, gatherings.

There is a wonderful article at Smithsonian.com: Design Decoded about the history of the espresso maker. The thing that jumps out at me is the “PRESSURE” of the chemical process. Illy’s (Italian roasters) describes it: ‘A jet of hot water at 88°-93°
C (190°-200°F) passes under a pressure of nine or more atmospheres…’ “‘Nine atmospheres of pressure is the equivalent to nine times the amount of pressure normally exerted by the earth’s atmosphere. Good espresso is good chemistry.'”

Pressure—pressurized pure sensorial brain pleasure. Combine this with the shortness of morning hours or a coffee break in the afternoon “in between” things and we have the makings of a marvelous, creative experience that only tightly structured spaces can produce.

I suppose this describes the process of a painting per day as well. : )

 

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6 comments

  • Nina Hansen Machotka January 9, 2013  

    Oh Niya!! You are such an inspiration! I LOVE your daily paintings, and of course you must know this one really touched me. How we love our cappuccino and espresso. I make cappuccino every morning and then we sit in bed and gaze out the window at our beautiful countryside, sipping our ambrosia. I think I’ll be a barista in my next life!

    You’ve inspired me to post a photo a day with a small story or description. I can’t agree more with you that the journals have become banal and repetitive. Sometimes I can’t stand to read my ad nauseum complaints. LOL. Come to Italy soon and have some *real* coffee :-). Miss you!

    • niya christine January 9, 2013  

      This comment made me want to drive to the airport and head to Umbria and be there tomorrow for coffee with Nina and Pavel. What a wonderful thing that could be. You never know! I’m soooo thrilled that this has inspired you. Makes my day! I can’t wait to see what you do. Miss you too… A visit is in the cards for sure! XXOO, Niya Christine.

  • Cynth January 9, 2013  

    Niya,
    I am impressionable and easily guided. Now I am walking to Matching Half for an espresso. I fell asleep last night wanting a cup of coffee. Rain is coming and the pressure is escalating.
    Cheers from San Francisco, Cynth

    • niya christine January 9, 2013  

      I love that about you Cynthia. Impressionable and easily guided is a person with the spirit of adventure! Pressure escalating… Espresso is making me appreciate the beauty of compressed spaces. Thank you for sharing in this particular adventure! Warmly, Niya Christine.

  • Leonie January 10, 2013  

    Hi Niya
    I love getting the daily paintings. I love the colours and your style… I’m sorry I was slow to open the first painting, but I will be rushing to open them daily from now on …..

    • niya christine January 10, 2013  

      Leonie… I’m just glad they weren’t going into junk mail. No worries. There is no rush when it comes to sharing color and coffee. Glad you are here. ; )