Making the Perfect Coffee on Your Cafetera!

In my previous post I explain what a Cafetera is. In this post I will give step by step instructions on how to make the perfect coffee.

A Cafetera has three sections. The bottom section is where you put the water. The middle section is where you put your espresso grounds. The top section is where the espresso will be at the end of the process.

Step 1- Use filtered water: Water tastes different from place to place depending on the chemicals that local municipalities use or the age of your pipes. While it is not always possible to filter your water, if you can this will improve the flavor of your coffee.

Step 2- Pour the water into the bottom section of the cafeterra. It is important not to overfill this section. You should get the water level as close to the steam release valve (it looks like a bolt on this section of the cafetera) as possible without going above it.



Step 3- Add Coffee Grounds: Place the next section of the cafetera into the water reservoir. If water starts to enter into this section you have too much water in the bottom section and need to dump some out. Now, fill this chamber with your espresso grounds. (Note- Espresso grounds tend to be a darker roast and also tend to be a finer ground then what you would place in a drip coffee. If you grind your own beans you will need to grind them longer than you normally would for a drip coffee maker).

Step 4- Tamp the Grounds: This is one of the most import parts in making a good espresso. You must tamp down the coffee grounds (simply pack the grounds tightly). In the cafe we had a special piece of a equipment to do this, but in you home you can use a spoon. With a spoon it is probably not possible to pack it down too tightly. (Note- If the coffee never perks, it is an indication that you have either tamped the coffee too much or ground the coffee to fine).

Step 5- Brew it: Screw on the top of the cafetera. You will want to make sure that it is tight so that no steam escapes. Then simply set on the stove on high. The heat will turn the water to steam and the pressure will force it up through the grounds and into the top section of the cafeterra. The espresso will slowly fill the top chamber. You will know it is finished when it starts to make a gurgling sound of steam escaping through the top quickly. Once you hear this you should remove it from the flame immediately to avoid burning your brew.

Step 6- Prepare your cup: The most typical way to drink a coffee in Spain was to mix it with hot milk. This would be the loose equivalent to a Latte in the states. The ideal milk temperature is between 140-170 degrees Fahrenheit. If you burn the milk it ruins the coffee! A typical Spanish version would be about 1/3 espresso to 2/3 hot milk. If I want a particularly strong coffee I may do half and half, but remember... A shot of espresso is the equivalent to a mug of coffee. Warning- If you fill an American sized mug of coffee with espresso and down it, you may experience twitching, stomach pain and anything else you would experience if you were to chug an entire pot of coffee.

If you follow these steps you will be able to make a wonderful coffee at home whenever you want. Not only that, but you will save some cash in the meantime without having to sacrifice your coffee.

Cafe Terra Nova MMIV-MMVIII

I just saw these photos posted by my friend Betty last night. It is sad to see Terra Nova close it's doors as a cafe. The truth is though, the dream of Terra Nova had very little to do with a cafe and very much to do some of the people who passed through that place. This place only provided occasional glimpses of the real Terra Nova. While the cafe Terra Nova has closed the dream of Terra Nova lives on...

...at least it lives on in me? How about you?

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."

Friends in Galicia

Now that Lori and I live in the NW Suburbs of Chicago, we continue to follow the lives of our friends across the pond through their blogs.

This week I had the opportunity to talk with a good friend from Spain in person. I was able to grab a coffee with Roberto Reed as he was passing through the Chicago area. Rob lives in A Couruña, Spain. We met several years ago and I always enjoyed when I was able to visit Vida Nueva Church (A church that he helped to plant). Occasionally friends from the church would come and assist us during the opening of art exhibits in cafe Terra Nova. We enjoyed the kind of partnership that happens when Christians take kingdom view of ministry and work to encourage one another.

Last summer we were able connect with Nate and Faith Walter as they left the Chicago area and headed to Galicia with International Teams. Rob and his church graciously welcomed them and have been working alongside of them as they adjust to life in Spain. We are thankful for Rob and his family and the way that God is working through them to reach Spain with the Gospel. If you ever make it to Galicia it would be well worth your time to look up Roberto and the Walters.

Cheers Mate

We met James at the cafe 3 years ago when he was in Santiago as an exchange student from London. What a surprise this week to get a message on my phone saying he was in town. We went out last night to catch up, talk about old times and some of the difference between English-English and American-English, and discuss some of the deeper issues in life. It was great seeing him again and nice to be able to say goodbye before we leave town. Next time maybe we'll see each other in London or the USA.

My Hero

I want to say a special THANK YOU to Chris Warren. When he heard about some of the difficulties that our team was encountering over the past couple months he decided to come and lend us a hand in either closing or selling the cafe. Chris's love for coffee and for people spilled into every aspect of his life during his time here. I am honestly not sure if we would have been able to keep things running and maintain our sanity until the end of February without his help.

Chris came on his own bill even after the funds for his 6 month mission stint had come to an end. He came with zero Spanish and was serving coffees by himself in the cafe after being here only a week and a half. If you have ever tried serving specialty coffees or living in a place where you don't speak the language you realize the bravery that it would take to do both at the same time.

Within no time Chris connected with students living in SdC who are from Spain and all across Europe. One of the nicknames he picked up was Terra Nova Boy. Today he has been making his rounds through the city and saying his goodbyes to all of the people he has met in the two months that he has been here. As he heads out tomorrow we pray God's blessing on his trip back home and and all that he does in the future. We'll miss you Brother!

Closing Well!

Last Friday night we held our final party at Terra Nova (Photos here). It was a wonderful time for us to connect with so many of the people that we have gotten to know during our three years of operating the cafe. In the middle of the party while we were surrounded by our Spanish and international friends Jacob looked over at me and said, "This is what is known as finishing well!". That one phrase not only summed up the evening, but our last four months of finishing in the cafe. I am so thankful for friends like Jacob and Tania Bailey and Chris Warren, because I know that it is because of these amazing hard workers that things went as smoothly as they did.

Final Sale
On Tuesday morning we met in front of a Spanish notary with the new owners and signed all of the papers for the official sale of the cafe. On Tuesday night the new owners came in to help us close and we turned over the keys to them.

What’s Next?
This is the question that I have heard the most in recent weeks. First, now that we have turned over the café, we are going to take some time here in Spain to rest and pray. We will praying for discernment about what we should do next. Where do we go from here? Should we stay or go? Right now, everything is on the table for us, but being able to think about these things without the burden of the cafe will enable us to step back and be a little more objective. Besides praying about our future, we are going to spend our time continuing to connect with our Spanish friends and visiting and connecting with other ministry leaders around Spain to see what other ministries are up to and different ways that they are connecting with the culture.

We would invite you to join us in prayer during this time that God will grant us wisdom and discernment about our next steps.

Terra Nova Friends Party

I know many of you don't live in Spain and so this is out of the question. However, for anyone who lives in Galicia we wanted to invite you to our final bash at Terra Nova this Friday at 8 pm. We will have special tapas and look forward to this being a great time connecting with our friends in Santiago as well as introducing the new owners. If you are around and can make it please feel welcome and join in the celebration with us. If you can't make it, please pray for this evening that God blesses our time and conversations.

The Rain in Spain falls mainly on the Swains...

...because we live in Santiago, that is.

Today is a typical Santiago dC day in winter. It is raining. I am talking about the kind of rain that breaks umbrellas, and has most people walking around with their pants wet from the knees down because the water is falling sideways kind of rain. SdC is a walking culture (there just is not space for cars) so on days like today you either grab your umbrella and brave the weather or stay indoors drinking tea and coffee. Those who do brave the outside will eventually go somewhere warm and dry to grab a tea or coffee as well.

On days like today, cafes become a warm refuge of conversation and friends where the brave souls who have gone outdoors go to get warm and forget the weather for a few miniutes. Today that's where I am. I'm working the morning shift at the cafe. At 3 Lori is going to come and relieve me and I will take Abi to school for the afternoon. Our dear friends and teammates, the Baileys, return from their visit to States this weekend. That should be a good reunion and we are looking forward to their return.

Well, I hope you have a good day. I am going to return to sipping my hot coffee!

Last Days of Terra Nova

Props to Jacob for this clip.

Christmas lights and Bailey Flights

Santiago is always changing with the seasons and the different people that are coming and going. This year the city hung some new Christmas lights so today I thought that I would get some shots around the city. While I was out I stopped by the cafe to hang out with Jacob. While I was there I got some cool shots of the cafe and tried to capture a little of the atmosphere inside.


Jacob and Tania planned their Christmas trip to the states months ago and tomorrow morning they will begin the 27 hour treck at 5am local time. Please pray for their travels if you are reading this on the 12th. Also pray that their time at home with family will be rich and restful as well as a good time to connect with friends. I have more photos that I would like to load to show you what I saw today. If you want to see them I will be posting them in my Sights in SdC blog.

Starting a business in Spain

Our team opened a cafe two and a half years ago in Santiago. From time to time I get e-mails or phone calls from ministries or individuals not native to Spain who ask me about starting a business in Spain. Today I thought I would highlight some of the most important things that we have learned.

1) This is the most important thing I can say to anyone considering starting a small business in Spain. Before doing anything you should retain a Gestor. This is a position that does not really exist (to my knowledge) in the USA. In this office not only do they provide you with a lawyer who is an expert in business law, but they generally have a staff of accountants, and for lack of a better name "errand runners". Before we had a good gestor I spent most of my free time during the week when I was not working, running from one government office to another. A gestor is a go-between for the business and any government office that you need to communicate with. In the long run they will save you a lot of time and money and frustration.

2) Employees are very expensive. First of all, if you sign a contract with someone for a year, after vacations and bonuses you will pay them for approx. 14-15 months worth of work. Minimum wage is different for different people. It depends on the type of job, age, gender, and a variety of other variables (for example: it is cheaper to hire a girl under 20 than say a guy at 32).

3) Don't be afraid if everything is not perfect. It is almost impossible for a small business to navigate all of the legal paper-work needed to open in a timely fashion. Most small business owners open while still petitioning for licensing. If you are working with a gestor they can let you know what risks are worth taking and what are not.

4)Look for subvenciones, or subsidies that the government provides for various types of businesses. There are tons of subvenciones available if you know where to look and who to ask.

5) Join an association that works in your sector. Associations normally charge a nominal fee and give you important information regarding changing laws in your field as well as training and discounts on certain items.

6) Ask lots of questions to friends who have a business like the one you want to start. Here are the big three for a cafe: 1) How much do you pay in rent? 2) How many square meters is your cafe? 3) What would you make on a typical winter/summer day? The answers may vary from location to location and cafe to cafe, but if you can get a small sampling of your area you can tell if the place that you are looking at is within the normal price range.

7) It only counts if it is in writing and both parties sign it. (an official looking stamp does not hurt either) 'Nuff said?

8) Assume your gestor expects you to have an innate understanding of Spanish business laws and practices and ask a lot of questions based on that assumption.

9) Patience is a virtue. When you find a location that you like take it slow and make sure that it will serve all of your needs. Be picky and particular and make sure it is place that you can be for a long time.