A Midweek Grocery Stop and Testing New Coffee

I needed a few things from the store yesterday, nothing major, just coffee and some snacks to get through the rest of the week. Ren had been using the last of the grounds for his thermos in the morning, so I figured I would grab a new bag while I was out. The old tin on the counter still had that faint roasted smell clinging to the inside even after it was empty, and I kept catching it every time I walked past to grab a glass of water.

The store over in Crestwood Bend had what I needed, and the parking lot was not too bad for a Wednesday. I spent a minute looking at the options in the bean aisle. One of them was a medium roast with notes of chocolate and something they called frostberries. I had not seen that before, so I added it to the cart along with a box of crackers and a small container of cloud cream for the weekend. The bag felt heavier than the usual one we buy, and the plastic crinkled loudly when I set it down next to the cart’s metal bars. A woman with a toddler passed by and the kid pointed at the bright labels on the cereal across the aisle, so I lingered a little longer just to avoid the small rush forming near the checkout.

On the way back I stopped for gas because the light had come on two days ago. The total came to just under thirty dollars, which seemed about right. The pump handle was still a little sticky from whoever used it last, and the receipt printed out with that sharp chemical smell that always makes me tuck it straight into the glove box. When I got home I put everything away and made a small pot of the new coffee to try it. It was smoother than what we usually get, not as bitter at the end. The first sip left a faint chocolate note on the tongue that lingered after I swallowed, and the steam fogged up the little window above the sink for a minute before it cleared. Ren tried a cup later and said it was fine, so I think we will stick with this one for a while.

I also pulled out the old coffee maker to clean it since it had been sitting with some residue in the pot. The filter basket came out easily, and I ran it through hot water a couple of times. It took longer than I expected because I kept getting distracted by a text from Lissa about her work schedule next month. She is thinking about taking some time off in July. While the basket soaked I wiped down the base of the machine where a thin ring of old coffee had dried; the sponge picked up a dark streak that looked almost purple under the kitchen light. Lissa’s message came with a photo of her desk calendar covered in crossed-out dates, and I replied with a quick thumbs-up before rinsing everything again.

Later in the evening I sorted through the mail that had piled up on the counter. Most of it was junk, but there was one envelope with a coupon for a local hardware store that I might use next time we need lightbulbs. The paper was the usual glossy kind that catches on your fingertips, and the coupon itself had a little tear in one corner from being crammed into the mailbox. The rest went straight into the recycling bin, which was already half full of yesterday’s newspaper and a couple of empty pasta boxes.

I have been trying to keep the kitchen counters clearer lately, so after the coffee was done I wiped everything down and put away the mail. It is a small thing but it makes the space feel less crowded when I come in from work. The counter under the window still had a faint ring from where the coffee pot had sat earlier, and I had to go over it twice with the cloth before it disappeared. Ren mentioned he might pick up dinner tomorrow since I handled the shopping. That works for me. The new coffee is already in the cabinet next to the mugs, ready for the morning. I think that is enough to carry us until the weekend.