Chopin Café Story

The evening mist nestled softly against the smoke rising over the potato field. A full day at school, followed by work in the fields—I was exhausted.

Maciek, ukochany koń Dziadka, też jakby resztkami sił człapał skrajem szosy.

Pokręciłem gałką tranzystorowego radyjka. Trzeszczało niemiłosiernie. Kiedy koń pociągnął wóz drogą przez las, rozległy się brawa.

We broadcast the Chopin Competition,” the announcer told the world.

And to me, a country boy in whom that moment remained forever.

Before I got on my bike to head home, Grandma poured me some coffee.

It’s good. Actually, it’s the best,” she smiled. “Made from acorns. It’ll give you strength.

I later learned that Frédéric Chopin, too, was an avid drinker of this coffee. After all, it has been a traditional, delicious, and healthy Polish beverage for centuries.

Here is a quote from *Kuryer Szafarski*: "On the 18th, the Honorable Fryderyk Chopin drank seven cups of acorn coffee; one may expect that he will soon drink eight."

Today, my 11-year-old daughter—a music school student in the piano class—drinks 3–4 cups of this coffee…