Mr. Coffee

Sophia followed her mama into a cafe with a pink door. It was Tuesday morning, and the cafe looked empty from the outside, but a delicious smell pulled them in. Mama ordered pancakes, a coffee for herself and a hot chocolate for Sophia. Then they went to sit at a table by the window.

There was a magazine on the table, which Mama quietly started to read. Sophia ate a sugar cube and reached into Mama’s handbag to look for a toy. There was usually at least one thing to play with in there. Today her fingers closed around a little Lego boy, and Mama’s keep cup, a glass cup with a brown lid that Mama sometimes used for hot drinks. Sophia put the Lego boy into the cup and shook him around. Dok dok dok, went the Lego boy.

Other people came in and ordered food and drink, and sat down. Sophia pulled the Lego boy in and out of the cup. Mama was still reading, and Sophia started to feel a little bored. She looked around the cafe, at the white tables and pink chairs, at the giant red coffee machine hissing away on the cafe counter. Next to the giant coffee machine sat a tall silver pot with a spout and curly handle. The man behind the counter took some coffee cups off the top of the machine and set them out in a circle close to the silver pot.

Suddenly, Sophia gasped. She saw something very strange! A man rolled out of the tall silver pot! And not just any man, a tiny man. He was even shorter than a coffee cup. As quick as a flash, he ran behind the coffee bean grinder and disappeared! Sophia quickly climbed up onto her chair to get a better look. Luckily, Mama was too busy reading to notice.

Sophia looked carefully at the counter, searching for the little man. She soon spotted his striped purple and yellow top hat, and as she squinted, she saw him raise his arms up high. She could just see him, standing in the middle of the ring of coffee cups. Whatever could he be doing? Sophia hardly had time to wonder. Lo and behold, ribbons of coffee and milk shot out of his sleeves, landing perfectly in the cups placed around him. He filled one cup at a time and as soon as the last cup was full, he disappeared! Sophia rubbed her eyes in amazement.

The tall man behind the counter placed the cups of coffee on to a tray and brought the tray out to the dining room. As he walked past their table, Sophia sniffed the air and smelled a wonderful smell. It smelled like berries mixed with sunshine and biscuits. “Yummy,” said Sophia. Mama looked up from her magazine and sniffed the air too. “It sure smells good, doesn’t it? Better than I remember, actually,” said Mama.

People at the next table were now making happy sounds from drinking the tiny man’s coffee. “Delicious!” said someone. “This is the best coffee I’ve ever had!” said someone else. Mama and Sophia couldn’t wait to get their drinks. But the man returned to the kitchen without bringing them their order.

When he next came out, he delivered the pancakes to the table. Mama asked him if their drinks would be ready soon. Sophia looked up at him. He was a very tall and lean man with a messy mop of yellow hair and a nose that made Sophia think of a large orange carrot. He had kind and friendly eyes. “I’m sorry, Ma’am, I’ll make those right away,” he said to Mama. Mama smiled and started slicing up the fruit and pancakes, placing them neatly on two little plates. As the tall man walked away, Sophia tugged the sleeve of his shirt. “I want to see the tiny coffee man make it,” she whispered.

At once, the tall man’s eyes grew wide and round like dinner plates. He bent his head down to Sophia’s and whispered back, “How do you know about the tiny coffee man?” “I saw him! I want to see him again!” said Sophia softly, who didn’t want Mama to hear.

Clearing his throat, he said in a slightly louder voice, “Would you like to come to the counter to watch me make the coffee? If Mum will let you, that is.” He glanced at Mama. Mama nodded, pleased, and Sophia walked up to the counter with the tall man, looking back to see Mama wave. She stood up on a little stool and waited with excitement.

The tall man pressed a button on the red coffee machine, and it shook and hissed as steam came out the top. It made such a loud noise! “I only use this to warm up the cups,” whispered the man. “Now remember, you can’t tell anyone about the tiny coffee man. It’s our secret! He doesn’t like people to see him.” He knocked quickly and quietly on the coffee pot. Knock, knock, knock! A little door opened in the coffee pot. A tiny little black slipper appeared, followed by another. Two ankles came into view, followed by purple pants decorated with bright yellow stars. At last, the tiny man did a somersault and landed on the table. He smiled and clapped and did a little dance.

Suddenly, he saw Sophia staring at him and froze, his eyes growing frightened. “It’s alright, Mr. Coffee,” said the tall man. “It’s only a little girl here. No scary grown-ups. Would you make your special coffee for this little girl’s mum?”

Mr. Coffee paused. And then he nodded. He raised his hands in the air and pointed his sleeves towards an empty cup on the table. Out whizzed caramel and white coloured streams of coffee and milk. It was a most magical sight and Sophia could hardly believe her eyes. Then, all of a sudden, Mr. Coffee jumped back into the coffee pot. Sophia heard Mama’s voice right behind her as Mama scooped her up in her arms. “Hello, sweetie. Did you get to see the man make my coffee?” She asked. “Yes Mama, I did!”

Sophia placed her hand in Mama’s and they turned around to go back to their table. But then Sophia stopped. She hadn’t had her hot chocolate yet! The tall man behind the counter was now serving a few customers who had just walked in. Mama said, “Oh, Sophia, I think they are quite busy today and have forgotten! Can I make you a hot chocolate at home?” Sophia’s eyes filled with tears as Mama lifted her up and gave her a strong cuddle.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, Sophia saw Mr. Coffee slip quietly out of the coffee pot again. He tiptoed over to a little pink cup right at the back of the kitchen, raised his hands and opened his mouth. Sophia leaned her head and heard him sing, in a very quiet voice … “Chocolate dark, chocolate brown, turn this frown, upside down!” Out of Mr. Coffee’s sleeves came a rich, thick chocolate, on top of which he added a dollop of softly whipped cream and a small gingerbread man cookie. Then he took his top hat off, bowed and winked at Sophia, and disappeared.

The tall man brought the pink cup out to Sophia, who closed her eyes and took a sip. It was so creamy and sweet and it made her tummy feel comfortable and warm. “Thank you, Mr. Coffee,” she mumbled.

Mama said, “Yes, thank you, Mr. Coffee. My coffee is so good and tastes like magic!” At this, Sophia and the tall man exchanged a grin and the tall man gave Sophia a high five.

As Mama and Sophia left the cafe, Sophia thought of the tiny coffee man, his shiny black slippers and bright top hat, the stars on his pants and the magic in his sleeves.

“What a wonderful place,” she thought. She couldn’t wait to go there again.