As we nudged our way towards retirement a year ago, Peter and I made a bucket list of the things that we had wanted to do for a long, long time. Both coffee aficionados (him: espresso, her: double shot macchiato), we were keen to learn more about being a home barista. As it happens, Ona Coffee House roastery and cafe here in Canberra offers barista training (beginners, advanced and latte art), and we've had our eye on their events calendar for a while. So, when the man who has just about everything has a birthday, what better gift could there be?

Ah! How sweet coffee tastes, more delicious than a thousand kisses, milder than muscatel wine.
Coffee, I have to have coffee, and, if someone wants to pamper me, ah, then bring me coffee as a gift!
                                    —  Johann Sebastian Bach, The Coffee Cantata, Aria 5, circa 1735