Don't mess with me before I've had my cup of coffee in the morning; hubby knows by now that the instant variety just won't do! Oh he tried fooling me once but it didn't work - the coffee's gotta be a dark roast plunger coffee with coffee creamer, not too much mind you, and a dash of brown sugar. When I say a dash, that's what I mean! Hubby knows that as well!



Coffee and a homemade rusk is what we start our day with!

I'm a meek and mild gal by nature but just don't mess with my coffee!

You can see from my photos that I have a kind of love affair with coffee, especially a good cappuccino made with a double shot of espresso!



International Coffee Day took place this week on 1 October - what is this all about?

International Coffee Day on 1 October brings together coffee lovers in a global celebration to share their love of coffee and support the millions of farmers whose livelihoods depend on it.

Source



The International Coffee Organization is trying to highlight the plight of coffee farmers as they are fighting for survival. Although we are paying steep prices for that cup of coffee or cappuccino in our coffee shops, the amount that the coffee farmers are paid for their beans, is at an all-time low!

Many farmers are turning to other crops - putting the coffee we drink at risk.

This organisation is asking all coffee lovers and anyone else who would like to support these farmers, to sign the #coffeepledge, in support of a living income for the coffee farmers.



We visited a coffee farm on the South Coast of Kwazulu Natal earlier this year and heard that many farmers down there have turned to farming Macadamia Nuts!



I wrote a post on the Beaver Creek Coffee Estate a while back; we saw just what a load of hard work it is to get from the coffee seed to a cup of coffee.

If you're a coffee lover, you will find it really interesting.



We are still fortunate in having access to amazing filter coffees and beans, how very sad if this was to come to an end, but even more tragic to think that the farmers who've been putting their hearts into coffee farming may find that this is not a viable proposition any longer as they're unable to support their families and maintain a large coffee farm; we could end up with only mass-produced instant coffees on the supermarket shelves!



So that's my fight for this week's Food Fight Friday, just a load of coffee and a plea to everyone to get onto the bandwagon and support this cause.

But I almost forgot, to enjoy a good cup of coffee, we need a little something sweet so here is my Lemon Meringue Pies and a couple of Milk Tarts - a traditional South African tart - crisp pastry with a light and fluffy milk custard filling, sprinkled with Cinnamon, absolutely scrumptious!



I also ordered 3 cupcakes for our judge and ring masters @dandays, @idig and @jlsplatts; hope you guys enjoy it, but if you prefer Lemon Meringue Pie, I will gladly make one for each one of you;)

