On the large patio between the German Bar and the big building we meet the German Bar dogs, Ganja and Jamaica. Ganja is a sort of scruffy looking dog, Jamaica has the classic look of a Jamaican street dog. Sweetie Pie is ecstatic. Her first accepted biscuit of the week goes to Jamaica. “I know you’re taken care of and these aren’t supposed to be for you but you’re just so cute!” she says.
We come back and have a chat while site prep continues. We learn our coffee god’s name – Max. Max is a big sports guy and the BBC sports feed comes on the speakers. We talk a lot of Futbol, I have played, coached and ref’ed in my day. I tell Max about my experiences watching Jamaican matches, chain link fences and barb wire separating fans from players, usually only by inches. “Yah, mon, we’re crazy,” he says. Max won’t say too much but it seems he was a player of some repute in his younger days. Coffee still isn’t ready but we’re in no rush. We chat away while Max goes about his chores.
Eventually the magic elixir is ready and Max pours us a couple of mugs. “Now what were you saying about rum cream down here?” asks Sweetie Pie. Max grabs one of the small bottles off the shelf behind him. We crack it and turn a perfect cup of coffee into a little bit of heaven. We head out to drink our coffee on the German Bar pier. I’m going to say this right now, if you know of a more romantic place to share a cup of coffee early in the morning than the pier at the German Bar, you’ve got something very special.
Notice the pocket full of dog biscuits Sweetie Pie is toting
We head back in for another mug, black this time to take in all the flavor. What always amazes me about Blue Mountain is you can make it quite strong and it never gets bitter. Max makes it strong and it’s delicious. “Lots of people come for my coffee,” he says and we believe him. Nice Krups slow drip machine. Not French press but excellent drip coffee. Sweetie Pie is taking a shine to Max which cracks me up a little. He might be the most sport crazed man we meet the whole week, not her usual cup of joe. This is now her place and I don’t think there is a second we’re there the rest of the trip that the BBC sports feed isn’t playing.
We settle up and head out. 900j for 4 big mugs of coffee and the rum cream. We forgot the rum cream and Max comes running after us. “We’ll bring it back tomorrow,” we say with big smiles.
