a long story about the coffee and the room

we like it at forte 16 - that's the name of our apartment.  like all the apartments we've stayed at, there is a bit of a kitchen, complete with pots, plates, cups, saucers, etc.  This one even has a dishwasher (a first).  

Forte 16 kitchen

But what forte 16 doesn't have, is stuff for making coffee or tea.

This startled us a bit, given the cups and saucers, and also because our place in Rome included a stovetop espresso maker and copious amounts of ground coffee; Venice, a machine in our room; Bologna, one along the corridor - you get the picture.

Geoff duly toodled off for a chat.  Could we have something with which to make coffee?  No, not included in our apartment.  Hmmm.  Why ever not?  Short discussion ensued.

Forte 16 have now supplied us with a coffee machine (nespresso styles) and a microwave - also previously absent.

nespresso machine - now with pods

happy now, we make two coffees.  Less happily we discover that there were only two pods.  now gone.  We go back for a further chat.  They will sell us (sell us - I kid you not!) pods for 0.50 cents.  Hmmm.  we buy four.

Last night on the way to our cooking class we walked past the nespresso store.  Today we went back. Ten pods for 3.70.  Ok. no more 'cost price 0.50' pods from forte 16 thanks v much.

But the nespresso shop - what a kurfuffle - you have to get a ticket and then go to the appointed counter, but we don't know this because we are stupid foreigners.  So after lots of hmming and hawing about what type of pod we want - as there are dozens - we go to the counter - but no ticket - back to the door for the ticket.  Sod that.  Talk to the demo man and cadge a coffee while we wait.  Attempt to flog a packet of sugar to take back home (there is none of that in our apartment either) as we have started taking sugar in our espresso - at least we're not smoking so only a few bad habits picked up in Italy - success - one packet of sugar lifted - and we emerge, equipped.

welcome to our store, please take a number

The nespressos are pretty good, but large on waste, so we'll be sticking with the big ol' pavoni on our return.  and yes, it's not far to a caffe, but sometimes you just want a drink in your room.  god knows what will happen if we decide we need a cup of tea...