Dark roasted Arabica coffee beans swirled in the hopper as freshly ground powder filled the Portafilter. The aroma wafted across the servery, spilling into the seating area waking up Hej for yet another busy day.

Sanskaar tamped the ground coffee applying the just-right amount of pressure and locked the Portafilter to the head of espresso machine. He placed a cup and started the brew.

“Shall I help out?” The question came with a tap on his shoulder. He turned to find a formally dressed Ethan. Although, he was not surprised to find his baker-partner in a button down deep blue shirt and contrasting grey slacks. Ethan led a social enterprise called Baking Wishes which, as he put it, was 'his path to self-actualization '.

“Yeah, the counter.” Ethan nodded as he took his place taking orders.

Sanskaar poured the cold milk into the steel pitcher. With the thumb at the top of the handle, he balanced the pitcher and frothed the milk under using the steam wand. He believed coffee and anything related to it was his inborn talent and he was out to make the best out of it.

He swirled the milk twice, tapped it twice and swirled it again to ensure the microfoam had a velvety texture. Cappuccino, their first order of the day, was his favorite on the menu. Not as the drink he loved to drink but as a drink he loved to make. The dance of the frothed milk as it coalesced into the crema of the espresso satisfied his heart everytime he poured a cup. He could make a hundred yet not tire watching the process as the brown and the white came together to result in a liquid that could please Gods.

Clank! The customer dropped her clutch by mistake while searching for something. It caught Sanskaar's attention but his hand didn't stop. Once the moment passed, the customer gathered her belongings and completed her order. Ethan looked at Sanskaar and then at the cup in his hand topped with the perfect rosetta. “Nothing can distract you, right! I have never seen you mess up a latte art.”

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ────── ⊰

This is just the preview. The chapter will be updated on Tuesday along with Cross Connection.

Do you want to try your own cappucino? Here's the recipe. (No single reference because this is pretty standard recipe. Pic Credit: Pexels)