Taking the Edge Off

Do-it-yourself iced coffee

Place: Café al Hakatzeh, Kiryat Tivon

When: Sunday, noon

Environment: This coffee cart is at the edge of a park, which is at the edge of a hill overlooking a forest, agricultural fields, a highway and other towns in the distance. There seemed to be a meeting of the cutest dogs in the world during my visit. At least six medium-sized dogs ran around, playing, inspecting, and just generally having the time of their lives. The proprietor of the coffee cart is a very friendly guy and appears to know everyone who comes through (including the pups). There is seating available at little tables perched around the edge of the hill. There’s also a wooden picnic table or two, and some stone benches. After I sat down at a table and pulled out my computer, the owner called over to me to make sure I knew that they had wifi and plugs. The entire setting is canopied by tall pines and in spring, the area boasts grass and wildflowers. An offroad bike path runs right by, as well. A small playground is just to the other side of the coffee cart, making this a nice stop for both parents and cyclists. Every now and then, the pastoral peace was interrupted by a pair of fighter jets taking off from the not-far Ramat David air force base.

My Order: Iced coffee (NIS 15).

The low-down: I took a long walk in the cool spring air to reach Café al Hakatzeh, but I was pretty warm by the time I arrived. I figured I’d kick off the season with my first iced coffee. The man at the counter asked if I wanted it strong or weak. I answered, “more strong than weak.” He presented me with a cup of ice and milk, and a double espresso on the side. He said with a smile, “You didn’t give me the green light, so adjust it however you like.” On the one hand, that was a thoughtful and friendly approach. On the other hand – I’m no barista! I don’t know the right way to make a cold coffee. So I thanked him and took it to a table and started adding and tasting until I found the ratio that worked for me. This time, I couldn’t blame anyone for my coffee being too strong or too weak. So let’s just say it was perfect. (Though the brew was more sour than the bitter I prefer.)

Who else was there: A pair of women sat engaged in conversation. One wore a purple sweatshirt, black pants and running shoes. Her hair was tied up in a bun. The other had on a denim shirt, black pants and running shoes. Her straight, long, brown hair was down.

The two were catching up, having a heart-to-heart that spanned work, kids, and self-fulfillment. They had a lot to talk about, so they were nursing their drinks much longer than was practically needed to drink coffee. But the kids were in school, the men were at work, and they had a little time. The one woman in the purple shirt was trying to figure out how to carve a window out for herself on a regular basis. She felt life generally revolved around the kids and running the house, and it was time to get back into her previous exercise regime. She was one of those women who would get up early, hydrate, and head out for a 15-km run before breakfast. Now, she was lucky to wash her face before the kids started whining about their cereal. She wasn’t sure she could go back to running. The days would be hot and busy, by night she’d be exhausted. And being out the door by 5:00 a.m. seemed too daunting. But she committed to her friend to start slowly. She could go for a shorter run at 6:00, and be back by the time the kids were up. And then reassess. So that’s what she would do.