Cuckoo Clock Coffee
Christmas, 2019
My Mother’s Sister Patsy, My Aunt from Vermont, sent me a very special Christmas gift. My late grandmother’s Cuckoo Clock. It did not have significant financial or historical value, nor did it even work. But it was a family heirloom nonetheless, and I was the only person she knew that may be able to fix it, and would appreciate it properly.
I set to work tinkering with it every Sunday night, as Sunday’s were the time that I would find anything more interesting than going to sleep and dreading the coming workday. After a few hours here and there, I made a little progress, and realized that Sundays were the special days that “Big Nana” would call all of her children and grandchildren on the telephone. Years ago, we may have dreaded those calls, for she was the only one with the guts to tell us what we were doing wrong with our lives, and what we needed to do to fix our problems. Years later we all miss those calls and would give anything to hear her nag us once again.
As I worked with the clock, trying to make it keep time again, I looked at the hour and second hands, and realized that she was calling me once again. Granted I didn’t hear her voice as I had in the past, but she was still talking to me, and by god I talked back.
I had been roasting coffee at home for several years, making futile attempts and magical mistakes. One Sunday night, talking to Nana and hanging the clock, voila! The pendulum swung of it’s own accord! I had been looking at used coffee roasting machines in the classified ads, and I said, “Nana, should I spend an absurd amount of money for a tiny antique coffee roasting machine?” I can’t say with certainty that she said yes, but I was confident enough that the ear splitting “Cuckoo” voiced her opinion for her.
I roast coffee because I love it. The smells and sounds, the feeling of accomplishment when I taste an amazing coffee, those are the real rewards.
Now for most of us, coffee is a daily staple. But what goes best with coffee? Coffee Cake! My family has been having coffee cake for every major holiday my whole life. It’s not just any coffee cake, but my father’s mother’s recipe that’s been passed down for generations.
I believe with the inspiration and help from both my maternal and paternal grandmothers, I have an amazing combination that I just have to share with the world. I hope you enjoy these treats as much as I do!
Sincerely,
Daniel Giel
Cuckoo Clock Coffee LLC
308-672-2418
cuckooclockcoffee.com
cuckooclockcoffee@gmail.com
260079 Sea Gull Road
Scottsbluff, NE
69361