Well, as this thread doesn't have a topic...does anyone remember my posting a thread asking how to make good European-style coffee? Everyone had good suggestions -- none of them worked.

Last week I had coffee in a new restaurant here and nearly fell out of my chair -- it was my European coffee! The waiter explained it was an "Americano," which is a shot of espresso in about 6 ounces of extremely hot water.

So, good old e-Bay -- I bought a little espresso machine, and today I'm back in Europe, drinking EXCELLENT coffee.

The history of the Americano, in 25 words or less: in the 50s, American tourists couldn't drink espresso, and Europeans didn't know how to make American coffee, so they watered down the espresso.

It's wonderful!! Hurray for serendipity!