Once again it’s time for me to pack my two suitcases, say my goodbyes, and catch another flight. In this last blog post from Lake Mary, I had to choose from so many things still to be written about: the Sunrail train ride, downtown Orlando, beautiful beaches. But nothing in Lake Mary has been quite as comforting as the little coffee shop just around the corner from where I live. It’s called La Meca.
I first spotted the store on my first day in Lake Mary, as I was (as usual) frantic, panicked, and ridiculous driving my rental car around a tiny town strange to me. An A-frame sidewalk sign with the word “coffee” caught my eye as I blew past the store, and I made a mental note to return. When I’d settled in, I ventured over one morning, exploring.
When I opened the door, it was a whole new world: a cozy, low-ceilinged, lamplit one. The glow softened the room and reflected off hardwood flooring and upholstered chairs. Beautiful touches surrounded the room: antiques, coffee-making utensils of all kinds, a giant coffee-roasting machine. A high bar stood along one wall.
The barista stood behind a pine counter on a repurposed plywood base. He was tall and wore a denim apron with a ponytail neatly tucked under a matching denim baseball cap. With enormous green eyes and a deferential smile, he asked in kind and modulated tones, “What can I get for you?”
I realized what kind of place I had landed in: one that cared. Cared about their beans, about their service, about customers’ experiences. Since no one was behind me in line yet, and intuition told me this barista both knew what he was doing and cared enough to do it well, I let out the inner coffee snob I’ve been nurturing for several months now and let him guide me through my list of questions about coffee for the best cup. The barista (named Miles) and I negotiated a twelve-ounce (large) latte for here.
In the one-room coffee shop, Colombia is everywhere. La Meca sources from a family farm in Colombia whose pictures are displayed on the walls. A giant, clean, black-and-gold roaster dominates a space near the front counter. In another corner, a beautiful antique sewing machine from Colombia sits quietly. I wish the camera could capture the amazing detail on the machine.
The Colombian beans, freshly roasted only about a week prior, went in the grinder under Miles’ guidance and came out in a shower of light brown flecks, which were then tamped down and wedged into the espresso machine. “What kind of milk would you like?” Miles asked, and after another brief negotiation we decided on whole milk as it was a great compromise between half and half milk (too fattening) and 2% or skim (too watery).
Miles poured the milk with a careful, practiced hand and I took a sip. The strong espresso went straight to my bloodstream and the rich taste brought a huge smile to my face. “How is it?” asked Miles.
“It’s wonderful. It’s making me smile,” I said.
“That’s great! Smiling is important,” he said.
Of course, he was right, and I went back to La Meca for many more brews during my time in Lake Mary. Because smiling is important, and when the coffee is good enough to make you smile, you make it a priority.
~ The Dauntless Princess ~
P.S. For more information on La Meca Coffee Growers & Roasters, check out their Facebook page and their Instagram page!
