03/15/2026
-El bajo-
The chase had been on since El Mocho. The morning lit cinder and stucco place of Cuban fisherman that I had shuffled into for coffee and bacon near my ocean side tent at Boyd's Campground in Key West. I didn't drink coffee in college, maybe an espresso shot here and there on trips to Charleston. In El Mocho they called it El Bajo. Cramped-in shoulder to shoulder with the fisherman, in a casual line to the aqua linoleum counter for orders, there were 5 or six seats in the dim space. Grab and go. In a waxed paper dixie cup they poured the milk, sugar, and topped with espresso. The walk back to the tent in the graveled sand, early morning coolness, lush greens, shade scattered sunlight, the coffee was as unreal as the purple octopus, lagoon drifting next to my tent.
Chilly Water was making it's first run to Florida,..Palm Beach. I had two boxes to check during the downtime around the Alternative Beverage Show. A drink at The Breakers and a Cortadito Coffee at Havana Restaurant. Wanted to shoot my shot at Havana using Pure Chilly Water to make the coffee, pinnacle content. The espresso machine was of course tied into filtered water. Nice ladies working the 5 star restaurant's walk-up window in West Palm Beach. The phantom of el bajo was sensed again, found, short cupped, Cortadito. Delicious, time slowed sitting at the sidewalk table, with merged images of passing cars and flashed memories of her hair pulled up and Key West. Perfect.
The Breakers embodied American luxury with all expectations satisfied as we sat by the picture window view among the wedding party guests, waves ebbing, and watched the world renown clown fish bob around coral fixtures beneath our frosted pilsner glasses filled with Stella.
ChillyWater.com
Ben Harper
