the best things in life

Whoever said the best things in life are free probably had a lot of money, enough not to even give money a second thought. Or they were in denial and trying to make themselves feel better. Sure there's lots of nice things in life that don't cost anything, but some of the best things in life cost a whole lot of money. The best coffee, for example, tends to cost more that bad coffee. A decent car stereo can set you back hundreds, even thousands.

However, some of the best things in life aren't necessarily the most expensive. Illy cups, for example, are the most collectable espresso cups in the world. Some of those can set you back hundreds for a single 2 oz. cup and saucer. They're pretty cool, and I'd love to have some (especially the ones designed by David Byrne!) but somehow I doubt that espresso tastes any better in them than in the generic cups I got at TJ Maxx for a buck a piece.

I don't know if my Bodum Pavina cups are the "best" in the world, but they certainly are the coolest. Interestingly, at $15 a pair, or less, they are among the cheapest. Expect to be seeing them all over the place on television because they're so excellent from a design standpoint. They're double-layered class, such that the inside layer holds the liquid, then there's an empty space before the outer layer. They're like tiny thermoses! They keep your hands from burning while keeping the contents hot for a good long time. They're beautiful too, like some artist's vision of what we'll all be drinking out of in the future. Curvaceous and minimal and smooth, and a pleasure to hold, like cupping a glass breast.

Now if only I could figure out how to make a proper cappuccino to fill it with!