The Thousands

I can’t think of anything more normal to do for Christmas than drink black coffee with strangers from sunrise to sunset. And then for a few hours more. This year Mark Free of Black Coffee Pop-Up is granting us all my wish. Thanks, Jesus. Billed as an ‘orphans’ (literal or figurative) Christmas, I’ll be there just because I hate my family. Just kidding; love you mom.

Setting up shop in his studio / shop-front, Mark will spread Christmas cheer by serving up the kinds of coffee baristas drink on their days off. No milk. No sugar. No vanilla shots. Not even any espresso. What you’ll get is the kind of pallet-aggrandising self-actualisation that only comes from drinking single-origin coffee brewed in contraptions most people have never heard of, from the no frills aeropress to the Breaking Bad-esque syphon. There’ll also be a little cold drip for the hot and bothered, as well as snacks, beer and mojitos as the night kicks on.

Caffeine it up before family-ing it up or avoid them altogether and hang with Mark all day if you want. It’s fine.