A small slice of Vespa life from the Kiwi state
This small slice of Vespa life comes to us from new Zealand:
Seven years ago, Ant Freeman was just the "coffee-maker" at Caffe Aroma.
But much has changed. Coffee isn't just coffee anymore.
Coffee has become an art form, every caffeine-addicted punter that comes through the door is a coffee critic and Ant labours under the distinctly European-flavoured title of "barista".
And that's not the only change served up with the thousands of flat whites, short blacks and cappucinos he has crafted over the years.
The iconic Vespa scooters parked outside and on the roof proved such an attraction, that Caffe Aroma became known as Emporio Vespa.
Now Ant and his wife Sue are preparing to say a fond "arrivederci" to their Napier city business.
They've sold up and are planning a new life far, far removed from the "whoosh, gurgle, slurp" of the coffee machine.
"We're ready for a bit of a change in life," Ant said. For Sue, that sea-change means starting a year's post-graduate study at EIT; she plans to become a teacher. Ant, however, plans to "just dabble".
"Dabble in what?" we asked.
"Oh, just dabble," Sue said mysteriously.
"But I keep telling him he'll have to do something or he'll end up in one of those straight-jackets!"
On March 31, Ant will serve his last latte. Already though, changes are afoot.
One of his four beloved scooters is already on the move, winging its way to new owners in the country with which the Vespa name is synonymous - Italy.
He plans to keep at least a couple: Vespas are just as addictive as good coffee.
And Emporio Vespa won't be entirely Vespa-less; the new owners are keen to retain the one on the roof and, who knows, maybe they won't be able to resist adding one or two more.
