De Kaffeefilter   

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Maimoond 1994)  

Sünndag is Mudderdag, un in mien Besinn is de ierste Melitta Kaffeefilter komen, den wi uns Mudder instmools to'n Mudderdag schinkt hebbt. Dat Kaffeekoken wüür bi uns Mudder ümmer een Zeremonie. Toierst wöör de Kaffeekann mit kokend Woter heet mookt. Dorno wöör de Piep mit Watte tostoppt. Nu keum in den Kaffeebüdel dat vun Hand in de Kaffeemöhl möhlte Kaffeemehl. Pro Tass, liekso as hüüttodoogs, wöör een Teelepel Kaffeemehl nohmen. De Kaffeeketel kook un de Kaffee wöör opbreuht. Wenn Mudder noog Woter opgoten harr, wöör een Ünnerföten op den Büdel sett un de Watte noch deper in de Piep rinstoppt dormit jo nix vun dat Aroma verloren güng. No fief Minuten Trecktiet neuhm Mudder den Kaffeebüdel rut un hett ehrn Kaffee genoten. 

Een goden Dogs schull ik för Mudder wat in Buxthud inkäupen. Mien Fohrrad hebb ik bi Stackmann afstellt un suutje bün ik de Lange Stroot bet Krischon Kromer ropbummelt. Boben de Lodendöör stünn in grote Bookstoben . Wat wöör ik door in dat Kiekfinster wies? Dor stünn een komisches Dings un een Plitt dorbi . He wüür ut wittet Porzellon un in fiene greune Bookstoben stünn dor op. Blangbi legen witte Filtertüten. ,,Mamma'' scheut mi dat dörch mien Kopp! Tokomen Sünndag wüür Mudderdag, so een Kaffeefilter, dat wüür doch wat för ehr. Harr ik soveel Geld bi mi? Veel wüür nich in mien Knipptasch, ik wuul jo bloots een poor Schnuufdeuker un Häkelgoorn ut de Epa holen, dorvör harr dat reckt, ober nich för den neemodschen Kaffeebüdel ut Porzellon, de mi nich ut den Kopp wull. Mien Geld reck nich, dat wüß ik, as ik no den Pries froogt harr. Obends, as mien Süster Gertrud vun de Arbeit keum, hebb ik ehr op de Achterdeel opluurt un mien Anliggen künnig mookt. ,,Kloor schinkt wi Mamma dat Dings, woans warrt dat neumt? Melitta Kaffeefilter?, to'n Mudderdag. Führ man modden glieks no Buxtud un hool em'', sä Gertrud un frei sik mit mi. Wi harrn wat Scheunes to'n Mudderdag, wo se sik düchdig to frein wöör. 

Annern Dag, Gertrud harr mi dat Geld geben wat mi noch fehlt harr, bün ik mit mien Fohrrad no Buxtud karjohlt. Den Inkoop harr ik gau achter mi. Fuurts bün ik de negen Kilometer no Huus torüchführt. 

Nu kunn uns de Tiet bet to'n Mudderdag gor nich gau noog lopen. Uns Mudder wüür al lang op de Been as wi to'n Freuhstück keumen. Gertrud hett Mamma de Mudderdagsgoov öbergeben. ,,Dat is vun uns to'n Mudderdag Mamma. Ober du müß dat gans vörsichtig utpacken, dat kann tweigohn wenn dat doolfallt'', sä Gertrud. Gans sacht güng Mudder an't Utpacken. Se kunn gor nich begriepen, wat se dor kregen harr in ehre grote Freid. ,,Danke mien Dierns, ober dat is doch düür ween dat Dings? Ik frei mi gans dull un will ok glieks Füür ünner den Ketel anbeuten, mütt doch sehn woans de Kaffee dormit smeckt'',sä uns Mudder un wüür ok fuurts an't Schirrwarken an den Hierd. De Filter wöör afwuschen, afdreugt un op de vörwarmte Kaffekann mit den Watteproppen in de Piep stellt. Wilma, uns Nestküken harr de Kaffeemöhl al mank de Been un möhl de Kaffeebohnen dörch. De Schuuvlood wüür vull, de Ketel kook, un uns ierste Melitta Filter bestünn sien Inweih. Mudder hett, wo kunnt wull ok anners ween, de Kaffee besünners good smeckt. Se drünk so giern Kaffee un müß foken de poor Plück tosomenseuken för een achtel Pund Kaffee. Wenn se mool Kuppwehdoog harr, hett ehr ümmer een Tass Kaffee warrer op de Been holpen. 

Wat ik ok nich vergeet is, as uns Vadder wüß, datt de lebe Gott em in Kötten to sik nehmen wöör, hett he uns beed: ,,Mien Dierns, sorgt ji dorvör, datt uns Mudder ümmer Kaffee hett''. Wi hebbt uns Verspreken inleust. Opmeist uns Gertrud, de harr jo een Sporloden in Keunigriek. Ober wi hebbt alltohoop nie nich vergeten wat unsen Vadder sien letzt' Wunsch för sien Fro wüür. Kaffee to jede Tiet un Stünn. De ole Melitta Kaffeefilter leevt, wenn ok afstött, hüüt noch. 

The Coffee Filter   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(May 1994)  

Sunday will be Mother's Day, and my memory has been going back to the first Melitta coffee filter we gave Mom on Mother's Day. For Mom making coffee was always a ceremony. First of all the coffee pot was heated with boiling water. After that the spout was stopped up with cotton wool. Then it was time for the coffee, ground in the coffee grinder. Just as nowadays, one teaspoon of ground coffee made a cup. The water in the tea kettle came to a boil, and the coffee was brewed. When Mom had poured enough water she would put a saucer on top of the filter bag and would stuff the cotton wool even deeper into the spout so that none of the aroma got lost. Five minutes' brewing time later Mom removed the filter bag and enjoyed her coffee. 

One fine day I was supposed to go shopping for Mom in Buxtehude. I parked my bicycle at Stackmann's, and leisurely I strolled up Long Street all the way to Christian Kramer's. "Christian Kramer - Household Goods & Hardware" was written in large letters above the shop door. What did I find there in the shop window? There was a strange thing with a sign next to it saying [in German], "Enjoy your coffee with the new Melitta Coffee Filter!" It was made of white china, and "Melittä was printed on it in elegant green letters. White filter bags were lying next to it. "Mom!" sprang to my mind. Next Sunday will be Mother's Day. Such a filter would be just right for her. Do I have this much money on me? There wasn't a lot in my purse. I had only wanted to get a few handkerchiefs and some crochet thread from the Epa Store. It would have been enough for that, not for the newfangled china coffee sack I couldn't get out of my head. I didn't have enough money; I knew as much when I asked about the price. In the evening, when my sister Gertrud returned from work, I waited for her in the rear hallway and let her know what I wanted. "Sure! Let's give Mom that thingamabob - watchamacallit? 'Melitta Coffee Filter'? - for Mother's Day! Why don't you go to Buxtehude and get it tomorrow first thing," Gertrud said and shared my excitement. We had found something nice for Mother's Day, something she'd really enjoy. 

The following day - Gertrud had given me the rest of the money - I rode my bike to Buxtehude. I did the shopping in no time, and right away I rode the nine kilometers back home. 

As far as we were concerned, the time till Mother's Day couldn't go by fast enough. Our mother had been up for quite some time when we went to breakfast. Gertrud handed Mom the Mother's Day gift. "This is from us for Mother's Day, Mom. But you've got to unwrap it really carefully. It can break if it gets dropped," said Gertrud. Mom did the unwrapping really carefully. In her great excitement she couldn't really understand what she had been given. "Thanks, girls, but it must have been expensive, this thing. It's a lovely surprise. I'll go right now and light the fire under the kettle. I've got to find out how it makes the coffee taste," said our mother and immediately started to get busy at the stove. She washed and dried the filter and put it on top of the coffee pot with its spout stopped up with cotton wool. Wilma, our baby, was already holding the coffee grinder between her knees and ground the coffee beans. The drawer filled up, the kettle came to a boil, and the first Melitta filter had its baptism. Naturally, Mom especially enjoyed the coffee. She loved to drink coffee and often had to scrape up a few pennies for an eighth of a pound of coffee. A cup of coffee used to get her back on her feet whenever she suffered from headaches. 

Another thing I won't forget is that, when he knew that the Lord would take him home soon, our father asked us, "Girls, make sure that your Mom is never without coffee." We kept our promise, especially our Gertrud who had a Spar [grocery chain] Store in Koenigsreich. But none of us ever forgot what our father's last wish for his wife was: coffee anytime. Although it's chipped, the old Melitta coffee filter has survived to this day. 

De kaffe-filter 

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Maimaand 1994)  

Suendag is Mudderdag, un in miin besinnen is de eirsde Melitta kaffeefilter kamen d'n wii uns mudder einstmaals to d'n Mudderdag schinkd hebt. Dat kaffeekaken weur bii uns mudder uemmer 'n tseremonii. Tou eirsd weurd' de kaffeekann' mit kaken water heit maakd. Daarnaa woyr de piip mit watte tou-stopd. Nuu koym in d'n kaffeebuydel dat fun hand in de kaffeemoyl moylde kaffeemeel. Proo tass, liik soo as huyttoudaags, weurd' ein tee-lepel kaffeemeel namen. De kaffeeketel kook, un de kaffee weurd' op-broyd. Wen Mudder noog water op-gaten har weurd' 'n uennerfoyten op d'n buydel sett un de watte noch deiper in de piip rin-stopd daarmit jaa niks fun dat aroma ferlaren gueng'. Naa fiif minuten trektiid noym Mudder d'n kaffeebuydel ruut un het eiren kaffee genaten. 

Ein gouden dags schul ik foer Mudder wat in Buksthuud' in-koypen. Miin Faarrad hev ik bii Stackmann af-steld, un suutje buen ik de Lange Straat bet Krischaan Kramer rop-bummelt. Baven de ladendeur stuend in grote boukstaven ,,CHRISTIAN KRAMER - HAUSHALTS- UND EISENWAREN''. Wat weurd' ik daar in dat kiikfinster wiis'? Daar stuend 'n komisches Dings un 'n plit daarbii: ,,Kaffeegenuss mit dem neuen Melitta Kaffeefilter''. Hei weur uut wittet portsellaan, un in fine groyne boukstaven stuend daar: "Melittä op. Blangbii legen witte filtertuyten. ,,Mamma!'' schoyt mii dat doerch miin kop. Tou-kamen Suendag weur Mudderdag. Soo 'n kaffeefilter, dat weur doch wat foer eir. Har ik sou veel geld bii mii? Feel weur nich in miin kniptasch. Ik wuld' jaa bloots 'n paar schnuufdoyker un hekelgaarn uut de Epa halen; daarfoer har dat rekd, aver nich foer d'n neimoodschen kaffeebuydel uut portsellaan dei mii nich uut d'n kop wuld'. Miin geld rek nich; dat wues ik as ik naa d'n priis fraagd har. Avends, as miin suester Gertrud fun de arbaid koym, hev ik eir op de achterdeel op-luurd un miin anliggen kuennig maakd. ,,Klaar schinkt wii Mamma dat dings - wouans wart dat noymd? ,,Melitta Kaffeefilter?'' - tou d'n Mudderdag. Foyr man modden gliiks naa Buksthuud' un haal em'', seed' Gertrud un frai sik mit mii. Wii harren wat schoynes tou d'n Mudderdag wou se sik duechdig tou frain weurd'. 

Annern dag - Gertrud har mii dat geld geven wat mii noch feelt har - buen ik mit miin faarrad naa Buksthuud' karjoold. D'n inkoup har ik gau achter mii. Fourts buen ik de neigen kilometer naa huus touruech-foyrd. 

Nuu kun uns de tiid bet tou d'n Mudderdag gaar nich gau noog loupen. Uns Mudder weur al lang' op de bein as wii tou d'n froystuek koymen. Gertrud het Mamma de mudderdagsgaav' euver-geven. ,,Dat is fun uns tou d'n Mudderdag, Mamma. Aver duu muest dat gans foersichtig uut-pakken. Dat kan twei-gaan wen dat daal-falt'', seed' Gertrud. Gans sacht gueng' Mudder an't uutpakken. Sei kun gaar nich begripen wat sei daar kregen har in eire grote fraid'. ,,Danke, miin deirns. Aver dat is doch duyr ween, dat dings? Ik frai mii gans dul un wil ouk gliiks fuyr uenner d'n ketel an-boyten. Muet doch sein wouans de kaffee daarmit smekt'', seed' uns mudder un weur ouk fourts an't schirwarken an d'n heird. De filter weur af-wuschen, af-droygd un op de foer-warmde kaffeekan mit d'n watteproppen in de piip steld. Wilma, uns nestkuyken, har de kaffeemoyl al mang de bein un moyl de kaffeebonen doerch. De schuuvlaad' weurd' ful, de ketel kaak, un uns eirsde Melitta filter bestuenn siin inwai. Mudder het - wou kun't wul ouk anners ween - de kaffee besuenners goud smekd. Sei druenk soo geirn kaffee un muess faken de paar pluek tousamen-soyken foer 'n achtel pund kaffee. Wen sei maal kupweidaag har het eir uemmer 'n tass kaffee warrer op de bein' holpen. 

Wat ik ouk nich fergeet is, as uns fadder wues dat de leive god em in koetten tou sik nemen weurd', het hei uns beed: ,,Miin deirns, sorgt jii daarfoer dat uns mudder uemmer kaffee het''. Wii hebt uns ferspreken in-loysd. Opmaist uns Gertrud; dei har jaa 'n Spar-laden in Koynigriik. Aver wii hebt altouhoup nii nich fergeten wat unsen fadder siin letst wunsch foer siin frou weur: kaffee tou jeide tiid un stuend. De olde Melitta kaffeefilter leevt, wen ouk af-stoett, huyt noch.

The Coffee Filter   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(May 1994)  

Sunday will be Mother's Day, and my memory has been going back to the first Melitta coffee filter we gave Mom on Mother's Day. For Mom making coffee was always a ceremony. First of all the coffee pot was heated with boiling water. After that the spout was stopped up with cotton wool. Then it was time for the coffee, ground in the coffee grinder. Just as nowadays, one teaspoon of ground coffee made a cup. The water in the tea kettle came to a boil, and the coffee was brewed. When Mom had poured enough water she would put a saucer on top of the filter bag and would stuff the cotton wool even deeper into the spout so that none of the aroma got lost. Five minutes' brewing time later Mom removed the filter bag and enjoyed her coffee. 

One fine day I was supposed to go shopping for Mom in Buxtehude. I parked my bicycle at Stackmann's, and leisurely I strolled up Long Street all the way to Christian Kramer's. "Christian Kramer - Household Goods & Hardware" was written in large letters above the shop door. What did I find there in the shop window? There was a strange thing with a sign next to it saying [in German], "Enjoy your coffee with the new Melitta Coffee Filter!" It was made of white china, and "Melittä was printed on it in elegant green letters. White filter bags were lying next to it. "Mom!" sprang to my mind. Next Sunday will be Mother's Day. Such a filter would be just right for her. Do I have this much money on me? There wasn't a lot in my purse. I had only wanted to get a few handkerchiefs and some crochet thread from the Epa Store. It would have been enough for that, not for the newfangled china coffee sack I couldn't get out of my head. I didn't have enough money; I knew as much when I asked about the price. In the evening, when my sister Gertrud returned from work, I waited for her in the rear hallway and let her know what I wanted. "Sure! Let's give Mom that thingamabob - watchamacallit? 'Melitta Coffee Filter'? - for Mother's Day! Why don't you go to Buxtehude and get it tomorrow first thing," Gertrud said and shared my excitement. We had found something nice for Mother's Day, something she'd really enjoy. 

The following day - Gertrud had given me the rest of the money - I rode my bike to Buxtehude. I did the shopping in no time, and right away I rode the nine kilometers back home. 

As far as we were concerned, the time till Mother's Day couldn't go by fast enough. Our mother had been up for quite some time when we went to breakfast. Gertrud handed Mom the Mother's Day gift. "This is from us for Mother's Day, Mom. But you've got to unwrap it really carefully. It can break if it gets dropped," said Gertrud. Mom did the unwrapping really carefully. In her great excitement she couldn't really understand what she had been given. "Thanks, girls, but it must have been expensive, this thing. It's a lovely surprise. I'll go right now and light the fire under the kettle. I've got to find out how it makes the coffee taste," said our mother and immediately started to get busy at the stove. She washed and dried the filter and put it on top of the coffee pot with its spout stopped up with cotton wool. Wilma, our baby, was already holding the coffee grinder between her knees and ground the coffee beans. The drawer filled up, the kettle came to a boil, and the first Melitta filter had its baptism. Naturally, Mom especially enjoyed the coffee. She loved to drink coffee and often had to scrape up a few pennies for an eighth of a pound of coffee. A cup of coffee used to get her back on her feet whenever she suffered from headaches. 

Another thing I won't forget is that, when he knew that the Lord would take him home soon, our father asked us, "Girls, make sure that your Mom is never without coffee." We kept our promise, especially our Gertrud who had a Spar [grocery chain] Store in Koenigsreich. But none of us ever forgot what our father's last wish for his wife was: coffee anytime. Although it's chipped, the old Melitta coffee filter has survived to this day. 

De Kaffeefilter   

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Maimoond 1994)  

Sünndag is Mudderdag, un in mien Besinn is de ierste Melitta Kaffeefilter komen, den wi uns Mudder instmools to'n Mudderdag schinkt hebbt. Dat Kaffeekoken wüür bi uns Mudder ümmer een Zeremonie. Toierst wöör de Kaffeekann mit kokend Woter heet mookt. Dorno wöör de Piep mit Watte tostoppt. Nu keum in den Kaffeebüdel dat vun Hand in de Kaffeemöhl möhlte Kaffeemehl. Pro Tass, liekso as hüüttodoogs, wöör een Teelepel Kaffeemehl nohmen. De Kaffeeketel kook un de Kaffee wöör opbreuht. Wenn Mudder noog Woter opgoten harr, wöör een Ünnerföten op den Büdel sett un de Watte noch deper in de Piep rinstoppt dormit jo nix vun dat Aroma verloren güng. No fief Minuten Trecktiet neuhm Mudder den Kaffeebüdel rut un hett ehrn Kaffee genoten. 

Een goden Dogs schull ik för Mudder wat in Buxthud inkäupen. Mien Fohrrad hebb ik bi Stackmann afstellt un suutje bün ik de Lange Stroot bet Krischon Kromer ropbummelt. Boben de Lodendöör stünn in grote Bookstoben . Wat wöör ik door in dat Kiekfinster wies? Dor stünn een komisches Dings un een Plitt dorbi . He wüür ut wittet Porzellon un in fiene greune Bookstoben stünn dor op. Blangbi legen witte Filtertüten. ,,Mamma'' scheut mi dat dörch mien Kopp! Tokomen Sünndag wüür Mudderdag, so een Kaffeefilter, dat wüür doch wat för ehr. Harr ik soveel Geld bi mi? Veel wüür nich in mien Knipptasch, ik wuul jo bloots een poor Schnuufdeuker un Häkelgoorn ut de Epa holen, dorvör harr dat reckt, ober nich för den neemodschen Kaffeebüdel ut Porzellon, de mi nich ut den Kopp wull. Mien Geld reck nich, dat wüß ik, as ik no den Pries froogt harr. Obends, as mien Süster Gertrud vun de Arbeit keum, hebb ik ehr op de Achterdeel opluurt un mien Anliggen künnig mookt. ,,Kloor schinkt wi Mamma dat Dings, woans warrt dat neumt? Melitta Kaffeefilter?, to'n Mudderdag. Führ man modden glieks no Buxtud un hool em'', sä Gertrud un frei sik mit mi. Wi harrn wat Scheunes to'n Mudderdag, wo se sik düchdig to frein wöör. 

Annern Dag, Gertrud harr mi dat Geld geben wat mi noch fehlt harr, bün ik mit mien Fohrrad no Buxtud karjohlt. Den Inkoop harr ik gau achter mi. Fuurts bün ik de negen Kilometer no Huus torüchführt. 

Nu kunn uns de Tiet bet to'n Mudderdag gor nich gau noog lopen. Uns Mudder wüür al lang op de Been as wi to'n Freuhstück keumen. Gertrud hett Mamma de Mudderdagsgoov öbergeben. ,,Dat is vun uns to'n Mudderdag Mamma. Ober du müß dat gans vörsichtig utpacken, dat kann tweigohn wenn dat doolfallt'', sä Gertrud. Gans sacht güng Mudder an't Utpacken. Se kunn gor nich begriepen, wat se dor kregen harr in ehre grote Freid. ,,Danke mien Dierns, ober dat is doch düür ween dat Dings? Ik frei mi gans dull un will ok glieks Füür ünner den Ketel anbeuten, mütt doch sehn woans de Kaffee dormit smeckt'',sä uns Mudder un wüür ok fuurts an't Schirrwarken an den Hierd. De Filter wöör afwuschen, afdreugt un op de vörwarmte Kaffekann mit den Watteproppen in de Piep stellt. Wilma, uns Nestküken harr de Kaffeemöhl al mank de Been un möhl de Kaffeebohnen dörch. De Schuuvlood wüür vull, de Ketel kook, un uns ierste Melitta Filter bestünn sien Inweih. Mudder hett, wo kunnt wull ok anners ween, de Kaffee besünners good smeckt. Se drünk so giern Kaffee un müß foken de poor Plück tosomenseuken för een achtel Pund Kaffee. Wenn se mool Kuppwehdoog harr, hett ehr ümmer een Tass Kaffee warrer op de Been holpen. 

Wat ik ok nich vergeet is, as uns Vadder wüß, datt de lebe Gott em in Kötten to sik nehmen wöör, hett he uns beed: ,,Mien Dierns, sorgt ji dorvör, datt uns Mudder ümmer Kaffee hett''. Wi hebbt uns Verspreken inleust. Opmeist uns Gertrud, de harr jo een Sporloden in Keunigriek. Ober wi hebbt alltohoop nie nich vergeten wat unsen Vadder sien letzt' Wunsch för sien Fro wüür. Kaffee to jede Tiet un Stünn. De ole Melitta Kaffeefilter leevt, wenn ok afstött, hüüt noch. 

The Coffee Filter   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(May 1994)  

Sunday will be Mother's Day, and my memory has been going back to the first Melitta coffee filter we gave Mom on Mother's Day. For Mom making coffee was always a ceremony. First of all the coffee pot was heated with boiling water. After that the spout was stopped up with cotton wool. Then it was time for the coffee, ground in the coffee grinder. Just as nowadays, one teaspoon of ground coffee made a cup. The water in the tea kettle came to a boil, and the coffee was brewed. When Mom had poured enough water she would put a saucer on top of the filter bag and would stuff the cotton wool even deeper into the spout so that none of the aroma got lost. Five minutes' brewing time later Mom removed the filter bag and enjoyed her coffee. 

One fine day I was supposed to go shopping for Mom in Buxtehude. I parked my bicycle at Stackmann's, and leisurely I strolled up Long Street all the way to Christian Kramer's. "Christian Kramer - Household Goods & Hardware" was written in large letters above the shop door. What did I find there in the shop window? There was a strange thing with a sign next to it saying [in German], "Enjoy your coffee with the new Melitta Coffee Filter!" It was made of white china, and "Melittä was printed on it in elegant green letters. White filter bags were lying next to it. "Mom!" sprang to my mind. Next Sunday will be Mother's Day. Such a filter would be just right for her. Do I have this much money on me? There wasn't a lot in my purse. I had only wanted to get a few handkerchiefs and some crochet thread from the Epa Store. It would have been enough for that, not for the newfangled china coffee sack I couldn't get out of my head. I didn't have enough money; I knew as much when I asked about the price. In the evening, when my sister Gertrud returned from work, I waited for her in the rear hallway and let her know what I wanted. "Sure! Let's give Mom that thingamabob - watchamacallit? 'Melitta Coffee Filter'? - for Mother's Day! Why don't you go to Buxtehude and get it tomorrow first thing," Gertrud said and shared my excitement. We had found something nice for Mother's Day, something she'd really enjoy. 

The following day - Gertrud had given me the rest of the money - I rode my bike to Buxtehude. I did the shopping in no time, and right away I rode the nine kilometers back home. 

As far as we were concerned, the time till Mother's Day couldn't go by fast enough. Our mother had been up for quite some time when we went to breakfast. Gertrud handed Mom the Mother's Day gift. "This is from us for Mother's Day, Mom. But you've got to unwrap it really carefully. It can break if it gets dropped," said Gertrud. Mom did the unwrapping really carefully. In her great excitement she couldn't really understand what she had been given. "Thanks, girls, but it must have been expensive, this thing. It's a lovely surprise. I'll go right now and light the fire under the kettle. I've got to find out how it makes the coffee taste," said our mother and immediately started to get busy at the stove. She washed and dried the filter and put it on top of the coffee pot with its spout stopped up with cotton wool. Wilma, our baby, was already holding the coffee grinder between her knees and ground the coffee beans. The drawer filled up, the kettle came to a boil, and the first Melitta filter had its baptism. Naturally, Mom especially enjoyed the coffee. She loved to drink coffee and often had to scrape up a few pennies for an eighth of a pound of coffee. A cup of coffee used to get her back on her feet whenever she suffered from headaches. 

Another thing I won't forget is that, when he knew that the Lord would take him home soon, our father asked us, "Girls, make sure that your Mom is never without coffee." We kept our promise, especially our Gertrud who had a Spar [grocery chain] Store in Koenigsreich. But none of us ever forgot what our father's last wish for his wife was: coffee anytime. Although it's chipped, the old Melitta coffee filter has survived to this day. 

De kaffe-filter 

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Maimaand 1994)  

Suendag is Mudderdag, un in miin besinnen is de eirsde Melitta kaffeefilter kamen d'n wii uns mudder einstmaals to d'n Mudderdag schinkd hebt. Dat kaffeekaken weur bii uns mudder uemmer 'n tseremonii. Tou eirsd weurd' de kaffeekann' mit kaken water heit maakd. Daarnaa woyr de piip mit watte tou-stopd. Nuu koym in d'n kaffeebuydel dat fun hand in de kaffeemoyl moylde kaffeemeel. Proo tass, liik soo as huyttoudaags, weurd' ein tee-lepel kaffeemeel namen. De kaffeeketel kook, un de kaffee weurd' op-broyd. Wen Mudder noog water op-gaten har weurd' 'n uennerfoyten op d'n buydel sett un de watte noch deiper in de piip rin-stopd daarmit jaa niks fun dat aroma ferlaren gueng'. Naa fiif minuten trektiid noym Mudder d'n kaffeebuydel ruut un het eiren kaffee genaten. 

Ein gouden dags schul ik foer Mudder wat in Buksthuud' in-koypen. Miin Faarrad hev ik bii Stackmann af-steld, un suutje buen ik de Lange Straat bet Krischaan Kramer rop-bummelt. Baven de ladendeur stuend in grote boukstaven ,,CHRISTIAN KRAMER - HAUSHALTS- UND EISENWAREN''. Wat weurd' ik daar in dat kiikfinster wiis'? Daar stuend 'n komisches Dings un 'n plit daarbii: ,,Kaffeegenuss mit dem neuen Melitta Kaffeefilter''. Hei weur uut wittet portsellaan, un in fine groyne boukstaven stuend daar: "Melittä op. Blangbii legen witte filtertuyten. ,,Mamma!'' schoyt mii dat doerch miin kop. Tou-kamen Suendag weur Mudderdag. Soo 'n kaffeefilter, dat weur doch wat foer eir. Har ik sou veel geld bii mii? Feel weur nich in miin kniptasch. Ik wuld' jaa bloots 'n paar schnuufdoyker un hekelgaarn uut de Epa halen; daarfoer har dat rekd, aver nich foer d'n neimoodschen kaffeebuydel uut portsellaan dei mii nich uut d'n kop wuld'. Miin geld rek nich; dat wues ik as ik naa d'n priis fraagd har. Avends, as miin suester Gertrud fun de arbaid koym, hev ik eir op de achterdeel op-luurd un miin anliggen kuennig maakd. ,,Klaar schinkt wii Mamma dat dings - wouans wart dat noymd? ,,Melitta Kaffeefilter?'' - tou d'n Mudderdag. Foyr man modden gliiks naa Buksthuud' un haal em'', seed' Gertrud un frai sik mit mii. Wii harren wat schoynes tou d'n Mudderdag wou se sik duechdig tou frain weurd'. 

Annern dag - Gertrud har mii dat geld geven wat mii noch feelt har - buen ik mit miin faarrad naa Buksthuud' karjoold. D'n inkoup har ik gau achter mii. Fourts buen ik de neigen kilometer naa huus touruech-foyrd. 

Nuu kun uns de tiid bet tou d'n Mudderdag gaar nich gau noog loupen. Uns Mudder weur al lang' op de bein as wii tou d'n froystuek koymen. Gertrud het Mamma de mudderdagsgaav' euver-geven. ,,Dat is fun uns tou d'n Mudderdag, Mamma. Aver duu muest dat gans foersichtig uut-pakken. Dat kan twei-gaan wen dat daal-falt'', seed' Gertrud. Gans sacht gueng' Mudder an't uutpakken. Sei kun gaar nich begripen wat sei daar kregen har in eire grote fraid'. ,,Danke, miin deirns. Aver dat is doch duyr ween, dat dings? Ik frai mii gans dul un wil ouk gliiks fuyr uenner d'n ketel an-boyten. Muet doch sein wouans de kaffee daarmit smekt'', seed' uns mudder un weur ouk fourts an't schirwarken an d'n heird. De filter weur af-wuschen, af-droygd un op de foer-warmde kaffeekan mit d'n watteproppen in de piip steld. Wilma, uns nestkuyken, har de kaffeemoyl al mang de bein un moyl de kaffeebonen doerch. De schuuvlaad' weurd' ful, de ketel kaak, un uns eirsde Melitta filter bestuenn siin inwai. Mudder het - wou kun't wul ouk anners ween - de kaffee besuenners goud smekd. Sei druenk soo geirn kaffee un muess faken de paar pluek tousamen-soyken foer 'n achtel pund kaffee. Wen sei maal kupweidaag har het eir uemmer 'n tass kaffee warrer op de bein' holpen. 

Wat ik ouk nich fergeet is, as uns fadder wues dat de leive god em in koetten tou sik nemen weurd', het hei uns beed: ,,Miin deirns, sorgt jii daarfoer dat uns mudder uemmer kaffee het''. Wii hebt uns ferspreken in-loysd. Opmaist uns Gertrud; dei har jaa 'n Spar-laden in Koynigriik. Aver wii hebt altouhoup nii nich fergeten wat unsen fadder siin letst wunsch foer siin frou weur: kaffee tou jeide tiid un stuend. De olde Melitta kaffeefilter leevt, wen ouk af-stoett, huyt noch.

The Coffee Filter   

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(May 1994)  

Sunday will be Mother's Day, and my memory has been going back to the first Melitta coffee filter we gave Mom on Mother's Day. For Mom making coffee was always a ceremony. First of all the coffee pot was heated with boiling water. After that the spout was stopped up with cotton wool. Then it was time for the coffee, ground in the coffee grinder. Just as nowadays, one teaspoon of ground coffee made a cup. The water in the tea kettle came to a boil, and the coffee was brewed. When Mom had poured enough water she would put a saucer on top of the filter bag and would stuff the cotton wool even deeper into the spout so that none of the aroma got lost. Five minutes' brewing time later Mom removed the filter bag and enjoyed her coffee. 

One fine day I was supposed to go shopping for Mom in Buxtehude. I parked my bicycle at Stackmann's, and leisurely I strolled up Long Street all the way to Christian Kramer's. "Christian Kramer - Household Goods & Hardware" was written in large letters above the shop door. What did I find there in the shop window? There was a strange thing with a sign next to it saying [in German], "Enjoy your coffee with the new Melitta Coffee Filter!" It was made of white china, and "Melittä was printed on it in elegant green letters. White filter bags were lying next to it. "Mom!" sprang to my mind. Next Sunday will be Mother's Day. Such a filter would be just right for her. Do I have this much money on me? There wasn't a lot in my purse. I had only wanted to get a few handkerchiefs and some crochet thread from the Epa Store. It would have been enough for that, not for the newfangled china coffee sack I couldn't get out of my head. I didn't have enough money; I knew as much when I asked about the price. In the evening, when my sister Gertrud returned from work, I waited for her in the rear hallway and let her know what I wanted. "Sure! Let's give Mom that thingamabob - watchamacallit? 'Melitta Coffee Filter'? - for Mother's Day! Why don't you go to Buxtehude and get it tomorrow first thing," Gertrud said and shared my excitement. We had found something nice for Mother's Day, something she'd really enjoy. 

The following day - Gertrud had given me the rest of the money - I rode my bike to Buxtehude. I did the shopping in no time, and right away I rode the nine kilometers back home. 

As far as we were concerned, the time till Mother's Day couldn't go by fast enough. Our mother had been up for quite some time when we went to breakfast. Gertrud handed Mom the Mother's Day gift. "This is from us for Mother's Day, Mom. But you've got to unwrap it really carefully. It can break if it gets dropped," said Gertrud. Mom did the unwrapping really carefully. In her great excitement she couldn't really understand what she had been given. "Thanks, girls, but it must have been expensive, this thing. It's a lovely surprise. I'll go right now and light the fire under the kettle. I've got to find out how it makes the coffee taste," said our mother and immediately started to get busy at the stove. She washed and dried the filter and put it on top of the coffee pot with its spout stopped up with cotton wool. Wilma, our baby, was already holding the coffee grinder between her knees and ground the coffee beans. The drawer filled up, the kettle came to a boil, and the first Melitta filter had its baptism. Naturally, Mom especially enjoyed the coffee. She loved to drink coffee and often had to scrape up a few pennies for an eighth of a pound of coffee. A cup of coffee used to get her back on her feet whenever she suffered from headaches. 

Another thing I won't forget is that, when he knew that the Lord would take him home soon, our father asked us, "Girls, make sure that your Mom is never without coffee." We kept our promise, especially our Gertrud who had a Spar [grocery chain] Store in Koenigsreich. But none of us ever forgot what our father's last wish for his wife was: coffee anytime. Although it's chipped, the old Melitta coffee filter has survived to this day.