The Devil wears red

Substance dependency comes in many forms. Some are socially accepted due to their legality and being a taxable resource, so they can escape falling under the umbrella of ‘drugs’ as such; alcohol, painkillers, they manage to escape mass demonisation because, well, people like to drink, and they need that hangover fixin’ the next day. Have a night out on some illegal psychoactives or smoke a couple of joints though, and you’ll likely be sneered at from behind a beer bottle or wine glass. Thank goodness that caffeine is legal, abundant and widely accepted, or we might be growing our own trees in some elaborate underground set-up to rival the best P labs.

This little red machine is like an Italian intravenous drip that feeds habits and fuels an office full of dependants. Its red facade welcomes and invites. It uses its ritualistic persona to taunt you, “come to me, drink from my body, feed me water and I’ll turn it into manna.” It’s good and evil tamped together, pressurised and dispensed in a warm glow of crema and froth.