--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The sun was already long past the spire…" description: "\"“The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick purchased a mug of coffee from his regular man on the tip of Oxford Street. But his palate had be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png" --- # The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick… ![“The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick purchased a mug of coffee from his regular man on the tip of Oxford Street. But his palate had been educated by 21st century coffee, and he judged this mug as bilge water not fit for the Irish.” quote by Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png) > ““The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick purchased a mug of coffee from his regular man on the tip of Oxford Street. But his palate had been educated by 21st century coffee, and he judged this mug as bilge water not fit for the Irish.”” [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A modern palate finds traditional coffee inferior, highlighting cultural and temporal taste shifts. **In simple terms:** Old coffee tastes bad to modern drinkers. Key Takeaway Adapt expectations when encountering new experiences. Themes culture taste modernity Mood nostalgic critical Type literary observational When to use this quote - travel - café visits - taste testing - cultural exchange Key Concepts cultural adaptation sensory perception Questions to Reflect On - How do your preferences shape your judgments? - Can you appreciate traditions you find unfamiliar? A Different Perspective Taste is subjective and tied to personal experience. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) [Coffee Judged](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee-judged-2669665/) [Garrick Purchased](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/garrick-purchased-2669667/) [Mug Bilge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mug-bilge-2669664/) [Mug Coffee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mug-coffee-2191306/) [Oxford street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/oxford-street/) [Purchased Mug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purchased-mug-2669666/) [Time travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-travel/) ## Related quotes > [It was one of those mornings when a man could face the day only after warming himself with a mug of thick coffee beaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gehman/it-was-one-of-those-mornings-when-a-man-could-face-the-day-only-after/) [Richard Gehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gehman/) > [You're Drinking Too Much Coffee When You have a picture of your coffee mug on your coffee mug.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-re-drinking-too-much-coffee-when-you-have-a-picture-of-your/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) > [“It was a wild, tempestuous night, towards the close of November. Holmes and I sat together in silence all the evening, he engaged with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-conan-doyle/it-was-a-wild-tempestuous-night-towards-the-close-of-november-holmes/) [Arthur Conan Doyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-conan-doyle/) > [So, then, Oxford Street, stonyhearted stepmother, thou that listenest to the sighs of orphans, and drinkest the tears of children, at length I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-de-quincey/so-then-oxford-street-stonyhearted-stepmother-thou-that-listenest-to/) [Thomas de Quincey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-de-quincey/) > [I once dreamed that my day job was to push a huge boulder up Oxford Street every day, from 10am to 3pm. It was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-wix/i-once-dreamed-that-my-day-job-was-to-push-a-huge-boulder-up-oxford/) [Katy Wix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-wix/) > [“Truth or Dare?" she asks. I hesitate. "Truth," I say finally. "I can imagine one of your dares, and I don’t fancy running down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-james/truth-or-dare-she-asks-i-hesitate-truth-i-say-finally-i-can-imagine/) [Rebecca James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-james/) > [“The opulence of Bedford Square and the British Museum may be only a few hundred yards away, but New Oxford Street runs between there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-faber/the-opulence-of-bedford-square-and-the-british-museum-may-be-only-a/) [Michel Faber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-faber/) > [“Whenever I tell people I'm a misanthrope they react as though that's a bad thing, the idiots. I live in London, for God's sake.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/whenever-i-tell-people-i-m-a-misanthrope-they-react-as-though-that-s/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [My first paid job was delivering newspapers. The first paid acting job I got was dressing up as Edam cheese and handing out leaflets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-flemyng/my-first-paid-job-was-delivering-newspapers-the-first-paid-acting-job/) [Jason Flemyng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-flemyng/) > [“It was nearly eight before he returned to the office. This was the hour when he found London most lovable; the working day over,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-galbraith/it-was-nearly-eight-before-he-returned-to-the-office-this-was-the/) [Robert Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-galbraith/) > [Cycling is the only way to free ourselves from the misery of the Tube, the wall-to-wall buses that line Oxford Street, the hopelessness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-moggach/cycling-is-the-only-way-to-free-ourselves-from-the-misery-of-the-tube/) [Deborah Moggach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-moggach/) > [“I don’t know even the Mulligan’s town residence. One night, as he bade us adieu in Oxford Street, — ”I live THERE,” says he,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-don-t-know-even-the-mulligan-s-town-residence-one-night-as-he-bade/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [We need to make it safe to cycle across London. Why not pedestrianise parts of London like Oxford Street and Parliament Square? I intend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadiq-khan/we-need-to-make-it-safe-to-cycle-across-london-why-not-pedestrianise/) [Sadiq Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadiq-khan/) > [My aunt and uncle, who bought me up, were big players in the fashion industry in London during the 60s. They were furriers and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/my-aunt-and-uncle-who-bought-me-up-were-big-players-in-the-fashion/) [Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/) > [In 1987, I was captain of Arsenal and England's centre-half. I walked down Oxford Street and not one person bothered me. Not one. Today…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-adams/in-1987-i-was-captain-of-arsenal-and-england-s-centre-half-i-walked/) [Tony Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-adams/) ## More by Eoin Colfer > [There’s always time for babbling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-s-always-time-for-babbling/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [And I will not be beaten by that jackass." "Jackass?" said Foaly, wounded. "My favorite uncle is a jackass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/and-i-will-not-be-beaten-by-that-jackass-jackass-said-foaly-wounded/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Thankfully the rest of the world assumed that the Irish were crazy, a theory that the Irish themselves did nothing to debunk. They had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/thankfully-the-rest-of-the-world-assumed-that-the-irish-were-crazy-a/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [The craft's occupants clutched their armrests, and more than one of them closed their eyes. But not Artemis. He couldn't. There was something morbidly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-craft-s-occupants-clutched-their-armrests-and-more-than-one-of/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Tea? At the beach? No time for luxuries, Holly. There is important work to be done.” He winked at Butler. “Are you sure you’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/tea-at-the-beach-no-time-for-luxuries-holly-there-is-important-work/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Wait," said Butler. "Just wait, Holly. Artemis has a plan." He squinted through the green dome. "What is your plan, Artemis?" All Artemis could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/wait-said-butler-just-wait-holly-artemis-has-a-plan-he-squinted/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Holly is alive,' thought Foaly 'My princess lives,'exulted Orion. 'And we're chasing a dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/holly-is-alive-thought-foaly-my-princess-lives-exulted-orion-and-we/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“There were only two men on the planet better educated in the various martial arts than Butler, and he was related to one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/there-were-only-two-men-on-the-planet-better-educated-in-the-various/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [If Elmore Leonard met Jim Thompson down a dark alley at midnight they might emerge a week later with thick beards, bloodshot eyes and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/if-elmore-leonard-met-jim-thompson-down-a-dark-alley-at-midnight-they/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Sig Sauer. Nine millimetres. Thirteen in the magazine. Big bullets. One of these hits you and it could blow your head off; something even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/sig-sauer-nine-millimetres-thirteen-in-the-magazine-big-bullets-one/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“I feel him near in the twist of me guts. It's something I've always been able to do. --The Reluctant Assassin”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/i-feel-him-near-in-the-twist-of-me-guts-it-s-something-i-ve-always/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Onscreen, Foaly rubbed his eyelids with his index fingers. "Yeah, yeah. Here we go. Captain Short goes rogue once more. Hands up who's surprised.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/onscreen-foaly-rubbed-his-eyelids-with-his-index-fingers-yeah-yeah/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [(about his terrible attempt at making a sandwich) It's more difficult than it looks. (Artemis Fowl)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/about-his-terrible-attempt-at-making-a-sandwich-it-s-more-difficult/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [Play along, the wink said. I'll get you out of this. At least Artemis hoped this was what his wink communicated and not something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/play-along-the-wink-said-i-ll-get-you-out-of-this-at-least-artemis/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) > [“ It's now or never , thought Otto. Now, now! thought Witmeyer. And so Ram kissed Thundercat, and suddenly neither bed of roses nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/it-s-now-or-never-thought-otto-now-now-thought-witmeyer-and-so-ram/) [Eoin Colfer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) [Explore all 371 Eoin Colfer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/) ## More Coffee quotes > [I would drink gallons of coffee a day. Even now, off caffeine, I talk faster than anyone you've ever met. I finally recognized that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-englander/i-would-drink-gallons-of-coffee-a-day-even-now-off-caffeine-i-talk/) [Nathan Englander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-englander/) > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [Academically, I was never that interested. I skipped classes. My biggest dream was to have a coffee shop, but I had no idea how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-espinosa/academically-i-was-never-that-interested-i-skipped-classes-my-biggest/) [Daniel Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-espinosa/) > [I like to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee on the terrace and read a book. I like to travel the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-vos/i-like-to-sit-down-relax-have-a-cup-of-coffee-on-the-terrace-and-read/) [Marianne Vos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-vos/) > [White Coffee Really Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-saicha/white-coffee-really-helps/) [Anwar Saicha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-saicha/) > [“The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/the-whole-purpose-of-places-like-starbucks-is-for-people-with-no/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you think of people as making decisions actively, every time we think about the cup of coffee, we say, "How much will I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/if-you-think-of-people-as-making-decisions-actively-every-time-we/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [Coffee and tobacco are complete repose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/coffee-and-tobacco-are-complete-repose/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life is like coffee, the darker it gets, the more it energizes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ankita-singhal/life-is-like-coffee-the-darker-it-gets-the-more-it-energizes/) [Ankita Singhal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ankita-singhal/) > [I spend a lot of time loathing the sentences that I put down on the page. Once I'm past that phase, it doesn't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-link/i-spend-a-lot-of-time-loathing-the-sentences-that-i-put-down-on-the/) [Kelly Link](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-link/) > [If Japanese tea 'stands,' it acquires a coarse bitterness and an unwholesome astringency. Milk and sugar are not used.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-bird/if-japanese-tea-stands-it-acquires-a-coarse-bitterness-and-an/) [Isabella Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-bird/) > [...it isn't foolish or wicked to enjoy. Wickedness is hurting people on purpose. I love what you are and who you are and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/it-isn-t-foolish-or-wicked-to-enjoy-wickedness-is-hurting-people-on/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [I don't typically drink coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-cavallari/i-don-t-typically-drink-coffee/) [Kristin Cavallari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-cavallari/) > [I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-batali/i-put-hibiscus-flower-in-every-cup-of-tea-i-have-it-s-sweet-sexy-and/) [Mario Batali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-batali/) > [“That is why I love Starbucks. It doesn't matter how much money you have or what social world you're from, chances are you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyra-davis/that-is-why-i-love-starbucks-it-doesn-t-matter-how-much-money-you/) [Kyra Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyra-davis/) [Browse all 3,625 Coffee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/coffee/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick purchased a mug of coffee from his regular man on the tip of Oxford Street. But his palate had been educated by 21st century coffee, and he judged this mug as bilge water not fit for the Irish.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eoin Colfer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire-when-garrick-purchased-a-mug/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coffee" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire-when-garrick-purchased-a-mug/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a57/eoin-colfer-736_coffee_the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire_1071216.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The sun was already long past the spire when Garrick purchased a mug of coffee from his regular man on the…” — Eoin Colfer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eoin Colfer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eoin-colfer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“The sun was already long past...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire-when-garrick-purchased-a-mug/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eoin-colfer/the-sun-was-already-long-past-the-spire-when-garrick-purchased-a-mug/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```