coffee
Archived Posts from this Category
The Curse of a Coffee Lover
Posted by nathan on 16 May 2008 | Tagged as: coffee, my life.
I have become what others would probably refer to as a coffee snob. It’s not because I want to be, it just sort of happened.
As my coffee palette was just beginning to develop, I couldn’t tell the difference between between different types of beans, roasts and freshness.
But as time went on, I grew to taste the difference between a good cup of premium coffee and a not-so-premium. Today, I can sip a cup of coffee and identify it as Folgers, Maxwell House, Eight O’clock or Starbucks. (I don’t have experience with other brands, and I would have a hard time being accurate with other brands.)
In years past, I used to be able to enjoy just any cup of coffee. Now, it’s actually rather difficult to thoroughly enjoy any cup of coffee. Because I have experienced what a great cup of coffee is supposed to taste like, anything less is a great disappointment. It is hard work and expensive to get a good cup of coffee consistently.
In our walk with Christ, I think the same in very true. We can’t consistently attain a close walk with Christ while we are not hard at work to be close.
What do you think?
Howard Schultz Back in as Starbuck’s CEO, McDonalds Lauches Espresso Bars
Posted by nathan on 08 Jan 2008 | Tagged as: coffee, random.
Howard Schultz, who was the brains behind the growth of Starbucks, was CEO at Starbucks from 1987 to 2000, returns to the helm of the company he helped create, after a turbulent year. Starbucks is now considering closing stores, and slowing down their rate of growth.
Schultz is an incredible businessman, and I’ve admired Starbuck’s business pattern mostly because of Schultz’s decisions. He did some really smart, risky things in the 80’s and early 90’s to bring the company to what it is today, and I like the guy…
In other news, McDonalds has announced plans to open up espresso bars in its existing restaurants, including a front-of-house espresso machine…
This Week’s Poll: How Much Coffee Do You Drink?
Posted by nathan on 15 Oct 2007 | Tagged as: coffee, polls
This week’s poll question is…
How much coffee do you drink per day, on average?
When Will Hillary Clinton Quit her Bid for the Democratic Nomination
- May 16-30 (33%, 3 Votes)
- May 13 (11%, 1 Votes)
- May 14 (11%, 1 Votes)
- May 15 (11%, 1 Votes)
- May 31-June 5 (11%, 1 Votes)
- Later than June 5 (11%, 1 Votes)
- Quit? No Way! She's going to Win! (11%, 1 Votes)
- Before May 12 (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 9
Loading ...This week’s poll: How do you take your coffee?
Posted by nathan on 08 Oct 2007 | Tagged as: coffee, polls
This week’s poll question: How do you take your coffee?
is coffee my drug addiction?
Posted by nathan on 30 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: coffee, my life., thoughts on life.
About a week ago, my great friend Todd said something to me that has made me think, and rethink, my coffee habits.
Am i using coffee as a drug? Is coffee my drug addition? Am i a drug addict?
I have been asking this question over and over in my mind. would i be okay if i didn’t have coffee in the morning? why do i drink coffee? these and other questions i have mulled over and over in my mind.
My wife and i went to the new Starbucks in Auburn Friday night, (because BrewDaily’s closes at 6 p.m.), and i had my usual: ‘grande extra hot two-pump caramel latte’, and sat for a while, talking–one of Emily’s childhood friends, Justin, works there and we talked with him for about 15 minutes after he got off work. (cool guy with a really cool computer and editing software (Final Cut HD)!)
Anyway, after i finished that drink, i got a short (8 oz.) coffee, of variety Yukon. I figured that would keep me up for a while. So after our date, Emily and i went home, and i crashed. i mean, literally, i crashed. i couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Last night, we swung by Starbucks about 8 p.m., and i had a tall americano (1 shot espresso plus hot water, making a very good tasting coffee!) I again crashed. i couldn’t keep my eyes open.
So, I still am not positive about the answer to the question, ‘am i drinking coffee as a drug?’, but i can tell you, it puts me to sleep at night!
The Five Rules of Coffee: Rule 5
Posted by nathan on 28 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: coffee
never leave a pot on a burner more than 20 minutes.
after 20 minutes on a burner, coffee begins to ‘burn,’ and changes considerably. the extra heat below it is nice to keep it hot, but reeks havoc on the quality. If you need to keep coffee hot for extended periods of time, it is best to look into an air-lined carafe (pronounced ka-raf), which is pretty much a glorified thermos.
The Five Rules of Coffee: Rule 4
Posted by nathan on 27 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: coffee
never boil coffee.
coffee is best served just below the boiling point (about 195°). you can go slightly cooler if you prefer, but don’t go any hotter. boiled coffee just doesn’t taste right–and is chemically altered when it’s boiled!
And a bonus rule, say, 4.a: never microwave coffee.
The Five Rules of Coffee: Rule 3
Posted by nathan on 26 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: coffee
use only fresh, pure water.
considering coffee is 98% water, it only makes sense that using fresh, pure water helps improve the taste. Emily and i buy water by the gallon to use. we can’t stand to drink our town water (even after going through the Brita), so why would we want it in our coffee?
The Five Rules of Coffee: Rule 2
Posted by nathan on 25 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: coffee
always use freshly ground beans.
the moment you grind beans, they begin to lose their strength. i know it’s more convenient to buy ground beans, or to grind your beans the morning before, but there is a significant loss of flavor when not using freshly ground beans.
The Five Rules of Coffee: Rule 1
Posted by nathan on 24 Jan 2007 | Tagged as: coffee
Always use fresh beans.
Once opened, a bag of beans should be used within 10 days. Starbucks says it is eight days, but i notice little change between days 8-10, but notice a pretty quick loss of taste from day 10 on. By day 14 i can hardly stand drinking it.
coffeehouse lesson
Posted by nathan on 28 Dec 2006 | Tagged as: coffee
So i am reading a book Emily got me for Christmas, Pour Your Heart into It by Howard Schultz. Schultz is the Chairman and chief global strategist of Starbucks. he is the guy who made it what it is today.
So this entry is a brief history of starbucks. When it was founded, it sold nothing but dark roasted, whole-bean coffee and coffeemaking accessories. They did not make coffee. They did not sell espresso. They only sold the beans and the coffemakers to properly make a good cup of coffee. (And no, a perculator does not count as good coffee–sorry.)
It was not until Schultz when to Milan, Italy to a coffeemaker conference that he noticed an espresso bar (or two or three) every block. They were everywhere. This is where Schultz first had a ‘cafe latte’ (coffee milk.) He noticed the baristas were not just making coffee, they were ‘performing.’
That is the start of the coffeehouse as we know it today in America. Starbucks brought it to America. I didn’t know that.
My parents told me they went to coffeehouses when they were my age–Schultz says those were nothing more than glorified diners serving weak, robusta coffee.
There will be more coffee posts to come, i think…