Do you like coffee? I like coffee. I loove coffee. Coffee makes my morning. I'm told all too often that at my age, drinking coffee really isn't healthy, but I think it might take heart palpitations for me to give up my morning boost.
I drink my coffee black. I almost crave the bitterness to a certain degree. It's almost a test: Foodie at Fifteen versus the dark, black, and bitter. I tend to prevail, and it makes me a happy excited person in the morning. Yea I think that's it. It's not the caffeine that wakes me up in the morning, it's the fact that I've prevailed against a mighty foe.
Espresso presents an even greater challenge, but the tougher the challenge the greater the victory, if you catch my drift.
You should try a ristretto, essentially a shorter espresso. The flavours are more concentrated and intense.
ReplyDelete2 words: vietnamese coffee
ReplyDelete-nem
A good freshly ground dark roast blend made using the toddy method then heated with a little water or cold with milk- nothing better.
ReplyDeleteI confess to having gone whole hog here: we roast our own beans, have a burr grinder and an espresso machine. If you can buy good, fresh roasted beans, and use them up quickly enough, the place to start improving is with grinding your own.
ReplyDeleteWell I'm 10, so I get decaf, but I loooooooooove coffee
ReplyDeleteCoffee, it is a "gateway drug". You are on the slippery slope to stronger tasty beverages that enhance a meal. Social maturity becomes a major issue. Europeans would legally serve you, but most of America prefers that you wait five years to discover the joys of fermented grapes (or brewed hops and grains) paired with the meals after breakfast. Until then, enjoy the varieties of good coffee that are available to you.
ReplyDeleteCraigkite said it best.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I'm wondering how many different methods of making coffee you've experimented with.
I've not yet tried the toddy method Chris advocates, but really like the french press and "cowboy coffee" methods.
matt c: I'll be on the ristretto lookout.
ReplyDeleteNem- 1 word OK
Chris- Ill try it out
steph- wow. I kinda envy you.
craig- thanks for the tip
c3- I'm kind of a newbie to the coffee scene. I've really only made coffe the "average" way, meaning pouring boiling water into a filter filled with grinds set over a cup.
Although I am definitely a fan of the toddy method, french press is good as well. I've become a bit obsessive about trying every possible method of making coffee.
ReplyDeleteI started drinking coffee when I was 8 and I did just fine. : )
ReplyDeleteYou have a great blog -- I really enjoy it.
Dude, when you have an opportunity, travel to Italy. Try the traditional non-Starbucks-ized espresso at any Bar Tabacchi. Unfortunately most places in the USA that serve "espresso drinks" don't really know what they're doing, as here in the USA we tend to cater to individualized tastes without regard for quintessence or tradition, when it comes to coffee. The real thing is a real zing. You'll love it.
ReplyDeleteI like the Keurig single cup maker (although I use the My K-Cup filter with ground coffee) so I can have a fresh cup whenever I want and not have it sitting for hours. I got hooked when they put a few of them in my office.
ReplyDeleteI also use a pump-driven espresso maker. I'm still trying to get good consistent crema.
i use a french press kinda thing to make the frothiest hot chocolate. its the best
ReplyDeleteMy younger brother owns a small coffee shop in Cleveland, Ohio. We buy beans from his shop and have a burr grinder and a espresso machine at home. We also have a fancy syrup stand full of 7 flavored syrups. It's pretty nice.
ReplyDeleteCheck out this article about the Clover , a coffemaker that so impressed Starbucks that they bought the company that made it.
ReplyDeleteI wish I learned to drink my coffee black. Instead it was introduced to me with cream and a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream. To this day, I cannot drink my coffee without cream and sugar.
ReplyDeleteBah! I'm a year older than you, but coffee is wondrous. I was initially introduced to its caffeinated effects via Vietnamese latte for the sake of staying awake on my sleepless marathons. But eventually I started drinking it black too and now I bloody love the stuff. It's definitely an acquired taste, however. Most people get immediately turned off by the bitter taste but I think the more you drink it, the more aromatic it gets. Shit's delicious.
ReplyDeletePeople tell me it's bad for me at this age, but I think if you drink coffee wisely, you won't get too dependent (although I've failed that objective) and if you drink it black, you won't clog your arteries with all that creamer.
What's your favorite? I like Sumatra. Oh, what a heavenly brew.
My favorite cup of coffee came from Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. Half hot milk/half coffee with chicory. Yum! The atmosphere helped too.
ReplyDeleteI really am 100% useless if I haven't had my coffee. That first cup is so soothing yet intense, almost to the point of electric.
ReplyDeleteI take mine with splenda and a touch of cream. I did the black-as-night thing in college, but like a lot of things from college, I grew out of it.
I came across your blog sort of randomly.. you write very well. :)
ReplyDeleteAs a coffee addict.. my fav kind is turkish coffee. However, a very good knockoff, is to add a tiny amount of finely ground cardamom to a good brew. it's amazing. :-)