I'm not sure why I find this so fascinating, but I do...
Take a couple of seconds to check out this website of one man's photographic spreadsheet of coffee consumption in 2009.
(Hint: Click on the small 'i' button at the top for more info.)
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
Good quote
I've just come back from a great coffee in one cafe and a mediocre coffee in another. But that's by-the-by. Here's a quote from something I was reading while I was out. It's to do with community development, networking, etc, etc:
"How do you hold a hundred tons of water in the air with no visible means of support? You build a cloud."
(K.C. Cole)
Nice metaphor.
"How do you hold a hundred tons of water in the air with no visible means of support? You build a cloud."
(K.C. Cole)
Nice metaphor.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Birthday Treat
I finished off work early today - well, it is my birthday - and my wife told me I had to go out for the afternoon while as she and the kids were going to make a "surprise" cake. I happily obliged and headed off to the Bald Barista.
I was hoping to catch up with Buzz and have a coffee with him. We were planning on brewing up some espresso beans he had just received which he described, in what I presume are professional terms, as *%&*!* amazing! Unfortunately he wasn't around so, following a quick double espresso, I headed off to my other favourite coffee location to see Colin at 3fe.
What I've been really liking about 3fe is that if a customer simply wants a cappuccino to go, that's fine. If another wants to stick around longer and talk coffee there's time for that too. Also, despite the name of the cafe (third floor espresso) they serve filter coffee as well. Only, this isn't filter coffee that is already sitting in a flask waiting for you to order it, this is filter coffee that is ground and brewed by the single cup. There are always a couple of coffees to choose from and they are never run-of-the-mill standard beans. Today I had the time (and excuse) to stay a while and have a few cups.
I had a Brazil coffee that had hints of hazelnut and chocolate and an incredible Ethiopian coffee with clearly palatable fruity notes of orange, red grape, and a very floral scent. I know this all sounds a bit poncey to anyone who thinks that coffee just tastes like coffee, but it really is amazing that you can discover these flavours in the cup. I've been enjoying it anyway.
But what was most fascinating was a coffee-type drink called Kilimanjaro Cascara. This is basically an infusion of dried coffee cherries, brewed much like you would a fruit tea. The coffee cherry is the usually discarded fruit that is wrapped around the seed which we have come to know and love as the coffee bean. Anyway, once brewed it makes for a deliciously syrupy-sweet, fruity drink...that also tastes like a mild coffee! It could also be served cold like an iced tea, but I'm not so sure about that. I don't like iced tea, though I'm told I haven't really had it served to me the proper way.
My coffee excursion ended with a double shot of Colin's seasonal espresso and I was off home (slightly shaking) to see what the family had been up to. I arrived to discover a cake from a single estate origin run by a young family in Dublin. On the nose there was a warm, pleasing aroma and I was looking forward to tasting this unique blend of flour, sugar and eggs. It had a soft mouthfeel with a sweet, decadent chocolate taste which was dominant on the plate. I definitely detected high notes of syrup and icing with a hint of sugar strands. I also discovered custardy tones running throughout. Superlative!
I was hoping to catch up with Buzz and have a coffee with him. We were planning on brewing up some espresso beans he had just received which he described, in what I presume are professional terms, as *%&*!* amazing! Unfortunately he wasn't around so, following a quick double espresso, I headed off to my other favourite coffee location to see Colin at 3fe.
What I've been really liking about 3fe is that if a customer simply wants a cappuccino to go, that's fine. If another wants to stick around longer and talk coffee there's time for that too. Also, despite the name of the cafe (third floor espresso) they serve filter coffee as well. Only, this isn't filter coffee that is already sitting in a flask waiting for you to order it, this is filter coffee that is ground and brewed by the single cup. There are always a couple of coffees to choose from and they are never run-of-the-mill standard beans. Today I had the time (and excuse) to stay a while and have a few cups.
I had a Brazil coffee that had hints of hazelnut and chocolate and an incredible Ethiopian coffee with clearly palatable fruity notes of orange, red grape, and a very floral scent. I know this all sounds a bit poncey to anyone who thinks that coffee just tastes like coffee, but it really is amazing that you can discover these flavours in the cup. I've been enjoying it anyway.
But what was most fascinating was a coffee-type drink called Kilimanjaro Cascara. This is basically an infusion of dried coffee cherries, brewed much like you would a fruit tea. The coffee cherry is the usually discarded fruit that is wrapped around the seed which we have come to know and love as the coffee bean. Anyway, once brewed it makes for a deliciously syrupy-sweet, fruity drink...that also tastes like a mild coffee! It could also be served cold like an iced tea, but I'm not so sure about that. I don't like iced tea, though I'm told I haven't really had it served to me the proper way.
My coffee excursion ended with a double shot of Colin's seasonal espresso and I was off home (slightly shaking) to see what the family had been up to. I arrived to discover a cake from a single estate origin run by a young family in Dublin. On the nose there was a warm, pleasing aroma and I was looking forward to tasting this unique blend of flour, sugar and eggs. It had a soft mouthfeel with a sweet, decadent chocolate taste which was dominant on the plate. I definitely detected high notes of syrup and icing with a hint of sugar strands. I also discovered custardy tones running throughout. Superlative!
Saturday, 9 January 2010
Coffee Morning
Ireland is currently in the grip of Old Man Winter - an unprecedented cold snap and blanketing of snow (all relative of course). By Friday afternoon the government decided to close all schools until next Wednesday. All Schools! The whole country!!! Most kids haven't even returned to school following the Christmas break. This is one that will be talked about for years.
Anyway, when it's cold outside the idea of getting out of bed is tough going, made worse by three young children who never seem to know how to play nicely together at 7:30am. However, salvation came in two forms: Saturday morning TV for the kids and a cafetiere of delicious Bolivian coffee and a couple of brioche to take back upstairs for myself and the wife.
What a treat. Sitting in bed watching the big fluffy flakes fall outside while enjoying a fantastic coffee and reading a book. A book I got for Christmas (and when I say I got I mean I got it - and gave it to my wife to wrap up) about coffee. 250 pages of nothing but coffee. Brilliant.
I had just worked my way through the growing regions of Central and South America and was moving on to India when the limits of Saturday morning TV kicked in. I'd like to say it was the responsible parent in me that got me out of bed....but it was the thought of another cup.
Anyway, when it's cold outside the idea of getting out of bed is tough going, made worse by three young children who never seem to know how to play nicely together at 7:30am. However, salvation came in two forms: Saturday morning TV for the kids and a cafetiere of delicious Bolivian coffee and a couple of brioche to take back upstairs for myself and the wife.
What a treat. Sitting in bed watching the big fluffy flakes fall outside while enjoying a fantastic coffee and reading a book. A book I got for Christmas (and when I say I got I mean I got it - and gave it to my wife to wrap up) about coffee. 250 pages of nothing but coffee. Brilliant.
I had just worked my way through the growing regions of Central and South America and was moving on to India when the limits of Saturday morning TV kicked in. I'd like to say it was the responsible parent in me that got me out of bed....but it was the thought of another cup.
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