Sounds excellent; earlier, as it happens, I had a mug of FP Ethiopian coffee with my scrambled eggs.
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Sounds excellent; earlier, as it happens, I had a mug of FP Ethiopian coffee with my scrambled eggs.
Tanzanian, French pressed.
I haven't seen SBG post in this thread in a while unless I've been absent minded and glossed over his posts.
I haven't seen SBG post in this thread in a while unless I've been absent minded and glossed over his posts.
Neither have I.
How is the Tanzanian?
How does it compare with Kenyan, or Rwandan, or - even, at a push - Ethiopian?
As do I; hope both are keeping well.
Yes, shrink too. I noticed around Christmas, actually, but I held my comments to myself. Tanzanian is bright, acidic (to my mouth at least) and refreshing. I drank it a lot last year and stopped for the Kenya AA. I've just ordered a Panamanian coffee from Blue Bottle, a small but well known third wave roaster from upstate. I don't think I've ever had the pleasure of having Panamanian coffee. I think it'll be an interesting treat considering the only sub-tropical or tropical region coffees I've had (unless my geography is terrible) is Jamaican and Hawaiian. Compared to general desert like regions such as Ethiopia, they present a different flavor.
Blue Bottle? Small? Hmm, are we talking about the same roaster?
[doublepost=1484096798][/doublepost]30 cafe locations across the Bay Area, LA, NYC and Tokyo (3 more 'coming soon'), over $100m raised from VCs, and $1b revenue doesn't sound too small man.
They were small a few years ago when I tried them. I've never noticed they had retail locations/cafes in this part of the state either. A company can be physically small, as they once were, and still have a massive gross profit. The nearest one to me appears to be on Beverly, the other ones are in less savory parts of the county. Probably why I never noticed them as I rarely ever travel in that direction.
At work we're going to be trying a new 'local' multi roaster called Kit. We're getting our first delivery of beans in a few weeks once we run out of our current stock. I've placed our current recurring order of Peet's on hold for the time being. I had another coffee earlier after dinner. Truth be told, it and the coffee from earlier today were two of very few I've had since ringing in the new year. I've had a nasty head cold since the 2nd and still haven't managed to break through the barrier. With the awful rain we're getting, and I'm sure you are, too, it isn't easy getting better. I've been plying myself with green tea and lemon or mixed with ginger and it's keeping my spirit afloat.
Rather interesting to see all the "wild life" on the walkways around the house every morning. Slugs, worms, snails aplenty. While tempted to pour salt onto the buggers, I use a broom to get them off and not step on them accidentally. We had an unusually warm 85* day last week, and then the next day it was 38* and raining hard. Such is life.
At work we're going to be trying a new 'local' multi roaster called Kit. We're getting our first delivery of beans in a few weeks once we run out of our current stock. I've placed our current recurring order of Peet's on hold for the time being. I had another coffee earlier after dinner. Truth be told, it and the coffee from earlier today were two of very few I've had since ringing in the new year. I've had a nasty head cold since the 2nd and still haven't managed to break through the barrier. With the awful rain we're getting, and I'm sure you are, too, it isn't easy getting better. I've been plying myself with green tea and lemon or mixed with ginger and it's keeping my spirit afloat.
Rather interesting to see all the "wild life" on the walkways around the house every morning. Slugs, worms, snails aplenty. While tempted to pour salt onto the buggers, I use a broom to get them off and not step on them accidentally. We had an unusually warm 85* day last week, and then the next day it was 38* and raining hard. Such is life.
Sipping a piping hot mug of Ethiopian Yirgacheffe coffee.
As always, a mug of piping hot (and freshly ground) Ethiopian coffee from the Yirgacheffe region goes down rather well on a cold, miserable January day.
70F (21C) here... and it's not even 7AM
Darn you Texas!! Still I can only imagine July and August...time for another coffee here.
70F (21C) here... and it's not even 7AM
Sorry, @yaxomoxay - but not even balmy temperatures could persuade me to warm to Texas. Nothing about the place strikes me as remotely attractive.
For now, miserable though it is in January, I'll stay with Europe.
It's actually amazing if you like the outdoors
Nothing will convince me to move to colder places, so here you go - we balance out
[doublepost=1484228056][/doublepost]
If you don't like the heat, and by that I mean knowing what it feels being on the surface of the sun, yeah... July and August could be miserable. Otherwise, it ain't that bad!
It's actually amazing if you like the outdoors
Nothing will convince me to move to colder places, so here you go - we balance out
Hm. The outdoors.
A lot of the time, I like to view "the outdoors" from the windscreen of a car, or - better still - the windows of a speeding train. I'm not really one for outdoor pursuits unless someone drags me along. (Now, when dragged thus, I have had some memorable trips).
Personally, I like cities, ancient urban and public spaces, the feel of asphalt beneath my feet, antique masonry, coffee shops, old pubs, a sense of history - places where steps have been worn smooth by the passage of millions of feet over thousands of years, this is what appeals.
Now, while I don't much like the cold, I do like a sense of culture and history in my surroundings.
Interesting... we're kinda the opposite. I love driving in the vast spaces of Southern USA (even if it gives no glory to the driver; I drive hours upon hours and I am still in Texas!), and observing the seemingly untouched nature. I also love to discover new little places, unknown towns, forts, cemeteries, or locations forgotten by many where - maybe - local history can provide a glimpse of the unknown world that we left behind and will never celebrate, even if we perhaps had to fight and shed blood for it.
Well, as I added above, I have been dragged out to partake in outdoor pursuits, and have on occasion, enjoyed them, especially if the company was congenial. And yes, driving in the countryside can be perfectly pleasant, especially if it is scenic, or there is something worth viewing.
But, I am not comfortable in the countryside unless I know that a return to urban delights is imminent, or, has been already arranged prior to my departure.
And, on topic: Coffee shops positively scream sophistication and the sort of civilisation that is found in cities - the very concept of the coffee shop is unimaginable outside of an urban space.
Hmmmm.
For the longest time I was such an urban creature. Especially when we lived in London it seemed as if nothing existed outside the M25.
But after living in Italy for a while and then moving to South West England I've changed my tune.
I don't want to live in the countryside. No. For that I need at least a medium sized city such as my present home, Bath.
A summer's weekend just wouldn't be complete for me — or indeed even an icy cold blue skied winter's day — without a long(ish) hike. A bottle of wine and sourdough sandwiches in the rucksack, a pair of sturdy boots and your life's companion walking beside you. Few things better.
But it is always good to return home to the urban environment.
Ah - I used to be like you, after all I grew up in Milan and visited many cities and urban areas around the globe. I think that the revelatory moment for me was after my impromptu visit to Thurber, TX a so-called ghost town. I stopped there to sip a coffee and eat a breakfast meal at the only shop open there close to the Interstate, and ended up visiting the local cemetery, which is basically a boot hill. I found many stories about a once popular town with the economy based on coal within the tombstones. To my surprise many of them were Italian, some text was actually in Italian, and it was clear that how the various workers tried to create a community - often joining freemasonry, and that I believe includes the local priests! The suffering and the toll on those life is also witnessed by the many small tombstones, rotten by the unforgiving passing of time, with a simple text: "Baby", or a birth and death time span of just a few days. From then on, I went to search for the America no one really thinks about anymore, which is also a good excuse to find new amazing locations.
Another place I happened to stumble upon is Cross Plain, TX. In that small town you can find some nice literary lore as it was the place where Robert E. Howard - author of the pulp hero Conan - lived and died by self-inflicted gunshot five minutes after his mother died. The community is so proud of him that his house can be visited at any time, and it even holds an annual festival in his honor. Although he's certainly no Shakespeare, it is quite an interesting thing to find such knowledge and literary skill in the middle of nowhere, especially during the 1920's. At his house I was also able to hold in my own hands a text handwritten by none other than H.P. Lovecraft, as the two authors had a vast correspondence which has been now published in two tomes, and is one of the most interesting readings I have ever had.
As for the coffee... I happen to disagree. During my innumerable trips I found amazing cafe' in the most unlikely places. Of course - and here I say it with some blushing - I also found the most awful coffee ever including a "Cafe" that served ... instant coffee.
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Ah, - a conditional attachment to the countryside? Excellent: That I can relate to, especially the creature comforts (such as a bottle of wine, and sourdough sandwiches), seriously good quality boots (agreed), and yes, congenial company.
As I have mentioned in this and other threads, I have been watching (I had ordered the DVD) "Victorian Bakers" - a really excellent series, (Duncan Glendenning - The Thoughtful Bread Company is one of the bakers featured in the series, and his artisan bakery is in your vicinity) and thoroughly enjoying such thought-provoking, intelligent and interesting TV.
The series makes plain how hard life was - even in idyllic surroundings. Personally, I have never succumbed to the lure of the romanticism of the countryside - traditionally, and physically, life was just too hard, too culturally atrophied & intellectually limited, and too bloody backbreaking for most of the population - not least women - for most of history for it to be considered an attractive destination or environment; for fleeting - or slightly longer visits - well, that is something a bit different.
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Most definitely conditional. (Not least the poor rural broadband speeds!)
That was an interesting series. Although I did find myself shouting at the screen now and then… "How can they not know that?!" or more to the point… "Wimps!" Mind you, I tend to do that with most TV documentaries.
The amount of "Artisanal" bread around is quite astonishing — and of varying quality. I might be approaching your love of coffee when it comes to quality of bread.
But I will confess that the only bread I eat is the bread I bake — and that is always sourdough.
The sourdough starter lives in the fridge, ready to be revived whenever the need arises. Its next outing will be for Easter — Hot Cross Buns; Not negotiable.Anyway! I shall now bow out of this thread as "Quality Bread" needs a thread all by itself.
Most definitely conditional. (Not least the poor rural broadband speeds!)
That was an interesting series. Although I did find myself shouting at the screen now and then… "How can they not know that?!" or more to the point… "Wimps!" Mind you, I tend to do that with most TV documentaries.
The amount of "Artisanal" bread around is quite astonishing — and of varying quality. I might be approaching your love of coffee when it comes to quality of bread.
But I will confess that the only bread I eat is the bread I bake — and that is always sourdough.
Anyway! I shall now bow out of this thread as "Quality Bread" needs a thread all by itself.
What an excellent idea for a thread.
No, I don't bake my own, but am a passionate supporter of genuinely good artisan bakeries - their stuff really is so much better than the rubbish available in the department stores.
As to "how can they not know that"? - very easily, if traditions have been lost, or historical lore and knowledge has not been passed down properly. Basically, if history is not taught properly - and if historical knowledge is not made available - especially in a class conscious society such as the UK where some forms of knowledge do not appear to be readily available to some social classes - such gaps should not be too surprising.
History has been bedevilled for as long as I can remember with some terrible teachers and dreadful textbooks along with a doleful - and dire - reputation; this is a tragedy, for - properly taught or presented - it is a rollicking and exciting subject.
I love this kind of series as it gets away from obvious TV tropes and clichés - (such as the endless 'Hitlerification' or 'Tudorisation' of history) and allows elements of a story to be told (what breads Victorians ate, what they could afford to eat, where they sourced it, how it was produced and under what conditions) that throw a light on, and reflect on elements and features of the wider society at that time from a fascinating and oblique angle.
And I loved that this stuff was tackled by real professional bakers; professional historians can comment intelligently on sources, - and offer invaluable context - but would lack the actual physical savour-faire to be able to approach baking the breads from authentic recipes and being able to comment - from experience - on how this has changed from past to present.
Try staying on topic instead of blathering nonsense.
For once, soothing, warming and welcoming hot chocolate, rather than hot coffee, - served in the inevitable Le Creuset mug, has accompanied me through the lowering, darkening afternoon.
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Milk. Organic, unpasteurised milk. The sort with cream at the top of the bottle - or, in this case, plastic carton.
(And no, not even milk and water which is what I would do if the milk was running low).