Broke Down 69...The Adventure Continues

That's a bit out of my typical running area. I typically stay south of i10 and no farther west than i75. But been known to bounce up to Birmingham or over to mobile for a real good paying load back down here.

 

Coffee. now we are talking my language.
I could go into some serious details on this.
have been roasting coffee on and off for almost 30 years.

 

So is the wife. she is very particular about her brew.
sometimes she puts dairy (real only) and sugar in.

 

What is roasting coffee? Most people just brew it into a pot?

 

Checked this morning at the receiver at 0630 for my 0800 appt. Guy tells me, "we already have an 0800...you'll have to wait..."

Turns out the guy who sets the appts thought I was in a flatbed and put someone in my slot.

I texted him. He owned the mistake and made it right. I docked at 0715 instead

Sheat happens sometimes, however, it was refreshing to have someone own it and then do what they could to fix it.

Which is all we as professional drivers expect.

 

Alrighty then...

When I drank hot coffee I gravitated to the darkest roast for full flavor. Higher acid content, but a more satisfying cup. When I transitioned to cold brew I found that a dark roast seemed to have a scorched flavor. I now go with the lightest roast I can get and the flavor is much broader (nut and chocolate flavors come through without any acid or bitterness).

When I lived in Seattle, when Starbucks went from a single boutique location in the Pike Place Market to spread to every block, small roasters complained they roast too hot to reduce roasting time. This was confirmed by a friend of mine that used to be in charge of roasting at one of their roasting operations.

I have been toying with the idea of roasting my own beans. Any thoughts on slow roasting at very low temperatures?

 

I'm not at all sure you understood the point I am trying to make here! Of course it is our responsibility NOT TO HIT THEM. Not arguing that fact in any way. Not arguing the fact that they have a right to be on the road.
Just stating the very plain and obvious fact, that IF a bike and a motor vehicle tangle, it is the bicycle rider who is going to come out the injured/dead one. I have a very difficult time in believing that people have become so stupid that they have no sense of survival.

Or preserve to endeavor.

Take care of yourself! Hope ya get to feeling better. Probably just need a good night's sleep, then a nice big breakfast when you get up.

Or just buy a regular Mr. Coffee type and save a few bucks! Actually, I'm kind of curious about Kuerig. Are these the one that just brew one cup at a time, using pods?

There is just something so wrong about cold coffee.

Not just warm, but HOT! If it cools off to just warm, it's time to pour it out and get a nice hot cup.

Dunno if I could ever be talked into trying cold brewed. I just can't drink ice coffee, just flatly can't get it down. And if it is too "cooled down enough so I can drink it," (in the words of one of my ex wives, it's just way to cool to drink.

Seriously, please tell us about roasting your own coffee. I remember seeing those coffee beans, with the coffee grinder machines in Safeway years ago.
But I have a feeling you are talking something much different here.

Not me. Not at all a snob about coffee. I just like what I like. Got nothing against what anybody else likes though.

Terrible thing to do to good coffee! Almost sacrilege!

You lost me at nut and chocolate flavors. I want coffee to taste like coffee, not any of these extra flavors. Again, I've got nothing against what anybody else likes.

I take it that you can buy the unroasted coffee beans somewhere? Don't think coffee will grow too well here.

 

Coffee beans before roasting look tan or greenish. Roasting turns them black, the darker the roast the blacker they become. Beans are imported green, in big burlap sacks. I used to buy roasted beans from an old Italian guy in an alley in Seattle. You could smell the roasting coffee a block away and get walloped by coffee smell when you opened the door to his bare bones shop. Some batches took a day of roasting in big open vats with mechanical paddles to keep the beans stirred.

Just like wine connoisseurs, coffee flavors are described in a variety of ways. Roasting is a big part of the final taste.

Cold brewed coffee has no comparison at all to "cold coffee", ie. coffee that has been brewed hot and then poured over ice or allowed to get cold. Cold coffee is a weak, unappetizing thing best poured out. Cold brewed coffee is a "Dayyum!" good wake up call to your taste buds.