Coffee!

Ahhh Coffee! Nectar of the gods. So many things can be said about this lovely drink. The wonderful aroma, the greate taste of a fresh cup of coffee, the instant pick me up that starts the instant that you catch the first whiff. I love coffee! I started buying coffee at the grocery store, then I happened to buy some whole beans and grind them in the store. I thought that this was heaven on earth. Soon I realized that the coffee had lost most of it's flavour within a week or so. The natural progression from this point was to buy a coffee grinder, and then I stumbled onto a website that sold the green beans for about the same price as the roasted ones at the grocery store. So the obvious thing was to start roasting my own.

The addiction is full force now, no I am not talking about the caffeine addiction (even though it is prevelent as well). Coffee itself is fascinating and addicting. I started roasting coffee a few weeks ago, and although the idea is simple, it is difficult to get the roast right. This will likely keep me occupied for a couple of months, but I love it. The only problem is this will become a very expensive hobby. It generally starts when you buy your first blade grinder, then you will realize it will not give you consistent grinds. So now you need a burr grinder, the manual ones generally run $50 or more, and the electric ones can run hundreds. Throw in a french press, an ibrik, a mocha pot, an espresso machine (cheapo), then the realization that the espresso machine will not make espresso, a more expensive espresso machine.... well you get the picture. I am on the journey but I feel it is just beginning.

At this point I have a blade grinder, but i am looking and budgeting for a burr grinder, I have a french press, and I love it. But, I need a larger one. I have a cheapo espresso machine, it was used heavily at first, until I realized it did not really resemble espresso too much. For the time being i am fascinated with the roast process, when I master that I will probably start cupping. Then I will probably start blending, and try different brewing methods, and try to master espressos, cappucinos, lattes, coffee art, ahhh.... the addiction will last for years. So many things to learn and do, so many thousands of dollars to be spent, and countless hours, and pounds of wasted coffee. But on the other hands, so many excellent, fresh cups of coffee (if you have never ground your own beans you do not know what good coffee is, and roasting is a whole new level above that). Join me on my journey, and feed your coffee addiction.