Visible & Invisible

Spring?

When there is snow outside, ice to slip on and a wind chill below freezing it is hard to believe the first day of spring has come and gone. Flowers and rain, not ice and snow, is what I expect.
It's time to start...

artist unknown

In spring there are two types of cleaning that must be done.
The kind of cleaning done with a bucket, mop and broom which will require many pots of coffee; and the kind with a cup or two and some thinking.

Visible:
I promised my husband a freshly roasted pot of his favorite, Mocca Java, to help him tackle the garage which seemed to have exploded with dust, cobwebs and clutter over the winter.

Since I have not been able to roast for much of the winter, I haven't purchased any new green coffee beans. Going to my stash of remnants from last year's stock, I discovered I only had an ounce or less of the Java Ciwidey, Yemen Mocca Matari, Indian Mysore and Papua New Guinea Purosa.

It seems like a dire situation to a dedicated amateur.

Yes, I roasted in the snow to get a clean garage!
I would not advise.
Electricity and water (even if it is frozen) do not get along.

What to do?
The answer is simple. 

Do not throw them out, make a blend.
Take four ounces of whatever is remaining and roast them together.

This is the best way to gain experience. 
Experiment, taste and enjoy.

Cleaning out the remaining green coffee beans to make room for new ones in order to provide the fuel and motivation needed to spring clean away the visible dirt, but what about the other spring clean that needs to be done?


Invisible:
The first thing I thought, as I sipped with a two handed technique, was sadly far from deep.
It was what came first...

The chicken or the egg?
Stay with me!
The egg or the bunny?
There is a point, I promise.
A bunny who lays eggs...for children to eat?
Okay, so that thought is both disgusting and disturbing!

How has another holiday of candy taken priority over the real meaning?

Halloween I can accept as a candy holiday.
Trick-or-treating is a tradition in my house.
Christmas has Santa Clause; whose real name was Saint Nicholas; who was trying to share christian charity around Christmas; whose real message is the birth of Christ.
Logical.
But an Easter Bunny on the day celebrated for someone being killed
and rising from the dead?!
Whether a Christian or not, that logic is flawed.

Take the Easter season as a time to Spring Clean what cannot be seen.

Personally, I saw how I needed to spend more time on others than myself.
I don't own make up or a hair dryer, so I don't mean in a primping in front of a mirror way.
For me it is the time I spend doing what I want, like writing, drawing, designing and roasting that needs to be replaced with things my son, my husband or even my dog wants to do with me.

Reallocating my time, giving away what I want to others, has given me a happier heart.

As winter clings on this year give spring cleaning some thoughtful consideration.

Which rooms you might want to bribe your significant other to help clean?
The places too gross or high to reach are always my choices. 

How to spring clean yourself?
Personally, I made my husband shower before sitting down after cleaning the garage! The real answer I gave above.


Which coffee blend you can create with the beans left in last year's stash?
I would love to hear about your blends. What combination of beans were used? How were they roasted? How did it tastes? Use the comment box below or email me directly at sarahjorichards@gmail.com.

Happy Spring Cleaning, Roasting and Easter!

Clean. Brew. Repeat.

Have you ever wanted...

Correction.

Have you ever needed coffee so bad you would hijack a truck?

Driving to the exotic prairie pioneer destination of Fargo, North Dakota I saw this awesome truck on I-94.

We had driven almost 700 construction filled miles with minimal stops. Mind you, there was a three year old in the backseat who refused to sleep and was very bored. Every twenty three minutes my son would emit a piercing shriek of pent up energy.

The power converter was in the arm rest. I could plug it into the cigarette lighter thing to run the grinder. Gas stations along to route held hot water.

No horrible burnt, stale gas station coffee when you travel with a French press, grinder and beans.

I wasn't traveling with those creature comforts this trip because the dog took up the entire trunk of our "family car". The never stylish but highly practical station wagon.

Finally, it was my turn to drive and my husband to sleep.
Let's just say I really wanted coffee.
Let's just say my son was calling me the Stig (Top Gear reference) by the time we reached our destination.

The French press is a must for the office, home or travel.

I've had fresh, good coffee in a hotel room without having to go to a cafe. (Hotel Coffee)
When I visit friends a family who don't drink coffee (gasp).
Who don't even have a drip machine (I know!).
The French press rescued me.

However, if you don't properly clean a French press, the flavors start to go off, just like a dirty espresso machine. (What to do if your coffee tastes terrible?) I thought I was cleaning the plunger properly. Now I am going to share with you how it should be cleaned to ensure a good brew.

The first time I dissected my press, I thought I had broken it. I had no idea that you could unscrew the bottom of the plunger to separate the pieces. The amount of gunk in the crevices I couldn't reach without taking apart explained the funky flavors.

Cleaning your French Press

1. Fill your sink with hot, soapy water.
   While many presses claim to be dishwasher safe, but experience has taught me a device will have better longevity if you wash it by hand with a dishrag and a toothbrush.
2. Separate the plunger from the pot.
   I know! This seems like commonsense, but I wanted to be thorough.
3. Unscrew the plunger.
   It should reveal a coiled strainer, wire mesh and a stopper.
4. Wash all the pieces individually.
   Use the toothbrush to clean the wire mesh piece, the coil strainer and the pour slots.
5. Dry or used again!

Personally, I would suggest using your press immediately. After all you need to ensure you cleaned it well enough. I suppose then you'll have to wash it again; then test it again.

Some might say this is a vicious circle.
No. It isn't.

It is the delicious circle of a coffee addict's logic.

Let me know if this has helped you. If you have any advice on French press brewing I would love to hear from you and learn something new. Use the comment box below or contact me directly at sarahjorichards@gmail.com.

Happy Roasting and Brewing!

What to do if your coffee tastes terrible?

The last several roasts I have made have been disappointing. Correction. They've tasted terrible.

Are allergies effecting my palette?
Am I just really poor at roasting?
Is toothpaste effecting the flavor of my coffee?
(I usually brush after eating breakfast and then continue drinking coffee.)

Photographer Unknown

As I have mentioned before my husband is a home brewer. I used to dread those days because of the mess he would make in the kitchen. Now he has gotten more advanced and experienced.

Mr. Clean beams with pride at the sparkling counters and cookware he leaves when he is done.

I asked him why it is so clean when he is done, but not when he is brewing. The answer was he is clean. He sanitizes everything before involving it with his beer making. The mess was only the boil overs.

Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
No wonder monks were some of the first to brew beer.

Several hours have to be committed to making a batch of beer. Then there is the fermenting periods, the settling time for the yeast, and the carbonating/bottling process.

Roasting coffee takes a half hour for four ounces. Plus a day for the carbon dioxide to be expelled.

Was I missing something?
Was it all too easy?
My coffee still didn't taste like what I had in Seattle.

Getting back to basics corrected the sour taste the French press and espresso machine gave my coffee. 

My kitchen is not dirty, nor did I think my coffee making devices were dirty, but they were.

By following these extra steps your brew will taste better regardless of the type of beans you use.

The Espresso Machine

Dirty portafilter in the foreground
and a detached basket behind it.
Steps 1 & 2

1. Remove the portafilter and separate the basket.
   How to do this varies by machine, but the parts and concepts are the same for all.


2. Clean components thoroughly.
   For the perforations on the basket us a nylon brush
   or a toothbrush to ensure there is no blockage.
3. This is the step I didn't know about.
   It makes all the difference.
   

   

   Tip your machine upside down to see this filter.
   Steps 3, 4 & 5

   Remove the screw which holds the screen on.
   The screen should fall out.
   If not, gently pry with the screwdriver.
4. Clean the screen.
   Use the toothbrush or nylon brush to clear the holes of any blockages.
5. Once clean, replace the screen and screw it back into place.
6. If your steam nozzle has a cap on it, remove it. Ensure the nozzle cap and head itself are clean. Remove all milk film that may be present.
   

   

   Tools used: short handled Philips screwdriver,
   toothbrush and paper towels.

   
   Note: It is easiest to clean the apparatus immediately after using it, before the milk has a chance to harden to the metal. This actually applies to all parts. 

I know the espresso is mouth watering, but refrain.
Remind yourself it is too hot to drink right away. 

While you wait for it to cool, clean the steam nozzle. Wipe out the espresso pot. Unscrew the portafilter and empty the basket. Wash all parts.

Careful! Parts are hot after use.

For many espresso machines I have had, an important step is to unscrew the cap before removing the portafilter. I have had scalding coffee ground explosions from not following the operating instructions properly.

Be sure to read your manual for safety and cleaning procedures.
Use my advice and notes as a supplement.

Another tip I have about your espresso tastes is pay attention to the grind. Coffee ground to coarse will leave sour notes to your espresso, and going too fine will make it bitter.

Personally, I would err on the side of too fine. Bitter is better than sour in my cup.

Try giving your espresso machine a good cleaning and test it out.
Next week I will dissect the french press.

I am interested to know how it goes for you. I would also love any advice or experiences you have to share about your espresso machine. Leave your notes in the comments box or email me directly at sarahjorichards@gmail.com.

Happy Roasting and Brewing!