Journal — brew

(Pictured - Fairhaven Baristas Chuck & Joe - "We Make The Coffee Rules")

Is it rude when visiting someone’s home, specifically a close friend or family member, that you bring a bag of your favorite coffee with you and present it as a gift? I mean, whether you present it as a gift or just hand the bag of coffee to them unwrapped accompanied by the phrase, “Here, this is for later.”, isn’t blatantly obvious that you are telling your host...

Coffee, like most subjective indulgences, needs more than just the words “bad” or “good” as descriptors. Sure, it’s going to end up being one of those two, but we shouldn't feel silly trying to dissect why we feel this way, especially if we drink coffee on a regular basis. Whether it be flavor, sound, or visually stunning art, our past experiences of enjoying our senses have accumulated into one unique palate that we should embrace and challenge daily rather than shun into the doldrums of routine.

I once sipped a version...

One of the most common methods for brewing excellent coffee at home is the French press. I went to a friend’s house for dinner the other night, and after dinner he made some coffee for my girlfriend and me in a French press and brewed it exactly right. I only ever drink drip coffee in our Booskerdoo shops, and I forgot about the differences you can taste in the same coffee, brewed differently. So, what's the proper way to brew coffee in a French press?

We start, of course, with your coffee of choice....

You drink coffee! Nice! You do this for many reasons which may include:

1. You may be tired for whatever reason
2. You need to get many things accomplished today
3. You need motivation
4. You have a really long day or night ahead of you
5. You are addicted to caffeine
6. You’ve been drinking coffee all your life and now you are a connoisseur
7. You work in a café like Booskerdoo
8. or You ______________________ (fill in the blank).

For whatever reason you drink coffee, it’s your personal choice to do so and so is the blend you choose...

The average day for a Booskerdoo barista is filled with questions.  Questions such as,

• “What does this coffee taste like?
• Which one is decaf?
• Which beans make up this blend?”

One question I hear almost every day is, “How come the coffee tastes better when I get a cup in your shop than when I make a cup at home?”  The answer could involve many single or overlapping things: the grind is incorrect for your preferred brewing method, the beans are no longer fresh, or your coffee proportions are off.  Most of the time though, the...