DISQUS

Great article Dan. The statement about burr vs. blade grinders was incorrect. The difference between burr grinders and blade grinders in simple terms is that burr grinders are just better than blade grinders; "conical" burr grinders being the best of the bunch with a price tag to match.

Blade grinders are just a spinning blade that creates randomly misshapen bean fragments which can result in a bitter brew. On the other hand burr grinders actually pass the bean through a burr of a thickness you set before grinding according to the desired grind size. I have a $60 burr grinder and my results are close to perfection every time.

Regarding roast types: When something has a distinct flavor or aroma based on origin, it is a "varietal". We know that we cannot brew un-roasted coffee beans but the more you roast the been the less you are tasting its flavor of origin and the more you are simply tasting the roast. Just like bread, the line between a fine slice of sourdough and Wonder bread begins to dim the more you toast them.

Certain coffee applications (like the aforementioned espresso and espresso based drinks) pretty much require the extra sweetness of a dark roast but many people seem to think dark = better for any coffee application. This in my experience is wrong. So the next time you find yourself at your local coffee shop, buy a half pound of a good light roast like the Ethiopian. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Have you any co-workers you could trade some tasks with?

I used to go to a small store for my organic/health food needs and was tempted away by shiny elitist bastion that is Whole Foods.

Although the workers at WF were generally nice, some of them (and most of the customers) looked at me like I needed an Armani suit with a PHD from Harvard stapled to the back of it before I was entitled to sample an apple wedge.

Whole Foods is to food what Apple is to computers. Though I endorse most of what both of them are doing, the shopping experience leaves me feeling like I need a shower.

Recently I learned that Whole Foods does not locally source some of their produce. This is bad for three reasons.

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Food that is sourced outside the USA is very rarely fair trade.

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A boat/plane bringing in food from Chile or China causes massive pollution and this rather deflates the good feeling you get from buying organic.

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When food has to be transported it is bred solely for hardiness and not for taste and nutrition. Ask your grandmother what tomatoes and stone fruit USED to taste like, or better yet go to a farmer's market and experience yourself.

Long story short, I've returned to that small store. The selection isn't as good and the store isn't as clean, but people smile back at me when I smile at them and I am helping local farmers. That suits me just fine.

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I used to go to a small store for my organic/health food needs and was tempted away by shiny elitist bastion that is Whole Foods.

Although the workers at WF were generally nice, some of them (and most of the customers) looked at me like I needed an Armani suit with a PHD from Harvard stapled to the back of it before I was entitled to sample an apple wedge.

Whole Foods is to food what Apple is to computers. Though I endorse most of what both of them are doing, the shopping experience leaves me feeling like I need a shower.

Recently I learned that Whole Foods does not locally source some of their produce. This is bad for three reasons.

<ol>
<li>

Food that is sourced outside the USA is very rarely fair trade.

</li>
<li>

A boat/plane bringing in food from Chile or China causes massive pollution and this rather deflates the good feeling you get from buying organic.

</li>
<li>

When food has to be transported it is bred solely for hardiness and not for taste and nutrition. Ask your grandmother what tomatoes and stone fruit USED to taste like, or better yet go to a farmer's market and experience yourself.

Long story short, I've returned to that small store. The selection isn't as good and the store isn't as clean, but people smile back at me when I smile at them and I am helping local farmers. That suits me just fine.

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</ol>

If faith in USA's economy tanks prices on things produced internally will not go through the roof -the bigwigs will make sure the plebes have their bread and circuses.

What will go up is the price on imported items particularly gas and out of season produce.

If faith in USA's economy tanks prices on things produced internally will not go through the roof -the bigwigs will make sure the plebes have their bread and circuses.

What will go up is the price on imported items particularly gas and out of season produce.

Nothing positive is ever accomplished by the belittlement of others.

Words that succeed in convoying an idea have satisfied their sole purpose, lack of apostrophes not withstanding.

The wise reach a plateau of skill and look up at what they have left to maintain; the meek look down at what they have accomplished and derive smugness.

Nothing positive is ever accomplished by the belittlement of others.

Words that succeed in convoying an idea have satisfied their sole purpose, lack of apostrophes not withstanding.

The wise reach a plateau of skill and look up at what they have left to maintain; the meek look down at what they have accomplished and derive smugness.

Good article. But I think this problem goes both ways. To think this much ignorance is solely the result of design is crazy. But it is also crazy in my opinion to think that the powerful would exert themselves to bring a handful of their own to control the entire American news media and then proceed in a slipshod fashion.

Good article. But I think this problem goes both ways. To think this much ignorance is solely the result of design is crazy. But it is also crazy in my opinion to think that the powerful would exert themselves to bring a handful of their own to control the entire American news media and then proceed in a slipshod fashion.