Job Requirements Met

I don't write as often as I might like, and when I do - it's often about coffee.  Anyone who knows me knows my love of coffee. 

This morning a friend sent me a very funny joke about coffee.  The setting for the joke was that of a job interview...and it triggered a memory of I job interview I had many years ago.

The interview was with a small company, and the man interviewing me was the president - his name is Bill.  My friend Greg referred me for the position, and told me Bill was a funny, quirky guy...but I'd not met him prior to the interview. 

I walked into Bill's office, we exchanged pleasantries, and I handed him a copy of my resume.  He asked that I sit down and he looked over my credentials for a minute or so.  He then said, "So - you were referred by Greg?  You worked with him?"  I told him yes, and gave a little background on the work Greg and I did together.

Bill said, "Good.  Can you cuss and drink coffee?” to which I smiled and told him, "Yes, sir."

Bill then said, "Good.  You're hired."

End of interview.

Roast On Date

Remember when Budweiser had that ad campaign about the "born on date"?  Well...I kinda thought that was crap - but coffee is definitely best when it's consumed within a few weeks of when it's roasted (and brewed immediately after grinding).  After a month or so the intensity of flavors begins to fade, thus diminishing the overall experience.

The problem with most grocery store coffee (and SBX for that matter) is that you have no idea whatsoever as to when the coffee you're buying was roasted.  Rest assured - in most cases the stuff you buy in the grocery store was roasted months ago...maybe many months ago. The exception I've found is Whole Foods stores.  They seem to work relationships with local roasters who ship directly to the stores - thus eliminating the months of layover in distribution warehouses.  In addition, many of them stamp a roasting date on the bag.  Also, many Whole Foods stores roast their own in-house, and they keep it in bins with the roasting date marked on the top...very cool.

The bags of deliciousness in the picture are from one of my favorite roasters; Rival Bros in the Philadelphia area.  I buy from them online, and they ship UPS.  You can see by the date of this post and the date on the bag - my coffee was roasted 4 days ago.  That'll work!  That's a bag of their Palooka decaf and a dark high test called Whistle & Cuss.  I've had both before, and both are exceptional.

You can visit the Rival Bros website here: http://www.rivalbros.com/

Blonde Roast

Perhaps you've heard Starbucks Coffee recently came out with a new variety of coffee they're calling "Blonde Roast", and the first one is called Veranda.  What is it?  Is it weaker?  Is it like Dunkin Donuts coffee?

Fortunately, it's neither weak nor like Dunkin Donuts coffee.  Coffee beans are roasted to temperature.  Higher temperatures result in darker coffee beans.  French and Italian are examples of dark roast coffees.  At higher temperatures, the oils begin to seep from the bean - which is why dark roast coffee beans often look shiny.  The proper term for the new Starbucks Coffee is "city roast", or "full city roast".  These beans are a lighter brown, and even lighter where the bean cracks during roasting.  The result is a coffee that reveals the flavors of specific origins, and not so much the carbony taste from the roasting process.

My guess is that Starbucks decided to market this new coffee because of the popularity of city roast coffees at the micro-roasters.  I think they finally caught wind of the fact that people who like small roasters had nicknamed them "charbucks" because of that carbony treatment they previously gave the majority of their beans.

For those that have been afraid or at least hesitant to try it - I have wandered down the path of the new SBX "Blonde Roast" Veranda, and it's a very tasty cup of coffee.  Before now - most times the only brewed coffee they had on hand was that really mediocre Pike Place - of which I am not a fan.  Subsequently I usually ordered a latte or americano when visiting SBX.  However - my last two visits have resulted in my enjoying a cup of the new Veranda.  Not bad, Starbucks.  Not bad.

A Small Gift to You

 

44 years ago today, I was born the son of Ralph Wesley Bayfield and Joan Jopson Bayfield in Wilmington, Delaware.  Typically birthdays are a time people give you gifts to celebrate the occasion, and whereas that's all well and good - I decided I'd like to try to put a little focus on giving rather than receiving.  So I've decided to share some words as part of that effort.

When I was growing up, my family spent several weeks every summer at a little cottage in Cape May Point, NJ.  There my parents became good friends with Paul and Linda Westman.  Paul was an amazing and charming man. He passed away a few years ago in September of 2009.  Paul was survived by Linda, and their daughter, Karin. Many gathered in celebration of his life, and the program for the memorial service included the following list on a separate page, and I'd like to share it; The Top 12 Things We Learned From Paul Westman.

12. Take the road less traveled...especially if it goes by a Cracker Barrel.  Or a cafeteria. Or a diner. Or a grocery store.  Or a flea market.
11. It must be cheaper somewhere else.
10. If the Good Lord had meant for us to dress up, He wouldn't have invented sweatpants and sandals.
9. The furniture is there to be rearranged.  And so is everything else.
8. If there's a holiday (any holiday), it must be celebrated...
7. ...preferably with pork, the perfect food.
6. Live by three C's: Creativity, Compassion, Conversation
5. Keep a song in your heart.  Gospel, country, Disney, opera, musicals...or whatever kinds of music speak to you.
4. The best way to end the day: Take a drink down to the beach and watch the sun set.
3. The best time to work is between 1 and 3 in the morning.
2. There's always time for a little something and a little nap.
1. As people would say upon meeting him, "He must be a joy to live with".

I don't know if I'll ever be as warm, funny, profound and kind as Paul, but every day is a good day to try.  If I have a little success at it - maybe one day I'll be a joy to live with, and be remembered well...like Paul.