Is there a difference between the taste and quality of a coffee obtained from an automated coffee maker as opposed to one prepared manually?

Since many years I have used the handy turkish mocha wooden grinders to prepare my coffee. Using them is an old, time-consuming and arduous shore, especially in societies where any product on the market is available ground and where most of the grinders used domestically function electronically. Several weeks ago I stopped using this antiquated grinders to go even a bit further back in time. Some friends and acquaintances I have met during my travels and those I have hosted myself are surely surprised about the absence of my wooden grinders, but it is a fact: none of them are part of my baggage now. However, this instruments absence in my daily coffee rituals and research has nothing to do with a new concept aiming to discard of its use. It is merely chance that I have landed in the situation where I use my two arms and hands with a mortar weighing some 3,3 Kilo. Pretty much a sport, but considering the fact, that I counted 473 circular movements while making coffee some months ago, it should be clear to the reader, that pleasure for me has little to do with laziness – it is the opposite.

Before: Wild coffee from Ethiopia (Espresso roast), cocoa, cinnamon, clove and Hawaiian black sea salt

As I started working this way several weeks ago it was necessary for me each time to make a conscious decision of taking the Mortar and the Coffee in my hands. Starting the procedure was constantly accompanied by knowing it would need much more time and energy for me to drink the first drops out of my espresso glass. But the drive to experiment and discover with the palate the real quality of what I was doing or trying to achieve was greater than any scariness about possible aching muscles. And every movement has been worth it, not only for the sake of taste.

Time plays a crucial role with a mortar, not only due to the time needed to obtain the necessary coarseness, but because this is something one needs to learn when striving for a good cup of coffee. Grinders have usually a range of possibilities between coarse and fine for a reason. The importance is perceived at the latest when taking the first sip. If the result is a good one, the strenuous effort has been worth it. Luckily only the beginning brings difficulties along, for the longer one beats with a pestle, the better one is with the mortar, resulting in even more than just physical, timely and tasted differences.

In my opinion, humans love immediacy and immediacy influences greatly our decisions – it does not matter if these occur on a common daily basis or previously planned, no matter if complex or simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(from the series “Undrinkable Coffee Rests”)

As George Washington was looking into what was left of his coffee, he found no coffee grounds, but found himself.

Or was that Wolfgang von Goethe?

I love colourfulness. I love simplicity. And here is an intense simplicity. Take some red wine, a bit of salt, a bit of sugar (perhaps Vanilla pod, if you wish) and some coffee powder and let these cook a few minutes. Then add some red beets, without peeling or cutting them. It should cook well for some 30 Minutes. Then let the beets cool off, slice them and add some

Several months ago i found this story. Today i came across it again and MUST share it here, for those, who never heard of it before. It is a classic!

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A simple and unique Coffee Story from Arthur Rosenfeld

“Just before Christmas of 2007, almost exactly a year ago, I steered into a Starbucks drive-thru line for a cup of tea on my way to teach a morning tai chi lesson. There were a few cars in line, and I got in behind them. When my turn came I gave my order at the billboard menu and moved up as far as I could while waiting patiently for the cars in front of me to get through the cashier line…”

“The fellow in the SUV behind me reached the menu. Dissatisfied with the alignment between his mouth and the microphone, he laid on his horn, leaned out his window, yelled an insult and exhorted me to move up. There was nowhere to go. I was in a line, and mere inches separated my car from the one in front of me. Indignant at rudeness, I felt my temper come up, and because I am a pure and enlightened being who entertains nothing but positive thoughts, I reached for the door handle with the intention popping out of the car, taking a few steps, reaching into his open window, and sending him to the dentist for a holiday visit.”

“Then I glanced in the mirror. The face of the impatient driver behind me was florid and twisted with anger and hate. I refocused my eyes and noticed that my own face didn’t look much different

these are the 2 possibilities we have almost every time, unless we are at a train station.

What is there to experience in the mouth, in the body, what do i drink, what happens at all, when i simply push a button in order to drink a coffee?

It is common that we measure the necessary water and coffee (unless this is done automatically by the machine) and after pushing one or two buttons, each has several minutes to spend in the wash room, until some noise gives signal that the cup of coffee could be picked up so we may continue

 

 

 

 

 

Just before the drought.

 

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