More Coffee!!!

This is a guest post from K and a follow-up to N's "Coffee!!"

4chan is an English-language imageboard website. It has been around for almost a decade and has been the source of many internet memes. It is also believed to be the site that spawned the hacktivist group Anonymous. They are known for creating the "rules of the internet." Of note is Rule 34 which essentially states: if it exists, there is porn of it. I think this idea can actually go a step further and I posit that "if you like something, there is a fanboy for it."

Take for example coffee. We all love coffee right? I know I do! As you know from N's post, you realize we love the stuff. While I am not a fanboy, I do research the subject. If you look through the forums of CoffeeGeek you will see some interesting comments regarding how coffee should be made for that perfect cup. Honestly, I don't really care; I think Two Buck Chuck tastes good, so I'm in it for the flavor, not the process.

That being said, coffee is something that can raise much debate. As an American, when I think of coffee, I admit that I think of this:

Starbucks has nothing on this!

There are other alternatives that many American's are used to. For example, in N's office they were going through so much coffee each day that her office opted for the industrial option.

An office of ~5 went through two of these!

But the thing about coffee is that each country has their own take on things. When N bought our first drip coffee maker in England the clerk asked, "oh, is this a gift?" Why? Because nobody in England drinks the stuff! For some reason, unknown to me, England prefers freeze dried coffee…just add hot water!

Doesn't that look yummy?!

Of course in many parts of Europe, you are likely to have a French press brought to your table while dining out. Of course it isn't called that in places that dislike the French, so you may know it by the name cafetiere or coffee press.

I bet Congress renamed it to "freedom press."

Then there is the Italian coffee pot that N just wrote about. It's almost a percolator, but not quite. I thought I was having espresso, but because there is a certifiying authority for espresso, which requires water pressure of 9 bar (± 1) for "true" espresso. The moka pot can only obtain a max of 1.5 bar. I know you're probably bummed out by this fact, but it still tastes good, so don't worry too much.

If you're interested in more details of your coffee options, lifehacker did a nice piece last year on some of the options covered here. My advice though, drink what tastes good to you, don't worry about what the "experts" think.

Well, while I've been writing this, N has been dancing around making another cup, so I'm off to enjoy some more moka pot coffee. I will leave you with another Jenna Marbles video because I've never used one (N doesn't want to use them in every post.)

Ciao for now!

Coffee!!

I had planned on seeing the sights of Rome today but I can’t because I’m HOPPED THE FUCK UP on caffeine. I just want to jump around and dance and I’m pretty sure that’s frowned upon at the Vatican.

So how did this happen?

First, a little background on me. I need coffee. NEED it. Before coffee I’m a pleasant mix of stupid and bitchy. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to all of my fellow commuters. I stand by my point that you shouldn’t have a license, but all of the things I said about your mother were uncalled for.

Anyway, I woke this morning and wandered in to see my adventure partner staring at an odd contraption that was supposed to be our coffee maker. I only know it was for coffee because the night before our helpful landlady pointed to it and said, “For coffee.”

He was deep into his CSI investigative mode, staring at various bits and pieces and saying things like, “I think this part goes on a fire, due to the burn marks,” and “This bit smells like coffee. I think the grounds go in here.” Then we remembered that we have the Internet, and quickly solved the case.

The contraption we’re dealing with is called a moka pot. Wikipedia taught us how to make coffee in it, and we sampled what may be the most delicious beverage we’ve ever made. It is FANTASTIC! I thought to myself, “When in Rome,” and we had a cup or six. (Side note, I’m using the phrase “When in Rome” every time it could remotely make sense for the next four days.) Later, my adventure partner pointed out that this method of preparation results in a much higher caffeine content than the normal drip style.

It was about this time that all of the coffee caught up to me and my brain did something like this:

I intend to ride this high for as long as possible and then crash for an afternoon nap. Meanwhile, my adventure partner will write a guest post, sharing all of his research in the various types of coffee preparation. The man is nothing if not well researched. Peace out for now, I’m going to go run a few laps around the apartment.