Category Archives: Coffee

8&Roast: Sunflower espresso blend

Posted on July 14, 2023 by Jeff

8&Roast is a local (Nashville) coffee roaster. They have a number of seasonal and year-round blends and single origin varietals. Sunflower is year round, but the blend changes. The current blend is 50% pulped natural from Brazil, 25% washed from … Continue reading →

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Too Freshly Ground

Posted on June 19, 2023 by Jeff

Two weeks ago I bought a bag of Starbucks Espresso Roast. The Best By date was over 6 months in the future. It tasted lousy. I set it aside and bought another with Best By date 5 months in the … Continue reading →

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Vanilla extract in coffee

Posted on June 7, 2023 by Jeff

Most coffee shops have vanilla syrup. They are often full of preservatives and artificial flavors. At home we use vanilla extract instead. We’ve found it best to put it in the milk before steaming. This evaporates most of the alcohol … Continue reading →

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Lavazza: Espresso Italiano

Posted on May 27, 2023 by Jeff

This is nice coffee, but mild. It is sweet like the Mean Mug beans but not as strong and not as distinct tasting notes. This is the first beans I’ve encountered that is visibly a blend, not all beans are … Continue reading →

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Mean Mug: Espresso

Posted on May 24, 2023 by Jeff

Mean Mug is four coffeehouses and a coffee roaster in Chattanooga TN. Publix in Nashville carries the espresso beans on an end cap of Tennessee products. My bag listed Brazil, Guatemala, and Tanzania beans. The cupping notes I remember are: … Continue reading →

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Bongo: Mystic Dark

Posted on May 6, 2023 by Jeff

Bongo is a local (Nashville TN) coffee roaster. I first encountered it at the Green Hills Whole Foods as brewed coffee. I pumped out a half cup and it ran out. The other coffee was Allegro’s Café La Dueña. Mixed, … Continue reading →

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Tough Beans

Posted on May 6, 2023 by Jeff

I have a hand grinder so I am aware of the effort needed to grind various beans. There is quite a bit of variation. Starbucks Espresso Roast (medium dark) and Italian Roast (more dark) are the easiest. Allegro Espresso Sierra … Continue reading →

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Espresso: the pros vs. the home team

Posted on April 29, 2023 by Jeff

As I improve my espresso skills, I’ve learned that shortcomings are more obvious is straight espresso. Adding milk (including non-dairy milks and creamers) masks a lot. Every espresso I’ve tried, mine or baristas’, is bitter forward. In many that is … Continue reading →

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Illy: Classico

Posted on April 28, 2023 by Jeff

This is our favorite espresso so far. Beyond the usual espresso taste, it has a vegetal undertone, like green bell peppers. It is decent as drip coffee. My only complaint is that it on the weak side. I add 8 … Continue reading →

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In Defense of Fresh & Clean

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Jeff

Texas Poetry Assignment published my poem In Defense of Fresh & Clean. The purpose of the assignment was to ask writers to submit new work that defends in the special art and language of poetry a belief, person, time, place, … Continue reading →

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