What did you do in the garden today?

[esturtz27]

When you roast coffee, the beans crack, they make an audible crack noise. There is first crack, which you must get past for them to be considered roasted, and then there is second crack, they will crack a second time BUT only after you roasted them very deeply and at this point you are burning or have burned out any of the flavors of the coffee, and are basically just finishing off carmelizing any sugar and beginning to burn the bean / scorch it at this point. This is where it gets black, oily, and a charcoal taste.

Many places LOVE second crack, because they buy cheap beans, which the flavors often have defects in them, BUT by burning out all the origin flavors, you are only left with the burnt, charcoal, chalky taste of what they call coffee. Now throw in a little snazzy marketing, and the clueless populace will gobble up this burnt mass, and gladly pay 10 bucks a glass for it, only to add a bunch of goops glops and other potions to try to make it drinkable again !

What I was suggesting was for you to find a local roaster, who isn't a nut about burning the hell out of his / her coffee's (just like the big guys do it !!! ) so you could actually TASTE a good coffee that had origin flavors in it, and not get heartburn, or need half a cup of sugar so it wasn't sour /bitter.

Aaron

To add Starbucks probably goes for a third crack(I kid but seriously) their beans are basically charcoal

 

[Sally PB]

The first time I had Starbucks coffee, I thought I must have gotten the dregs of the pot that had been on the burner all day. Nope. I cannot fathom WHY anyone would buy that stuff?? How did it get so popular? SMH.

 

[esturtz27]

The first time I had Starbucks coffee, I thought I must have gotten the dregs of the pot that had been on the burner all day. Nope. I cannot fathom WHY anyone would buy that stuff?? How did it get so popular? SMH.

Trendy and a ton...literally..a ton of sugar.
The first Starbucks was actually semi ok but then when it got big and trendy the beans lasting more than 2 weeks became an issue. My beverage chef physically hated what Starbucks had done to espresso because to him it was an afternoon art (he's Italian) and their beans just taste like it sat on the sun and then was sprayed with preservatives.

 

[Ascholten]

Thats funny that you say 3rd crack. Thats a big joke in the roasting world about their coffee. it's burnt beyond any sort of recognition anymore. BUT you have to hand it to them, they have a tremendous marketing team. esturtz i feel sorry for your chef, any TRUE chef / barista hates what they did to the art.

Aaron

 

[esturtz27]

Thats funny that you say 3rd crack. Thats a big joke in the roasting world about their coffee. it's burnt beyond any sort of recognition anymore. BUT you have to hand it to them, they have a tremendous marketing team. esturtz i feel sorry for your chef, any TRUE chef / barista hates what they did to the art.

Aaron

He was a professor chef when Starbucks was seen as the "way" by all the trendy folk. The internet was newish and social media had just happened. He looked at us with hope and frustration. Thanks to him I leaned how to roast, pull a perfect espresso and why the afternoon espresso was so treasured. I don't have an espresso machine but I love my little stove top Bialetti espresso maker.

 

[Ascholten]

I don't want to insult you and call it a steam toy but people at home do NOT need a 2k espresso machine at home (unless they are sick in the head like me ) But Ive fallen down this rabbit hole almost 20 years ago now, My silvia, I have PID'd to give you an idea how tweaker I can get with it when I want to play. A simple 2 to 300 dollar machine can make a very stand up espresso, but as you should know. The grinder is a CRITICAL part as well in making a good espresso. I never did get into the espresso / cappucino art, Im lucky to get the 30 second thing down let alone draw pictures with it

Aaron

 

[saracarver3]

Harvested two handfuls of black eyed peas, watered the citrus, cut back the Cuban oregano and threw it in the coops…..seriously what is this plant good for lol?! I can’t cook with it, I can’t dehydrate it, the birds won’t eat it, idk.

 

[Ascholten]

Would that oregano possibly keep the bugs away with its smell, kind of like a citronella type thing?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Thats funny that you say 3rd crack. Thats a big joke in the roasting world about their coffee. it's burnt beyond any sort of recognition anymore. BUT you have to hand it to them, they have a tremendous marketing team. esturtz i feel sorry for your chef, any TRUE chef / barista hates what they did to the art.

Aaron

I feel like I'm missing out. I want to try some amazing coffee.

 

[Iluveggers]

I very much dislike Starbucks, too. If I ever have to go there for a social meeting or rest stop on a trip, I end up getting tea since the coffee tastes like pine shavings mixed with burnt dirt.