My list of five is pretty subdued these days. I guess this just comes with age.
hiking, binge watching TV shows, writing, keeping track of my college’s basketball team and roasting coffee
I roasted a batch of coffee the other week. I don’t roast often, only occasionally when I feel the urge. What I like most is that roasting coffee appeals to all of the senses. The aroma of the beans as they roast is nice. Some people may not like the smokiness, but I do. I enjoy watching the raw green beans transform to a dark brown. Then sifting the beans between your fingers to rid the beans of the left over chafe. Removing the chafe can be a messy process, but I don’t mind.
A big part of roasting, is listening to the beans change. Cracking sounds tell you the roasting stage and if the beans are done.
The cracking process happens when the coffee bean expands and the moisture begins to evaporate. When the moisture creates steam, it will build up pressure that causes the beans to crack open.
– Blue Coffee Box
There are two separate cracking stages. At the first crack, a large amount of the moisture has evaporated and the beans are at a light roast. After this subsides, you can continue roasting until the second crack. The second crack marks a darker roast and the beans become shinier as the oils are released. I find I sometimes over roast and the coffee is too dark, sometimes even having a burnt taste. I tend to roast lighter batches of coffee to avoid this. On the plus side, lighter batches have more caffeine. I can’t complain there.
It’s a lot easier to just pick up a bag of coffee at the store. And that’s what we do most of the time. But sometimes, there is nothing like the feeling of caffeine surging through your veins from a fresh roast. I love it.
I used to live by a coffee house that roasted their own fresh beans. I enjoyed the coffee roast aroma mixed with their coffee house playlist. Coffee house music is diverse and isn’t limited to one genre.
The genres vary from jazz to soft-rock, from alternative to blues. But the playlists are almost always made up from songs that are relaxing enough not to interrupt your work and/or conversations but they are not so slow and monotonous that will make you feel sleepy.
– the noise addict
The Noise Addict also listed the top 10 most popular coffee house artists. I was surprised to find Lenka made the list. But I do like The Show and see how it fits the mold. Here is a little something for your morning coffee.
–
For a complete playlist, please click here.
For the Spotify playlist, please click here.
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go; can't do it alone; I've tried
And I don't know why
Slow it down
Make it stop
Or else my heart is going to pop
'Cause it's too much
Yeah, it's a lot
To be something I'm not
I'm a fool
Out of love
'Cause I just can't get enough
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go; can't do it alone; I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
The sun is hot
In the sky
Just like a giant spotlight
The people follow the sign
And synchronize in time
It's a joke
Nobody knows
They've got a ticket to the show
Yeah
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go; can't do it alone; I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
Just enjoy the show
I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go; can't do it alone; I've tried
And I don't know why
I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show
Dum de dum
Dudum de dum
Just enjoy the show
Dum de dum
Dudum de dum
Just enjoy the show
I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show
I want my money back
I want my money back
I want my money back
Just enjoy the show
Cool hobby. I’ve never known any who roasts their own coffee. Do you just do it in the oven? Where do you get the beans?
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have a coffee roaster that I use. I was roasting a lot more regularly years ago. I thought to possibly make it a small business at one point. A former colleague used to roast beans on a frying pan. She grew up roasting beans that way in Ethiopia. That sounds a bit difficult.
I either buy raw beans online through a company in Northern California or at a coffee roaster that I just discovered about 20 minutes away. It’s a fun hobby.
LikeLiked by 2 people
interesting! Thanks for the info.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I didn’t list it, but I’ve Ben binge watching the various Star Trek shows ever since the Covid lockdowns.
I seen pretty much all of them already, but at this point, they are basically white noise for me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m just finishing up Jack Ryan. It can get pretty addicting
LikeLike
I hear that. Binge watching tv is definitely a fav.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing the info about your coffee thing! I want to some day roast my own beans too!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fresh roasted coffee is so good! I hope you are able to try it some day!
LikeLike
Roasting your own coffee beans?! How have I not thought of doing this?? My husband is an avid coffee aficionado and I think he would love to try this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You should try it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roasting coffee! That’s impressive!
Which college basketball team you follow?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I follow the Pac-12 league. Sadly, it’s our last year. It’s still hard to believe it’s going away!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like many things have been impacted by the recent downturn in business. Hopefully this is not the reason for PAC-12 ending.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its just the teams decided to move to other leagues. Too bad because the Pac 12 has so much history. Got to just go with the flow!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So sad to see them leaving after all those titles and championships.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an interesting hobby! I love the smell of roasted coffee beans. I’ve never tried to roast any myself. I do roast almonds in the oven, and they also crack and hiss as they let off steam. Sometimes, I let them go too long and they taste burnt. But, if I get them just right, they smell like popcorn. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Roasting almonds sounds great. I’ll have to give that a try. Yum!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So interesting
LikeLiked by 5 people