The Watering Hole

Since about 1992 I started getting into good coffee after my 1st lb of Tanzanian Peaberry I bought at The Coffee Plantation in Tempe, AZ.  Gradually I've been getting more into the intricacies of the brewing process.  About 2 years ago I came by my first sample of freshly roasted coffee and my mind was blown.  Shortly after that, I talked to a good friend of mine in DC and he had been into home roasting his own coffee and was surprised I hadn't gotten into it.  Well, the seeds were planted.  About a month ago, I started dipping my toes in the pool of home roasting; got some good green bean and started messing with the process using a popcorn popper (a really cheap way to get into it considering the prices that roasters can run).  1st batch was meh, but drinkable.  After a few weeks of working on technique, I realized that I really needed a real deal roaster to get it to the level I wanted.  So I sprung the cash for a Gene Cafe Roaster.  I had been reading up on roasting techniques to use with the Gene Cafe and did my first batches last Monday.  My first batches actually came out pretty decent and really has me excited about seeing where my roasting hobby takes me as far as coffee quality.  Though the roaster is a little on the expensive side for my first roaster, I can live with lower cost of the raw bean every time I order (I can get raw been for about $6-7 got good single-origin coffee that would normally run you $14-15/lb from a reputable roaster).  

Interesting that you should post this now.  I just ran into this yesterday and I'm curious what you think about it (both the actual coffee and the drink that he makes from the coffee).

Bulletproof Upgraded Coffee

Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

man, your house must smell amazing!

that's pretty damn cool.

ironsheep — Aug 03, 2014man, your house must smell amazing!

that's pretty damn cool.

Not as good as mine.  8-)

Oh damn, sorry. Your talking about coffee.  ;D

CraigBert — Aug 03, 2014Interesting that you should post this now.  I just ran into this yesterday and I'm curious what you think about it (both the actual coffee and the drink that he makes from the coffee).

Bulletproof Upgraded Coffee

Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

As a growing coffee purist, the recipe turns me off.  I've read about it before, but can't imagine coffee with butter in it.  The coffee itself is hella expensive.  One of the most expensive (but best) fresh micro roasters (Counter Culture Coffee) doesn't run that much.  That's another BIG reason I've taken up roasting.  Shitload cheaper.  I can get almost 3 lbs of green bean for that price.  

I love coffee.  I don't think I could get into roasting my own, unless I could grow it.  I've gotten into to growing fruits and veggies as a side hobby.  I harvested my first homegrown Pineapple this morning.  Man what a great tasting fruit.  I took a photo I'll put up in a bit.

Back to the coffee,  I was in Guatemala back in March.  I brought home a few pounds of Coffee from the Antigua Region.  I gave one pound away, and kept one for myself.  That is some of the best coffee I've ever had.  My point is that while you are searching for green coffees maybe try some Guatemalan coffee.  I think you'd like it.

On a side humorous note, My Dad gave me 2 1/2 pounds of some Starbucks - Intensly Smokey- Coffee.  I made one pot.  That shit ain't fit for drinkin'.  I truly think it's burnt in the roasting process and then they put a fancy name on it.  It's awful.  I drink my coffee black.  You can't put enough cream or sugar to cover up the bad taste.  Bleh!   ;D  I'm throwing the whole sack of beans in the shitter.

Man, that thing looks flawless. (the pineapple)

YES!!  Guatemalans are very good!  My buddy in DC told me a about a variety called Guatemala Geisha that is supposed to be delicious.  I've had a variety called Huehuetango (I think that is it) that is pretty tasty.  I am very partial to coffees from Ethiopia and Bali.  

Home grown fruit is awesome.  My old teacher in Arizona used to bring in backyard grown grapefruits that just were to die for!

Starbucks...yag.  They flat out over-roast everything.  Good decision on pitching it.   ;)

That is quite a good looking pineapple.  YUM!

DM — Aug 03, 2014I love coffee.  I don't think I could get into roasting my own, unless I could grow it.  I've gotten into to growing fruits and veggies as a side hobby.  I harvested my first homegrown Pineapple this morning.  Man what a great tasting fruit.  I took a photo I'll put up in a bit.

Back to the coffee,  I was in Guatemala back in March.  I brought home a few pounds of Coffee from the Antigua Region.  I gave one pound away, and kept one for myself.  That is some of the best coffee I've ever had.  My point is that while you are searching for green coffees maybe try some Guatemalan coffee.  I think you'd like it.

On a side humorous note, My Dad gave me 2 1/2 pounds of some Starbucks - Intensly Smokey- Coffee.  I made one pot.  That shit ain't fit for drinkin'.  I truly think it's burnt in the roasting process and then they put a fancy name on it.  It's awful.  I drink my coffee black.  You can't put enough cream or sugar to cover up the bad taste.  Bleh!   ;D  I'm throwing the whole sack of beans in the shitter.

Wow!  What a perfect looking pineapple!  I never knew they grew from little bushes like that (I guess I thought it was some huge tropical tree or something - lol!).

Ok, back to coffee, I've gotten to the point where all I drink is the Great Value 100% Arabica or 100% Colombian coffee you get at Walmart.  Surprisingly better than most I get around here (and we're dead in the middle of Starfucks country as well as Seattle's Best - not crazy about either).

I used to LOVE the smell of coffee grounds, but it just doesn't seem the same any more.  I don't have that big of a problem paying more as long as I know it's going to be coffee that I love.  The parts that really made me curious with that coffee article I linked to is how much of a difference in how you feel depends on the toxicity (etc.) of the beans.  If true, I'd like to learn more.

Oh yeah, and I always drink my coffee black unless it's an alcoholic drink!  :)

Coffee is superfruit and really healthy.  The idea of making a special blend of it that is the one that contains the great properties of coffee--well, a fool and his money.  

I'm not about to go down the roasting road, I'm just not ready to take up another hobby.

Plus, there's way too much good coffee around here.  Verve, Blue Bottle, SC Coffee Roasting, and about a dozen other roasters... it's saturated.

I don't have time for it. I just get the Keurig (sp?) breakfast blend, pop it in and go. Quick and easy and i don't have to wait for a entire pot of coffee for one person. I think that is a great invention. Quick and easy! you can grind your own beans for that thing too. Haven't tried that yet.

(i said pot,  ;D)

Hookbender — Aug 05, 2014
(i said pot,  ;D)

Back in the day when I was a small masonry Contractor I had this helper. We met while working for another general contractor and later on I hired him as my helper. We were both into the freak (hippy) scene back in the late 1960's, and we were and still are musicians. Anyways we would be digging a trench to make a footing for a house or flattening earth to pour concrete. And I would hear off in the distance "fat one", "fat one", "fat one". Which meant; break time for doobies and a beer. Then he would come closer to me and say "Did I hear someone say "Fat One"? With a big grin on his face. And sure enough it was break time. If the area was crowded, off we would go in my pickup truck and do our little smoke before we went back for the afternoon beer part. I just recently got in touch with him again after many many years of not seeing or talking to each other. He lives In Tequesta Florida, after losing his sail boat (which was his home) during Sandy. The weasel got the government through Fema to reimburse him somehow for the sail boat. It was big enough to live aboard like 35 to 40 feet. He got enough money from fema to buy an old house on land free and clear. He now has a nice med weed card, and is on Social Security. (Man we is old farts)(but neither one of us ever grew up)

Man those hippy days were the best fun imaginable. I am so glad I grew up during that time and place (I lived on Long Beach Island NJ a resort town) so it was party time 24/7/365. How my kids grew up to be solid citizens I will never guess........

Oh I could guess how. ;D ;D

Hookbender — Aug 05, 2014Oh I could guess how. ;D ;D

Considering that I was the parent who raised them after my divorce?

Yes, exactly.  ;D

They saw you go through your partying stage and thought, fuck all that, I'll get educated, or not, and get me a good fucking job and a fat bitch.  ;D ;D

Just kidding around man. :)

I still can't get around just how fucking perfect that pineapple looks!  :)

Hookbender — Aug 07, 2014

Just kidding around man. :)

Yep all seriousness aside, me too.

CraigBert — Aug 07, 2014I still can't get around just how fucking perfect that pineapple looks!  :)

I will tell you that it was every bit as tasty as the one that I scalped to grow it.  They are a pretty interesting plant.  The one I grew that one from was a nice looking pineapple from the supermarket with a nice green "Hat" like the one that I grew.  Ten minutes after I had harvested that one, I had the top skinned down and in a new pot of dirt.  You just shove it in the dirt and water it.  They'll grow in a pot.

I said pot twice.  ;D

8-)

;D ;D

How long does it take to grow once you replant the cap...in the...pot...cough, cough...I said it too...LOL.

DM — Aug 08, 2014[quote author=CraigBert link=1407031490/0#15 date=1407447462]I still can't get around just how fucking perfect that pineapple looks!  :)

I will tell you that it was every bit as tasty as the one that I scalped to grow it.  They are a pretty interesting plant.  The one I grew that one from was a nice looking pineapple from the supermarket with a nice green "Hat" like the one that I grew.  Ten minutes after I had harvested that one, I had the top skinned down and in a new pot of dirt.  You just shove it in the dirt and water it.  They'll grow in a pot.

I said pot twice.  ;D

I takes a while.  I started that one late in the year.  It started producing nice new growth from the center.  It grew the whole next year.  It got fairly big with nice long green leaves.  Then this year in early spring it started to flower with a nice red center and it grew to what you see above.  I took four months from flower to ripe fruit.  I would guess at just under 2 years total time.

The fucker didn't last a day, it was that good.  I chilled it, shared some with the wife, polished it off as a late night snack.

In the photo, if you look on the left side of the plant, you can see some small leaves starting at the base.  That is a new shoot that I imagine will produce new fruit in the spring.

Pulled the top off one tonight.  Thanks for the info!!!

Wow, there are bunches of videos on YouBoob about growing pineapples!  Who knew?  :)

Dearthian: — Aug 03, 2014[quote author=CraigBert link=1407031490/0#1 date=1407033635]Interesting that you should post this now.  I just ran into this yesterday and I'm curious what you think about it (both the actual coffee and the drink that he makes from the coffee).

Bulletproof Upgraded Coffee

Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

As a growing coffee purist, the recipe turns me off.  I've read about it before, but can't imagine coffee with butter in it.  The coffee itself is hella expensive.  One of the most expensive (but best) fresh micro roasters (Counter Culture Coffee) doesn't run that much.  That's another BIG reason I've taken up roasting.  Shitload cheaper.  I can get almost 3 lbs of green bean for that price.  

Just a quick follow-up.  Curiosity got the better of me so I bought some of that high-grade butter and coconut oil (instead of MCT oil - after some reading I realized that the coconut oil is not only healthier, but a bit cheaper).  

Well, it's a bit frothier than I prefer (I usually drink my coffee black) but I decided to try the recipe with the butter and coconut oil portions on the high side - I'll try it next time with less butter.  All I can say is it was definitely different, but it sure went down smooth and I'm sitting here being hyper-productive, wide awake and focused, with a big smile on my face.  So I guess you can say that the recipe, as bizarre as it sounds, does deliver on that promise!

I also bought some original source coffee (100% Colombian), but forgot I had some previously brewed coffee still in the pot (and I didn't feel like wasting it).  The new coffee is darker so I'm thinking that will probably make the recipe taste even better.

I will definitely be trying it again.  :)

"It takes a while.  I started that one late in the year.  It started producing nice new growth from the center.  It grew the whole next year.  It got fairly big with nice long green leaves.  Then this year in early spring it started to flower with a nice red center and it grew to what you see above.  I took four months from flower to ripe buds..  I would guess at just under 2 years total time."

"The fucker didn't last a day, it was that good.  I chilled, shared some with the wife, polished it off as a late night snack."

Yum Yum.

;D ;D ;D

^^^^^  :D

CraigBert — Aug 25, 2014[quote author=Dearthian: The Gear Pimp link=1407031490/0#4 date=1407077671][quote author=CraigBert link=1407031490/0#1 date=1407033635]Interesting that you should post this now.  I just ran into this yesterday and I'm curious what you think about it (both the actual coffee and the drink that he makes from the coffee).

Bulletproof Upgraded Coffee

Bulletproof Coffee Recipe

As a growing coffee purist, the recipe turns me off.  I've read about it before, but can't imagine coffee with butter in it.  The coffee itself is hella expensive.  One of the most expensive (but best) fresh micro roasters (Counter Culture Coffee) doesn't run that much.  That's another BIG reason I've taken up roasting.  Shitload cheaper.  I can get almost 3 lbs of green bean for that price.  

Just a quick follow-up.  Curiosity got the better of me so I bought some of that high-grade butter and coconut oil (instead of MCT oil - after some reading I realized that the coconut oil is not only healthier, but a bit cheaper).  

Well, it's a bit frothier than I prefer (I usually drink my coffee black) but I decided to try the recipe with the butter and coconut oil portions on the high side - I'll try it next time with less butter.  All I can say is it was definitely different, but it sure went down smooth and I'm sitting here being hyper-productive, wide awake and focused, with a big smile on my face.  So I guess you can say that the recipe, as bizarre as it sounds, does deliver on that promise!

I also bought some original source coffee (100% Colombian), but forgot I had some previously brewed coffee still in the pot (and I didn't feel like wasting it).  The new coffee is darker so I'm thinking that will probably make the recipe taste even better.

I will definitely be trying it again.  :)

That Skeers the hell outta me!!  After a cup or two of coffee, I usually start to get a little bowel cramp.  I think a little butter and coconut oil could spell disaster!  LOL ;D ;D