Smell the Coffee! 11/05/2009
Got any smells that bring back great memories? Leave a comment and let me know! Poopy Coffee 10/27/2009
Even among coffee created lovers there are many different preferences of varieties of the java nectar. Manufacturers make special “blends” they give fancy names to try to lure us into trying their coffee in hopes of us becoming avid consumers of their particular creation. One of the more interesting ones is “Kopi Luwak” – sounds fun, intriguing, mysterious, right? Can’t you imagine how others would be impressed hearing you say “I’ll have a cup of Kopi Luwak?” Way cool. That is until you figure out what it really is. Poopy coffee. Yes, you heard me right. The word “kopi” is actually just the Indonesian word for coffee. But the word Luwak refers to a small wild animal that is native to Indonesia and Vietnam. And no, this does not mean that this coffee is the favorite beverage of these furry little creatures. Here’s what it really means. The luwak is actually a cousin of the mongoose. It’s closest counterpart is the North American skunk which shares it’s wonderful ability to spray its predators with noxious odor from its scent glands. Anyway, this cute little stinker is particularly fond of ripe coffee cherries. Once they eat them, they take their normal path through the little guy’s digestive system. The amazing thing is that while the coffee beans are being digested, they are left largely unchanged until they are pooped out. Then, you guessed it, the coffee farmers collect the droppings, clean the beans, which are still green and unroasted, and ship them off to roasters. Research experts have determined that the process of the coffee passing through the little luwak chemically changes the bean by breaking down some of the bean’s proteins which are know to contribute to the bitterness of coffee. Another fun detail is that these little luwaks are picky eaters. You see, when coffee is usually harvested, not all the fruit will be perfectly ripe. Luwaks, however, select only the ripest fruit, which means that the end product (excuse the pun) is of consistently amazing quality. Just what everyone needs, right? A high quality poopy coffee. Don’t worry, it is completely safe to drink. In fact, research shows that due to the thorough washing after harvesting, luwak coffee may even have a lower bacteria level than most other coffees. And, whatever the washing process misses, the roasting takes care of. I have to admit that I’ve never tasted this supposedly smooth and best tasting coffee in the world. Probably because it is also one of the world's most expensive coffees. But it did get me thinking, if man can figure out how to make good coffee out of luwak poop, couldn’t God make something good out something poopy that happens in our life? The bottom line (OK…sorry, couldn’t resist) is that God can make something good out of something poopy. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 Java Tip: If you’re interested in trying this rarest of all coffees, you can get a half a pound for a mere $60 or a whole pound for $80 from www.animalcoffee.com or just look up kopi luwak coffee on the internet. People who don’t like coffee 10/22/2009
I know a lot of people who don’t like the taste of coffee. That’s OK with me because I have this theory...since God is the one who makes our taste buds, He is the one who is responsible for why some people like the taste of some things and don’t like the taste of other things. I also believe that since God assigned me these particular taste buds, that I should not be offended if someone doesn’t care for coffee like I do. In fact, if they drank coffee when clearly they were never intended to be a coffee drinker, they would be stealing the coffee that God intended for someone else. Because of these facts, I don’t see why some people go on and on about how bad they think coffee tastes. They should just accept the obvious – they were never intended to like it in the first place. So, they should just give it a rest. After all, they probably like the taste of broccoli or cauliflower or some other yucky tasting food that other sane people wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole. Oops….sorry. See how easy it is to degrade people who are just made a little bit different than you are? Drink what you like…and let others like what they like. FAIR TRADE 10/12/2009
I have to admit that I was quite and operator when I was little. Well, con artist might be a little more accurate… OK – I was a thief. I can still clearly remember the time I talked my little sister Yvette, who was all of about four years old, into trading me her dimes for my pennies – one for one. I actually put a lot of thought into this transaction. I knew if I was going to pull this off I had to make the pennies look really good. So I found the brass cleaner my mom stored underneath the kitchen sink and an old tooth brush and polished them to a brilliant like new shine. I figured a girl would appreciate the aesthetic value of shiny brass over dull silver. My next step was be to convince my sister that of course, as every one knows, bigger is better. Which makes pennies far superior to tiny little dimes. To my delight, my sister was an easy mark. The trade went down perfectly and I was richer for the experience. The only blemish in my otherwise perfect plan was that I didn’t figure on my big brother ratting me out to my mom. Needless to say, it wasn’t a “fair trade” as my brother aptly put it (over and over and over again) and my mom made me give back the dimes I had swindled away from my sister. And, just for good measure, she let her keep my pennies. The irony of it is that Yvette worked in a bank when she grew up! "Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not deceive one another…Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan (or a little kid)…Do not take advantage of a hired man who is poor and needy…Do not take advantage of each other, but fear your God….If you’ve been stealing – stop it! Now go to work and do something useful so you will have something to share with those in need…” Leviticus 19:11; Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 24:1; Leviticus 25:17; Ephesians 4:28 JAVA TIP: When you buy your coffee, make sure you support Fair Trade. Did you know that the United States drinks one-fifth of all the world's coffee, making it the world’s largest coffee consumer? What many Americans fail to realize is that workers in the world coffee industry are often abused, overworked and underpaid. Especially many of the small coffee farmers who receive prices for their coffee that are far less than the costs of production which forces them into a cycle of debt and poverty. Buying Fair Trade Certified Coffee assures you that your coffee was purchased from the growers under fair conditions. To become Fair Trade certified, an importer must meet stringent international criteria by paying a minimum price per pound, and providing needed credit and technical assistance to farmers. Fair Trade for coffee farmers is intended to help promote community development, health, education, and environmental stewardship. Buy Fair Trade. Don’t make me call your mom! javadog 10/05/2009
 Thought you might like to see my new javadog. Of course he loves coffee - he's a good dog. I'm enjoying doodling and coming up with new ideas for my java art.Take a look at my java art page to see more. If you've got any ideas for me let me know! Be sure and check out globalneed.org for the scoop on globalneed coffee - coming soon! Saucered and Blowed 10/01/2009
In the old days - long before electric coffee makers with thermostats to control the water temperature, your coffee might have been boiling hot. When someone poured themselves a steaming hot cup of java and could sense it was burn your lips off hot, country folk would pour some of their coffee into their saucer and blow on it to cool it off enough to drink it. Instead of pouring it back into their cup, they just slurped it out of the saucer. After all, why risk spilling it while pouring it back into the cup right? The first time I heard the term "saucered and blowed" was when I watched the Beverly Hillbillies on TV back in the 60’s. The Clampett clan was sitting around the breakfast table and granny poured the coffee. You could tell it was steaming hot. Then Jed took his coffee cup, poured a little off into his saucer and blew on it. Just as he was getting ready to take a sip out of the saucer, Jethro stumbled into the room still half asleep. Jed kindly offered him his cup of coffee saying, “Here Jethro, take my coffee. Its already been saucered and blowed.” Of course, the whole premise of the show was to show how the “hillbillies” interacted with and most usually shocked the average and especially the “well-to-do” and “high society” folks in the neighborhood. It was very common on the show, like it is in real life, to see the rich making fun of the poor, the “educated” making fun of those who had a hard time reading. But what I loved about the show was how some people were able to figure out that simple people are sometimes the smartest and kindest people in the room. Some times simple people have great ideas. “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought…Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited…in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Romans 12:3 &16; Philippians 2:3 BUZZ 09/17/2009
Several years ago I bought a very cool cap from a coffee shop in Seattle. It was embroidered with a “B” on the front that stood for “Buzz,” which was also embroidered on the side of the hat. Of course, the coffee shop’s name was printed on the back too. Most people thought the “Buzz” stood for the caffeine rush you got from drinking this fine coffee. Good guess…but there is a much better story attached to it. Evidently, this coffee company had been around for quite a while and they were one of the first companies to enlist the services of a sports figure to endorse their product. They chose a baseball player whose nick-name was Buzz. He was a big league pitcher who got the name Buzz because of how he would regularly throw high inside fastballs to brush guys back from crowding the plate. Hence the name Buzz from the sound of the ball whizzing past their faces. I’m sure the buzz these guys got was quite stimulating – a real “wake-up” call. I can see why the coffee company thought “Buzz” would be the perfect pitchman for their product (pun intended). The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. Psalm 28:7 I am not my coffee! 08/27/2009
I think one of the greatest coffee quotes of all time is from Joe Fox in the movie You’ve Got Mail. He said, “The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the heck they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self.” It gets one thinking about how much stock we put into the aura of coffee culture. Don’t get me wrong, I love the ambiance of a good coffee joint. It almost always makes me feel just a little more hip than I probably am. Just being in a place dotted with eclectic humans sharing the common love of a good cuppa java somehow makes me feel just a little more connected; a part of a special tribe or something. It’s a good feeling. But, sometimes I do wonder if the girl taking my order just knows me as the “double short latte’” guy, since she still always has to ask me for my name. Maybe its good enough to be known as the double short latte’ guy. It’s gotta be better than being named Buford. But I’d hate to be defined just by the kind of coffee drink I prefer. Thanks! 08/20/2009
Always have to be thankful. In spite of circumstances, disappointments and the like, when I really take the time to think about it, there is always something to be thankful for. Like every morning when I am able to grind the beans, pour the water, brew the coffee, and sip on a piping hot cup of java with my lovely wife. Wow - what a wonderful gift! Smell the coffee...espresso your thanks!  Safe in the Dark 07/30/2009
When I was young I shared a bedroom with my older brother. One of the rituals we had was to take turns turning off the light before we went to sleep. I’m pretty sure my brother initiated the ritual to torture me because he knew I was afraid of the dark. Hey... the light switch was right next to his bed! I mean, he could reach it while he was laying down for goodness sake. So I knew he just did it to laugh at me. On the nights it was my turn I would stand an out-stretched arm length to the light switch poised to race across the ten feet of carpet that I knew would be crawling with the monsters who immediately appear as soon as the lights go out, and launch myself into my bed and under my covers to safety, because, as everyone knows, when you are in bed and under your covers monsters can’t harm you. According to the National Coffee Association, coffee's biggest enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light. They are the bad monsters waiting to wreak havoc on those little, innocent, unsuspecting beans. Evidently, contact with air causes coffee to lose flavor; moisture will make it deteriorate more rapidly; heat will spoil it; and sunlight will cause beans to taste stale. So, beans should be stored in a cool, dark, dry place, where they will keep safely for as long as two weeks. I don’t know all the chemistry behind this, (which makes sense, since I’ve never taken chemistry), but I have experienced flavorless, yucky, stale coffee before. Not good. Which is a powerful reason to heed their advice and quickly tuck your coffee beans into their bed and turn out the lights when they are not being used to fulfill their destiny – to make that flavorful, fresh cuppa java when the morning comes. Nighty night and sweet dreams my little beans. | Categories Bruce Porter
Imaginating is the art of imagining what could be and using whatever resources available to you to create something beautiful, amazing, and beneficial to others. I have this strong belief that being "created in the likeness and image of God" is really about our unique ability to create like The Creator - to simply think of something that doesn't exist and make it happen. Its a gift I believe everyone possesses. How much we use it is up to us. It is the big WOW - the AHA of life - that we can ponder what could be and do something about it. Whether it be in the arts, restoring relationships, righting an injustice, or creating pleasing environments, i believe we are destined to imagine what part we can play in imagining and creating whatever, to inspire, help, and enrich the lives of others for the common good. CategoriesArchivesNovember 2009 |
RSS Feed