Big Red

MUG: Waechtersbach latte mug co-branded Crate & Barrel. Great mug of the type. Thick, easy handle, smooth lip, prodigious capacity, and that fantastic cracked red clearcoat glaze.

COFFEE: Nicaraguan Dark Roast. Four shots espresso. Steamed milk and froth, with a dash of cocoa-chili powder on top... proving that I put hot pepper on everything. First espresso grind with the new Krups burr mill. It passed the test.

NOTES: A cold front blew in last night dropping temperatures 30 degrees.

Special Report: the Krups of the matter.

DEVICE: A Krups burr coffee mill has replaced the Cuisinart coffee grinder that broke last week. It is of German design, and is vaugely reminiscent of something from Fritz Lang's film Metropolis.

I did perform 'plastic surgery' on the Cuisinart using super-glue, and while that allowed it to grind coffee beans for the preceding week, it only allowed for a medium grind (the rotating sleeve seized as a result of glue creep). Plastic surgery often reduces range of motion and expression, i.e., Joan Rivers.

FUNCTION: Too early to tell, as I have yet to figure out the nuances of this device (what settings produce what results). I can report that it is quieter under load than the burr grinder it replaced, but that it is also lighter weight. Grind capacity appears roughly equal, although storage capacity is halved (which is a good thing, as a coffee grinder should not do double duty as a coffee bean canister). The first batch was mistakenly ground too coarse, but the flavor result was satisfactory.

NOTES: One of the reasons I chose the Krups (beyond my love-of-things-German) is my past experience with a Krups drip coffee maker, a cleverly-designed device that I passed on due to my dislike of its stainless steel lined carafe (before I discovered that oxy-clean powder solves the problem of keeping said carafes perfectly clean).

The German kitchen appliance firm Krups is often confused with the German armament firm Krupps. They are not related. Krups competes with Braun, while Krupps competes with Browning.

Special Report: What's new is old.

POT: Melitta™ 10-cup coffee maker.

COFFEE: Colombian Supremo sourced from the usual.

NOTES: As I mentioned below, there have been some major coffee-making changes here at Das Sommergarten. Our faithful Melitta-filter system Hamilton Beach™ coffee maker went away. It didn't die, but an identical unit we had given to one our daughters did die (internal water/electrical damage to the control IC), and so we gave her ours... and got a new maker for ourselves.

The new maker is a Melitta-branded maker with a couple of unique features. It's hot (I measured the brew-temp at 200F), and it has a variable brew-strength control that mimics the proper way to brew coffee with a Melitta filter system. By using the 'Robust' setting, the basket of grounds are soaked in water just below boiling point, and then the water-flow stops. Melitta used to say this was to allow the flavor to "burst," and I'd say that's accurate. After the initial wetting drains, the maker starts up again. This combination of properly hot water and seeping makes a better cup of coffee than most coffee makers are capable of.

The downside to this maker is the carafe. The old Hamilton Beach maker used a glass-vacuum lined thermal carafe (like an old-style Thermos™ vacuum bottle). The new one, like almost everyone I have seen on the market, uses a stainless-steel vacuum carafe. While far more rugged, the stainless steel carafes do not retain heat as well, and the carafe tends to retain old coffee oils and is much more difficult to keep clean. Brushed steel has far for surface irregularities that can trap coffee oils than does smooth glass.

FINAL NOTE: I should mention that Melitta is still a closely-held company from Germany who distributes their filters and drip manual coffee makers in the USA themselves, but their electric coffee makers are manufactured and distributed here by... Hamilton Beach.

Special Report: Death becomes burr.

DEATH: Our cheap and messy (but perfectly functional) Cuisinart conical burr coffee bean grinder died this morning, after a mere 2,500 uses (approximate count, based upon entering service in late 2006 and grinding coffee approximately 1.1 times a day). The internal body/skeleton/core, which both houses the grinders and funnels the beans, broke into two parts.  Upper and lower pieces.

RENEWAL: I can make it work (as I did this morning) by pressing down on the lid forcefully, while touching my nose and ear simultaneously. I have looked into using super-glue to reattached the pieces, but I believe that would be a futile exercise in thumbly repair.

Tomorrow's remedy will be to either use my old blade grinder (if I can find it), or to use the Bodum blade grinder I have in reserve for either gifting, or just such an emergency.

Blade grinders are perfectly acceptable for drip coffee (as I usually make), a bit trickier for French Press coffee (which I make on rare occasion), and unsuitable for espresso (which I make about once a week when it's not summertime). I need a new burr grinder, and I know which one I want, one that balances design, function, and price. I'm not going to spend $300 for a grinder (or $200, or $150, but maybe $120).

COINCIDENCE: Interestingly, this coincides with the departure of our faithful Hamilton Beach coffee maker. It didn't break, but our daughter's identical machine did (a gift from us), so off it went to keep them jacked up. The new coffee maker we purchased (of interesting hybrid lineage) has now been in use for a week. A review of said maker was forthcoming when this calamity struck.

Watts of power

MUG: Six ounce double-walled travel cup from REI (lid not shown).

COFFEE: Guatemalan Rio Azul, roasted by my friend Carter Smith, green beans sourced from Third Coast Coffee in south Austin.

NOTES: This little travel coffee cup actually fits in my MINI Cooper without obscuring controls or activating the heated seats. Six ounces is actually a nice volume as a second cup, and it won't outlast its heat retention.

The Guatemalan coffee is excellent. Looks like a true "full city" roast, not burned. Full of delicate flavors. Thanks, Herr Doktor Smith!


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A vestigial need to mark or slash

MUG: Chinese-made 14 ounce ceramic souvenir mug from the Museum of the Big Bend at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. Over-sized, with a trapezoidal handle (slants in at the top), it is decorated with pictographs from a nearby prehistoric Amerind stone shelter (dating to approximately 2000 B.C.).

COFFEE: While we were away in Alpine, we had house guests. They left us with 12 ounces of Carmo de Minas peaberry coffee beans from Brazil. The beans were roasted correctly (not burned) on February 15th by Ristretto Roasters in Portland, Oregon (where our house-guests live).  Thankfully, the flavors of "butterscotch, toffee, and roasted cashews," as promised by the tasting notes, were not to be found in this very pleasant coffee.

NOTES: Thank you Katie, for a most welcome and unexpected and generous gift!

Dark water

 

MUG: Imitation Waechtersbach mug from China, part of a Toastess single-cup drip coffee hotel in-room coffeemaker.

COFFEE: Melitta "Buzzworthy" Coffee Pod. It also says "European Indulgence" and "100% High Grown Arabica Coffee". This resulted in a thin, stale tasting, lightly colored, warm dark-water beverage. No redeeming qualities whatsoever.

NOTES: I have a high opinion of the Melitta brand historically, even though there is a clear difference between Melitta EU and Melitta NA. I have been using Melitta brewing system variations (always the drip cone system they invented, almost always their filters) for almost forty years. The stale-tasting liquid that was produced by this coffee pod threatens that respect. IMO, this is a brand-damaging product. But then, some of the fault may also lie with the Toastess, which certainly doesn't heat water to a proper temperature. Nor is it designed for this coffee tampon product.

French, Holland, Alpine

MUG: Dixie "PerfecTouch" coffee tumbler. Soft to the touch, heat retaining, non-plastic coffee container. Sort of a paper mâché product.

COFFEE: French roast, made in a Bunn, served from a Bunn airpot. Way down my list of best coffees I have had. Way down. Has that burned, metallic taste so appealing to many coffee trendies.

NOTES: This is the morning breakfast buffet coffee at the Holland Hotel in Alpine, Texas. It's the first disappointment of an otherwise truly delightful stay.



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Location:E Brown St,Alpine,United States

Green fire

MUG: Waechstersbach "green fire" glazed 10 ounce, made-in-Germany, perfect mug.

COFFEE: Not coffee, but Campbell's Cream of Tomato soup, with a healthy dose of Tabasco Sauce.

NOTES: Soup out of a coffee mug is an oddly satisfying experience... especially if it's Tomato soup with Tabasco pepper sauce.

Mini Sipper

MUG: Not a mug, but a cup... and a demitasse cup at that. Porcelain espresso cup from Crate & Barrel, made in Viet Nam.

COFFEE: French Roast (no bean specified) from What's Brewing Coffee Roasters in San Antonio. This roaster was my standard supplier, purchased from Central Market, for several years before moving to Hays County. So even though I am 220 miles closer than I used to be, I'm actually too far away now (Central Market was convenient to me in Dallas, whereas Austin's isn't).

NOTES: The cup was a Christmas present from my lovely wife. No saucers.

A Ho, Ho, Ho Latte Kitsch.

MUG: Chinese stoneware 12 ounce mug. Grainy, unpleasant texture, but functional as a novelty mug.

COFFEE: Whole Foods French Roast. Mystery beans.

NOTES: I almost forgot to use this mug during Christmas season (the only time it will ever see use), but Day 5 found it. Merry Christmas, pardner!

Less is more.

MUG: A three-ounce espresso cup from Crate & Barrel, made in Viet Nam.

COFFEE: Fara Coffee Signature dark roast Nicaraguan coffee.

NOTES: For Christmas, my wife gave me two of these little cups. Very much appreciated. The Bauhausian motto of "Less is more" fits here very well. I didn't want much for Christmas (I got a nice shirt, too), and more coffee goes into my three-ounce espresso than goes into my morning ten-ounce drip cup.

Less is more.

Tanning balm

MUG: Waechtersbach Christmas/Cat mug. How very German.

COFFEE: Not coffee, but Abuelita Mexican Cocoa (hot).

NOTES: My grand daughter spent the night with us, just as a blue norther blew in. So it's hot cocoa in front of the fireplace this morning... listening to Vince Guaraldi's classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. It doesn't get much better than this.

Memory harvester

MUG: Chinese-made diner mug, imported by M. Cornell Importers. Heavy, self-defense style mug. Good handle, thick walls, and ample capacity makes this a true 'manly mug'.

COFFEE: Colombian Supremo from Barrett's. Perhaps a bit too light? I am besieged by a lingering upper respiratory infection and a balky coffee grinder. Tastes are all over the place.

NOTES: I found this mug at Tractor Supply Company. I used to drive an International Harvester Scout, even had my first fender-bender in it. Under-powered, top heavy, four wheel drive farm vehicle, without a gas gauge. It had two gas tanks, and when you started to run out of gas, you'd switch tanks on the fly. Some fun on the highway (top speed of 70 mph, if I recall correctly).

I recently discovered Tractor Supply Company (having seen them along the highways for a few years). Waves of nostalgia swept over me when I first entered the new TSC in Buda, Texas. It is almost exactly like the Farm & Ranch departments in the Sears & Roebucks of my childhood. Barbed wire, saddles and tack, gardening supplies, electric fence materials, livestock supplies, farm and ranch wear, pocket knives, hardware, tools and agricultural implements. It brought a tear to my eye of days gone by, of time spent with my father and brother.

Another ongoing URI post

MUG: Spanish-made Waechtersbach snowflake mug. It's still cold outside, and I'm celebrating.

COFFEE: Abuelita Mexican Cocoa

NOTES: Coffee is still not tasting right. Mexican cocoa is.

This blog is not sponsored by Waechtersbach.

MUG: A German-made Waechtersbach latte/soup mug, purchased at (and branded by) Crate & Barrel.

COFFEE: A Nicaraguan/Sumatran espresso roast from Fara Coffee Roasters.

NOTES: Baby it's cold outside.

Demi more or less.

CUP: This demitasse cup is of unknown origin. I found two of them (the other one is yellow with a blue interior) at a thrift store off the square in San Marcos. Probably made in China.

COFFEE: Fara Coffee's Signature Nicaraguan espresso roast sourced from H.E.B. 

NOTES: 30 mph wind and 40 degrees this morning here in Kyle-On-Plum-Creek. This foretaste of winter seemed a good time for a demitasse of espressed coffee.

Gotta whole lotta buzz

MUG: Ceramic, double-walled, silicon-lidded travel mug. This design keeps my coffee warm all through the 45 minute teaching sermons we enjoy on Sunday mornings. Really (both warm and enjoy).

COFFEE: Espresso-roast, estate-grown, Nicaraguan coffee from the bulk bins at HEB (roasted in Austin). Four espresso shots, with steamed milk and foam (and a little cocoa/chili powder dusting).

NOTES: Change is good sometimes. This is one of those times. Due to a head cold I have been dealing with this week, my coffee has been tasting like burnt popcorn. Not a recommended flavor. Being as dairy products have been tasting OK the last couple of days, this seemed like a good solution. It was.


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Bottomless cup

MUG: Waechstersbach from Germany. Fun Line? I noticed they recently added to their website a statement that they invented the "can style" coffee mug (as seen above). Sounds right to me. They have certainly perfected it.

COFFEE: Light roast (lighter than usual, perhaps too light) Colombian Supremo.

NOTES: Twenty eight years ago today, in Denison Texas on November 28th, 1984, I drank from a cup that quenched my thirst forever, a cup that is never empty and always flowing. It caused my hair to stand on end.

It remains a big deal.

Good coffee. Happy man.

MUG: Waechtersbach from Germany. 'Nuff said.

COFFEE: Colombian Supremo Estate from Barrett's Microroasters.

NOTES: Happy Thanksgiving, all.

We give you thanks, almighty God, for all the benefits you have given us. You, who live and reign forever.