Better coffee. One cup at a time.

Month: December 2014 (Page 1 of 2)

Thumbs Down Chicago Bears

As the 5-11 Chicago Bears wind down a disappointing season with their fifth straight loss, I thought I would do something else that would leave a bad taste in my mouth, roast and taste a batch of bad coffee.

I purchased a pound of Sweet Maria’s “Thumbs Down” coffee back in 2012 with the intention of experiencing a cup of coffee that was rated as truly bad by one of my coffee heroes.

The pound of coffee I received was described as follows:

Panama “Dry Process Experiment Gone Awry”
Fruity, vinegary, musty, ack! Here is an example of unclean fruit flavors, a textbook case of processing taint. heavy body, cloying fruit notes, slightly rotten coffee cherry flavor, musty scent and flavors in the finish, medicinal.

Recently some of the best coffees in the world have been coming out of Panama, why would someone want to taste a coffee that is vinegary, musty, and slightly rotten tasting?

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Can Kids Drink Coffee?: Challenging the Assumptions

Does coffee stunt your growth? That is what my dad would always tell me about drinking coffee when I was young. Recently, I was having a discussion with my wife about some friends of ours, they give their kids coffee. Naturally, I was perplexed and a little worried. Can kids drink coffee? Should kids drink coffee? My wife insisted it was a thing. There are people out there giving kids coffee.

I was curious so I did a little research. Here is the history of kids and coffee and my opinion of the age old question: “Can I give coffee to my children?”

Disclaimer: It is always best to discuss dietary issues with your pediatrician. I am not a doctor, just a blogger with google at his disposal. If you want to give your child coffee, call up your doctor and ask what their opinion is.

The Vilification of Coffee (Coffee is not for Kids)

According to an article on the Smithsonian website, it all started with C. W. Post in 1895. After several other business ventures, Post, of cereal fame, created his first product in the breakfast sphere. It was call Postum. Postum is a coffee alternative beverage that is comprised of roasted wheat and molasses. If you are interested in trying it (And who wouldn’t be?), Postem is still available for sale. Continue reading

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