if you ever go to apug.org, you have read this already.
a few nights ago it was cold, batch 5 was cooked up and roasted to a not light, and not dark color.
it slept overnight in a glass jar, i think it once was a jelly jar, it was there so i used it.
i grabbed my mortar and pestle and threw a few beans in, then a few more and i began to crush them.
i realized from my first batch, that the fewer the beans the easier it is to crush them
so i took my time and threw a few beans at a time and pulverized them so they were probably a fine grind
if i were to judge by a burr grinder.
the powder was dumped out into a small tray and i added a few more beans.
they cracked and jumped out sometimes, they were hard and brittle.
i had been “trained” for many years to believe robusta beans were not very good
i was told they smelled bad when they were roasted, and the caffeine was harsh and jittery.
i looked at the beans as they powdered up and they didn’t look too bad.
they didn’t smell bad when they roasted either, but still i had to wonder how they were going to taste.
i was told by my bean-guy, a local master coffee roaster and all around guru they were from sumatra
and the people who were drinking it 4 or 5 years ago, well they never complained.
so at least these old, stale dry brittle beans had something going for them, besides working great as a film developer
i looked for my jezvah and threw a few teaspoons in.
i used to always drink turkish/greek/armenian/near eastern coffee and i love the process.
the stove was on and the powder hissed as it dried out a little bit on the.
i added the water, and waited.
i stirred a little
i waited some more.
slowly the bubbles formed and it rose the first time
i removed it from the heat and thought, 2 more times ..
the second time …
and the third time came and went as the other two.
i took the jezvah off the burner and let it sit while i sought a small cup and its saucer.
i poured it in and it smelled delicious.
i put a half teaspoon of sugar in it and stirred.
some people add as much sugar as coffee when they cook it.
i usually drink my coffee black but i was living it up so why not …
first i smelled it as it steamed.
floral, sweet earthy
i closed my eyes and took my first sip.
it was as delicious as it smelled.
when i was done, i photographed the jezvah, and turned the cup upside down to read it.
i turned it 3times and popped it from the plate.
thumbprint on the bottom and i looked
and looked and this is what i saw …
hills and mountains
birds flying over head
and the sun.
i put my jacket on an with the strength of 10 men, i shoveled some more of the driveway.
the birds flew overhead
as i moved mountains in the sun.
later, i spooled my film and it too drank from the same roast.
this is what it told me.
