Saturday, July 4. 2009
Today: The aristocracy of nature
They're having a party over there.
I've always wondered what it feels like to be one of them. I mean, at school, for example. One nation, indivisible, and all that. And your mum understanding the lyrics of your favorite songs. Inconceivable.
Homeland. Language. Pride. Life. Family. People. Politics. Music. Film. Sports. Even stupidity. Everything seems to be so natural, and easy-going. Just be there. Fine. Alright.
The truth is, I envy them.
I might as well follow Lang and O'Rell.
I've always wondered what it feels like to be one of them. I mean, at school, for example. One nation, indivisible, and all that. And your mum understanding the lyrics of your favorite songs. Inconceivable.
Homeland. Language. Pride. Life. Family. People. Politics. Music. Film. Sports. Even stupidity. Everything seems to be so natural, and easy-going. Just be there. Fine. Alright.
The truth is, I envy them.
I might as well follow Lang and O'Rell.
Concern
Have you ever asked yourself why your system is running?
I always do that. After watching House MD.
I swear I can picture my blood running through my veins. I can hear my heart beat. I even feel a little dizzy right now - and I am definitely sure that I caught some life-threatening disease that cannot be cured, since there is, of course, no real House MD.
But could I honestly want to be one of this man's patients?
I'd rather die.
And that is what is going to happen, eventually.
I always do that. After watching House MD.
I swear I can picture my blood running through my veins. I can hear my heart beat. I even feel a little dizzy right now - and I am definitely sure that I caught some life-threatening disease that cannot be cured, since there is, of course, no real House MD.
But could I honestly want to be one of this man's patients?
I'd rather die.
And that is what is going to happen, eventually.
Coffee Rose
Coffee is another story.
For starters, if it's real coffee, and no instant surrogate or dehydrated concentrate, then it's like seeds, most of them about the size of sunflower seeds, in several brown color shades, surprisingly lightweight. The Arabs, having quite a long term relationship with coffee, name those seeds "boon", which is not too far from "bean", root-wise. But this ain't "qahwa", coffee, yet, it's just a bunch of dried and roasted beans who need grinding.
The grinding, as well, is another story. Some believe in good old hand-operated wooden mills used in some fairy tales by bespectacled grannies. Others believe in speed and accurate size, and they prefer the latest fashionable electric powered grinder. How ever you work out, it's important to know what you do it for. Are you brewing by hand? An electronic coffee maker? Some high-tech gadget? Brewing by hand is probably the most controlled method going, and your powder should neither be too fine nor too coarsely ground.
So, put the kettle on, and then you can grind the seeds of your choice - beginners might stick to a mild and gentle brand - and put up your filter on a thermos jug. It should be a thermos jug, if you are filter dripping more than one cup. Trying to keep coffee hot on a stove will only vaporize the water and destroy your coffee flavor. Filter dripping through a porcelain funnel with paper filters is supposed to be the best method, but porcelain funnels are not easy to come by, and sticking to a plastic melitta will probably be the only option for most people.
Alright, as soon as you have heaped up your coffee powder in the paper filter, as soon as the water boils, everything is prepared for the moment of your coffee rose.
You slowly but steadily pour the hot water over the centre of the powder. The odor will instantly catch your nose, and you will have to smile. Then, watching the water grip the powder is another great experience. But managing that those colorful shimmering bubbles coming up gather and form a rose inside your filter, will be nothing but unique.
The coffee rose shall be your oracle for the day.
Have a look.
For starters, if it's real coffee, and no instant surrogate or dehydrated concentrate, then it's like seeds, most of them about the size of sunflower seeds, in several brown color shades, surprisingly lightweight. The Arabs, having quite a long term relationship with coffee, name those seeds "boon", which is not too far from "bean", root-wise. But this ain't "qahwa", coffee, yet, it's just a bunch of dried and roasted beans who need grinding.
The grinding, as well, is another story. Some believe in good old hand-operated wooden mills used in some fairy tales by bespectacled grannies. Others believe in speed and accurate size, and they prefer the latest fashionable electric powered grinder. How ever you work out, it's important to know what you do it for. Are you brewing by hand? An electronic coffee maker? Some high-tech gadget? Brewing by hand is probably the most controlled method going, and your powder should neither be too fine nor too coarsely ground.
So, put the kettle on, and then you can grind the seeds of your choice - beginners might stick to a mild and gentle brand - and put up your filter on a thermos jug. It should be a thermos jug, if you are filter dripping more than one cup. Trying to keep coffee hot on a stove will only vaporize the water and destroy your coffee flavor. Filter dripping through a porcelain funnel with paper filters is supposed to be the best method, but porcelain funnels are not easy to come by, and sticking to a plastic melitta will probably be the only option for most people.
Alright, as soon as you have heaped up your coffee powder in the paper filter, as soon as the water boils, everything is prepared for the moment of your coffee rose.
You slowly but steadily pour the hot water over the centre of the powder. The odor will instantly catch your nose, and you will have to smile. Then, watching the water grip the powder is another great experience. But managing that those colorful shimmering bubbles coming up gather and form a rose inside your filter, will be nothing but unique.
The coffee rose shall be your oracle for the day.
Have a look.
(Page 1 of 1, totaling 3 entries)