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But first, coffee
My mind is muddy and I yearn for the caffeine to cross the blood brain barrier. The first sip starts with an invigorating smell as the veil begins to lift. Quietly, I long for this black devilish brew to work its magic. As if waking from a deep sleep, the imprint of a long-forgotten dream lingers like a wing-clipped butterfly waiting to escape its ghostly cage. The door creaks open and the memories take flight, scattering amongst the fuzzy nostalgia of a collapsing world gone by. The only world we were told we could save. And as my heartbeat quickens and my mind focuses, I dust myself off to emerge blinking…
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The pleasures and pains of coffee
Ever since the age of the enlightenment, the literary canon is steeped in references to the seductive power of coffee to refresh the senses and stimulate mind. From Beethoven to Voltaire, the creative output of musicians and writers has been fuelled by its invigorating properties. But there is one particular writer who stands out in his legendary lust for a drop of the good stuff. The prolific French writer and playwright, Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850), had a reputation for taking his coffee addiction very seriously, and often to extreme lengths. So serious was his desire to summon his mighty literary muse from a steaming cup of Joe that he would…
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Caffeine on the Brain
It is estimated that more than two billion cups of coffee worldwide are drank everyday. Add the delightfully restorative drink ‘tea’ into the equation and no other mood-altering stimulant is consumed on such a potentially global jitter-inducing scale. So, what exactly is caffeine? Firstly, caffeine comes from an organic family of nitrogenous compounds called xanthine alkaloids that, when consumed, give rise to marked physiological – and psychoactive – effects on the human body. Other sources known to contain this powerful compound include the Gurana berry, Cocao bean, Kola nut, Yaupon Holly tree, and South American Yerba mate, amongst many others (so far, up to 60 plants are known to contain…
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The Science (and Art) of Roasting Coffee
It is said that coffee roasting is ‘part science, part art, and part magic.’ This indeed is true. In fact, the science involved in the process of roasting coffee beans is nothing short of astonishing. Witnessing the process for the very first time, this is my personal account of what happens. Now, I do have a confession to make. In no way do I claim to be knowledgeable or experienced in this fascinating field (far from it) but the following description is a humble attempt to record my observations and what I have learned so far. So here goes… “It takes 400 man hours for every pound of unroasted beans…
