If you were to do any research into the history of coffee, it would not take long for you to find out how important Ethiopia is to the discovery and growth of coffee. While there are many legends telling the story of the discovery of the potent effect of coffee, one thing remains certain: almost all agree that coffee originated in Ethiopia. Ethiopian beans are some of the most sought out beans today. With research that has found how elevation can alter the growth and flavors of coffee, the high mountains and perfect climate lead to Ethiopia producing some of the finest coffee beans in the world. Often described as some of the lightest, fruitiest, and smoothest coffee, especially using manual brewing methods, Ethiopian coffee has become the go-to beans for countless specialty coffee shops around the world. The economy of Ethiopia is centered around coffee. They export their coffee to over 60 different countries, and over half of their foreign income comes from selling coffee. But also, Ethiopians drink around half of their production of coffee themselves. There is also much more to the story of coffee's birthplace: Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee culture, and many of the social interactions we have today began in Ethiopia. Coffee is a very integral part of everyday life there, from growing, washing, roasting, and finally drinking the coffee. Coffee is such a large part of society, that many of the relational expressions come from the act of drinking coffee. One Ethiopian coffee saying is "Buna dabo naw". This translates to "Coffee is our bread". Another common saying is "Buna Tetu". This is a phrase that literally means "Drink coffee". This applies not only to the act of drinking coffee but also to socializing. Coffee is one of the most influential drinks in the world. From economies, to politics, to social interactions, to even an entire language, The Coffee Society of Ethiopia is a living example of the power of one small fruit. Shiferaw, Alazar. “Ethiopia: Coffee Export Revenue - in the Making.” AllAfrica.com, 2 Mar. 2018, allafrica.com/stories/201707180486.html.
By Mayce FischerI have a pretty standard routine for preparing my cup of coffee each morning: While still drowsy and pyjama-clad, I fill the kettle halfway, set it to boil, and shovel three scoops of ground coffee into the plunger as I wait. The only pause that occurs in this daily choreography comes when I have to pick out a mug. It doesn’t really matter what ends up holding my coffee, so long as it permits me to drink - but there’s something small and delightful about pairing the comfortingly predictable taste of coffee with the visual variety of an intentionally chosen mug. For me, small mugs lend to a feeling of contentment, and patterned mugs prep for artistic endeavors; thick mugs go well with cold mornings, while enamel mugs pair well with the outdoors. And mugs that could double as soup bowls indicate there’s a lot of work to be done! (My personal favorite.) Today I thought it’d be fun to just hunt around for a few mugs to add to your current collection, or to gift to a fellow coffee lover (or tea lover - we don’t discriminate around here.) Never underestimate the power of a well-chosen mug ;) happy sipping! If you’re aiming for earthy + geometric If you want something textured + uniquely patterned For something galactic For some encouragement If you’re going for a new camping mug The Coffee Industry is constantly changing. New extraction methods are being designed and tested all over the world. Here in Australia, we are at the center of innovation in manual brewing. Enter the Delter Coffee Press. Designed in Brisbane as an innovative re-imagining of the Aeropress, the Delter Press uses pressurized extraction by separating the coffee and water, unlike the Aeropress. The following article from Daily Coffee News describes the history and science behind this home-grown manual brewing equipment.
The Ten is a list of creative prompts by TMPC for writers, photographers, artists, or any creatives of any type. Use them as inspiration for your next project.
Continuing with our theme of coffee tasting, here is a simple info graph featuring the Espresso Compass. This handy chart is an easy reference when tasting espresso. Try it out the next time you stop by your favorite cafe, or the next time you make your own espresso, to see if you make the best possible espresso.
Thanks to Coffee Grind Guru for the helpful infographic! Check them out at: https://www.coffeegrindguru.com/ Coffee: Complex, flavorful, diverse, and enjoyed by millions every day. But, not everyone who enjoys coffee can describe what they are tasting. Coffee cupping and tasting can be intimidating for beginners, but it can grow your knowledge of coffee and its origins, varieties, and flavors. Blue Bottle Coffee has a simple, yet informative article highlighting five specific areas to help describe the taste of coffee: Sweetness, Body, Acidity, Flavor, and Finish. We hope that this article can help you understand and identify the different flavors for all the coffee you enjoy every day!
The Ten is a creative prompt list written by the staff here at TMPC. The Ten can be used for writers, photographers, artists, blog authors, or really anyone who needs a creative spark for their life.
As a cafe staff, we look for opportunities to grow in all of the areas we value. One way we do so is by coming together every week and discussing ways to grow closer together as a team, to improve our service, find ways to give room for creativity to blossom, and to grow community with everyone we welcome into the cafe every day. During our time together, we also have recently read the best seller by Bob Goff, "Everybody, Always." While reading, our team discovered that we have the opportunity to not only value, but be loving to one another, and everyone we meet in the cafe. Being willing to go the extra mile to grow our community, creativity, relationship with one another, and our coffee service goes a long way towards achieving the mission statement of The Meeting Place Cafe: "Create Community and Extend Hope. One act, One coffee, One conversation at a time." We want to take this opportunity as a cafe team, to say thank you to everyone who visits us, reads our blog, like our posts, and takes time to get to know us. We are so thankful for every cup, every conversation. every like and share, and every donation. To be able to meet so many unique and creative people, to help grow their passion, fuel their love for coffee, and express our own passions is truly a privilege. We are so grateful for the coffee community we are able to be a part of every single day, and we look forward to another year of creativity, expression, community, and some great coffee! Happy New Year, from The Meeting Place Cafe. Pour-Over coffee has been gaining a lot of steam, no pun intended. While a majority of coffee enthusiasts are still enjoying espresso and its incredible flavors, a new wave of coffee specialists are poring over the complex extraction process known as pour-over coffee. PerfectDailyGrind.com has a informative article on the difference between, and the pros and cons of both espresso and pour-over coffee. Keep following their site, they have some very informative articles!Enjoy the read, and keep brewing!
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