Looks like First Crack isn’t the only game in town. Coffee-n-Caffeine puts the PodcastMN count to 18.
Category: Coffee
Wednesday, 11 May 2005
Tuesday, 10 May 2005
First Crack 41. Home Roasting with Sam Buchanan
Sam Buchanan and I roast up a couple of batches in my garage and talk about home roasting and coffee tasting techniques.
Oh, and I celebrate Uchenna and Joyce, the winners of CBS’s Amazing Race 7.
Saturday, 30 April 2005
Second Melitta Mill & Brew Broken
Back in episode 4 I proclaimed my love for the Melitta Mill & Brew. Even then I knew this day would come.
The little plastic hook holding the grinder lid down snapped and fell into the grinder basin. Without this hook, the grinder doesn’t grind and the water doesn’t get near the grinds. Basically, this fragile 1/4″ piece of plastic is the key to the coffee maker. Without it, no coffee.
After 3 years of daily use, this is my second Melitta and the second time this hook has snapped. Not an atypical problem, a handful of complaints about his issue in the Amazon reviews.
In the short term, I’m weighing it down with a bag of stale, ground coffee. In the long term, I’m looking for a new machine. Any recommendations?
Thursday, 14 April 2005
First Crack 37. From Betty’s Bikes & Buns
A big thanks to everyone that helped keep Betty’s open. Betty’s is a great independent coffee shop and I’m happy to see the community pull together and keep it open.
Tom Roe owner of Betty’s Bikes and Buns and I talk motorcycles, community, and the best coffee in Minneapolis.
The First Crack podcast website has been recently redesigned. It now has episode voting courtesy of the Votio plugin from Asymptomatic.net. I want to thank First Crack subscriber Jonas Rullo for identifying and resolving a CSS issue with the new site. Thanks Jonas and good luck on your quest for a West Bend Poppery I.
- There’s a nice write up on Betty’s in the Skyway News.
- White Rock Coffee Roasters
- My conversation with Gene at the One-on-One Bike Studio
Listen to From Betty’s Bikes & Buns [18 min]
Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1
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Sunday, 10 April 2005
First Crack 36. The First Home Roast of the Spring
In celebration of the first great day of spring, I dust off the West Bend Poppery and roast up some Aged Sumatra. Then brew up some iced coffee in my Toddy Maker Cold Brew Coffee Maker.
Things mentioned:
Listen to the First Home Roast of the Spring [12 min]
Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1
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Wednesday, 16 February 2005
Coffee Goes Stale in a Week
Sam over at Afongen.com reminded me of something extremely important – How Long to Store Coffee:
“There is a marked decline in coffee’s flavor over the course of a week after roasting. If memory serves me correctly, something like 70% of the compounds responsible for coffee’s flavor are gone in that time, transformed into something far less pleasant.”
Here at First Crack central, we have 2 air-tight, light-proof containers. One for caff, one for decaf. Stored on the counter-top, never in the fridge.
This evening marks a week since I came down with that nasty something, and those containers haven’t been cracked open since. I’m a 100% – and a little nervous about the state of the beans.
Looks like I’m due for a trip to White Rock.
UPDATE: Yes, I can confirm the coffee in those containers is awful. Sour and sharp, Not refreshing and eye-opening.
Thursday, 13 January 2005
First Crack 20. The One True Barista with Sam Buchanan
Sam Buchanan from the Afongen.com weblog and I checkout the newest Dunn Bros on east Lake (just blocks away from the Blue Moon), and discuss his history from barista, to roaster, to Java programmer.
Other things to listen for:
- The history of afong
- Why Guatemalan coffee is the best
- Sam’s quest for the One True Barista in a world of bad espresso
Listen to the One True Barista, Sam Buchanan [28 min]
Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1
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Wednesday, 12 January 2005
First Crack 19. Coffee and Community at the Blue Moon
Cindy, owner of Minneapolis’ Blue Moon and Second Moon, and I discuss the community value of independent, neighborhood coffee shops.
Listen for a patron-thwarted robbery and why coffee should come in small cups.
I end the show with “Don’t Tell a Soul” by the Revamps. For more on them, drop lead man Darren Harff a line or catch them at their show on Jan 14th at the Terminal Bar – they go on around 11:45pm.
Listen to Coffee and Community at the Blue Moon [29 min]
Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1
Like the show? Support the First Crack Podcast
Thursday, 30 December 2004
First Crack 17. Belgian Coffee, Beer, and Chocolate with Lewis Dijkstra
The best places for coffee, beer, and chocolate in Brussels, Belgium from Lewis Dijkstra.
Things discussed:
- Belgian Beer
- Chimay
- Orval
- Rochefort
- Westmalle
- Westvleteren
- Achel
- Geuze Brewing process
Listen to Belgian Coffee, Beer and Chocolate with Lewis Dijkstra [28 min]
Intro: Tod Maffin & Sean from I Love Radio.
Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1
Like the show? Support the First Crack Podcast
Tuesday, 21 December 2004
First Crack 16. Interview with a Roastmaster: Greg Beale
Greg Beale, a Dunn Bros. Coffee roastmaster, and I roast 8 pounds of Colombian beans, discuss holiday brewing tips, and the local flavors of the Dunn Bros shops.
Intro: PodCat from PodCat’s Daily Best of Podcasting.
Listen to Interview with a Roastmaster: Greg Beale [38 min]
Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1
Like the show? Support the First Crack Podcast