Archive for May, 2007

Posted on May 11, 2007 - by deCadmus

Eva Cafe Solo — She’s a Keeper

Not so very long ago I offered a quick (and cheeky) review of the Eva Cafe Solo. Here’s a snippet of that review (or you can read the whole thing):

Consider the Eva Solo. Part chemistry set, part little black dress (in neoprene, no less) this Danish design is a pretty sexy number. And it’s perfect for brewing darker coffees that have needs. You know the type… coffees that want to cuddle a little. Coffees that want to steep. Coffees that just won’t reveal everything they’ve got without a little extra intimacy.

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Posted on May 10, 2007 - by deCadmus

Accounting for Taste: A Model Major Article

The current issue of Roast Magazine features an informative and very well acquainted guide to experiencing the flavors and aromas of coffee, covering matters anatomical, physiological and — for good measure — psychological, too:

“Say you’re having a rotten dayâ€â€?everything that could go wrong has gone wrong, and you need to cup one final batch of samples before you can leave for the day. Well, you might think twice about cupping those samples, because there’s a good chance your mood will alter the way you perceive the coffee. Your senses are all linked together with your brain, which also controls your thoughts and emotions. With all this going on at the same time, it is possible to allow mood to overlap with sensory evaluation, causing a misinterpretation of what you are really experiencing in that cup of coffee.

In order to get a true idea of what you’re tasting, your mind needs to be clear of clutter and stress.”

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Posted on May 9, 2007 - by deCadmus

Coffee Notes from All Over

• Hacienda La Esmeralda wins the SCAA cupping pavilion’s top spot, officially giving it the honor, “World’s Best Coffee.” For the third year in a row. Unprecedented.
• Science Blogs wants to know, why is New York coffee so bad? I’d like to know, too, so I can eliminate my habit of planning my conference schedule so as to avoid NY, NY’s dismal coffee options. Yeah, I know, there’s Ninth St. Espresso and I hear good things about Grumpy. And Gillies has been roasting good stuff there since the dawn of time. (Maybe Fortune can chime in on this one!)
• And one for the recipe file… Coffee-and-Cocoa Encrusted Sirloin. A variation on this theme has long been on my grilling menu, though I prefer a rib-eye or Kansas City Strip. Yum.
• Finally, is a coffee-inspired brown the new black?
  

  “The hottest colour going are the browns — every shade of cappuccino, mocha, cafe-au-lait and milk chocolate.”

Posted on May 8, 2007 - by deCadmus

Switched

I’ve been using Microsoft Windows on a PC since… since before it was Windows, really. I’ve seen the introduction of Windows 1.0, 2.0, Windows 286, Windows 386 (had a tough battle with DESQview, that one), Windows 3.0, Windows 3.11, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT, Windows 95 (great launch party!), Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME and XP. And that’s just counting the major versions, not all the dot-somethings along the way.

While I’m counting my scars here, I might as well note that I’ve been in beta or early release programs for Chicago, Snowball, Borg, Ferengi, Daytona, Cairo and Memphis. (Just for you’z geeks: there’s two OS/2 builds in there… spot ‘em?)

And so, after boning up on the features and requirements of Microsoft’s latest — Windows Vista — I worked out my upgrade strategy: I got a Mac.

I’ve actually been using this machine (an Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro) since December, and it’s been a kick in the pants to experience how my brain-pan and eye-hand coordination have adapted in that time. No more clicking in the upper right-hand corner, no more hunting for menus, no “missed it by that much” collapsing menu cascades. I have to admit I’m still learning some of the finer points of how the Mac does compressed files and folders (my desktop is currently littered with an array of DMG files that — I’m pretty certain — don’t need to be there.)

I’m impressed by the quality of the core Apple software what shipped with the machine — no real surprise there — but I’m more impressed, still, with the exceptional variety, usability and capability of the current crop of Mac shareware and freeware. Next time around I’ll make a point to list some of the tools that I’ve found especially valuable along the way.

Meanwhile, I can’t say enough good things about a book — Switching to the Mac - Tiger Edition, by David Pogue and Adam Goldstein — that’s made this a near seamless transition for me, overall. Look for it wherever fine O’Reilly books are sold near you. And be sure to look for the latest edition; it covers the latest crop of Intel Macs, too.

Posted on May 8, 2007 - by deCadmus

From the Less Snarky News Department

• This just in… Canadian coffee company Van Houtte has a buyer — and it’s not Green Mountain. (Nyah!) U.S. venture capital company Littlejohn & Co. will acquire all the outstanding shares of Van Houtte for C$25 apiece, in a deal of about C$600 million. Reports are that shareholders are not happy.
• Green Mountain has a new top dog… Lawrence J. Blanford will assume the helm as President and CEO while Bob Stiller will retain his position as Chairman of the Board. I’m not too familiar with Larry’s background just yet… I know only that he’s the guy who — as CEO of Philips Consumer electronics USA — told Hollywood (and Congress) to stick it in their ear with regard to the awful Broadcast Flag initiative. I find that a good sign, indeed.
• Papua New Guinea coffee farms are facing the threat of the dreaded coffee borer beetle. Known as “la broca” in Central and South America, this tiny beetle can do huge damage to coffee crops… like wiping out 50-80% of a given crop. Ouch.
• And, in Science Daily, still more evidence that coffee is good for you! Studies have shown that moderate consumption can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease, kidney stones, gallstones, depression, suicide and Parkinson’s disease. Drink up!

Posted on May 8, 2007 - by deCadmus

She don’t lie, she don’t lie…

CNN reports that a Las Vegas based beverage company is pulling it’s energy drink — named “Cocaine” — from store shelves nationwide. Seems they’ve run into something of an image problem with its label. Redux Beverages company spokesperson Clegg Ivey says they plan to sell the drink under a new name for now –

“Of course, we intended for Cocaine energy drink to be a legal alternative the same way that celibacy is an alternative to premarital sex,” Ivey said. “It’s not the same thing and no one thinks it is. Our product doesn’t have any cocaine in it. No one thinks that it does. We think it is most likely legal in the United States to ship our product.”

Presumably the company’s planned launch of “Crystal Meth” pop-rock candy and “Exstacy” jelly beans are unaffected by this setback.

Sheesh.

Posted on May 7, 2007 - by deCadmus

The Way *I* See It…

When Michelle Incanno ordered her venti-house-blend-nonfat-two-Splenda at her Springboro Starbucks last week she got more than she bargained for… and more than she could stomach. Printed on the cup was this —

“Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure.”

The quote isn’t Starbucks’ own, but instead another customer’s… part of Starbucks’ “The Way I See It” collection of viewpoints and conversation-starters than have graced their cups for some two years now. Regardless, it didn’t play well in Springboro… at least not with Incanno. She’s vowed never to darken Starbucks’ door again.

“As someone who loves God, I was so offended by that. I don’t think there needs to be religious dialogue on it. I just want coffee.”

This doesn’t appear to be a case of someone not understanding that the message on the cup isn’t the opinion of Starbucks itself. She understands. She just doesn’t care. Which is a shame, of course, but also much more.

Let’s move beyond this specific message itself for a moment and examine the underlying principle at play here. The way *I* see it, these United States are now largely populated by folks so tightly bound-up in their own ideology and narrow philosophy that they bristle at, vilify and reject any point of view that differs demonstrably from their own. Heaven forbid they engage that point of view and explore it. More, such folk are more than willing to paint with a brush so broad it daubs and splashes both the author of the message and its publisher equally, as though they were one and the same. This is, at best, a spurious argument… at worst, it’s the stuff that our daily discourse has ground down to: demagogy.

Maybe I underestimated what Starbucks was up to with their The Way I See It series. Me, I thought they were simply looking to start conversations in the coffee house. Perhaps, instead, they’re trying to teach us how to have a conversation again. ‘Cause it sure enough appears we’ve forgotten.

I have issues with some of Starbucks coffee purchasing practices. I have issues with some of their employment practices. But I have new found respect for Starbucks’ effort to play a role in fostering conversation and community… even when it means printing a point of view that doesn’t play well in Peoria. Or Springboro.

Posted on May 6, 2007 - by deCadmus

Organic Coffee Gets a Reprieve

Coffee & Conservation notes that the USDA has granted a momentary stay to its decision to strictly enforce annual re-certification of organic coffee farmers. This is wonderful news… but the fat lady ain’t sung just yet. According to Sam Fromartz — who first broke the story on Salon — where we are now is both a result of, and a continuing opportunity for, dialogue:

In a statement issued Wednesday, the NOP said it would work closely with the National Organic Standards Board - the citizens advisory panel on organic regulations - before making any changes. This comes after a petition campaign which generated thousands of signatures, even in the absence of any major media coverage.

For those who think organic regulations have been compromised by big business, this shows - as other actions have in the past - that transparency and advocacy work.

A great many specialty coffee companies — greenies and roasters alike — have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to get that conversation started, and it’s perhaps not coincidental that this announcement from the USDA arrived on the eve of the SCAA’s annual convention, where I’m certain the decision is more than a passing hallway conversation.

Posted on May 5, 2007 - by deCadmus

On the calculus of memory (or lack thereof)

New Castle lies on the seacoast of New Hampshire, a three hour drive from my home in Vermont. Along the way the road weaves through Vermont’s Green Mountains and New Hampshire’s Boreal forest, and most every turn reveals another postcard-perfect view of New England landscape.

That said, I missed fully half the scenery, on account of the angry gnome sitting on my shoulder, kicking me in the head. The wretched little creature called itself Disremembrance, and — just before the kicking began — it whispered in my ear that I’d left the power adapter for my computer on my desktop at home. Ouch. Ouch! OUCH!

And so began the calculus of memory — or lack thereof. Turn back, or keep going? Would my MacBook make it through a 75 minute multi-media presentation at full power, driving two displays? Could I borrow or buy a replacement? For that matter, could I find a shop that stocked the elusive MagSafe power adapter in New Castle? In Portsmouth? Could I deal with not being able to make any last-minute changes to my presentation ’cause I don’t want to burn through my batteries? Crap, how much sleep would I lose over this?

I kept driving. In the end, the friendly hotel staff helped me find a replacement power supply within a mile or two of the hotel, the presentation was wicked fun and I’ve been invited to do it again… three times now. (I think that’s a good sign!)

And that pissant little gnome? He took a header off a drawbridge on the sea coast. Didn’t even make a splash.

Posted on May 2, 2007 - by deCadmus

On the Road…

I’m on the road — destination New Castle, New Hampshire — where I’ll be presenting a usability session at the annual VT/NH DMG conference.

This is a new presentation for me; a new platform (Keynote), new tools (MacBook) and lots and lots of capabilities I could have only ever wished for, before. I’m seriously stoked about what I can do on this platform. This is gonna be fun.