Composting

We have never really hit our straps composting, our results have always been a bit mixed. A couple of weeks ago we went to a workshop at the Cowes community garden. Adrain lead the workshop and the other week I tried to emulate the procces. We did a layer of pea straw, wasted from the kitchen which was stored in the tumbler (see the picture below), wood shavings and chicken poo which I'd just got from cleaning out the chicken coop, a bucket of coffee grounds from our barista at oz bikes, lots of grass clippings and topped off with lots of water and pea straw.

I turned it yesterday and the centre was roasting hot. So it seems the hot composing is working...

Our pile of grass clippings

The tumbler which doesn't quite cut it with the making of compost, but is good at storing the vege scaps.

 

 

 

Bendigo Coffee

The last couple of days we have been in Bendigo which means searching for coffee. On the first day we went to what looked like a very promising place. The brewhouse coffee Bendigo, When we entered the premises we were greated by very friendly staff and shown round the back to an over flow type room. Passing on the way some very impressive coffee machines including our own Miss Silvia. In the overview room we sat next to two quite large gas roasting machines.

Now we were expecting big things, I asked for the the regular flat white which was there standard blend. It was weak. I could taste the flavour but just. The flat white serving cups would have been smaller than usual so I was a bit surprised. 1/10.

I thought this maybe just a bad day so I thought I'd go the next day. This time I asked a few questions. Again the girl that served me seemed to know what she was talking about with floral notes and aromas. So I went for the single origin. Pointing out that I thought that my last cup was rather weak. OH DEAR another dud. 1/10

 

I decided to next to go to the Wholesome bean. We had the house blend and lunch.

 

 

The coffee I was great, strength was just right and the flavour was great. 8/10. We stayed for lunch having mini falafel burgers and chick pea chips. Not huge but every bite delicious. The staff though, seemed just uptight, no smiles in this place...

 

Bendigo redeemed itself in the end, phew.

 

Goodbye Egg and Spoon

 

Dropping off Jemima to school I headed over with Jo to one of our favorite places for a coffee, the Egg and Spoon. Only to discover that it was shut, for good. Due to 'Family Illness'.

The coffee was good; Brian got my piccolo just to my liking. The food was pretty much all made in the kitchen by Amanda. A rarity these day!

Goodbye, you will be missed!

 

Egg and Spoon

Good news for coffee lovers. Phillip Island has at last a place that makes coffee which I can recomend.
The "Egg and Spoon", Settlement Rd opposite Mitre Ten. They get their coffee from a small little roaster in Trafalgar Called "Southern Addictions" which we have sourced when we are over in that part of Gippsland.

Ahh two grinders, one especially for decaf. Try finding that in any other place for coffee in Phillip Island!

God in Cup

God in a Cup 

by Michaele Weissman

I couldn't help but be disappointed with this book. It seemed to be just a lot of name dropping of North Americans in the specialist coffee industry. I did learn a bit, how coffee was sourced. The poverty and corruption in the industry especially at the farmers end.
I would have liked to have heard about the coffee industry in Australia or probably more realistically Europe. To read about who won the world Barista championship. Not the American who came second!
Yep I suspect if you are interested in coffee and want to read more and don't live in the US. This book will miss the mark.

Roast log, Behmor 1600, 22nd, March 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Brazilian pulped natural"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 420gm
Ambient temp :: 16c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 4.50s
Rolling Crack::3.45s
Second crack 2.30s
Cool down:: 2.08 Happening into the cool down.
Grading, sweet maria:: 8 cs
Notes: This is the coldest ambient temp that I've roasted with and I think you can see the delayed time. Interesting I thought it would have been a darker roast which it wasn't. You can also see that I'm not using the sweet maria rating. Rather the Coffee snobs which you can see with the picture.

Little Ripper

The other week I roasted "Brazil Pulped Natural". It is so far the best that I've roasted. A deep flavour that sits beautifly. I can now understand why it is used as a base for so many coffee blends. It gave a great crema that seemed to just blob out of the group head.

Coffee Roasting Log. behmor 1600, 11th March, 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Hondurus los Bancos"
Weight: 500gm
Weight roasted:: 408gm
Ambient temp :: 15.7c
Weight Profile ::1 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 21.30s
First Crack:: 6.02s
Rolling Crack::5.32s
Second crack 1.55s
Cool down:: 2.00 Happening into the cool down.

Grading, sweet maria:: 12 City++ Has come out very dark
Notes:: Very similar to the last roast. Although the 1st Crack came around a bit quicker.

The notes from coffee snobs green bay::

Honduras Los Bancos. This coffee is high grown, well processed, clean and washed without polishing. It produces a fair amount of chaff during roasting and the cracks are quite pronounced. In the cup it produces a clean, front palate coffee and is a good example of a quality Central American bean.

Taste will tell...

Roast Log, Behmor 1600, 7th of February

Bean:: coffee snob, "Decaf Wow"
Weight: 300gm
Weight roasted:: 262gm
Ambient temp :: 20.1c
Weight Profile ::1/2 pound
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 1400
First Crack:: 4.18s
Rolling Crack::??
Second crack 3.30s
Cool down:: 3.30s
Grading, sweet maria:: 11-12 full city+
Notes:: Even though 1C and 2C happened in the first profile I wanted to move it a little bit sooner. So it started closer to the commencement of the 2nd profile!
Once again the times we are aiming at are :: 5.35secs and then ramps back up at 1.25 where things cool a bit in the 2nd profile.
The result, beans appeared a bit lighter. The 1C and 2C happened roughly in the middle of the second profile.

Roast Log, Behmor 1600, 1st Feb 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Peru Ceja de Selva Estate"
Weight: 300gm
Weight roasted:: 260gm
Weight on Behmor::1/2
Ambient temp :: 19.8c
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 1400
First Crack::2.28s
Rolling Crack:: 2.07s
Second crack 1.30s
Cool down:: 1.30s
Grading, sweet maria:: 9-10 City to City+
Notes:: Based this off the latest decaf wow" and compensated because it wasn't decaf." I got the 1C in that 2nd profile.
Suprised that the roast wasnt darker. That maybe due to the heat been lowered in the second profile. A lot of chaff with this one. Looks good!

Coffee roast log, Behmor 1600, 26th Jan, 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Decaf Wow"
Weight: 250gm
Weight roasted:: 215gm
Ambient temp :: 17.2C
Profile :: P2 "c"
Time :: 1400
First Crack:: 5.05s
Rolling Crack:: 4.52s
Cool down:: 4.03s
Grading, sweet maria:: 12 full city+
Notes:: this time Im trying to get the time to extent between 1st and 2nd crack. So using 'p2'. Calculated. 'p2' to eneter 2nd profile at 5.35secs and then ramps back up at 1.25.
So what happened. Entered first crack at 5.05s went to Rolling Crack at 4.52s then 2nd Crack 4.03s
The look of the roast looks great. But I would like to hear first crack about when the Behmor starts to cool on the the 2nd pofile.
The Behmor wont let me extend the profile to 'd', so for my next roast the only option is to extend the weight. Will try this latter in the day.

"The Liturgy of Espresso"

Hat to to from the Jesus Creed for putting me onto this one!

Billy Kangas, has put together a "liturgy of Espresso", this will be nice if I can integrate this into my already regular drinking practices... 

The Liturgy of Espresso

This cycle of Blessings and meditations can be done alone or with a group. If done in a group there should be a leader and an assistant. The leader says the prayers while the assistant reads the passages of scripture. The ╬ marks places where the sign of the cross can be made. Prayers can be chanted, or read aloud in a group. The group can be divided and take turns saying the prayers if you so desire.

Materials:

coffee, grinder, espresso machine, pitcher of water, pitcher of milk

(if you don't have an espresso machine try to get a hold of a device that can steam milk, and a way to brew a cup of coffee)

Opening Meditation:

If you present a grain offering to the Lord from the first portion of your harvest, bring fresh grain that is coarsely ground and roasted on a fire. - Leviticus 2:14 (NLT)

Introductory Rites:

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer;

-answer me, for I need your help. (Psalm 86:1 NLT)

Glory be to the Father and to the son and to the Holy Spirit ( ╬ )

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen

Collect of Blessing

Heavenly Father, author of all life, as we prepare to transform these substances transform our hearts that these humble means may be used to honor Your Son, with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit One God forever and ever. Amen

Blessing of The Milk (Meditation on the Father)

lift up the pitcher of milk

Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the Universe, who brings us into the land flowing with milk and honey. By your word we receive every good thing. May we always recognize the richness of your blessings.

Let us praise God with this image of nurture. Our God promises that he will remember his people more then a mother who nurses her child. May this milk remind us that God is faithful, even when we are faithless.

Read Hosea 11: 1-4 if there is time

I suggest you read of his blog and use the rest. 

Roasting log, behmor 1600, 16 Jan, 2009 x2

Bean:: coffee snob, "Decaf Wow"
Weight: 110gm
Weight roasted:: 97gm
Ambient temp :: 12.7c
Profile :: P2
Time :: 830 -70s
First Crack:: 44s
Rolling Crack:: 22s
Cool down:: 00sec
Grading, sweet maria:: 12 full city+
Notes:: still think 1C is running into 2C. Very hard to tell. The actual look of beans is where I want things. Will try an extra 10s next roast. Also pretty cold in Cowes which may have been a variable. Won't touch this for 4 days before judging taste.

Roast log, Behmor 1600, 16th Jan, 2010

Bean:: coffee snob, "Decaf Wow"
Weight: 110gm
Weight roasted:: 95gm
Ambient temp :: 17.5C
Profile :: P1
Time :: 830 -60s
First Crack:: 1.30
Rolling Crack:: 1.05
Cool down:: 17sec
Grading, sweet maria:: 14-15/16, full roast to fully carbonized.

Notes::
Spewing didn't hit the P2 profile. I had already reduced the time... I suspect second crack had gone into first crack. Whole roast close to charcol. This one is a learing experience! It's not going to be drunk.

Liar Liar

My brother shouted me out to breakfast at Hawthorns Liar Liar.
Coffee, undoubtably one of the best in Melbourne. 9/10. Smooth, without tasting weak. Watching the Batista he was just frothing the Milk by ear, without looking. Good to see a number of grinders, so if you are a decaf fan, it looks like you will get a fresh grind.




I also had "pants on fire", a Spanish breakfast, chorizo egg thing, yum.




Lastly no tunes coming from the deck. But I could imagine the place pumping!

Coffee at the GPO

Had coffee x3 at the cafe in Bendigo called the "GPO". Opposite the old Post Office. 'Cafe Essence' and 'Coffee Select' were shut for Boxing Day, my regular coffee haunts in Bendigo when I visited.
I was not dissapointed. A slightly darker and bitter coffee from what you normally get from cafes, but this is how I like it. Micro foam was good.


No latte Art, but this is Bendigo...

Not all coffee is created equal!

Well unforumately the grinders decaf is well below average. Finding a good coffee can be hard, but finding a good decaf is just about imposible!
The grinders is the only whole decaf bean sold at Cowes Coles. Everything about the purchase was promicing. Good crema, length of pour about right. The taste was what let things down. It slightly flavours the milk.

The beans once dried were extremely dry. Other good decaf grounds had a slightly oily texture.
The pack has an obscured use by date. But it would be more useful a date when the beans were roasted.

Yarra Valley Coffee 2/10

Our coffee supply has been a source of anxiety since moving to Phillip Island. We were relived when we found a supplier for Yarra Valley Coffee. After a week its been pretty disappinting 2 ot of 10. Very weak, you get a stronger taste from the milk.
I suspect it could be the age of the coffee. Even though the package says "freshly roasted", I suspect with a "best before" date of May 2010, this may not be the case.
I don't think it's because it's decaf either. I've had exellent decaf, from differnt companies in the past.

Our next try "coffee snobs"

Coffee Select Bendigo

I'm going to start critiquing some of the places I go for coffee. The first is 'coffee select', hargraves street Bendigo.
I've been to this place a few time, what attracted me was that the coffee was roasted on site. This doesn't happen any more. Instead they get there coffee roasted now in Melbourne, appears that they have expanded!
Coffee:: Flat white 'ultimate' blend
Taste: strong without getting that burnt taste, suited the flat white.
Rating:: 8/10

"Donalds Dad?"

Yesterday as we were traveling past the golden arches, Jemima let out "Donalds Dad". As she asked so nicely and it had a play ground I couldn't say no.

McDonalds do a lot of things right especially for familiys.

*kids are welcome

*The kids like the food and there is a little "suprise" toy at the end

*clean

McDondalds also have some points to improve and have slipped in some area...

*Nothing really for vegetarians. They used to have a vegetarian burger but it has gone. The only thing I can eat is salad, chips and the fish burger.

*Kids menus, used to have pasta, which the girls loved, now gone. When I asked for the apple piece there were non in the store.

*Coffee improved but... I was on the way to Bendigo stopped at the Macdonalds near Sunbury and got a coffee. I heard the person say "What is the difference between a flat white and a latte." Why are people who ask this type of question even close to an espresso machine?

I also have to ask myself why don't they use "fair trade, certified" coffee, whats this "coffee alliance" thing. I can't help thinking that there is something corporately suspicious when they have to invent there own certification....