DD Toasted Almond

February 4, 2016

I got a free one today b/c I just happened to walk past the 31st Street location, which handed out coupons for free coffee at 6th ave.

I will keep this short -- b/c I have more important writing to do. 

An old friend died. His funeral was last night. He was out of my life for as long as he was in it. Since no one is mentioning the cause of death but apparently he died in his sleep.  I do not believe a healthy 34-year-old typically dies that way.  

Old friends, whom I also separated from b/w 1999-2000, all talk about how great he was and made these commemorative wristbands. It's sad, b/c I actually knew this guy long before most of the other guys who made up our crew.  Maybe people change. Maybe the drugs just became the paste of their friendship. Maybe other people have a higher tolerance for that sort of lifestyle -- I have practically none. 

Melita Euro Roast

I've been through some really good LavAzza since the last post and also a S&S french roast and now on to Melitta.

I mention the LavAzza because I think that may be the best brand, though the Melitta I had a ways back was pretty darn effective. That was smooth and dark with some intensity.  It's worth mentioning that it was bagged, as opposed to this canned one.

The European Roast is certainly good but is not keeping me awake the way I was hoping.  It's your standard fare, I believe. Smoother than the store brand, yesterday I had 3 cups: 8am, afternoon, and half at 830pm. Yesterday's morning one was the best, probably because I smelled it from upstairs -- it was the first time I used the 'automatic' setting in while. Melitta makes good stuff I just think the bagged is better. Maybe it's more customized that way. I will save the can for the bag of LavAzza waiting on deck.

I'm grateful for the articles I've been assigned. It's just tough getting amped up for it.  I have about another 250 words to write for South Florida's trends and then I need to give them shape. I'll reread it a couple of times and one last time Mon morning before sending it in.

There are a lot of jobs out there I really want to do. There are some fitness ones that are the most appealing and thankfully I started this blog along with some others, a while ago, that demonstrate my enthusiasm for cycle-commuting and office caffeine.

I have my run times down to 32 minutes for 4.4 miles.  I'm pretty confident that I can keep to that pace for the triathlon on the 12th.  It's hard to say if I'm in the best shape of my life. It's certainly close to it. I was leaner 5 years ago but I'm stronger now, for sure.

It's hard not to think about the next job but I want it to be good and meaningful and to quickly adapt to the environment.

It's been a good day with Chickie babe and Myna and Poppa. Using the pool and being outdoors -- all good. I'm a little too tired to be ready to work out so I'll try to do some more SF trends and maybe squeeze in one more run. Tomorrow morning I'll let it all out at Intoxx.

Right now I'm in this "Roses" sort of mode. Can't be Overkill and Armored Saint all the time.

Thank you for reading this.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup

I'm finally finishing the bag of Grande Kaffe's Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup coffee.  I've had it since late June -- we bought it on the Friday night that we went to Chipotle and I then to TJ Maxx. This was the start of my vaca from Sidley.

I regretted not buying it years back and am glad I did, as it basically puts the nail in the coffin for most gimmicky flavored varieties.

The Good:
It smells fantastic the entire time.  It was very good with chocolate ice cream.

The Bad:
Its taste doesn't nearly match the aroma -- it lost flavor maybe a few days/cups in to it.  Maybe 16 oz is too much and I didn't drink it fast enough.  Or maybe it's just a good idea for one big special cup. That it lost its flavor so fast was disheartening (even if it increases heart rate).

Verdict:
Will only go with Cafe Du Monde, Cinnamon, Hazlenut, or Winter Blends if I'm going to go flavored.  They took my favorite candy and were almost successful with synthesizing a coffee from it.

Hawaii's end

Today was the final day of Hawaiian Hazlenut.  It was certainly losing its impact but still smelled good. I had a cup at home and another on the train conversing with Marshall.  Overall, I'd give it 3 stars. I'd get it again but am ready for a different flavor for another occasion.

Hawaiian Hazlenut

Since Sunday morning, I've been brewing Hawaiian Hazlenut in the large French Press.  I bought it @ Coffee Nut Cafe on Park Ave. after the fam left the boardwalk playground b/c we're all coffee imbibers and I wanted to get something a little special.  Their flavored coffees are top notch, as far as I'm concerned and I like supporting a local business.

First and foremost: It smells great. Even just the ground beans smell amazing.  The second I put the bag in the car, everyone perked up a bit.

The first cup(s) are always the best.  I've found that across the board with special blends and particularly with French Press, which is why I only bought a quarter pound.  We had more people than normal so it'd get used faster.  Once we got to yesterday's brew, it still smelled great but was losing some of the flavor. I can't tell if that's b/c my palate adapted or b/c of too much exposure to air. (I'm opening the bag for maybe 15 seconds.)  My guess is that it's best with sugar and cream.  I'd put the sugar in first and let it melt and then follow up later.

I am curious as to whether they might just spray the beans with a flavor. I'll make an inquiry next time. Regardless, for the $4, I'm glad I get this every once in a while. The next flavor will be of a similar vain but I'll try something new.  I've had German Choc Cake, Coconut, Cookies 'n' cream, and one or two others that escape my immediate memory.

I had probably two cups (took one to-go on the train) this morning so I'm good to go. I do not need to be a Slave to the Grinds this morning.  I'm just having iced tea right now.

I'm hoping to finish it out tomorrow not just "to get it over with" but to preserve the remaining flavor.

Thank you for reading.

LavAzza reflections

My first LavAzza can is finished.  It was the espresso grind and overall I give it a thumbs up.  I made it 3 different ways:

1. Drip maker

2. Single-cup french press

3. Multi-cup large french press

Of course the drip maker was the easiest and quickest, and there's no problem with the taste, but eliminating the filter was the goal.

It certainly looks darker (and a bit grainier) in the french press and maybe has more flavor that way.

On Sat. I made 3 1-cup servings in the large one and I guess I had the setting right on the strainer, b/c very little sediment made it out.  I will keep using that and maybe do that on weekends now.

There is another LavAzza can in waiting.  I will save it though, and switch back to boring stuff for a bit.  Maybe on Friday I'll buy a half-pound of something special from the coffee nut place in LB for the arrival of my brother and sister-in-law.

Changing it up

717am
Finally waking up a little earlier so that I can get a head start on Miri, who's due to rise in 15 min.  Tonight is Armored Saint so I'm pumped.  Awful stuff happens every day -- tornadoes, earthquakes, all these terrible thing.

Having some LavAzza b/c even though I'm in a better mood (yesterday was good, today will be good, and I got some decent sleep) I figure waiting until I get to work to have anything is affecting my mood.

I'm hoping to see some more old friends and contacts this week.

Thank you for reading.

719am
So much for that 730 prophecy.