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Jeff’s Cup of Joe – The Pour Over Method for Coffee

Jeff

Anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that I like my morning coffee. Let’s make that “love my morning coffee!” And if the truth be told, I have a lot of it. I don’t want to tell you how much, but trust me on this one; it’s a lot!




Picture Courtesy of a screen shot from Starbucks video below.

Anyway, my favorite brew is 100% Colombian coffee. Unfortunately when I am away from home, this commodity is hard to find so I then make sure to bring my Starbucks Via packets of the Colombian and lately I have been able to purchase it in larger quantities at COSTCO with a related savings.

In the morning, I must confess, I use an automatic drip coffee machine (don’t stop reading yet) and over the years I have learned how to tweak it so I get a very good cup of coffee. It isn’t a great cup, but a very good cup. When I only want a single, somewhat smaller cup, I do use the pour over method similar to the one described in the videos below.

A concept that may not be familiar to a number of people who like coffee, but have not read much about the brewing process is the bloom. In the video below, Sky Mountain Coffee explains this important aspect of the brewing process and what it can teach us. Thank you Sky Mountain Coffee!

In the next video, Starbucks presents what they consider the best way to brew a single cup of excellent coffee using the pour over method which I use for a one cupper!

Here are the key points from the Starbucks video:

  • Pre-wet the filter to get things warm and remove some of the paper taste!
  • Get Rid of the water used in the “wetting step” mentioned above.
  • Put the coffee in the filter; cone grind similar in texture to granulated sugar.
  • Recommended amount of coffee – 2 Tablespoons for every six ounces of water.
  • Water should be hot, but not quite boiling.
  • Pour a little water into the grounds and let it “bloom.”

From my experience (your mileage may vary):

  • I find it helpful to pre-heat the cup so that it is warm, not hot, and it does not cool the coffee as it is poured. You can do this by pouring some hot water in the cup and letting it stand a minute or so.
  • Prior to the pour over, I let the water rest for twenty seconds or so after it has come to a good boil. I don’t want to scald the grounds.
  • After letting the coffee bloom, I do not pour all of the water into the filter at once. Instead, I do the brewing using several pours so that the grounds have a chance to be thoroughly mixed by the water being poured.
  • I pour the water in a slow concentric circle starting at the outside of the filter working my way to the middle. I believe this equalizes the exposure of the grounds to the water and thus extracts maximum flavor.

I hope this helps you enjoy your morning Joe!

A Higher Call – Courage and Humanity Above All

Jeff

When I first heard of the book, A Higher Call by Adam Makos, Larry Alexander, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this book. War time stories don’t appeal to me too much, but I did enjoy the book Unbroken, the WW II story of Louis Zamperini, another WW II pilot risking his life in Japan written by Laura Hillenbrand.

After realizing that this book was quite a hit on the NY Times Best Seller List, I thought I would give it a try and I am so glad that I did. Franz Stigler, the German ace pilot, exhibited a humanity beyond belief. This book is a tribute to him and to all acts of chivalry and heroism during times of war. There are undoubtedly many stories that will never get to be told so let’s celebrate this one and recognize the glory of true courage and conviction.

The title and subtitle of the book: A Higher Call: An Incredible True Story of Combat and Chivalry in the War-Torn Skies of World War II says it all.

The videos below will give you a sense of the book, but cannot not replace it.

If you want a slightly different take on the story, you can watch the next video below with many different photos and clips.

While these videos provide some of the story, as usual, the book is much, much better! If you like history or stories with heroes, this book is a very good read. I can recommend it without reservation. Read some reviews and more about the book at the goodreads website.

Pickleball: Not Only Cool, But Cold…Frozen

Jeff

I have mentioned Mark Renneson and his Third Shot Sports in the past and I guess if you live in Canada, it may become difficult to find a place to play pickleball during the colder months. Perhaps this is one solution although for the warmer climate denizens, I wouldn’t recommend trying this unless you have very good hockey and/or ice skating skills.

Great fun Mark and the gang!

As quoted from the YouTube website:

“We all know that you can play pickleball outside. But how about in winter? On ice? With skates! Third Shot Sports presents a unique look at how some crazy Canadians play the sports they love no matter what the conditions. Featuring Bill Furse, Ingrid Schuster, Chuck Burgoyne, Mark Renneson and Cecily the Baby. thirdshotsports.com”

To See Pickleball Videos Covering Many Aspects of the Game Click Here

Check out Additional Pickleball Info and Videos!

Craco, Italy – A Mediterranean Ghost Town

Jeff

Abandoned Town of Craco, Italy

Map Courtesy of Google Maps

Everything ages and with time, some things begin to decay. This happens to machines, people, buildings and whole towns. One noted place of decay is the Italian Town of Craco which suffered from landslides as well as sewage and water system leakage. The villagers decided it was easier to leave than to stay and try to salvage their beautiful, historic hillside village.

This brief video pays homage to this picturesque and haunting landscape leaving viewers to wonder at the majesty and grandeur it once must have displayed at the height of its history.

Craco – The abandoned town from Walter Molfese on Vimeo.

Quoted from the Vimeo web page:

“Craco is an abandoned town in the province of Matera, Basilicata, Italy.

In 1963 a landslide destroyed part of Craco. The population decided to abandon their homes. The landslide was mainly caused by leakages of water and sewerage networks and by the urban growth of the 20th century.

The Municipality of Craco is trying to recover the ancient part of the town, restoring the old centre for recreational and cultural purposes. Despite damage caused by landslides over the years, Craco is still gorgeous.

Word of appreciation goes to the Municipality of Craco (MT-IT), Craco Research and Craco Production who have authorized and allowed the video shoot in the site of Craco – Scenografic Museum Park.

The historic center of Craco was listed among the 93 sites to be saved in the world in 2010 Watch List of the World Monuments Fund which is reported every two years by the prestigious international institution.”

You can learn more about Craco and some of its history at the links below:

The Abandoned Italian Hilltop Village of Craco

Mediterranean Ghost Town: Craco Italy

Craco, coming alive on film

Video – What Qualifies One As a Great Photographer?

Jeff

To paraphrase Ken Van Sickle, Anyone can take a great photograph, but not everyone can be a great photographer. Noted photographer, Van Sickle, explains the qualities that would qualify one as a great photographer.

From the YouTube website:

“When photographer Ken Van Sickle was 23 and living in Paris, he could barely afford rolls of film. One night, hearing that jazz great Chet Baker was playing, he went and took only two pictures, and one was blurry. So what’s happened to photography now that everyone has the technology to take as many pictures as they like? Van Sickle offers his Brief But Spectacular take.”

Cornell Lab 100 Years of Bird Studies

Jeff

Cornell Ornithology Lab Logo

 

A brief video about the beauty and science of studying birds.

From the YouTube website:

“As we conclude the Cornell Lab’s 100th year of studying and conserving the birds that enrich our lands and our lives, thank you for helping us start 2016 ready to do more for birds and nature. Hear from the Cornell Lab’s Executive Director John W. Fitzpatrick in this video celebrating how birds bring us closer to nature.”

Paddle Up for Pickleball Success

Jeff

Although I enjoy pickleball and I count myself among the sport’s enthusiasts and I have become a USAPA Ambassador, I am not a top-notch player. I enjoy the game and one thing I learned early on is the importance of keeping the paddle in the up position. The video below demonstrates the technical aspects of accomplishing this and gives examples of why it can be a big step in improving most people’s game.

Pickleball 411: Paddle Up and Win with Prem Carnot

From the YouTube link:

Published on Dec 17, 2015

Stop helping your opponent win! Proper pickleball technique can make or break a game. This week we share a simple concept that can make a big difference in winning a match or losing it. Play smart and watch this episode of Pickleball 411 with Prem Carnot, “The Pickleball Guru”. Pickleball Channel was fortunate enough to have Prem join us to talk about the paddle up position. He breaks it down so you can improve today. Don’t let the year end without making a difference in your game. Watch it now!

Frozen Kitten is Life in the Raw via Go Pro

Jeff

I enjoy photography because it enables me to capture a moment in time that will never be exactly the same again. Videography, however has not appealed to me, but when I see footage like the video below, I appreciate how a live action cam enables us to witness life in its raw form.

Although this is an advertisement for GoPro, let us assume that it is true and because of that provides the viewer with a first-hand glimpse of nature, emotion, caring and human kindness. That’s the key phrase,; “first-hand!”

From the notes accompanying the video:

Published on Dec 14, 2015

“On a cold Thanksgiving morning, Branden Bingham and his family stumbled upon a seemingly frozen kitten buried in the snow. In an attempt to save his life, they rushed inside and began performing CPR on the lifeless cat. ”

Pickleball: USAPA Nationals VII Exciting Video

Jeff

Wow, what a powerful video highlighting the excitement and the fun of pickleball;what a sport! One usually doesn’t see this much engagement by players and spectators alike at a sporting event. The video exudes the excitement and pace of the 2015 Pickleball Nationals VII.

  • 32 Pickleball Courts
  • 38 States
  • 3 Provinces
  • 764 Players
  • 2,038 Matches

From the YouTube posting:

Published on Dec 10, 2015

“The USAPA Nationals VII was a powerhouse of pickleball! The action and agility on the courts was amazing. You won’t believe all the cool shots from multiple matches that Pickleball Channel was able to capture! Check out this footage of some of the greatest moments in the tournament including aerial shots and super slow mo. If you were at Nationals this year, you just might see yourself on the court!”

Video – Man-aged Earth: An Explanation of Time

Jeff

The three minute video below is an interesting animation that presents the history of our earth via a metaphor of a trip from Los Angeles to NJ showing important evolutionary events in earth’s history and where along that journey they would have occurred. As you will note, modern man has been around for a relatively insignificant period of time (only 5.6 feet of the journey) however we have had a huge impact on the earth.

You can read more explanations about my source for the video at the link below:

Science Alert