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Prompt #6I: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Grinding the Coffee BeansBook: His XXL Magic Stick: A Massive Size Alpha Male Romance
Author: S.E. Law
Date Read: 07/05/24
Pages: 109
Task: Read a book with a 1, 2, or 3 in the page count.
How Book Fits: 109 pages
Mod
The water you use is very important to the quality of your coffee. Use filtered or bottled water if your tap water is not good or has a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine.
If you’re using tap water, let it run a few seconds before filling your coffee pot, and be sure to use cold water. Avoid distilled or softened water.
A general guideline is called the "Golden Ratio" - one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences.
Check the cup lines or indicators on your specific brewer to see how they actually measure. And remember that some water is lost to evaporation in certain brewing methods.
Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction. Colder water will result in flat, under-extracted coffee, while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the coffee. (However, cold brew does not need any heat.)
If you are brewing the coffee manually, let the water come to a full boil, but do not over boil. Turn off the heat source and allow the water to rest a minute before pouring it over the grounds.
Coffee usually cools rapidly after being served, depending upon the container from which it is being served. And, many coffee drinkers may add cream or milk which also has a cooling effect. Ultimately, the temperature at which any individual coffee drinker will prefer their coffee is a personal preference, like so many other things that make coffee special. These are some of the reasons why it is best to serve coffee right after brewing, when it is fresh and hot. Cupping quality standards suggest brewing at 200˚F. When serving hot beverages, especially in retail or clinical care settings which present risks for burning or scalding, lower temperatures should be considered. Coffee drinkers often desire to add cold milk or cream, or just allow the hot beverage to cool to reach a comfortable temperature for drinking. One study has shown that coffee drinkers typically drink their coffee at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
The amount of time that the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is another important flavor factor.
In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes. If you are making your coffee using a French Press, the contact time should be 2-4 minutes. Espresso has an especially brief brew time — the coffee is in contact with the water for only 20-30 seconds. Cold brew, on the other hand, should steep overnight (about 12 hours).
If you’re not happy with the taste of the final product, you're likely either:
Over-extracting - the brew time is too long
Under-extracting - the brew time is too short
Experiment with the contact time until you get the right balance for your taste.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where a character comes into contact with water in some way.
☕️ 2. Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book you felt was too long OR too short to do justice to the storyline.
☕️ 4. Read a book set in a hot climate.
Prompt #6J: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Brewing the CoffeeBook: The Two Towers
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Date Read: 07/06/24
Pages: 725
Task: Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.
How Book Fits: 725 pages
Mod
More than 90% of American coffee drinkers choose caffeinated brews, but decaf is a great option for those who want the taste and social connections of drinking coffee without the energy boost of caffeine. Luckily, a serendipitous accident in 1905 swamped a shipment of coffee beans with seawater, washing the caffeine out and prompting the development of modern decaffeination methods.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where an accident happens.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in DECAF.
☕️ 3. Read a book set in the 1900s.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in SERENDIPITOUS.
Prompt #7A: All About DeCaffeinated CoffeeBook: Kissing Micky
Author: Ellen Devlin
Date Read: 07/17/24
Pages: 255
Task: Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in SERENDIPITOUS.
How Book Fits: (E)llen (D)evlin
Mod
Like regular coffee, decaf coffee begins as green, unroasted beans. The hard beans are warmed and soaked in liquid to dissolve and remove the caffeine in one of four ways: using water alone, using a mixture of water and solvents (most commonly methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) applied either directly or indirectly, or using water and “supercritical carbon dioxide.”
All four methods are safe, and once the caffeine is removed (well, at least 97% of it), the beans are washed, steamed, and roasted at temperatures that evaporate all the liquids used in decaffeination.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a mostly green cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book with the word HARD OR the word BEANS found in the text.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a question mark in the title.
☕️ 4. Read a book where a character is faced with more than one option to solve a problem.
Prompt #7B: How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?Book: Monsieur Lecoq
Author: Émile Gaboriau
Date Read: 07/31/24
Pages: 152
Task: Read a book with the word HARD OR the word BEANS found in the text.
How Book Fits: Pg. 64, "It was so hard to decide..."
Mod
Decaffeination removes about 97% or more of the caffeine in coffee beans. A typical cup of decaf coffee has about 2 mg of caffeine, compared to a typical cup of regular coffee, which has about 95 mg of caffeine.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with some type of chart or graph in it.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a 2 in the page count.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a 9 AND a 7 in the publication date.
☕️ 4. Read a book with the word TYPICAL found in the text.
Prompt #7C: How Much Caffeine Is In Decaffeinated Coffee?Book: Mave Fortune
Author: Elizabeth Dear
Date Read: 08/02/24
Pages: 447
Task: Read a book with the word TYPICAL found in the text.
How Book Fits: Pg. 154, "This was pretty typical..."
Mod
Like all coffee, decaffeinated coffee is safe for consumption and can be part of a healthy diet.
If you are wondering whether the decaffeination process itself is safe, the answer is yes. All four methods are safe, and once the caffeine is removed (well, at least 97% of it), the beans are washed, steamed, and roasted at temperatures that evaporate the liquids used in decaffeination.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a rigorous standard to ensure that any minute traces of solvents used to decaffeinate coffee are safe. FDA measures these traces in “parts per million.” After decaffeination, coffee can contain no more than 10 parts per million of, for example, methylene chloride -- that’s one one-thousandth of a percent.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where the MC feels safe by the end of the story.
☕️ 2. Read a book with the letters F-D-A all found in the title.
☕️ 3. Read a book with at least a million ratings.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's FIRST initial is found in METHYLENE and the LAST initial is found in CHLORIDE.
Prompt #7D: Is Decaf Coffee Bad For You?Book: Ben Fortune
Author: Elizabeth Dear
Date Read: 08/03/24
Pages: 322
Task: Read a book where the author's FIRST initial is found in METHYLENE and the LAST initial is found in CHLORIDE.
How Book Fits: (E)lizabeth (D)ear
Mod
Regulators and health authorities in the United States and around the world have concluded moderate caffeine intake can be part of healthy diets for most adults -- generally up to 400mg per day, or about 4-5 cups of coffee. Guidelines may vary for people with certain medical conditions.
As you think about caffeine intake, be mindful that caffeine is found not just in coffee but also in other foods and beverages, so consider all potential sources. Every body is different, so everyone should check health recommendations from recognized authorities, listen to how your body responds to caffeine, and consult your personal physician if you have any questions.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where only one eye is completely visible on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book that has up to 400 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book where a major character is a doctor.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC does not have a healthy diet.
Prompt #7E: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?Book: The Geek Who Saved Christmas
Author: Annabeth Albert
Date Read: 08/07/24
Pages: 266
Task: Read a book where the MC does not have a healthy diet.
How Book Fits: Gideon primarily orders takeout and will often skip the entree and just eat dessert.
Mod
Your beans’ greatest enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light.
To preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. Coffee beans can be beautiful, but avoid clear canisters which will allow light to compromise the taste of your coffee.
Keep your beans in a dark and cool location. A cabinet near the oven is often too warm, and so is a spot on the kitchen counter that gets strong afternoon sun.
Coffee's retail packaging is generally not ideal for long-term storage. If possible, invest in storage canisters with an airtight seal.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with multiples of one item on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC has more than one enemy.
☕️ 3. Read a book you would invest in, as in purchase your own copy.
☕️ 4. Read a book where at least one scene happens in a DARK and/or COOL location.
Prompt #8A: How to Store Coffee - Keep Beans Airtight & CoolBook: Tinker Bell and the Pirate
Author: Vivienne Savage
Date Read: 08/08/24
Pages: 307
Task: Read a book where the MC has more than one enemy.
How Book Fits: Captain Hook has multiple enemies who want him dead.
Mod
Coffee begins to lose freshness almost immediately after roasting. Try to buy smaller batches of freshly roasted coffee more frequently - enough for one or two weeks.
Exposure to air is bad for your beans. If you prefer to keep your beans in an accessible and/or attractive container, it may be a good good idea to divide your coffee supply into several smaller portions, with the larger, unused portion in an air-tight container.
This is especially important when buying pre-ground coffee, because of the increased exposure to oxygen. If you buy whole beans, grind the amount you need immediately before brewing
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book that took you one to two weeks to read.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC goes shopping or buys something.
☕️ 3. Read a book with an attractive cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title starts with a letter found in IMMEDIATELY. {3-word minimum}
Prompt #8B: How to Store Coffee - Buy the Right AmountBook: The Monstrous Duke and I
Author: Vivienne Savage
Date Read: 08/23/24
Pages: 324
Task: Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title starts with a letter found in IMMEDIATELY.
How Book Fits: The Monstous Duke And I
Mod
Freshness is critical to a quality cup of coffee. Experts agree that coffee should be consumed as quickly as possible after it is roasted, especially once the original packaging seal has been broken.
While there are different views on whether or not coffee should be frozen or refrigerated, the main consideration is that coffee absorbs moisture – and odors, and tastes – from the air around it, since it is hygroscopic (bonus vocabulary word for all the coffee geeks out there).
Most home storage containers still let in small amounts of oxygen, which is why food stored a long time in the freezer can suffer freezer burn. Therefore, if you do refrigerate or freeze your beans, be sure to use a truly airtight container.
If you choose to freeze your coffee, quickly remove as much as you need for no more than a week at a time, and return the rest to the freezer before any condensation forms on the frozen coffee.
Freezing your beans does not not change the basic brewing process.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with ice or snow on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book where you can share a critical point in the plot with me.
☕️ 3. Read a book that took you less than a week to read.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a bonus vocabulary word that you needed to look up in a dictionary, like hygroscopic.
Prompt #8C: How to Store Coffee - Freezing Your Beans?Book: Knox
Author: Elizabeth Dear
Date Read: 08/25/24
Pages: 381
Task: Read a book that took you less than a week to read.
How Book Fits: Started 08/24 finished 08/25
Mod
Most roasters have specialized names for their favored roasts and there is very little industry standardization. This can cause some confusion when you’re buying, but in general, roasts fall into one of four color categories — light, medium, medium-dark and dark.
Many consumers assume that the strong, rich flavor of darker roasts indicates a higher level of caffeine, but the truth is that light roasts actually have a slightly higher concentration.
The perfect roast is a personal choice that is sometimes influenced by national preference or geographic location. Within the four color categories, you are likely to find common roasts as listed above. It’s a good idea to ask before you buy. There can be a world of difference between roasts.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a silent letter in the title, like the K in KNOW.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a very light OR a very dark cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 3. Read a book with a plot that required concentration.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a geographic location that is very different from your own.
Prompt #9A: Know Your RoastsBook: The Coven
Author: Harper L. Woods
Date Read: 09/09/24
Pages: 298
Task: Read a book with a very light OR a very dark cover.
How Book Fits:
Mod
Light brown in color, this roast is generally preferred for milder coffee varieties. There will be no oil on the surface of these beans because they are not roasted long enough for the oils to break through to the surface.
Light City
Half City
Cinnamon
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with the word CITY found in the title.
☕️ 2. Read a book with any type of light source on the cover.
☕️ 3. Read a book with the word CINNAMON found in the text.
☕️ 4. Read a book where you feel like there is something brewing just under the surface throughout the story.
Prompt #9B: Light RoastsBook: Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates
Author: Kerry Greenwood
Date Read: 09/90/24
Pages: 185
Task: Read a book with any type of light source on the cover.
How Book Fits: Lamp on the cover -
Mod
This roast is medium brown in color with a stronger flavor and a non-oily surface. It’s often referred to as the American roast because it is generally preferred in the United States.
City
American
Breakfast
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book where the MC lives in or visits a large city.
☕️ 2. Read a book set in America.
☕️ 3. Read a book where a character eats breakfast.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a subtitle.
Prompt #9C: Medium RoastsBook: Miss Phryne Fisher Investigates
Author: Kerry Greenwood
Date Read: 09/90/24
Pages: 192
Task: Read a book set in America.
How Book Fits: Valley Falls is a small town in America, the MCs then moved to Arizona.
Mod
Rich, dark color, this roast has some oil on the surface and with a slight bittersweet aftertaste.
Full City
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a bittersweet moment.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC eats chocolate.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in AFTERTASTE.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in FULL CITY.
Prompt #9C: Medium RoastsBook: Dr. Off Limits
Author: Louise Bay
Date Read: 10/08/24
Pages: 288
Task: Read a book where the MC's first initial is NOT found in FULL CITY.
How Book Fits: MC's first initial is S
Mod
This roast produces shiny black beans with an oily surface and a pronounced bitterness. The darker the roast, the less acidity will be found in the coffee beverage. Dark roast coffees run from slightly dark to charred, and the names are often used interchangeably — be sure to check your beans before you buy them!
High
Continental
New Orleans
European
Espresso
Viennese
Italian
French
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a heart on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book set in Italy, France, or New Orleans.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in ESPRESSO.
☕️ 4. Read a book where someone or something is described as DARK.
Prompt #9E: Dark RoastsBook: The Golden Couple
Author: Greer Hendricks
Date Read: 10/13/24
Pages: 320
Task: Read a book where the title does NOT start with a letter in ESPRESSO
How Book Fits: Title starts with T
Mod
The ideal conditions for coffee trees to thrive are found around the world in along the Equatorial zone called “The Bean Belt,” located between latitudes 25 degrees North and 30 degrees South.
Finicky Arabica grows best at high altitudes in rich soil, while the heartier Robusta prefers a higher temperature and can thrive on lower ground.
What impacts the quality and flavor of coffee? Everything from the variety of the plant, the chemistry of the soil, the weather, the amount of rainfall and sunshine, and even the precise altitude at which the coffee grows can affect the taste of the final product.
These key variables, combined with the way the cherries are processed after being picked, contribute to the distinctions between coffees from countries, growing regions and plantations worldwide.
The combination of factors is so complex, that even from a single plantation one finds variation in quality and taste.
Coffee is grown in more than 50 countries around the world.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a finicky character.
☕️ 2. Read a book with more than 50 chapters.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the MC has real chemistry with another character.
☕️ 4. Read a book set somewhere in The Bean Belt. Here's an image to help you out.
Prompt #10: Coffee Around the WorldBook: The Silver Forest
Author: J.D. Rasch
Date Read: 10/16/24
Pages: 391
Task: Read a book with a finicky character.
How Book Fits: I would classify Asmar as a bit finicky.
Mod
Though coffee farms are found throughout the Hawaiian islands, it is Kona coffee, from the large island of Hawaii, that is best known and always in high demand. Here, nature provides just the right environment for the coffee trees on the slopes of the active Mauna Loa volcano. Young trees are planted in black, volcanic soil so new that it often seems the farmers are growing seedlings in rock. Afternoon shade from tropical clouds forms a natural canopy over the trees to protect them from intense sun, and frequent island showers give the plants just right amount of rain. Kona coffee is carefully processed to create a deliciously rich, aromatic cup of medium body.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book set on an island.
☕️ 2. Read a book where all letters of K-O-N-A are found in the title.
☕️ 3. Read a book with something aromatic on the cover.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in MAUNA LOA.
Prompt #11A: North America & The Caribbean - HawaiiBook: An Unlikely Alliance
Author: Ellie Thomas
Date Read: 12/07/24
Pages: 119
Task: Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in MAUNA LOA.
How Book Fits: MC - Abe
Mod
Small Mexican coffee farms are more common than large plantations, but with over 100,000 coffee farmers, Mexico ranks as one of the largest coffee producing countries in the world. Most farms are in the southern states of Veracruz, Oaxaca and Chiapas. A cup of Mexican coffee generally offers a wonderful aroma and depth of flavor, often with a pronounced sharpness. It is an excellent bean for dark roasts and is often used in blends. A Mexican coffee designated Altura means that it was grown at high altitudes.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with over 100,000 reviews.
☕️ 2. Read a book with an X in the title.
☕️ 3. Read a book with something sharp on the cover.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's first initial is NOT found in VERACRUZ.
Prompt #11B: North America & The Caribbean - MexicoBook: Married by Mistake
Author: Lindsey Hart
Date Read: 12/12/24
Pages: 149
Task: Read a book where the author's first initial is NOT found in VERACRUZ.
How Book Fits: Lindsey Hart
Mod
Coffee was brought to Puerto Rico from Martinique in 1736, and by the late 19th century, the island was the sixth leading exporter of coffee in the world. However, major hurricanes and competition from other coffee producing countries forced the island to seek other means for economic survival. Today, the coffee industry is being revived with carefully cultivated coffee from quality Arabica varieties that are produced to the highest standards. There are two major growing regions on the Caribbean island: Grand Lares in the south central region, and Yauco Selecto in the southwest. Both regions are noted for their beans’ balanced body and acidity, as well as a fruity aroma.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a two-word title.
☕️ 2. Read a book by an author who has written at least 6 books.
☕️ 3. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in MARTINIQUE.
☕️ 4. Read a book with the word BALANCED found in the text.
Prompt #11C: North America & The Caribbean - Puerto RicoBook: The Diary of a Young Girl
Author: Anne Frank
Date Read: 01/05/25
Pages: 283
Task: Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in MARTINIQUE.
How Book Fits: MC's first initial is A
Mod
While perhaps not as well-known as some of its Central and South American neighbors, Guatemala's coffee has a distinctive taste quality favored by many for its rich flavor. There are three main growing regions — Antigua, Coban and Huehuetanango — each with a breathtakingly rugged landscape and rich volcanic soil. Microclimates strongly influence the quality and flavor of the “strictly hard beans” (grown at altitudes 4500 feet/1370 meters or higher). This medium-to-full bodied coffee has a depth and complexity of taste that is almost spicy or chocolatey.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a landscape on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book that takes place in thee or more locations.
☕️ 3. Read a book that you find to be spicy.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a word in the title which has more vowels than consonants, like HUEHUETANANGO does.
Prompt #11C: North America & The Caribbean - Puerto RicoBook: Cat Scratch Fever
Author: Stormy Glenn
Date Read: 01/25/25
Pages: 142
Task: Read a book that you find to be spicy.
How Book Fits: Erotic, steamy and spicy
Mod
While perhaps not as well-known as some of its Central and South American neighbors, Guatemala's coffee has a distinctive taste quality favored by many for its rich flavor. There are three main growing regions — Antigua, Coban and Huehuetanango — each with a breathtakingly rugged landscape and rich volcanic soil. Microclimates strongly influence the quality and flavor of the “strictly hard beans” (grown at altitudes 4500 feet/1370 meters or higher). This medium-to-full bodied coffee has a depth and complexity of taste that is almost spicy or chocolatey.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a landscape on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book that takes place in thee or more locations.
☕️ 3. Read a book that you find to be spicy.
☕️ 4. Read a book with a word in the title which has more vowels than consonants, like HUEHUETANANGO does.
Hooked on Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Cat Scratch Fever (other topics)The Diary of a Young Girl (other topics)
Married by Mistake (other topics)
An Unlikely Alliance (other topics)
The Silver Forest (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Stormy Glenn (other topics)Anne Frank (other topics)
Lindsey Hart (other topics)
Ellie Thomas (other topics)
J.D. Rasch (other topics)
More...
The objective of a proper grind is to get the most flavor in a cup of coffee. How coarse or fine the coffee is ground depends on the brewing method.
The length of time the grounds will be in contact with water determines the ideal grade of grind. Generally, the finer the grind, the more quickly the coffee should be prepared. That’s why coffee ground for an espresso machine is much finer than coffee brewed in a drip system.
Espresso machines use 132 pounds per square inch of pressure to extract coffee.
We recommend taking a moment to examine the beans and smell their aroma — in fact, the scent of coffee alone has been shown to have energizing effects on the brain.
Complete ONE of the following:
☕️ 1. Read a book with a mostly brown cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 2. Read a book that made you feel energized.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a 1, 2, or 3 in the page count.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in GRIND.