Shan ~A~'s Best Part of Waking Up...

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #6I: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Grinding the Coffee Beans
Book: Deadlocked
Author: Charlaine Harris
Date Read: 07/02
Pages: 327
Task: ☕️ 3. Read a book with a 1, 2, or 3 in the page count.
How it works: 3 & 2 in pg. count

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #6J: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Brewing the Coffee





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.

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #6J: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Brewing the Coffee
Book: The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band
Author: Tommy Lee
Date Read: 08/05
Pages: 431
Task: ☕️ 2. Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.
How it works: More than 205 pgs.

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #7A: All About DeCaffeinated Coffee





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.