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.

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #7A: All About DeCaffeinated Coffee
Book: First Love, Take Two
Author: Sajni Patel
Date Read: 08/05
Pages: 336
Task: ☕️ 2. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in DECAF.
How it works: Title starts with F

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #7B: How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?





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.

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #7B: How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?
Book: Fighting the Pull
Author: Kristen Ashley
Date Read: 12/01
Pages: 376
Task: ☕️ 2. Read a book with the word HARD OR the word BEANS found in the text.
How it works: Would make it incredibly hard...pg. 22

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #7C: How Much Caffeine Is In Decaffeinated Coffee?





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.

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #7C: How Much Caffeine Is In Decaffeinated Coffee?
Book: Definitely Better Now
Author: Ava Robinson
Date Read: 12/05
Pages: 352
Task: ☕️ 2. Read a book with a 2 in the page count.
How it works: 352 pgs

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #7D: Is Decaf Coffee Bad For You?





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.

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #7D: Is Decaf Coffee Bad For You?
Book: Stepbrother With Benefits 1
Author: Mia Clark
Date Read: 12/05
Pages: 111
Task: ☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's FIRST initial is found in METHYLENE and the LAST initial is found in CHLORIDE.

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #7E: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?





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.

[Shan ~A~]

Prompt #7E: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
Book: A Very Merry Mistake
Author: Lyra Parish
Date Read: 12/10
Pages: 384
Task: ☕️2. Read a book that has up to 400 pages.
How it fits: 384 pgs

[Michelle's Empty Nest, The Challenge Whisperer]

Prompt #8A: How to Store Coffee - Keep Beans Airtight & Cool





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.