COFFEE: FOR EFFECT OR ENJOYMENT?

Welcome to the Ole Dog’s Guide to a Great Home Coffee Experience. In future posts, I’ll share specific coffee recipes, methods of brewing, tips & tricks, and more. This first post lays the groundwork for who this blog is for.

At Ole Dog’s, one of my favorite things is listening to people share their stories of coffee; “sitting with grandma drinking mostly cream and sugar with a little coffee" or “sneaking my dad’s coffee.”

Many of those stories are about great memories surrounding bad coffee. My first real foray into drinking coffee took place in the Navy. Before that, it was like most young people, a little coffee and a lot of added stuff to kill the taste of coffee.

Standing mid-watch while out to sea changed that. Walking through the galley to fill up on “jet fuel” before relieving the aft lookout watch was a routine. There wasn’t always cream and sugar to kill the taste.

Jet fuel because it was made intentionally strong enough to keep sailors alert while performing our duties. “High octane!”

I was young and didn’t consider such things as military purchasing, but with some years behind me now, I imagine that equipping the US Armed Forces with coffee had a lot to do with buying the most product for the cheapest price. That doesn’t lend itself to quality.

So, while sitting there watching the ship’s wake, I grew to appreciate the warmth of the cup and the potency of the coffee. I didn’t enjoy it, it was horrible, but it did the trick. I drank it for effect; it kept me awake and engaged.

It also gave me a baseline for later in life. I’d buy some in the grocery store, usually in a plastic tub, and it had the same effect but wasn’t quite as bad.

I’d bounce around from brand to brand, finding java juice that was at least less objectionable. I found that when I added assortments of creamers or sweeteners they became more tolerable, as they masked the real taste.

At some point, I discovered small-batch, artisan coffee, and everything changed. It wasn’t roasted and sold with masses of people or entire fleets in mind but with a mind toward individual consumers with discerning tastes. I found out that I was one of those. I had preferences and appreciated nuances and tasting notes.

I learned that there were different origins, blends, and types of beans. There are actual flavors within the beans and I like some and not others.

I discovered that organics didn’t contain the additives or fillers that other coffees did and different roasts bring different tastes to different beans.

I found that I didn’t need to cover up the natural flavors of coffee with artificial substances.

More importantly, I learned that I no longer needed to drink for effect but that I could now drink coffee because I enjoyed it. Not just for the caffeine but for the entire experience.

I enjoy it so much that my wife and I even opened our own store catering to people who enjoy (or want to enjoy) coffee.

If that sounds like you, I invite you to join me on this journey. We’ll find out how to find your perfect cup of coffee, and how to make it perfectly every time.

That’s it for now. Sign up for future posts, let’s build community, and in the meantime, be well, do good, and brew on.