Coffee Blog

  • My Journey into the Coffee Geek Rabbit Hole

    My Journey into the Coffee Geek Rabbit Hole
    The Great Blooming Experiment
    Okay, let's get to the heart of the matter - the great blooming experiment! For those unhip to the coffee nerd lingo, "blooming" refers to the pre-infusion process of pouring a little bit of water over fresh coffee grounds to allow them to release gases before fully extracting.
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  • The Art of Aging Coffee: Unlocking Flavors and Personal Connections

    The Art of Aging Coffee: Unlocking Flavors and Personal Connections

    As any coffee lover knows, the beverage we love is a complex, nuanced drink where even tiny variations can completely change the flavor experience. This became abundantly clear to me recently when I conducted an experiment aging a high-end Colombian coffee for 5 weeks off the roast date.

    At first, brewing it with my usual 1:15 ratio produced fairly flat, lackluster results, lacking the brightness and liveliness I'd expect from a premium bean. However, when I concentrated the brew down to a 1:10 ratio, something magical happened - sudden notes of juicy fruitiness and punchy acidity burst forth from the cup. It was like the coffee had awakened from a flavor coma.

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  • The Quest for the Perfectly Balanced Coffee

    The Quest for the Perfectly Balanced Coffee

    Defining a Balanced, Flavorful Coffee


    But what does "balanced and flavorful" really mean? As someone who tastes coffees every day, I have a very intentional definition. A balanced coffee has no single flavor note overpowering the others. The flavors meld together harmoniously. A flavorful coffee delivers a complex symphony of tastes, not bland or muted. Achieving both balance and vibrant flavor is the sweet spot I constantly pursue.

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  • The Struggles and Joys of Being a Content Creator

    The Struggles and Joys of Being a Content Creator
    Creating content sounds like a dream job - pick up a camera or microphone, share your passions with the world, and get paid for it. What could be better? While being a YouTuber, podcaster, or other type of content creator certainly has its perks, the reality is that it's an immensely challenging pursuit that requires incredible perseverance. But for those who stick with it, the joys make all the struggle worthwhile.
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  • The Roblox Effect: Building an Addictive Community for Your Business

    The Roblox Effect: Building an Addictive Community for Your Business
    That's when Roblox entered the picture. You see, my 8-year-old son is absolutely obsessed with the online game. He begged and pleaded for me to get him Roblox coins and accessories. Before I knew it, hundreds of dollars had been charged to my account without my knowledge. As frustrating as that was, it made me start analyzing the psychological tactics Roblox employs to get kids so hopelessly hooked.

    The model is pretty genius. Allow free access, tease with limited free content, then upsell digital products and customizations through an addictive gamified experience. By making it a multiplayer social experience, kids get that coveted sense of belonging to an online community. It's a potent combination of earning rewards, customizing identities, and interacting with friends that activates the psychological need for community and self-expression.
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  • The Powerful Lessons from Failing at Photography

    The Powerful Lessons from Failing at Photography
    I'll be honest, I've been feeling a bit burnt out lately when it comes to consistently creating content. But I'm committed to getting back into the rhythm and talking about something meaningful - my past "failure" with photography and the profound lessons it taught me.

    My Love for Photography Began
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