The OG Coffee Freak

Gift Ideas for the Holidays

2011-11-27T15:12:00.000-08:00

Coffee Calendars are a great way to make that special someone smile year round:

2012 Coffee Calendars

Keurig Coffee System
Now you can gift like celebs gift, with the amazing and delicious Keurig Coffee System. It's all the rage and under $200 for the really fancy one.

Using Coffee as a Platform for Creativity

2011-10-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not alone when I talk about how much coffee affects my life on a daily basis. I use it as a motivation to get through each day. A fresh pot of coffee gives me a good 4 to 6 hours of hope and lets me know everything is going to be alright. Without that beautiful aroma in the morning, I'm often left wondering whether or not love exists and if tomorrow is really worth sticking around for.

Coffee inspires me to create in many areas of my life. Like for instance, when I finish a pot of coffee, I have created room for more fresh coffee in that pot. Also, I find I ruminate more about the things and voices which plague my wandering mind when I have some coffee to hold close and cherish.

I will now create a masterpiece in the toilet bowl -- that Italian roast really moves me.

Banana Lemon Coffee Cake / Bread

2011-07-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

So, here at home we got:

1. a freezer full of effin bananas because we have great intentions of eating fresh fruit.

2. a grocery bag of lemons from a friend and already made some fresh lemonade.

3. a hankering for something to go with my coffee in the morning.

Turns out that's not all you need to make some banana lemon bread. So I looked up a recipe and found one on food.com then I modified it and it is delicious.

Makes 2 Loaves:
4 medium bananas, extra ripe
1/2cup butter, melted
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 eggs
1/4 cup sugar white
1/4 cup sugar brown
1 tablespoon lemon zest (grated lemon peel)

For Lemon Syrup
2/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp lemon zest (grated lemon peel)

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 350°F.
2 Puree bananas in blender or food processor.
3 Combine with butter.
4 Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
5 In bowl, beat egg, sugar and lemon peel.
6 Beat in banana mixture.
7 Beat in flour mixture. NOTE: BATTER WILL BE STICKY
8 Turn batter into 2 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with vegetable spray.
8.A. Sprinkle top with brown sugar.
9 Bake in 350°F oven for 35 minutes.
10 Cool in pan.
11 Meanwhile, in small pan stir together lemon juice and sugar over medium heat until sugar melts. Let sit on stove on low and dump in remaining lemon peel, for 5 to 10 minutes.
12 Poke holes in bread with skewer.
13 Pour syrup over top.
14 Let stand 10 minutes.
15 Remove from pan.
16 Slice when completely cooled.

2011-06-21T15:46:00.001-07:00

Chillin with my iced coffee by the pool.

Coffee Shop Review: Barclay's Coffee and Tea Co.

2011-06-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

Supporting your local non-national chain coffee shops is just one way you can help to stimulate the local economy. It's good for socializing and building morale within the community when the local shops do well. That being said, I would never suggest going to a local coffee shop I didn't like. Here in Los Angeles, there are millions of places to get your coffee. Not all of them are that great.

For example, I live right next to a Circle K. They have a wonderful selection of terrible coffee. It is usually old and often very acidic. I do not tell people to go there for coffee, because I regret it every time I do.

However, Barclay's Coffee and Tea Co. ( http://barclayscoffee.com/ ) located at 8976 Tampa Avenue
Northridge, California 91324 is one I can definitely get behind. Always friendly and serving up a delicious cup of coffee as well as some delicious treats, you'll be impressed with the edibles as well as the atmosphere.

They also are a wonderful source for new espresso and coffee machines. Check out their selection on their website and then stop in to see how their knowledgeable staff can inform you on what machine might be right for you.

But the coffee alone is worth the stop. Just ask Martha Stewart who is prominently featured on their website. Not sure how many other federal prisoners are featured on there, pretty sure she's the only one.

Great Coffee = Great Opportunity

2011-05-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

Fellow Coffee Lovers! Great opportunity here:

I got a new sponsor. Reserve Your Cup!

If you sign up now, you get your foot in the door before there is a joining fee!

It's a coffee loving and drinking solution that you get paid for.

Check it out and sign up today!

Seriously, it's worth checking out for most people who have an email and love coffee.

Reserve Your Cup!

Coffee Tip: Vanilla Cinnamon Coffee (When there's no dunks)

2011-05-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

No big secret really. It's more of a confession than a tip I guess.

Sometimes, I like to add vanilla extract to the grind before I brew...and also, just to foofoo it up a little more, sometimes I even add some cinnamon.

The aroma is very therapeutic. And if you want to effin make fun of me for it, I understand. I don't care, but I understand.

Truth is, it's just an attempt to make it as good as one of my all time favorites, Dunkin Donuts Coffee. Why they don't do it here in L.A. like they do it on the east coast, I don't know. I miss Dunks, but it's awesome that you can find it at some grocery stores now, and it's even more awesome that you can get a big ol' bag of it online anytime you want:

Dunkin' Donuts® French Vanilla Ground Coffee - 40 Oz.

Coffee Table, Coffee Table Book and Building a Coffee Table

2011-05-08T23:29:00.000-07:00

Coffee Table Books
This is a must have for any coffee table owner. It's important to switch up your coffee table entertainment for your guests. Most people have the same people over regularly, why not give them something to talk about?

The Coffee Table, Coffee Table Book
So this first one is one of my favorites simply for it's title. It's a book about coffee tables (yes, Kramer had the same idea on Seinfeld, but this one does not turn into a coffee table), and it's what they commonly refer to as a "coffee table" style book...one that is a funny conversation starter...or easy and smart guest entertainer...just sitting there waiting for someone to chuckle at the pun.

The book itself is a beautiful piece of work. The subject is what it is, a book about different coffee tables. They are not celebrity coffee tables, or gimicky, just a straight-forward book about tables used to hold a coffee mug.
The Coffee Table, Coffee Table Book

Coffee Table Quotes

As far as a book that does the job for which it is designed, you can't get much more to the point than this.

This book is really quite impressive. The quotes span a wide variety of subjects from philosophy to trends. And once again "coffee table" is in the title, so that in itself will also get a smile most of the time.

Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before
Hands down, the best coffee table book that has ever been on my coffee table. Everyone who has picked it up agrees that THE PICTURES ARE STUNNING. Without a doubt some of the most beautiful and captivating photos of our amazing planet. A sure way to take up 10 minutes to 2 hours of your time. Fascinating.
Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before (See all Photography Collections, Catalogues & Exhibitions Books)

Building A Coffee Table
I've been wanting to build a coffee table for awhile and found this downloadable working plan for a
Glass-Topped Coffee Table: Downloadable Woodworking Plan

Of course, this is not something I have just started thinking about. I've had this book for almost 10 years now:

Creating Coffee Tables: An Artistic Approach (Schiffer Book for Woodworkers)

It's an inspiring book for a lazy hobbyist like myself and also a decent conversation piece. It really is more for the Professional or at least, well-equipped amateur woodworker. But there are some really beautiful pieces in there.

Vivint Gives Back: Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood (VOTE PLEASE!)

2011-05-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

The great thing about the internet is how easy it makes it to exchange thoughts and money.

You don't have to write a check and put a stamp on an envelope, you just have to 'click'.

There are tons of charities that are receiving more assistance than ever before and it's because of amazing programs like the one vivint is running now.

When all you have to do is click, it just doesn't get much easier than that...until they have an app that lets you think money to people...where is that app?

Anyway, I'm asking all my friends and readers to take a moment and help a charity close to my heart receive some much needed funding through this great program.

Help AHC: http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject/charity/57

Go ahead, you can do it...just click.

For less effort than it takes to make your coffee in the morning you can make a real difference in someone's life...

Maple Bacon Coffee!!

2011-04-29T09:32:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to wrap my taste buds around this.

It's breakfast flavor without having to eat it all!

BocaJava.com offers this unique, light breakfast blend for only $8/lb.

Back when I was a bachelor, I had a similar experience when my roommate "did the dishes" and served me a cup of coffee that tasted much like maple syrup, bacon grease and soap...

I would expect this to be a slightly more appreciative experience.

Stock Up on the Other Black Gold - Prices Rise!!

2011-04-29T08:30:00.000-07:00

Not sure if you noticed last month...but Maxwell House went up 22% in the marketplace...not the stock value, the cost.

Weather plays a big role in prices around the world...not just coffee obviously, any type of farming of crops is subject to mother nature, the bitch that she can be...corn, cotton, etc.

But everyone is looking at Brazil these days and wondering if the projected cold spell coming up from the south pole is going to legitimize the hedge funds that are hiking up the coffee prices around the world.

It's enough to drive a coffee freak to wonder if he needs to start rationing his precious commodity. Start cutting off the wife after the first cup...start offering water to house guests and charging for coffee...just to cover the cost.

I already have started leaving mugs of coffee around the house...behind the toilet paper, under the kitchen sink, in the old draino bottle...

Just some words of wisdom from the OG Coffee Freak.

Read More Here:
MSN Money Article: Coffee faces a 40% price jump

Denis Leary on Coffee

2011-04-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

"Is it impossible to get a cup of coffee-flavored coffee in this country any more? What happened with coffee? Did I miss a fucking meeting with the coffee, huh? You can get every other flavour except coffee-flavoured coffee! They got Mochachino, Chocachino, Frappachino, Rappachino, Al Pacino, what the fuck? W, w, w What The Fuck dot com!

I walked into a Starbucks about a year ago, little kid behind the counter I said yeah, give me a regular. "A regular what?" Coffee.

"What flavor?" Coffee flavored coffee! I'll stick that menu right up your ass kid. Menu? Coffee doesn't need a menu, it needs a cup! That's all it needs!"
- Denis Leary

Coffee doesn't need a menu, it needs a cup!

I remember the first time I heard that. I had just gone through a very similar experience in my head that same day. But I didn't say it because the kid behind the counter is still the only person in my life who calls me "boss" regularly.

I can appreciate both sides of the counter...you just have to agree on 2 things...call it coffee if it's coffee (not Americano or Drip) ...call it espresso if it's espresso (or Americano or Cappuccino)...

if your sign says, Starbuck's Coffee, you better have coffee on the damn menu and Starbuck from Battlestar Galactica should be selling it...because YOU DON'T OWN COFFEE!! You serve something that is more beloved than any other single beverage on the planet, including cola...way to go.

If you told me you created it (I'd call you a effing liar, because I know who created coffee and it's not you), or even discovered it before anyone else did...THEN you can start calling it something else if you like because you made it...you found it. If you are using it as a part of a larger drink...fine...

Until then, it's coffee...you don't have to correct me with "drip"...it's hot water over ground coffee in a filter...

Then again...a cup of coffee by any other name will still get me outta bed.

Google Coffee - Not a new Google venture, yet.

2011-04-24T11:48:00.000-07:00

Just to answer the question, "What would happen if I googled coffee?" I googled "coffee".

Brands: Starbucks Green Mountain Gevalia Folgers Keurig
Stores: Coffee Bean Dunkin Donuts Amazon eBay Walmart
Types: instant k cup decaf espresso gourmet

Next was a wikipedia article, and after that, a starbucks page about organic coffee.

After that, I asked, "What would happen if I googled "Google Coffee"?" So I did.

First I discovered a Google guide site that puts a google guide on a coffee mug...ridiculous.

The next thing I found was something I had not known about...the Google Directory.
http://www.google.com/Top/Recreation/Food/Drink/Coffee/

I could not find my blog here. :{ which means it's a terribly inadequate directory...further research showed me that it was based off of the dmoz open directory...meh.

And I did find a google forum called the coffee shop...but still, I could not find a google brand of coffee yet.

It's too bad because I hear they make a killer Ginger Bread.

Coffee Porn

2011-04-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

this shot from Andre at http://espressoporn.blogspot.com really does it for me.

By now, I'm sure my readers are aware that there is such a thing as adult oriented material called porn. Most are probably aware there is something often referred to as "food porn" which is a nice name for the Food Channel and food oriented photography or even reviews...when you love something passionately or like something more perversely and/or disproportionately than the average human in your general vicinity, it could be considered a type of pornography for your specific taste.

Well, sometimes a good picture of a coffee nature can really appeal to the inside of me.

I'm not an espresso expert, though I have been a barista for several years in the past.

I do like photography, and I do have fond memories of espresso.

Another nice shot from where else but CoffeePorn.net:

If you need some inspiration, you can find it through coffee, one way or another.

Right now I'm feeling inspired to get some coffee a brewin...maybe even a little cream n sugar.

Coffee When There is No Power

2011-04-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

Some people call it camping, others call it roughing it, either way, you can't turn on your pot of coffee in the morning with the flick of a switch. In cases of emergency like the flooding and storms they have been having throughout the midwest and east coast, when there is no power for days or weeks...you have to figure out a way to get your dose of coffee. YOU HAVE TO.

Instant coffee is a nice thing if you don't have anything else that tastes more like coffee...but that really is the last resort, because it is a substitute and it tastes like it.

Chewing coffee grounds is not recommended by the ADA. But it will work if you give it enough time. Downside is people won't stop telling you that you have something in your teeth for the rest of the day . That, and it's generally an unpleasant experience.

That leaves camping coffee makers, percolators and french presses.

Outdoor / Non-Electric Coffee Makers

Coleman Camping Coffee Maker
Like my friends who were in the boy scouts always told me, it's good to be prepared. Coleman is pretty much the leader in mainstream camping cooking equipment and they have come up with some brilliant solutions for this acknowledged human necessity that is coffee. Coleman Camping Coffee Maker has got to be my favorite. It was designed for a coleman gas grill, but could be used over an open fire as well.

Percolators

The Coleman 14-Cup Enamelware Coffee Percolator If you are nostalgic and prefer a more "campy" feel to your experience, Coleman also still offers the good ol' percolator.

Percolators, boil the water and the coffee sits in a basket inside. After a period of time, you will see the top show a darker and darker color as the coffee is brewed...pour and enjoy!

Espresso Percolators

Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker (See all Stovetop Espresso Pots) For the espresso addict, you do not have to give up your drug of choice, just because you don't have access to your thousand dollar counter-top machine. I have an antique espresso maker from when my grandma was a little girl that still works amazingly well, even at home on the stove! (Just like the one pictured here.)

Just a tiny pressure percolator you can sit over an open flame but it really makes a strong cup of coffee. The pressure extracts every bit of caffeine out of the grind and it is evident. As usual, espresso really packs a punch and one shot can give you a good boost when you need it quick.

French Press

8-Cup (34-Ounce) Coffee Press
Basically, the French Press is about as simple as you can get. You boil the coffee in a separate container, and pour it into the press, wait, then press the grounds to the bottom and pour for a delicous hot cup of coffee. It keeps the grounds out for the most part, but the glass ones are difficult to camp with. The best part of this solution is you don't risk burning it.

Bodum 1548-01US Brazil 8-Cup (34-Ounce) Coffee Press (See all Coffee Presses)

All in all, it's not a difficult task, a lot of people boil coffee and then let the grounds settle. Turkish style.

Desperation can lead down many paths, as long as it ends with coffee, you're okay.

Have a cup!

About The AHCKids.org and Why I Want To Raise Awareness For Them

2011-04-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

My little sister grew up with Alternating Hemiplegia. It only appears to affect 1 in about a million people and if you look at it that way, she's pretty lucky. As I write this, she is the oldest known individual with alternating hemiplegia and has been a constant source of encouragement to everyone around her.

As a hobby, I write a blog http://ogcoffeefreak.blogspot.com/ -- I share thoughts about coffee, review coffee, review coffee places etc. Just a way for me to write creatively from time to time. I am using my profits from the ad revenue on my blog and the merchandise from the store ( http://www.cafepress.com/ogcoffeefreak ) to support this foundation that is dedicated to help other people like my sister.

If you'd like to know more or donate directly to the organization, feel free to do so.
http://www.AHCKids.org/

PLEASE NOTE: I have no official relationship with the organization. I am not a spokesperson or a sponsor or in any way affiliated with them personally or professionally. I just want to help raise awareness for the work they are doing.

Video: Combat Coffee

2011-04-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

After my post a couple days back about Surviving Life Daily with coffee. A reader sent me a link to a video of these Canadian troops making coffee in the desert.

As always, if a canadian is good for anything, they're usually good for a laugh.

Bill Hicks on Coffee

2011-04-20T09:24:00.000-07:00

"I'm just skin covering coffee and some real nervous teeth." - Bill Hicks

I have felt this way many times.

It's like some kind of effed up anti-yoga meditation:

Sip in, swallow, now, imagine your body slowly being filled from the toes up every time you take your sip until you're sweating, peeing and sneezing nothing but coffee.

Now imagine it more quickly because you don't have time for that kind of b.s. AFTER ALL, YOU ARE A COFFEE DRINKER.

You got stuff to do!

And so do I...so that's all for now.

Do I REALLY Support the GoodWill will with my sales? Yes, but not anymore.

2011-04-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Someone asked me if I really send half of all profits from my cafepress sales to the goodwill.

The answer is YES!

However, I have never sold anything from the cafe press store until recently. I made $2 from a t-shirt sale and yesterday I dropped a buck in the donation jar at the good will store.

If by some freakish chance I suddenly sold more, I would probably write a check, but until then, that seems to be the easiest method of money transfer for me since I do all of my shirt and pineapple-print dress coat shopping there.

UPDATE: I have decided to change the charity for the profits from the shop to something a bit more personal. I will elaborate more in a following post. However, the organization is AHCkids.org

Get Yours Today:

Mocha Dan's Espresso - A Staple of Fairbanks Living

2011-04-19T11:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, another review of a coffee place in Fairbanks, Alaska.

More than one place really since they now have more than one location.

Mocha Dan's started out as just one drive-through espresso shack off of Geist Road in Fairbanks. But not just any ol' espresso shack. Dan Meyer was the very first to convince the population of the Interior that this business model would work in the Fairbanks environment.

Since it first opened in the early 90's Mocha Dan's has become a beloved local brand as well as a pioneer in the drive-through business market in the Fairbanks area. You can always count on a good consistent drink quickly as well as an affordable tasty treat to go along with the smile they throw in for free.

They love coffee too...each and every employee I encountered during my years in Fairbanks loved their job and even an old grump like me can't help but appreciate a nice smile from a fellow coffee lover.

It's technically not listed on the google map at the time I'm posting this, but if you're ever in the Fairbanks Area check it out, I pinpointed it here:

Click here to find it on the map in Fairbanks, Alaska.

I miss me a mocha dan banana nut mocha like I miss waking up with no aches and pains. The good ol days.

Drug Addict!! How caffeine works...

2011-04-17T07:40:00.000-07:00

Like many things in my life I sometimes take coffee for granted. Obviously not as much as electricity or indoor plumbing -- I don't write blogs on those conveniences in my life, as deserved as they are, but I do write about coffee.

I realized the other day that I don't really understand why coffee does what it does for me though. Yes, I recognize what it does for my soul -- my affection for it, it is my teddy bear or security blanket. But what is it doing to my body when I drink it?

I've always assumed that caffeine got in my blood stream somehow and made my heart pump faster which then made other stuff go faster...never really thought too much about it though.

So, for those of you who are like me and might have learned about it in Bio 101 class and forgot completely about it...or for those who think it's just magic...here's the rundown as I have learned it.

To understand how coffee get's you going, ironically, you must first understand how the brain sleeps.

We have receptors in our brain that receive certain types of molecules. The ones we are concerned about are receptive only to xanthine family molecules. Our brains also produce something called adrenosine which is in the xanthine family...they like to sleep together. That is, if a receptor receives adrenosine, it tends to make you drowsy and this is how you get your sleep. Picture a nice child who has a baby sitter over and they read books and fall asleep so easily because they've been doing it since the child can remember.

Enter caffeine, a cousin to adrenosine...they are both in the xanthine family and the receptors latch onto these caffeine molecules very naturally and in effect, this actually blocks the adrenosine from attaching.

This alone is enough to keep the synapses firing faster than normal since the adrenosine slows it all down.

However, this blockage also triggers an alarm that wakes up the Pituitary gland -- Pituitary didn't know the cousin was coming over to play and sends a quick message to the Adrenal gland that something's not right...the brain's not getting the Adrenosine it normally gets. The Adrenal gland then sends out a does of adrenaline which in turn triggers some other repsonses:

"liver releases sugar into the blood for extra energy, pupils dilate, heart beat increases, breathing tube opens more, etc. Caffeine is also said to increase dopamine levels much like amphetamines do, which produces a euphoric effect. It potentially does this by slowing the rate of dopamine re-uptake." (taken from: http://www.psych.umn.edu/courses/spring05/dionisiod/psy3061/caffeine.htm )

So there you have it. That's what caffeine does to us...well, does to our physical bodies. So next time you p'shaw someone calling you a drug addict because you love coffee...embrace it. We are all drug addicts by nature, and that's okay because you know how it works.

The squeaky wheel gets the oil.

The obnoxious child gets the baby sitter fired up.

The parent gets the coffee.

George Clooney on Coffee...kinda.

2011-04-15T08:17:00.000-07:00

George Clooney and John Malkovich star in this short ad for Nespresso. Nespresso is supposed to be perfect coffee conveniently made everytime.

You really can't argue with it too much...the idea isn't new. Automatic espresso machines have been around for more than a decade now, but this is for the home. All points of the coffee making process are under complete control, making it the same every time...assuming nothing goes wrong with the machine itself.

However, for $350 - $700, it's not exactly for everybody. And I would argue that it's really not for coffee lovers, just nespresso lovers...you can't just go and try some new beans you find down at the market.

Granted, if you're entertaining, it would be a very convenient way to make a delightful treat for your overly pretentious effin guests...but I would rather brew a big pot and let people help themselves I think...I know, it's not espresso. So yes, if you want to provide espresso easily without worrying about how much crema is on top or if it's the right color or thickness, this might be for you. I'm guessing Clooney himself only used his free machine a couple times before it got slid to the back of the kitchen counter next to the pasta maker and various ronco products.

This would be an instant regift if I ever received one. Am I too bitter to enjoy something new and innovative? I don't think so. I'm just American and don't appreciate the daily cup of espresso like a good Europeaner would. Like Clooney wants to be with his Italian homes and shoes and women and maybe men.

I'll admit though, he's on my list. You know what list I'm talking about...he's on my wife's list too.

Arabica vs. Robusta -- Who would win?

2011-04-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

So, I realize not everyone is a lover of coffee like myself. In fact, I don't personally know anyone else who writes a blog about coffee, but I do personally know people who drink it every single day in many forms. Drip, espresso and instant (yup, and now Starbucks is selling instant) and even other stuff that's supposed to taste like coffee -- remember Postum? My buddy has got a whole warehouse of that stuff -- he got it back during the cold war, just in case...now it's referred to as the Postum Cold War era. He doesn't believe me when I tell him it's not coffee. He thinks I'm making a dig...that because it's instant, it's not real. But it contains NO COFFEE dumbass...

Anyway, everyone I know and most likely, you know is drinking mainly one kind of coffee really -- Arabica. Arabica beans have about half the amount of caffeine as Robusta beans, but Robusta beans are about 10x (ten times) more bitter than your average Arabica bean which is why it is very difficult to find a pure Robusta roasted coffee at the store. In actuality most of the espresso blends have both Arabica and Robusta for that extra kick.

Robusta coffee trees take less time to grow and have great value to the farmer for this reason. However, they will not be able to fetch the same price as an Arabica farmer. So it behooves the farmer to harvest some combination of both.

I love the end product, I'm not an expert on growing coffee, but this kind of thing is interesting to me and if you want to know more, here are a couple good little links:

Wikipedia: Robusta Coffee

TheOatmeal: 15 Things Worth Knowing About Coffee

Back to the brew...

Coffee - The Key to Surviving Life, Daily

2011-04-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

"Give a frontiersman coffee and tobacco, and he will endure any privation, suffer any hardship, but let him be without these two necessaries of the woods, and he becomes irresolute and murmuring."
- U.S. Army Lt. William Whiting, 1849

I swear, minus the tobacco, this is the basic truth to survival of some of the most enduring hardships -- getting up and going to the same freakin job for 40 years (if you are so lucky in our modern day where most people have no less than 8 career changes in a 30 year period), getting up and being married to the same freakin person every day, or the other side of that...getting up and not having anyone else in your life you can count on every single day . . . coffee is that one thing you can count on. It can make you feel more like it might just get a little better, because it does...with each cup...until the day is over and you have to wake up again the next day.

If you're a coffee lover like me, every time you have a cup of coffee, everything else seems more manageable. That cup in the morning is my best friend...it knows exactly what I'm going through and soothes me by saying, "just have another sip...it gets better. When the world is falling down around you, you can still stare into my warm brown essence and know that I will always be here for you...sorry about the ulcer, but don't think about that."

Sure, I remember similar conversations when I hung out with my old friend "cigarette" -- but it always ended worse:
"...sorry about all the money you've wasted and the smell permeating your clothes, hair and car, and the coughing and impending cancer...but don't think about that."

Where is my good friend now? Oh, just brewed another pot of him...

Alaska Coffee Roasting Co.

2011-04-12T10:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, Alaska.

http://www.facebook.com/AlaskaCoffeeRoasting

This establishment is one of the many things about Fairbanks Alaska that I miss. They really roast a good bean, but more than that, they have a very nice place that serves delicious food. With various Alaskan artists displayed and always a special selection of some eclectic, often local, music, ACRC (as the regs call it), provides an atmosphere just pretentious enough to make everyone who walks in the door feel smarter and more precious than everyone else in the world.

Love and miss this place. If you ever get the chance to visit Fairbanks be sure to pop in and enjoy the soup and sandwich special...whatever it is, you won't be disappointed.

No they didn't effin pay me to write this, but I sure wouldn't mind if they did.

Follow Up: Got an offer of Free Coffee next time I go in there...not sure when I'll make that 3,000 mile trek again, but I'm counting on that free coffee now ACRC.

Ronald Reagan on Coffee

2011-04-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

"I never drink coffee at lunch. I find it keeps me awake for the afternoon."
- Ronald Reagan

I love this quote. I wonder how old he was when he said it.

Ronald Reagan was like the rich, famous, nice, gentle, smart uncle I never had. My apologies to all my uncles who qualify for many of those descriptive adjectives but not all...I am not forgetting you...especially Uncle "I'm going to shake your hand, oh, no I'm not, I'm going to squeeze your fingers so you can't give me a real handshake and tell you to 'get a grip, ha ha ha ha, come on, get a grip, heh heh heh'

...sorry.

Also, I love my afternoon naps...even though they only come about once every 3 months or so, they are very appreciated. We need more siestas in our American lives.

Or maybe just another cup of coffee....

don't mind if I do.

George Carlin on Starbucks? No, Bill Maher....

2011-04-11T07:34:00.000-07:00

When I first found the following quote, it was attributed to one of my all-time favorite philosophers, George Carlin.

Upon doing 30 seconds more research I discovered it was actually taken from Bill Maher's show along with other great bits from his genius mind and attributed to the late great Carlin in a mass-email which has been floating around the atmosphere of the internet for 5 years now...

Carlin, I'm sure Maher would agree, doesn't need any words placed in his mouth even posthumous.

Here is the quote:

The more complicated the Starbucks order, the bigger the asshole. If you walk into a Starbucks and order a "decaf grande half-soy, half-low fat, iced vanilla, double-shot, gingerbread cappuccino, extra dry, light ice, with one Sweet-n'-Low and one NutraSweet," ooh, you're a huge asshole.

Agreed. And a tag on that would be, "If you feel you have to steal one man's thoughts and attribute them to another man, you may be an even bigger asshole."

I wish there was a way to kill the spam faster...but now these false emails have found permanent homes around the internet on static pages creating unnecessary ignorance and confusion.

On a related note, I recently discovered you can get Real Time with Bill Maher on iTunes for free as a podcast! Kids, check it out...Bill Maher is perhaps the smartest man alive according to other men you may consider the smartest man alive, like Jon Stewart or Steven Colbert -- although, I'm not sure where Hawking weighs in on Maher...I'd have to ask him. Anyway I don't listen for Maher, I listen for his incredible mix of guests that you would never imagine existing in the same room.

More coffee now...

Conan O'Brien on Starbucks Coffee

2011-04-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

“Starbucks says they are going to start putting religious quotes on cups. The very first one will say, 'Jesus! This cup is expensive!'”
-Conan

It's true...it is. And yes it is also over roasted on purpose. If it were free, I would still not drink it on a daily basis but it's not free -- and people do drink it every day...simply because they are addicted. So effin what. Everyone is addicted to something...I have friends in recovery who are addicted to not being addicted...yoga, meditation, meetings.

I've written about it in the past...the amazing company that Starbucks is...for all the trash it may create and the heat it gets just for bing a large corporation -- they seem to be a corporate giant with a conscience. A well paid conscience at that. I wonder how rich you have to be to have someone else do your presentation and cleanup for you...I guess that would be called a publicist and from what we've seen of Charlie Sheen lately, that job might be obsolete soon.

As usual, Conan's quote made me chuckle. I don't have cable though...so I just watch the reruns online...yay for Team CoCo. Boo for the wicked witch of the west.

David Letterman on Coffee

2011-04-09T07:56:00.000-07:00

"Way too much coffee. But if it weren’t for the coffee, I’d have no identifiable personality whatsoever."

-David Letterman

As a low-key guy myself, I have to say I can really relate to this one. When something in life can help you tap into that source we call "passion" you tend to gravitate toward it. As an American mut married to an Italian woman, I can tell you I do not have the direct line to Passion the way them Europeaners do. But one thing I can say is coffee gets me going...enough for me to even start this blog.

Right now, I'm drinking some of that Trader Joe's French Roast ground coffee: Black with some sugar.

God, does it hit the spot. If I don't make it to the "oval office" in time it hits the shorts!

I'm sorry for those who read this and do not have a Trader Joe's...but french roast is generally an easy one to duplicate...just roast the ess out of them beans.

Have another cup...

A few good quotes about coffee.

2011-04-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

As much as I love coffee and like to give my opinion on different coffee experiences, sometimes I like to know what others have to say about coffee...here are a few quotes I've enjoyed over the years:

"The morning cup of coffee has an exhilaration about it which the cheering influence of the afternoon or evening cup of tea cannot be expected to reproduce."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr., "Over the Teacups," 1891

"I believe humans get a lot done, not because we're smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee."
- Flash Rosenberg

"Coffee is the best thing to douse the sunrise with."
- Terri Guillemets

As much as I appreciate the true coffee enthusiast who for some reason cannot have the caffeine, and insists on still having decaf...this one really made me laugh:

"Decaffeinated coffee is kind of like kissing your sister."
- Bob Irwin

And one of my favorites:
"Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven."
- Jessi Lane Adams

French Roast

2011-01-19T07:32:00.001-08:00

Before I begin, I must say that I have determined NOT to make any references to french hookers or fries or kisses in this article as those 3 things are what you might call a comedic prop. Not a literal prop, but, perhaps a literary prop in the U.S. pop culture...it's been used/referenced so many times it becomes a recognizable prop.

Therefore, for example, I will not say that this French Roast Coffee is so dark and strong it made me sweat breakfast blend which made my crotch smell like a French hooker by noon.

No, suffice it to say, I like my coffee strong and dark, like I like my lesbian body builders. I don't know why.

"Can you have dark but not strong?" you may ask. I will allow it.

"I think what you mean to ask is, 'is it possible to make a coffee that is dark but not strong?' or 'strong but not dark'?" I say. "Probably not."

This affordable French Roast from Trader Joe's does the trick.

It's nice to find a bag of good coffee for under $5.

Usually, just the smell of the brew sends me in to "the office" for my first "shift."

First cup usually signals the second shift.

Just making room for breakfast. More coffee.

That's all for now.

French Roast

2011-01-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

Before I begin, I must say that I have determined NOT to make any references to french hookers or fries or kisses in this article as those 3 things are what you might call a comedic prop. Not a literal prop, but, perhaps a literary prop in the U.S. pop culture...it's been used/reference so many times it becomes a recognizable prop.

Therefore, for example, I will not say that this French Roast Coffee is so dark and strong it made me sweat breakfast blend which made my crotch smell like a French hooker by noon.

No, suffice it to say, I like my coffee strong and dark, like I like my lesbian body builders. I don't know why.

"Can you have dark but not strong?" you may ask. I will allow it.

"I think what you mean to ask is, 'is it possible to make a coffee that is dark but not strong?' or 'strong but not dark'?" I say. "Probably not."

This affordable French Roast from Trader Joe's does the trick.

It's nice to find a bag of good coffee for under $5.

Usually, just the smell of the brew sends me in to "the office" for my first "shift."

First cup usually signals the second shift.

Just making room for breakfast. More coffee.

That's all for now.

Christmas Coffee vs. Chanukah Coffee

2010-12-09T18:56:00.000-08:00

Had the Starbucks Christmas Blend today. It tasted a bit like a burnt tree.

Then it got me thinkin...why not a Hanukkah blend? I'm not effin Jewish...not that there's anything wrong with being Jewish...I'm just not.

So I found this on Amazon...
Broadway Basketeers Hanukkah Gourmet Coffee and Tea Gift Basket

For all my Hanukkah friends...meh...it's also found under Christmas kosher baskets...go figure.

5 Coffee Gift Ideas under $20 for the Fellow Coffee Lover

2010-12-08T01:06:00.000-08:00

1. Coffee Books
A good coffee lover book can be enjoyed time and time again by more than just the receiver. Getting someone special an awesome coffee recipe book can open the door to some less boring coffee conversation. Not that I hate my significant other... Hey, you can take the bitter out of the coffee, but I'm still going to tell it like it is.

They say for an average couple -- somewhere around 5 years is when you really start to run out of things to say...or you wish you did. But, that's just the beginning and a lifetime of matrimony means reading some books and spicing it up a little.

Here are 3 Examples of Books for Coffee Addicts and / or Lovers

Book #1 I Love Coffee!: Over 100 Easy and Delicious Coffee Drinks is just such a book.

Book #2 Coffee Love: 50 Ways to Drink Your Java is a great gift for the Paul Simon reference type.

Book #3 For the Love of Coffee (For the Love Of...) is a good coffee lovin read.

2. Exotic Coffees
If your coffee lovin friend already has enough coffee freak books or just can't sit still long enough to read try getting some exotic coffees. Something they might not find at the local convenience store might impress them and make them share their coffee with you.

Like this Magnum Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend Coffee, Whole Bean, 2 Lb Bag is a great value and tropical.

Or...why do I feel the need to offer a disclaimer every time I mention them...ahem...anyway...yes, I like Starbucks new all natural flavored coffees they are pretty great...yeah, I said it. Okay, not "exotic" -- but new and delicious.
Starbucks Natural Fusions Ground Coffee, Vanilla Flavored, 11-Ounce Packages (Pack of 2)

3. Mugs! Mugs! Mugs!
Most coffee drinkers don't use more than one mug at a time...but for some damn reason we LOVE collecting coffee mugs. Like there might come a day when we have a bunch of fresh brewed coffee and no mug.

Anyway, in honor of my old friend Nico "the a-hole" who as much as he claimed he wasn't nice without his coffee...just wasn't so pleasant even when he did have his coffee...

Here a collection of mugs I like...

Okay, well, the Toilet Mug is just too good to not share...it doesn't exactly say "I love coffee", but it does remind you not to drink too much coffee or else...

Here's a coffee mug that comes with it's own coffee maker the Black and Decker DCM18S Brew 'n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug

4. New Brew -- Have You Pressed It?
Coffee Presses are great gifts. Here's a great deal for an 8 cup press. Perfect for the lone coffee drinker who wants to wallow in their ability to drink 8 cups of freshly pressed coffee with no one bothering them.
Bodum 8-Cup (34-Ounce) Coffee Press

5. Help Your Mug Help You
Nothing like giving your mug it's own heating pad to show it you really care.

Free Coffee, New Bean on the Way.

2010-11-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

So, it's been a few since I last posted.

I'll be honest, I haven't been trying new coffee much lately. My new job, working maintenance at a Hotel gives me a free coffee every morning, and on my 2 effing days off, well, my wife has been cutting back on the caffeine because she is again, with child.

That means I put my stir stick in her sip hole, for all you who need it spelled out.

Anyway...we drink the tolerable mild blend from Starbucks. It doesn't suck except that I have to change my diaper before 10am. I usually just pour it over a cup of ice and get to work. Maintaining a national chain Hotel doesn't give you time to relax...so you gotta relax while you work.

Lookin for work.

2010-07-23T11:39:00.000-07:00

Coffee means a lot to me. And when I can't afford to buy it because I'm broke, I get a little down. Been looking for work these days and can't help but wonder if someday I'll look back on this and laugh. It doesn't feel like it.

Someone mentioned to me the other day..."this is like the great depression, when doctors were forced to wash dishes to pay their bills."

Really? Did the effin internet exist back then? Did tons of government programs exist to assist people in starting new businesses and going back to school? Did we have a surplus of illegal immigrants -- it's just a little annoying...

Yes, it is "like" that in some respect I guess....but it is nothing like that also.

But if I could have a full time job right now I guess I would have a better chance at making a point...so, with that being said. If you like this little bit of ess I write ever-so-often, then effin contact me. ogcoffeefreak@gmail.com

click a link or buy a t-shirt or some effin thing...because you probably have an effin job that you're not doing right now when you are reading this blog of mine...so help a brother out fellow slacker...

Starbucks versus the rest of the world...

2010-06-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

Depending on who you are, the word "starbucks" can evoke some very different and very strong emotions. I can't think of another brand of coffee that has attracted so much attention.

The beloved "Dunks" evokes much emotion for lovers of the brand, but I have never met a person to say "I can't stand that ess." Or "they're greedy bastards creating caffeine addicts."

Nope, Starbucks seems to stand alone when it comes to controversial coffee.

Since this is my blog and I get to say what I want, I have had some people ask me what I think about Starbucks.

The Company
As a self-employed professional and someone who has many friends with their own businesses, even some with small coffee shops and carts, I cannot help but stand in awe of the Starbucks story. If you don't know it, look it up or find a book on it. There are many.

They, as a company have inspired countless entrepreneurs and have also led the way in employee appreciation and benefits, forcing other large corporations to look at their own business models and face the reality of employee morale and growth, and, in turn, make the necessary adjustments to retain their employees and compete on more than just a bottom line.

Amazon.com Widgets

The Coffee
That being said, my personal wish would be for me to never drink another cup of that ess again. Don't get me wrong, I do love a strong cup of coffee, but "strong" and "burnt" are two different things. I like my cookies chewey, not crispy. I like my meat savory, not dry and over seasoned. And I like my coffee to have some flavor, but not charred and so acidic that I have to deal with aftertaste and heartburn all day.

So there you have it...my effin opinion on Starbucks. I'm sure if I were a teen today I would be suckin down a frap 2 times a day and hanging out on the patio with my ipod in my ears, but I'm not. I'm old and I like coffee.

French Roast - Trader Joe's

2010-06-09T18:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so, I have been drinking the Italian imported Espresso from Trader Joe's for the past few months. It is the best value for the pound. It is also the darkest ess I have had for a while.

But they were out of it today...and there, next to it was something new on the shelf...ground coffee in a bag. Got the French Roast cuz that is the heavy ess. The dark, the full...the bowel-moving French Roast.

I've had the French Roast from Trader Joes before...but this is a new product. A new roast with a new bag and it come pre-ground.

All in all, not bad. Obviously, I can't say it tasted as fresh as the prior French Roast I had...but it's about as fresh as any French whore you would find in a Tibetan Temple. And about as strong smelling too...

But then again, if you're more into the vanilla or hazelnutty ess...this will not be your cup of joe. I like how the body of this really opens up when you add a little cream to it. Very nice, deep robust flavor.

And this all from a simple drip machine that I really am glad I have again.

I broke the french press a little while back...now I owe my buddy a french press.

Thanks for the likes and shares. Please feel free to click on my effin ads here too...

The Espresso From Trader Joe's

2010-01-30T19:22:00.001-08:00

Well I'd be a big effin liar if I said I hated this. It's dark, has a great body and a real smooth flavor. This is such a strong coffe that the aroma alone had me droppin the kids off at the pool earlier than usual. As good ol' Marc Maron would say "POOWWW" ...I just essed my pants.

Mind you I drank it like an effin American, flat bottom drip MR. Coffee (not Senor Cafe if you know what I mean) - I'm sure the espresso fanatics will be upset about that, but you know what? I don't care. Not even a little. I'm not saying I don't like espresso, but I got over it pretty quick when I hit my thirties...since then, I pay other people to make my epsresso.

Just give me some effin good coffee.

As an apertif - I made it extra strong and enjoyed a little vanilla ice cream in it.
# delizioso

The Italian Roast of the Trader Joe's Variety

2009-07-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

As you may have read in my last post, I have been pressing my coffee lately.

As much as I would like to say it's because I'm an effing coffee snob and that's the only way I will drink my effing coffee...I would be lying. Because my morning laziness misses the ol' Mr. Coffee Drip I used to have.

No, this return to the medieval brewing style was born out of necessity. The wife broke the glass coffee pot and my buddy dropped off the French press the very next day. So, once again, laziness effing wins. But this is why I drink the black nectar we simply refer to as coffee...for a pick me up. Not because I'm an effing pansy, because I'm effing old and life has beat me down.

So, having a Half italian wife, she tends to act twice as Italian as most full-blooded ones, she has brought home the Italian Roast coffee this week.

It is well roasted with a nice sheen on the bean before it's ground and damn is it a strong pot of press when it's done.
All in all I give it a four-and-an-effing-half cups out of a possible 5.

French Press

2009-07-28T16:27:00.000-07:00

No, I am not reffering to the "Surrender Monthly" when I speak of the French Press. Unfortunately I am referring to one of the simplest and truest forms of brewing good coffee. Don't be put off by the French label...I'm pretty sure people around the world have been brewing the oil of the gods like this since they decided it was better than eating the beans whole.

Bodum Young Press Coffee Press (10096-364)

The French Press simply makes it easier to keep the grounds out of your teeth. Now if they could come up with something to keep the short n curly's out of my teeth ...something about them French whores...they love them some effin bush.

Anyway, I was imPRESSED with how well it brings out the flavor of the bean. We all know that paper filters tend to filter more than just the grounds. The mesh filters in a drip machine are better for the overall taste (and of course, easier to effin clean), but letting them grounds just sit there in that piping hot water for 3 to 4 minutes really opens up that bouquet.

You can find a decent press for around $20 to $40. These will have a glass caraffe and some plastic parts. If you want to get lazy about it, get a large one, with a thermos to keep the extra coffee in after. I tend to just keep the tea pot full and on the stove ...4 minutes to boil, 4 minutes to brew and that lasts me a couple hours until I'm going again.

Speaking of which, don't be surprised if you feel the need to visit the loo soon after your first cup of French Press coffee. With a more robust flavor comes a looser bowel somehow. Maybe it's just me...or maybe that's why those French tend to give up so easily...they had to "go".

Harmony Bay Hazelnut Creme Coffee

2009-07-26T17:21:00.000-07:00

Lost my email and password for a while --a year and an effin week-- but then I woke up this morning and remembered it. So I'm effin back.

Been drinking coffee a lot still, as effing usual. Still love it too.

Okay, here's my latest. The Harmony Bay Hazelnut Creme Coffee is effing awesome...if you're a chick or not much of a real strong coffee drinker.

But it's tasty and if you make it twice as strong, it doesn't get bitter, just better.

If you couple this with a vanilla creamer, you might look like a pussy, but it will be delicious. So, do so at your own risk...pussy.

Speaking of which, don't forget to check out the effing OG Coffee Freak thongs.

Don Francisco Caramel Creme Coffee

2008-07-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

What can I say, I'm a sucker for artificially flavored coffee that goes on sale regularly every 2 weeks.

The caramel has an effin great aroma. It reminds me of when I used to work at a candy bar factory...in the caramel department. There was a hot young thing that was over in nougat. He was an A-hole, but he was hot and young.

I tend to make it a little strong because it is on the lighter end of the flavor scale, in my opinion.

I wouldn't kick it out of bed. And I would go further and say that I wouldn't mind a variety pack of the flavors as a gift, because, hazelnut and vanilla nut are also quite the "bomb" as the kids say today. fo'shizzle. (I've been to one of them hip lingo dictionary web sites, can you effin tell?)

As far as I can tell, this is a completely different Don Francisco than the Christian Contemporary artist of the early 80's.

McDonald's Iced Vanilla Coffee

2008-07-08T16:51:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's McDonald's.

It's Vanilla Iced Coffee.

It doesn't take a genius to figure out that this stuff probably won't be on the world's best cup of coffee list anytime soon. Especially since it's a syrup/dairy mixture they have to squirt and mix together to make it happen.

But they sure know how to make yummy food.

My wife loves the sugar-free.

Our friend who is a long time Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee fan (as are we) came out from the east coast this last week though and couldn't wrap her head around it.

"How do they know how much cream or sugar to put in the cup? What is sugar-free...is it equal, splenda what?"

I replied, "It's not coffee...it's a McBeverage that tastes like coffee...you don't ask what is in the diet coke or how much syrup they add..."

Got it? It's good...it's just not really coffee.

Dunkin Donuts Vanilla Coffee

2008-07-08T16:11:00.000-07:00

Effing A...now Dunkin' Donuts...that's a good cup of coffee.

Unfortunately the ol' lady threw out the bag before I had a chance to take a picture of it, but here it is on their website (http://www.dunkinathome.com).

Yeah, I have to admit when I lived in Boston for awhile I got spoiled with Dunks whenever I wanted. Now that I'm west coast again, we either have to order it by mail (which, even with the month club, the shipping is more than I'm willing to regularly pay for a pound of coffee), or enjoy it whenever a friend or family member comes to visit. (Usually the ONLY thing that's good about visitors if you effing ask me...but you didn't, did you mothereffer.)

IT DOES MAKE A WONDERFUL GIFT FOR YOUR FAVORITE BLOGGER.

It's just a great blend of medium-dark coffee with a definite vanilla flavor. None of that, "smells good, tastes like ess" like some I've had.

Yup. Dunkin' Donuts Coffee...it's the best.

Side note, now, McDonald's has gone and done a really delicious vanilla iced coffee which is strikingly similar to the Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee you can get at their east coast locations. However, it's not really vanilla coffee...they don't sell it by the pound and it wouldn't matter if they did, because I've seen them make it and I wish I hadn't. Let's just say, the vanilla isn't in the grind, because there is no grind.

OG Coffee Freak Thong

2008-07-06T00:16:00.001-07:00

I like the way these look on the ladies.

If you send me your photo modeling them I will post your pic here.

I'm not kidding.

Moka Java by Trader Joe's

2008-07-05T23:40:00.000-07:00

Moka Java is an Aribica Bean, or so it says on the effing label as you can see in this photo. How I'm supposed to know what that means, I didn't effing know until I looked it up.

wikipedia.org had this to say about it:
"Coffea arabica (pronounced /əˈræbɪkə/) is a species of coffee indigenous to Ethiopia and Yemen. It is also known as the "coffee shrub of Arabia", "mountain coffee" or "arabica coffee". Coffea arabica is believed to be the first species of coffee to be cultivated, being grown in southwest Arabia for well over 1,000 years. It is considered to produce better coffee than the other major commercially grown coffee species, Coffea canephora (robusta). Arabica are white, 10-15 mm in diameter and grow in axillary clusters. The contains less caffeine than any other commercially cultivated species of coffee. Wild plants grow to between 9 and 12 m tall, and have an open branching system; the leaves are opposite, simple elliptic-ovate to oblong, 6-12 cm long and 4-8 cm broad, glossy dark green. The flowersfruit is a drupe (though commonly called a "berry") 10-15 mm in diameter, maturing bright red to purple and typically contain two seeds (the coffee 'bean')."

So THAT kinda effing explains why it just didn't do it for me. It was a weak ass coffee that smelled really good. I do have to say though, my ol' lady liked it when she ground it up real fine and brewed it a little heavy in our Mr. Coffee flat-bottom drip. And it made an effing refreshing iced coffee too.

All in all I give it a three-and-an-effing-half cups out of a possible 5.

Half of all proceeds go to Goodwill (UPDATED)

2008-07-05T23:23:00.000-07:00

So, I effin like the Goodwill. They always take my ess and seem to have some nice stuff in their stores.

They feed a lot of hungry people. And they do a lot more around the world.

I currently have a "profit" of $2 on every item sold in my effing store. Cafepress.com/ogcoffeefreak If you like one of my coffee-flavored designs, you can know that $1 will be going to a good cause, the Goodwill.

The other $1 will go to more coffee filters...and maybe some effing toilet paper.

http://www.goodwill.org

UPDATE: I have decided to change the charity to AHCKids.org

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

2008-07-04T15:13:00.000-07:00

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LOGO
Q. Your logo looks kinda like a coffee bean.
A. Thank you.

Q. Why does your logo look like kinda like a football?
A. Thank you.

Q. Why does the logo look like part of the female anatomy?
A. Effing thank you.

Q. Can I use your logo as a tattoo?
A. Not on my effing body.

Q. Can I use your logo as a sticker?
A. A sticker? I can sell you an effing sticker. But yeah go ahead.

Q. What makes you an expert on coffee?
A. I do.

I EFFING LOVE COFFEE MERCHANDISE

2008-07-04T11:26:00.000-07:00

OG Coffee Freak - I Effing Love Coffee

2008-07-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

I'm the OG Coffee Freak.
"What's the OG for?" you ask?

Original Gangsta? No

Organic Grind? No

Old Grampa (Yes, that's right, I'm a dirty old man. I'm 72 but I'll be 69 forever.)

I EFFING LOVE COFFEE

But don't go off about how to roast or what the effing acidity is. I don't effing care.

I just love the ess ("S_ _ _") with every ounce of my being.

I like drip sometimes. I like french press sometimes. I like espresso, mocha, lattes sometimes. It depends on 1 thing and one thing only.
1. Is it good effing coffee?

If you do something, do it well. That applies to everything in life. Coffee included. And if I find a coffee (and I have) that makes me ask "why was this ever even sold?" I'll let you know.

I'll be posting my effing reviews of all kinds of coffee brands here. Comment if you want. I don't effing care.