I LOVE coffee?

Love...
That thing you are thinking about in the haze of waking up? Check.
That thing you think about when you are driving on the way to work every morning? Check.
That thing that pops up right as you are leaving work to go home? Check.
When are you NOT thinking about that thing? Check.
That thing that brings a little smile, that lovely anticipation? Check.

Yep. I LOVE coffee! Especially espresso.

I have woken up thinking about my Rancilio S27 waiting in the basement cafe. I see myself tamping the freshly roasted beans I just ground so perfectly in my Mini Mazzer, sniffing the dry aroma. Then watching the beautiful rusty brown syrupy thickness of the first drops of espresso as it funnels slowly into my cup. Delight! Lovely tornado of milk as it swirls under the steam wand. The matted gloss of milk, delicately flowing into the espresso, a vision of loveliness. The silky velvet texture on my tongue, the flavors emerging and transforming: hints of chocolate, berries, nuts...AAAhhhh... Awaiting the next shot to see what the beans have to offer as they rest. Rest? There is so much to DO! Time to roast another batch of beans!

Roasting! Now that is another story! So many beans, too...which to choose? Ethiopian? Guatemalan? Costa Rican? Mexican? How about a blend? And what profile will I use? What level of roast will I choose? Which method will I use? The Gene Cafe? The heat gun/dog bowl? The RK Drum? Whichever, I know I will be engaged by the amazing variety of smells that emanate from those beans as they heat up. I will watch as the beans turn from light green to a neon yellow, then slowly brown, shed their skins, and expand. My nose is vigilant, seeking the moment for cooling. Malty, sweet, there's the blue brown smoke and it is time to stop the roast. Dumping them into the cooler, the air is full of the smell of all the stages: grassy, earthy, lemony, chocolaty, nutty, tobacco...I must get some to the grinder!

The anticipation of the mail each day, for it may bring that shipment of new beans I ordered. Perusing the Internet for beans, for accessories to improve my espresso, for information that will improve my abilities to extract the delicate flavors. This is a never-ending journey! A passion! I need to take a picture of THAT latte art, I need to video tape THAT espresso pull, I need to go tell the homeroaster's list about THAT roast! They will understand! They share the passion, they have gone to the dark side, they revel in the glory of the bean!

LOVE?

Yep. I love coffee.

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