Grounds for Coffee! October's grinds

Coffee

COFFEE... the world's second most traded commodity (only surpassed by oil), and one of the most consumed beverage in the US. Today, anyone can obtain, with minimal difficulty, what it takes to enjoy a cup, and nearly anywhere. But, what about when things are not "normal"? I know many who consider coffee to be one of life's essentials, and simply not enjoyable without it. If you are in that cetegory and are concerned about preparing for "non-normal" times, I have some good news for you. It IS possible, with some foresight, learning a few simple skills, and little additional cost, to assure yourself an all but endless supply of quality, freshly roasted coffee given a few basics being available.... and by few, I mean FEW: drinkable water, some means of heating it, and a handful of simple and affordable tools (that can also serve to provide amazing coffee for your family now, at considerable cost savings over buying ready-roasted or prepared brewed coffee).

Since the "green" (unroasted) coffee keeps well, obtaining a supply now, and storing it properly, can assure a supplly of the bean no matter what happens. Well, you might ask, HOW do I roast it and brew it from those hard tasteless round things? Its not that difficult. Some source of heat (camp stove, wood burning or gas fired, perhaps an oven); frying pan, whirlypop corn popper, dutch oven, sheet pan (in oven); hand-crank coffee mill; French press, Aeropress, pourover funnel/filter, vacuum brewer, or a simple kitchen tea-strainer; cup, are all that is needed. Then, a few bits of understanding about how to make use of these items toward your desired result, and you're assured freshly roasted high quality coffee, to rival most of what is commercially available ready-brewed, is yours for a bit of trouble. The basic equipment can be put to use now, along with beginning to build your "stash" of the green coffee. Learn and polish your skills now, when it doesn't matter that much, and you'll be ready for that power outage, government shutdown of highways, fuel panic for the trucks that bring our goods to market, volcano/flood/snow/ice storm that otherwise could end your present supply system for some unknown time. (added advantage: you'll be drinking better tasting coffee for far less money than you now spend whilst you're awaiting that "difficulty").

Most of the "preparedness lists" include coffee in their set of "trading stock" items, too. Not only will you assure your own supply of great coffee when no one else has any, you'll be equipped with a highly desirable trading commodity for those who did not prepare against the day of "coffee panic" and may well have items YOU want.

Come on in to our facilty for two sessions covering this topic, held on Saturday 26th October. Two separate workshops (discount for taking both) will deal with (morning session) grading and sourcing green coffee; packaging options for normal, longer, and indefinite storage of the green coffee; various roasting methods with simplicity and accessibility in view; storage of roasted coffee. After we take a lunch break, we'll reconvene and get into what to do with the roasted whole beans to prepare incredibly delicious coffee, again emphasising simplicity and accessibility.

In my personal life, I almost always have freshly roasted coffee wherever I travel, and carry in one small crate all I need to brew coffee that constantly brings raves from those who are fortunate enough to be nearby. All I need to find are drinkable water (I most often carry that with me if I've a car, and find it when on my bicycle) and a source of heat to boil it. As far as roasting, yes, my favourite tool is a professional drum roaster, but when that is not available I will roast the green coffee I have along by hand. All I need is some source of heat, and in the van I always have propane and a simple camp stove. I have roasted and brewed amazing coffee at Appleseed shoots, out boating, car-camping. And so can you. You will leave these two sessions able to do it as well. We'll have supplies and tools available for purchase there for any interested, wiith discounted pricing for attendees. You COULD spend that one day and go home with everything you need to assure availability of great coffee in any situation, for as  long as you desire. Don't believe me? Come and prove me wrong!!! (we'll ALL have fun anyway, which is never a bad thing).