Category: miscellany

odds ‘n ends

Here are a couple random things bouncing around my mind. If you’re of a certain age, you’ll understand why I apologize in advance if this comes across like an old Larry King column in USA Today.

Houston, hello!

I shuddered watching James Vowles, Williams Racing’s new team principal, explain on Netflix’s Drive to Survive that he only has caffeine on race day, because daily intake means the caffeine boost only takes you to a regular state instead of an elevated state. This continues to haunt me.

A current pet peeve is businesses that don’t accept cash, and that I only seem to find them when I want to pay with cash.

My social media feeds are full of ads for Cometeer, a company that flash-freezes specialty coffee that you reconstitute in hot water. I wasn’t interested until I looked at their website, where some of my favorite roasters’ coffee is available. Now I’d like to give it a whirl, but they ship only in boxes of 32, which I’m finding a high barrier to trying it out. #firstworldproblems

The algorithms have also decided I would be interested in this. Heavy emphasis on pulling in investors isn’t exactly a draw, let alone the idea of “friendly robot baristas.” I for one am not ready to welcome our new robot overlords, but if you decide to try it you may want to speak with Old Glory Insurance first.

the annual Matty Macchiato holiday gift guide

I’ve procrastinated enough, as it’s just over a week before Christmas as of this writing, so let’s get right to it.

To borrow slightly from James Hoffmann’s gift guide:

Do: some basic research
If you have a coffee person in your life, the easiest thing to do is get them talking about coffee with a few seemingly innocuous questions. Then listen. What’s the best place to get coffee near their home? Do they make their own coffee at home? How do they make it – coffee maker? French press? Espresso machine? Pour over? Nespresso? The answers will set you up for success as a gift giver. Giving someone a bag of great coffee beans goes from being a thoughtful idea to a complete waste when it turns out they love their Nespresso machine at home.

Don’t: get them a travel mug
I hadn’t thought of this until Hoffmann’s guide, but it’s almost a universal truth these days that between the office, the car, and a drawer at home, the average person already has too many water bottles/thermoses/travel coffee cups. The exception is if they ask for one, then go nuts.

Let’s get into a few wonderful things you can get the coffee person you love – or for yourself.

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gift advice from an actual expert

I’m at work on this year’s version of my annual holiday gift guide, but you might first want to check out this primer from coffee god James Hoffmann’s youtube channel. There’s a lot of really good stuff here on what to gift someone into coffee, helpfully segmented in terms of just how much they’re into the stuff as well as price points, and even better is the information about what not to get them.

I might have a very minor quibble with some of the points (opinions, everybody’s got ’em, amirite?), but well worth your time.

it’s time to throw down!!!!

Last night I attended my first Barista Throwdown. Before I go any further, if you’re not sure what that means, the good people at Boomtown Coffee have a great explanatory piece with all the deets.

My social media feeds occasionally have mentions of area Thursday Night Throwdowns, and since this edition would be held practically in our backyard at Lost Sock Roasters‘ pop-up at Brightwood Pizza & Bottle, I figured it was time to experience one for myself. And I’m so glad that I did.

I wondered what I would find when I walked in. One of the things I love about coffee shops and the specialty coffee community is that almost everyone is incredibly welcoming and happy to share their passion. I didn’t know if I would find some version of that friendly, open, positive mentality, or a highly competitive, nervous vibe, or a group of coffee pros closing themselves off from normies like me.

Well, here’s what was waiting for me:

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and…… we’re back!

Something went haywire with the Matty Macchiato digital empire last week and the site has been down since October 5th-ish. It’s back up and running now.

Subscribers weren’t notified as usual when I last posted, so you may want to check my last two here and here.

Okay, good talk. Since this post doesn’t have any visual pizzazz of any kind, please enjoy this picture of Charlie.

happy birthday to…. us!

from freepik.com

This week marks 5 years of Matty Macchiato. This will be the 287th published post, and I’m still surprised that anyone reads this silly little blog. I’m glad it’s given me the impetus to learn more about coffee, to seek out coffee when I travel (with apologies to my incredibly patient family), and to conquer my introversion among strangers enough to chat with baristas instead of looking at my phone and avoiding eye contact.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported me and taken an interest in whatever it is I’m doing here, particularly my wonderful and extremely patient wife and kids. I greatly appreciate it! You all earn the Coveted *Asterisk of Quality.TM

coffee’s origin story

from @EmpirepodUK on Twitter

I am not usually a podcast listener, but have recently been hooked by the Empire podcast, where historians tell the story of the rise and fall of some of history’s most important, well, empires.

In an episode released in January, the subject is the history of coffee, particularly its impact in the Ottoman Empire, spread through Europe, and development in England. The hosts are William Dalrymple, a Scot who has lived most of his adult life in India and written many terrific books, and Anita Anand, a British journalist and historian of Punjabi descent. They are joined for this episode by Harvard professor Cemal Kafadar, who has written of coffee in early modern Istanbul.

I realize this description has been less than enthralling, but give it a try. The podcast is available on Apple podcasts and on Spotify.

The Matty Macchiato 5th Annual Holiday Gift Guide – Part II

photo: iStock/Svetlana_nsk, via The Wirecutter/NY Times

Part I of this year’s guide focused on branded swag. Today we’ll try for most everything else.


Here are suggestions on what to get for the person who……..

Wants to make better coffee at home, by any method

I could wax poetically about coffee demigod James Hoffmann and his new book, How to Make the Best Coffee at Home, ($19.99 – available from all major book retailers, though it would be nice of you to support your local independent bookstore), but better to let the man himself tell you all about it.

If you are interested in coffee at all, Hoffmann’s YouTube channel is an absolute treasure ($FREE).

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The Matty Macchiato 5th Annual Holiday Gift Guide: Part I

So two weeks before Christmas may be a little late to be much help. Remember, if something doesn’t arrive in time you can always print a picture and let them know their present is on the way! Or start normalizing New Year’s gifts.

If for some reason you’d prefer well-written professional writing and images – can’t imagine why – many quality coffee roasters have added holiday gift guides to their websites. You should also check out Counter Culture Coffee’s staff recommendations page for recommendations on the best gear for making great coffee at home.

Many of these are repeats from past guides, but I’ve tried as much as possible to find new/different/improved versions. Okay, let’s go.

Swag ’em up
Everybody loves swag, whether it represents their favorite sports team, beer, or coffee roaster/café. Our beloved Little Red Fox tee is no longer available, but here are some awesome pieces of branded merch from coffee world.

Tees
Verve Coffee Roasters Fuego Pocket Tee, regularly $25, currently on sale for $13(!)
The mullet of coffee tees: all business in the front and all party in the back.

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