Sharing stories and adventures about all things coffee, stories, and stoke
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portland
So often when we utter the word “adventure” we are usually thinking of or referring to far off places. The kinds of places that require either long road trips or a plane ride … with a few connecting flights en route. While those certainly live up to being noteworthy adventures, maybe we need to expand on the term “adventure” a bit.
It is no understatement to point out that 2020 was a year for the ages. While hopeful, it’s not like 2021 was the quick turnaround we had hoped for. In rapid-fire succession one traumatic event has happened after another over the past year. This goes far beyond COVID-19 and all of the deleterious effects from it (death, job loss, poverty, bankruptcy, etc). It’s just been a really challenging year since the pandemic hit. Not only that, but it has taken a psychological toll on us all. We’re simply worn out and tired. We need a reprieve. An outlet. An escape. That is why exploring is a gift.
For many, coffee is a utilitarian substance in the same manner as gasoline is for our cars. Both are meant to provide fuel and as far as associations that is the beginning and the end of it. Sure, depending on the type of engine we have, it may necessitate a higher grade fuel. But it is still fuel. Why is coffee viewed that way?
“say that i starved, that i was lost and weary
that i was burned and blinded by the desert sun
footsore, thirsty, sick with strange diseases,
lonely and wet and cold, but that i kept my dream!”
― Everett Ruess
I drink coffee every morning. I have my routine. I measure out 18 grams of coffee and grind it using a hand grinder so as to not wake anyone up. I brew with 280 grams of water at 202 degrees using a v60 pourover set-up. I love it. It’s great. It tastes wonderful. But … when that same routine is done outdoors? Wonderful turns into A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! What is it about drinking coffee outside that is so rewarding?
Life has a way of throwing curves at you. Most often these unintended intrusions end up being enormous shaping influences on our lives. An illness … cancer … a disability … a job loss. These are all pivotal moments in our lives. As we emerge from them we’re simply not the same. No longer can we view life and the world around us the same way. The same goes for me, mountain biking, and sustainability.
