While the title of this article sounds like I'm about ready to pick a fight, let me explain. I'll share a story about serving coffee to those who are not coffee nerds.
Yeah, I said coffee nerds.
We … yes, "we," get all nerded out about coffee. Talking about how coffee is processed, the varietals, cupping, roast profiles, flavor notes, and so on really is a lot of fun. Like, A LOT. However, if our customer is the very tiny slice of coffee drinkers out there who actually nerd out about this, then we might as well be speaking an unintelligible language.
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?
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.
