Outdoor Adventure USA

RANDOM THOUGHTS

How long does coffee remain fresh?

There’s not a lot of debate here - coffee will not remain “fresh” for very long. Estimates on this length of time will vary slightly, but it is generally conceded that it will begin losing its freshness immediately after roasting, and this decline will be especially rapid with exposure to air, moisture, heat, and light.

The solution for getting the most from your cuppa is simple

• purchase roasted coffee in smaller batches that will be consumed relatively quickly

• store coffee in air tight containers, at cool temperatures, protected from light

• coffee will absorb moisture, odors and taste, so avoid storage where this will occur

• coffee beans will stay fresher longer than ground - only grind what you need

• buy coffee that has recently been roasted

On the question of benefits of freezing coffee, the National Coffee Association USA has some helpful hints. See: http://www.ncausa.org/About-Coffee/How-to-Store-Coffee.

Are there health benefits of coffee

A debate on this subject has been ongoing for hundreds of years. Science, being what it is, has done some rather embarrassing 180s on the health benefits or dangers of coffee, while pretending to know the truth. In a partial defense of “science”, it must be admitted that there are clearly some things that do indeed take time to research in order to arrive at the correct “scientific” conclusion. In all cases however, it will ALWAYS boil down to the existence or absence of “real” evidence. When it comes to coffee, there appears to be an interesting trend which suggests that coffee does have health benefits, but much research still continues.

More on the net!

HISTORY OF COFFEE

The history of coffee is an interesting one, and worth a look, especially for those who enjoy a regular daily dose. For our purposes, the relevant history of coffee really started during the famous Tea Party which preceded (and perhaps precipitated, in part) the American Revolutionary War. It seems that, prior to the Declaration of Independence, while we were still a "colony" of England, King George levied huge taxes on tea coming in from Jolly Old England. In an overt act of defiance, entire shipments of English tea were consigned to the depths of Davey Jone's locker.

Not surprisingly, Americans, after the tea parties, shifted their beverage preferences to coffee, and Thomas Jefferson was heard to say:

Coffee - the favorite drink of the civilized world

Not being an expert on Thomas Jefferson, but a pretty good spotter of well placed shots, it sure sounds like ol' Tom took a well aimed shot at the Brits, with that comment. Since that day, we have never looked back and coffee has become the favorite beverage of America. Nuff said.

Benjamin Franklin also had a rather insightful assessment of coffee:

“Among the numerous luxuries of the table…coffee may be considered as one of the most valuable. It excites cheerfulness without intoxication; and the pleasing flow of spirits which it occasions…is never followed by sadness, languor or debility.”

Check out these websitess for an interesting history on coffee.

• National Coffee Association USA - http://www.ncausa.org/About-coffee/History-of-coffee

• Home Grounds - https://www.homegrounds.co/history-of-coffee/

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WD6USA
Jeff, Highland, CA

Coffee Grounds Disposal

The major consumer waste product of making coffee (unless you use instant) is the grounds. Down the drain? Into the trash? Into the garden? Compost heap? Campground fireplace?

Down the drain? No. Into the trash!

Numerous references said that while putting coffee grounds down the drain might help eliminate odors, coffee grounds do not quickly decompose, naturally clump together, and can lead to a major clog.

From Mr. Rooter:

Unlike most foods, coffee grounds clump together in water rather than breaking down. With time, the grounds can build up inside your sink drains, creating clogs that can prohibit the drains from doing their job. Coffee grounds should always go in the trash can. They also serve as a nice fertilizer for your garden if you have a green thumb.

Into the garden or compost? Hard to say.

While coffee is acidic, much of the acidity is water soluble and leeches out from the grounds while making coffee.

From https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/compos ... dening.htm

Many people feel that coffee grounds lower the pH (or raise the acid level) of soil, which is good for acid loving plants. But this is only true for unwashed coffee grounds. “Fresh coffee grounds are acidic. Used coffee grounds are neutral.” If you rinse your used coffee grounds, they will have a near neutral pH of 6.5 and will not affect the acid levels of the soil.

Okay, but from https://www.discovery.com/science/Coffe ... our-Garden:

The residual caffeine in the grounds can kill off other plants, can kill earthworms and beneficial (i.e., compost) microorganisms, and still remains too acidic for sensitive plants.

Other Uses?

28 Uses For Spent Coffee Grounds You’ll Actually Want To Try

• Gentle Abrasive for Cleaning Annoying Stuck on Food
• Odor Absorbing Power
• Fight Funky Cooking Smells
• Remove Garlic and Onion Smell from Your Hands
• Meat Marinade/Rub
• Ice Melter
• Clean Your Grill
• Repel Mosquitoes Naturally **
• (list goes on with some crazy possibilities)

** Coffee grounds will burn when dried out, and makes a good mosquito repellant.

After spending a bit of time researching, I came to the conclusion that: if you're camping, burn them (along with any paper filters); if you're at home, just throw them away.

Please sign me in AA6AZ Bob Apple Valley.

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Randy KF6KOC
Becky KF6RGR
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Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

Sometimes I drink coffee, but I can't drink it Black, I need a little cream, half and half, creamer, 2% milk, Coffee Mate, etc, plus a little sugar substitute in it, like NutraSweet or something...

However I sometimes get French Vanilla Creamer, or sometimes I'll have a French Vanilla Cappuccino instead.

One of the restaurants in town has Door County Coffee, or flavored coffee, in a lot of varieties, which I sometimes drink when I'm there.

I didn't really care for coffee, but back in the mid-70's, when I was in high school, coffee was the cheapest drink in the restaurant, only two bits, or 25 cents, and the only drink that had free refills.

Most of the time, but not all of the time, I'll drink decaf coffee.

Sometimes the restaurant gave one free refill of Raspberry Ice Tea during the Summertime, or maybe one free refill of a glass of milk during the month of June, for what they call June Dairy Days.

As far as the coffee cup that I drink from goes, well, I was drinking from a cup that I got at a "Lumberjack" type, or "Lumber Camp" type of restaurant called, "Paul Bunyans," up North in Minocqua, Wisconsin, and it holds 12 Ounces...but I did buy a 16 Ounce tumbler at the County Market, and use it, because it keeps the coffee hot for quite a while, so I can drink it slowly.

Currently I'm drinking this kind of coffee...
As far as coffee always best hot, they do have cold coffee, but I don't really care for that.
I tried something the other day, and I thought that it was OK, but I wouldn't want to drink it very often...Coke with coffee in it.
It tasted sort of like caramel.

Please check in Ted KN6JIB. Thanks and 73!

Early Check in

W6RIP

Thanks 73
Kevin