Hooked on Books discussion

Prompt #6I: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Grinding the Coffee Beans





The objective of a proper grind is to get the most flavor in a cup of coffee. How coarse or fine the coffee is ground depends on the brewing method.


The length of time the grounds will be in contact with water determines the ideal grade of grind. Generally, the finer the grind, the more quickly the coffee should be prepared. That’s why coffee ground for an espresso machine is much finer than coffee brewed in a drip system.


Espresso machines use 132 pounds per square inch of pressure to extract coffee.


We recommend taking a moment to examine the beans and smell their aroma — in fact, the scent of coffee alone has been shown to have energizing effects on the brain.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book with a mostly brown cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 2. Read a book that made you feel energized.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a 1, 2, or 3 in the page count.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC's first initial is found in GRIND.

🐚 The Trial of Mrs. Rhinelander (2024) - Denny S. Bryce 336pp 12/7/24 5🪼


☕️ 3. Read a book with a 1, 2, or 3 in the page count.

Prompt #6J: 10 Steps from Seed to Cup - Brewing the Coffee





The water you use is very important to the quality of your coffee. Use filtered or bottled water if your tap water is not good or has a strong odor or taste, such as chlorine.


If you’re using tap water, let it run a few seconds before filling your coffee pot, and be sure to use cold water. Avoid distilled or softened water.


A general guideline is called the "Golden Ratio" - one to two tablespoons of ground coffee for every six ounces of water. This can be adjusted to suit individual taste preferences.


Check the cup lines or indicators on your specific brewer to see how they actually measure. And remember that some water is lost to evaporation in certain brewing methods.


Your brewer should maintain a water temperature between 195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal extraction. Colder water will result in flat, under-extracted coffee, while water that is too hot will also cause a loss of quality in the taste of the coffee. (However, cold brew does not need any heat.)


If you are brewing the coffee manually, let the water come to a full boil, but do not over boil. Turn off the heat source and allow the water to rest a minute before pouring it over the grounds.


Coffee usually cools rapidly after being served, depending upon the container from which it is being served. And, many coffee drinkers may add cream or milk which also has a cooling effect. Ultimately, the temperature at which any individual coffee drinker will prefer their coffee is a personal preference, like so many other things that make coffee special. These are some of the reasons why it is best to serve coffee right after brewing, when it is fresh and hot. Cupping quality standards suggest brewing at 200˚F. When serving hot beverages, especially in retail or clinical care settings which present risks for burning or scalding, lower temperatures should be considered. Coffee drinkers often desire to add cold milk or cream, or just allow the hot beverage to cool to reach a comfortable temperature for drinking. One study has shown that coffee drinkers typically drink their coffee at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or below.


The amount of time that the water is in contact with the coffee grounds is another important flavor factor.


In a drip system, the contact time should be approximately 5 minutes. If you are making your coffee using a French Press, the contact time should be 2-4 minutes. Espresso has an especially brief brew time — the coffee is in contact with the water for only 20-30 seconds. Cold brew, on the other hand, should steep overnight (about 12 hours).


If you’re not happy with the taste of the final product, you're likely either:


Over-extracting - the brew time is too long
Under-extracting - the brew time is too short


Experiment with the contact time until you get the right balance for your taste.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book where a character comes into contact with water in some way.
☕️ 2. Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book you felt was too long OR too short to do justice to the storyline.
☕️ 4. Read a book set in a hot climate.

☕️ 2. Read a book with less than 195 pages OR more than 205 pages.

Pineville Trace (2024) - Wes Blake 160pp 26/7/24

Prompt #7A: All About DeCaffeinated Coffee





More than 90% of American coffee drinkers choose caffeinated brews, but decaf is a great option for those who want the taste and social connections of drinking coffee without the energy boost of caffeine. Luckily, a serendipitous accident in 1905 swamped a shipment of coffee beans with seawater, washing the caffeine out and prompting the development of modern decaffeination methods.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book where an accident happens.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the title starts with a letter in DECAF.
☕️ 3. Read a book set in the 1900s.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in SERENDIPITOUS.

🐚 Stories from the Twilight Zone (1960) - Rod Serling 151pp 31/8/24 5🪼


☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's first AND last initials are found in SERENDIPITOUS.

Jazzy wrote: "🐚 Stories from the Twilight Zone (1960) - Rod Serling 151pp 31/8/24 5🪼


☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's first AND..."

Jazzy - you are in the ATY group right? And you've read the last comments in the Wild Discussion?

Prompt #7B: How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?





Like regular coffee, decaf coffee begins as green, unroasted beans. The hard beans are warmed and soaked in liquid to dissolve and remove the caffeine in one of four ways: using water alone, using a mixture of water and solvents (most commonly methylene chloride or ethyl acetate) applied either directly or indirectly, or using water and “supercritical carbon dioxide.”


All four methods are safe, and once the caffeine is removed (well, at least 97% of it), the beans are washed, steamed, and roasted at temperatures that evaporate all the liquids used in decaffeination.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book with a mostly green cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book with the word HARD OR the word BEANS found in the text.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a question mark in the title.
☕️ 4. Read a book where a character is faced with more than one option to solve a problem.

Tuesday 6 August 2024
🌍 The Diver (2024) - Samsun Knight 237pp 5🏅


Prompt #7B: How Is Coffee Decaffeinated?
☕️ 1. Read a book with a mostly green cover.

Prompt #7C: How Much Caffeine Is In Decaffeinated Coffee?





Decaffeination removes about 97% or more of the caffeine in coffee beans. A typical cup of decaf coffee has about 2 mg of caffeine, compared to a typical cup of regular coffee, which has about 95 mg of caffeine.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book with some type of chart or graph in it.
☕️ 2. Read a book with a 2 in the page count.
☕️ 3. Read a book with a 9 AND a 7 in the publication date.
☕️ 4. Read a book with the word TYPICAL found in the text.

Prompt #7C: How Much Caffeine Is In Decaffeinated Coffee?

🌍 Antkind (2020) - Charlie Kaufman 21/8/24 720pp 5🏅


☕️ 4. Read a book with the word TYPICAL found in the text.
“For example, since I can instruct my lover in the art of pompoir and kabazzah, I stand a better chance than one’s typical dime-store lothario of engaging in a mutually satisfying and often explosive sexual encounter.”

Prompt #7D: Is Decaf Coffee Bad For You?





Like all coffee, decaffeinated coffee is safe for consumption and can be part of a healthy diet.


If you are wondering whether the decaffeination process itself is safe, the answer is yes. All four methods are safe, and once the caffeine is removed (well, at least 97% of it), the beans are washed, steamed, and roasted at temperatures that evaporate the liquids used in decaffeination.


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has set a rigorous standard to ensure that any minute traces of solvents used to decaffeinate coffee are safe. FDA measures these traces in “parts per million.” After decaffeination, coffee can contain no more than 10 parts per million of, for example, methylene chloride -- that’s one one-thousandth of a percent.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book where the MC feels safe by the end of the story.
☕️ 2. Read a book with the letters F-D-A all found in the title.
☕️ 3. Read a book with at least a million ratings.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the author's FIRST initial is found in METHYLENE and the LAST initial is found in CHLORIDE.

Prompt #7D: Is Decaf Coffee Bad For You?
☕️ 3. Read a book with at least a million ratings.

🌍 1984 (1949) - George Orwell 368pp 24/8/24 5🏅

4,762,678 ratings

Prompt #7E: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?





Regulators and health authorities in the United States and around the world have concluded moderate caffeine intake can be part of healthy diets for most adults -- generally up to 400mg per day, or about 4-5 cups of coffee. Guidelines may vary for people with certain medical conditions.


As you think about caffeine intake, be mindful that caffeine is found not just in coffee but also in other foods and beverages, so consider all potential sources. Every body is different, so everyone should check health recommendations from recognized authorities, listen to how your body responds to caffeine, and consult your personal physician if you have any questions.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book where only one eye is completely visible on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book that has up to 400 pages.
☕️ 3. Read a book where a major character is a doctor.
☕️ 4. Read a book where the MC does not have a healthy diet.

☕️ 1. Read a book where only one eye is completely visible on the cover

Sunday 1 September 2024
🕺💃 Ever, Dirk: The Bogarde Letters Dirk Bogarde & John Coldstream
0-542/542 = 542pp 5🎵

Prompt #8A: How to Store Coffee - Keep Beans Airtight & Cool





Your beans’ greatest enemies are air, moisture, heat, and light.


To preserve your beans’ fresh roasted flavor as long as possible, store them in an opaque, air-tight container at room temperature. Coffee beans can be beautiful, but avoid clear canisters which will allow light to compromise the taste of your coffee.


Keep your beans in a dark and cool location. A cabinet near the oven is often too warm, and so is a spot on the kitchen counter that gets strong afternoon sun.


Coffee's retail packaging is generally not ideal for long-term storage. If possible, invest in storage canisters with an airtight seal.


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book with multiples of one item on the cover.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC has more than one enemy.
☕️ 3. Read a book you would invest in, as in purchase your own copy.
☕️ 4. Read a book where at least one scene happens in a DARK and/or COOL location.

Prompt #8A: How to Store Coffee - Keep Beans Airtight & Cool

Sunday 15 September 2024
🕺💃 David Copperfield (1850) - Charles Dickens
0-985/985 = 985pp 5🎵


☕️ 1. Read a book with multiples of one item on the cover.

Prompt #8B: How to Store Coffee - Buy the Right Amount





Coffee begins to lose freshness almost immediately after roasting. Try to buy smaller batches of freshly roasted coffee more frequently - enough for one or two weeks.


Exposure to air is bad for your beans. If you prefer to keep your beans in an accessible and/or attractive container, it may be a good good idea to divide your coffee supply into several smaller portions, with the larger, unused portion in an air-tight container.


This is especially important when buying pre-ground coffee, because of the increased exposure to oxygen. If you buy whole beans, grind the amount you need immediately before brewing


Complete ONE of the following:

☕️ 1. Read a book that took you one to two weeks to read.
☕️ 2. Read a book where the MC goes shopping or buys something.
☕️ 3. Read a book with an attractive cover. {Your discretion.}
☕️ 4. Read a book where the first letter of each word in the title starts with a letter found in IMMEDIATELY. {3-word minimum}