The Home Roast Mail List Pacific Northwest Gathering (PNWG) Number 2 @ Alchemist John’s, 2004
When I found out the PNWG gathering was going to be in Oakland I was excited. I regretted missing the first one at Mike McGuiness’ in Vancouver, WA and now it was nearby and I could make it. But why would the groupe from up North come here for their get-together. Oh, Oakland, Oregon … I didn’t know there was one! Even my sister from Portland didn’t know it. Maria and I jumped in the car, with the dogs, a drove up to the PNWG Gathering Number 2 in Oakland and after a missed attempt (we left the directions at home) we DID fins it. It was a fun-filled weekend of roasting, espressoA small coffee beverage, about 20 ml, prepared on an espresso machine where pressurized hot water extracted through compressed coffee.: In its most stripped-down, basic form, this is a working definition for espresso: A small, home roasting talk, espresso, great food, espresso and then some more espresso. How many came – I think it was 25, or 30, plus a few dogs. I was learning to use my new Olympus camera and the results are some really mediocre pics, but hey …
 I can’t explain my angle here, but I can tell you that is an Expobar and Jeff Wikstrom in the background looks very worried about something. |
I was impressed with the Expobar – nice heavy build. It’s a bit primitive but so is the Miss Silvia. Jeffrey Pawlin looks on… |
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Mike McKoffee’s Portable Power Conditioner- I can’t remember all this does. It’s like a Variac, a Timer, and an Electric Chair all in one… |
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All I can says is “Wow!” |
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Is Mike obsessed? Does the icon on his espresso machine answer that? |
A Hearthware Precision with 2 types of cocoa beans. |
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John roasts cocoa – check out his web site www.chocolatealchemy.com |
John breaks a cocoa nib for tasting and John Kangas looks on… |
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We cupped the PanamaPanama coffee ranges from medium quality lower altitude farms to those at 1600 - 1800 meters centered in the area of Boquete in the Chirqui district near the border with Costa Rica. Some farms feature Auction Lot coffees but it didn’t go to well. I thought it might be low water temperature but in fact I think it was too many espressos for me, and for a few, too many espresso AND too many beers…. Here’s me and John setting up the coffees for the cupping |
Ditto |
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Oh lordy … I don’t know what’s going on here. I think I was sniffing the dry fragrance |
John’s farm is beautiful! I woke up early Sunday and walked all over with the dogs. It was so quiet and there was that neat early morning fog hovering over the low areas – just great. Oakland Oregon was a nice break from Oakland California. |
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Look at those wisps of early morning fog … |
John’s goats. Maria and I stayed outside, slept in a tent with the dogs. It was great, a 1 day camping vacation for us. The goats started up pretty early though – seems there was a piece of corrugated metal in their barn and they liked to step on it a lot, making a very loud sound. |
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The dogs had fun too . Here is Francy – he thinks I have a treat or something – he has that crazed begging look. |
… and here is the other one – Judy. They are both 100% pure Oakland Pound Mutts! Oakland California that is. |
| Back to coffee…..
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The Cimbali grinder went this commercial 1 group machine, both bought off eBay. It’s a great machine – but I think it was running a bit too high because the BrazilBrazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra sang, "they grow an awful lot of coffee in Brazil".: Brazil is a coffee giant . As Frank Sinatra sang, "they grow an awful lot of shots I pulled had an overextracted character. |
| Thanks so much to Alchemist John and Penelope for being the hosts, and to all who came. Can’t wait to do it again! | |
-Tom
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