1:3 — Bliss, caffeine, and taking it to the next (roast) level
Edition No. 26
1 Fun Thing
In The Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner travels through 10 countries to show what happiness means in different parts of the world. For eg: the Swiss value “conjoyment”, a combined state of joy and calm. This is achieved through a connection to nature, pursuing success & wealth but not showing off about it, and placing a high value on equality and autonomy — they have no president or prime minister, and citizens typically vote on legislation directly.
3 Coffee Facts
Caffeine molecules are produced by coffee, tea and curiously, even some members of the citrus family. It is believed to have first evolved as a natural insecticide (!) helping plants ward off pests, and also discouraging other plants from germinating near them.
Did you know that washed coffee beans when roasted have a centre cut that is lighter in colour and more pronounced compared to naturals and honey processed coffees?
Roast levels on bags of coffee are subjective as there is no standard. Different roasters use different terminology, so one roaster’s medium could be another’s light. Spectrophotometer’s like those made by Agtron can very accurately measure the roast colour. Until we start seeing those numbers on bags, it’s better to take roast levels with a pinch of salt and use your palate and sight to make your brew decisions.