1:3 — Fastest rap, unlimited memory, and how deep is your bed?
Edition No. 13
1 Fun Thing
In the third verse of his No. 1 single “Godzilla”, Eminem squeezed 225 words into a 30-second segment, which is 7.5 words per second (!), earning him a Guinness world record.
3 Coffee Facts
A Q-grader is to coffee what the Master Sommelier is to wine. Q Arabica graders need to be able to cup accurately using the SCA cupping protocols, do triangulation tests (picking the odd one out), blind identifications, and other assessments, passing a whopping 22 tests in order to get certified.
The depth of a coffee bed is important for extraction — the taller the bed the coarser the grind, in order to avoid choking the brew. When brewing espresso, the basket diameter dictates the bed depth. So for a 58mm basket (vs. smaller ones), you have to grind much finer to build up enough pressure.
The key to becoming a better taster is to build your olfactory memory. In Kevin Horsley’s Unlimited Memory, he suggests an excellent technique of using long term memory to store new ones. For eg: store exaggerated aroma memories in different parts of your car, like giant lemons on the front seat and melting chocolate on the dashboard. With practice, the next time you taste lemon in your coffee you’ll instantly picture a giant one on your car seat.