The First Cup

We celebrated my husband's birthday Friday evening. What better way to enjoy a slice of cake then with a fresh pot of decaf French Press!  I had just recently signed up with a company to review products which I could purchase at a discounted price. I had just received a pound of decaffeinated coffee beans that I was anxious to try.

Cake was presented, Happy Birthday was sung, wishes were made; hopefully for a good cup of coffee. So now it was time for a jolt of java.  Stone Street Coffee Company are the beans that we were anticipating to enjoy with hubby's birthday cake.  I opened the bag and joy filled my senses!

I thought to myself, is this it, in a bag of decaf? Could I have found perfection in the first bag I am testing for  "The Coffee Chase"? Would Nirvana be in a simple bag of beans from Brooklyn? The very same place my story began; that would just be too poetic for words! But that was just the aroma, now to see the beans.

I poured the lovely brown beans into my hand and was delighted that they weren't dull. Now I know that saying dull beans are old beans is a bit of a myth. The shine or lack of shine has to do with the roasting process. I prefer a slightly darker roast with low acidity, so the shiny bean is definitely for me! These beans were not as shiny as I would have liked, but they were definitely a contender.

First the beans went into my coffee grinder  for a loose grind. Then into the French Press, and we waited. If you would like to know how to properly make French Press, go to our Jolt of Java: A Guide to Specialty Coffees page.

The timer went off and now it was time to sample Stone Street Coffee Company European Fancy Decaf! My anticipation was mounting as I plunged the French Press down. The coffee was poured and the moment of truth arrived.  I brought the cup to my lips and took that first sip, and I almost spit it out. Yes, it was that bad! This was one of the worst cups of coffee I have ever tasted. It was weak, it had no body and it was bitter. What a great disappointment.

"A picture is worth a thousand words"

I forged ahead and drank that cup. Maybe not to the last drop, but who can eat cake without a cup of coffee?
And as we say here at The Coffee Chase: "Even bad coffee is better than no coffee".

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