Since my doctor erroneously told me I had high blood pressure a couple months ago I have been backing off on my coffee drinking (basically going from about 2 cups every day to only drinking coffee at church on Tuesdays and Sundays). Turns out I had what they call "white coat" hypertension which means my blood pressure only goes up when I visit a doctor which I take to mean that I shouldn't go to doctors anymore because high blood pressure is obviously unhealthy.So getting on with my point...
I haven't had a cup of coffee since Sunday morning and as I was feeling a bit drowsy at the office this afternoon I curtailed my walpolling activities, sallied forth and infiltrated Broadway Cafe's place of purveyance to negotiate the vending of some caffeinated comestibles. As I was sipping my Colombian house blend black as it was served, I suddenly noticed something I can't recall ever noticing before... a subtle 'fruitiness' as it were in the taste centers of my brain. A very slight sour/sweet emerging from the bitter to produce a similar effect to swallowing a mouthful of citrusy fruit juice... but only in the background of the general sensation I am used to when drinking coffee. This happened halfway through the cup and I spent the latter half of said beverage exploring this sensation whilst enjoying it at the same time.
I must confess I have entertained the notion on occasion that all of my coffee house fanatic friends were just fantasizing that they could discern all of these bewilderingly complex varieties of tastes within a simple sip of java... but now I am not so sure. I now see the possibility that I was merely blind to the hidden world of coffee goodness. I feel now like the blind man of the Gospels who was partially healed and said "I see men as trees walking". I think with a little more effort and conscious awareness on my part I may actually 'get there' some day in the near future.
My thanks to those who have spurred me on in this endeavor of appreciating the bean.
7 comments:
Praise the Lord, brother, you are healed!!!
Can't wait to talk further and freak you out on some more crazy flavors that shall lurk in the corners of your cup.
Does it count as a comparable epiphany if I once had a cup of Folgers, and I was able to sense that it tasted like burnt popcorn?
That is being unecessarily kind to the Folger's company.
-'
Oh, glorious day!
Actually, it is good that you became aware of these flavors. When you start becoming discerning with coffee all other foods become more exotic (for good and bad).
I do find it interesting though that it was about half-way through your cup that you noticed these flavors, meaning your coffee was probably reaching a milder temperature. Like I have told other friends, the best coffees are good at room temperature. Flavors are so much more discernible when you aren't scorching your taste buds (I am actually drinking two hour old coffee right now and it is fantastic, an Ethiopian Harrar, a dirty blueberry explosion).
Also, I find it interesting that you hadn't been drinking much coffee lately. I assume that this caused you to savor the taste more than you would have otherwise. I think coffee drinkers who tend to drink out of habit or necessity tend to neglect flavor (even if just slightly) in search for a bit of routine or a fix. You on the other hand chose to taste your coffee and not just drink. I applaud you.
Who knows, you might be cupping coffees soon. Slrrppppp!
Frankly, I am very surprised. I figured you would be very good at picking up on fruitiness.
Ummmm right... especially considering some of the people I hang around with.
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