2017 Coffeecatting "Challenge"

At Extra Perks this morning.

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Uncommon Grounds in Albany. I think they roast themselves, if not here then in their Saratoga location?

I’m drinking Sumatra. Dare I say earthy?

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A Baked Joint
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Espresso.
Black Cat, roasted by Intelligentsia

Definitely something fruity

@lordofthemark 155424 wrote:

Uncommon Grounds in Albany. I think they roast themselves, if not here then in their Saratoga location?

I’m drinking Sumatra. Dare I say earthy?

I thought you didn’t have a bike. I don’t think it counts unless you bike to the coffee shop.

Some background. My kitty Vanilla is 12 years old and is the Best Cat Ever. Unfortunately last October he was diagnosed with diabetes, which requires him to get two injections daily (12 hours apart), and he can’t tolerate insulin on an empty stomach. Plus, he’s not always an early riser. So for months now, rather than launching myself out the door at oh-dark-thirty to ride to coffee clubs, I’ve found myself brewing a pot at home. Vanilla is sensitive to noise and action while he’s eating, and prefers if I’m sitting quietly at the table, so in essence we have breakfast together. Then I fill the insulated mug that fits in Vaya’s bottle cage, and get on with my day. My choice of beans for home brewing lately has been Swing’s — either High Mountain blend, Sumatra, MESCo, or most recently Sulawesi. And yes, I do miss regular attendance at weekday coffee gatherings, but this new routine of having coffee with an old friend is rather nice too.

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Vaya and the travel mug full of Swing’s Sumatra, pausing at Gravelly Point on the way to work 7 Feb 2017.

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You wanted an Agudas coffee picture, here it is (two actually )[ATTACH=CONFIG]13996[/ATTACH]

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Note, this IS not a new entry for points.

What was an innocent coffee outing turned into quite the adventure.

It was late afternoon Friday and I’d had quite enough of this week, the roller coaster that it’s been. So I took off on a short ride to M.E. Swing’s, for a little pick-me-up and to restock on beans for home. Was thinking of friend and fellow Crazy Eights teammate WorkTheWeb (or Ed, as friends call him) and how we haven’t meshed schedules to meet up for coffee this whole season. He’s been off on vacation this week with his family in Florida, dutifully racking up bike rides along the beach. By his Instagram posts it looks warm and sunny down there. We all hate him, just a little.

Got to Swing’s, chose two bags of beans (MESCo and Sumatra), and asked the barista what he’d recommend to taste. It was a pour-over, made with Columbia Marisol Bravo. Menu description: “Big body. Soft. Sweet Lemon.”

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Review? The epitome of a great pour-over, drunk black with flavors that dance on the tongue, without making you run for the dairy products. Not a clue how something could be so acidic yet still as soft and mellow as Columbia Marisol Bravo. Sweet lemon, just as described. Delightful. Here’s to you, Ed.

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Coffee done I considered a detour to Sugar Shack, but the winds had picked up significantly and I’ve managed to avoid sugar points all season. I consider it a victory of willpower, really. So I went back home, struggling to maintain 11mph into the headwinds along the 4MRT detour.

In my driveway I went to stop Strava, and realized my iPhone was MISSING. I clearly remembered a hard bump turning from Commonwealth Ave back onto the bike trail…. and that strange noise that followed was likely my phone hitting the ground as it bounced out of the external pocket on my trunk bag.

Well the last thing I wanted to do was turn around, but dash back I did. My iPhone was nowhere to be seen. And once again I groaned against the wind to get back home. Ran upstairs to trace the iPhone, which told me via its GPS magic that it had wandered into Crystal City. I used the Find My iPhone app to lock the phone, and leave a message with my home phone number.

Almost immediately, the phone rang. A kind voice with a thick accent told me he could return my phone tomorrow, or I could pick it up later today. He gave me his name, phone number, and address at the restaurant in Georgetown where he works.

Fast forward about an hour later, he emerged from behind the sizzling grill and handed me my iPhone, in return for a gift card and a Reese’s peanut butter egg that I gave him out of gratitude. What had the potential for disaster didn’t go badly at all. I didn’t get caught in (much) traffic to/from Georgetown, parked the car quickly, and didn’t even get a ticket. How does that even happen during rush hour? The adventure ended with my iPhone in hand, two hugs and a fist bump.

If you wander into Georgetown hungry someday, stop by the Good Stuff Eatery. Say hello to Melvin. He’s an exceedingly good guy.

And, next time you’re at Swing’s, try the Columbia Marisol Bravo.