This is Baytown Bert in Baytown, Texas
September 5th, 2014 and this is Podcast 11
My all time favorite John Wayne line is from True Grit when
he is awakened by his servant after a hard night of drinking and utters the
lone word, “Coffee”. The reason is
quite simple; it is exactly what comes to mind when my eyes open each morning
and the responses that follow, shows many of us share the same experience.
Facebook. There are a
lot of negatives in our minds when it comes to social networking and I agree,
but I enjoy it and practice a sort of freedom on the site and am willing to
accept the dangers there also. I
frequently use the network to express provocative opinion and then gather the
responses. I’m sure at times people
shake their heads at what I post, but at the same time, my comments stimulate
them to define what they truly believe.
Years ago, I adopted the philosophy that anyone who
stimulates me to defend what I believe is actually doing me a service – and if I
am flexible enough to listen and weigh out a new approach, I may learn
something. Anyway, enough about all of
that, let’s talk about the fantastically energizing morning elixir,
coffee. Great god almighty, I do love my
morning coffee!
Librarian extraordinaire Angie Middleton drinks “Folger's
Classic Roast, with the addition of some French Vanilla AM Coffee, a tiny
sprinkle of Splenda with a couple of tsps of Cremora.”
GCCISD Educator Jennifer Stephens loves “Cinnabon cinnamon
roll or blueberry mountain coffee” while fellow educator Caren Miller punches
sissy coffee drinkers in the nose with “Community Club dark roast...strong and
black”. Another GCCISD teacher has a
much more colorful approach. Traci
Cormier likes “Venti nonfat latte with 2 sweet n lows @ 140. - or an IV hook up,
whichever is quicker. In Hawaii I drank a ton of
Kona dark roast. It was the bomb.com.”
Liberty
County columnist and
chow-chow expert Charlie Farrar offers a Zen approach by choosing “Tasters
Choice with boiling water”. Local resident
Jake Daniel is old school with his choice of “Community coffee in the
percolator on the stove”, as is polymer expert Darrell Bailey who goes hardcore
with “Jet fuel, straight up black!”
Armed Forces veteran’s advocate Ren Fitts doesn’t bandy
words. “Jail house coffee like I drank with my uncle who was a sheriff after
the pot was on all day and if it was cold he would reheat it” and neither does
local hawk Barbara Pugh with her humorous contribution, “Put whipped crème
vodka in it. Makes a great day off cup of coffee and the brand won't matter.”
REL reunion organizer Bev Engelhardt. “I drink hazelnut
flavored coffee with hazelnut flavored creamer! Yuuummm!” Local resident Susan McGuyer, like Bev, goes
for “Starbucks w/cinnamon vanilla cream, Coffee-mate & one Stevia sweetener.” Big time Plant operator Larry Houston joins
the flavor enhancer crowd with, “My fav right now is the Green Mountain
Sumatran Reserve (K-cup), with a sprinkle of Truvia and a teaspoon of honey....
and some Coffee-mate French Vanilla creamer. Otherwise it's too dang bold. I
like my beer dark... my coffee, not so much.”
David Clark didn’t say what he prefers, but lowers the
hammer on the sweet coffee crowd with, “Sounds like some of you have breakfast
drinks more than coffee!” After that
remark, I need to confess that I drink French Market with chicory and add
nothing but water. My coffee is so black
and strong, a spoon could stand on end in the middle of the cup.
My son in law Michael Sievers also brings a humorous side to
coffee drinking, “I chug my coffee (day old and cold) like I am shot-gunning a
beer.” And like veteran Ren Fitts, retired Master Chief JW Kern is all military
with “Navy Mid-watch Coffee (Generic 20# tins) at 0745, last cup before making
another two 50 cup pots. Thick & black (resembles Texas crude oil straight from the ground)”.
My two favorite responses were from first, a Georgia friend
since the late 60’s Debi and second, my best man, James and they are both
artists in writing about their love of coffee drinking.
Deb Hearn "Cold Brew Coffee with the Toddy coffee
maker. It is better if you have acid reflux and tastes great. I usually use
Newman’s Own Dark Roast Organic. You put the water & coffee in the
container, set overnight, pull plug in bottom & it filters into a glass
jar. You will have thick coffee. When
you want a cup you put about 1/4 cup into your coffee cup, add hot water &
enjoy. You only have to make it about once a week."
James Shipp "I like mine made with mountain spring
water boiled over a bed of aspen coals in an old coffee can with a fistful of
coarse ground coffee. I ain't picky about the brand as long as it’s strong
enough to float a horseshoe. Throw in some cold water to knock the grounds to
the bottom of the can and pour it up fresh! Do this while the elk are bugling
in the meadow below and you will experience heaven on earth!"
No matter what expert comes up with saying coffee is bad for
you, ten more will post a paper the next day extolling it anti-oxidant
contribution to the body. I like it
regardless of what the detractors may say and to them, I agree with what Clark
Gable told Vivian Lee in Gone with the wind, “Frankly my dear…”
