Coffee Thursday

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE DRINK? – Daily Writing Prompt 1855

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Oh, my goodness, that is such an easy question to answer.  My favorite drink of all time is COFFEE — The elixir of life.

photo courtesy of a-mblamma @ pixabay.com

In fact, anyone who has followed my blog for any amount of time could have answered it for me, because they all know I have five specific categories on my website that are dedicated to coffee: ‘Daily Grind Coffee Quotes,’ ‘Coffee Thursday,’ ‘Let’s Talk Coffee,’ ‘Coffee Is a Poem,’ and ‘Coffee Valentines.’  🙂

Not only that, but I’ve published the Daily Grind Coffee Lover’s Journal, and I am in the process of writing my newest coffee book titled Coffee: The Elixir of Life,  which will include articles, poetry, and fabulous pictures with appropriate captions. Added to those activities, I have begun preparing a series of podcasts titled “Let’s Talk Coffee.”  They aren’t available for the public yet, but soon.

So, yep, it’s coffee for me — no contest!

A DRINK CALLED ‘JOE’

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

I’m still working on my coffee poetry book, and I’m thinking about including this poem in the mix. I’m not sure yet, because I’m not positive it’s clear and understandable. If any of you who read it on here have an opinion about whether the point is clear — or confusing — let me know in the comments. Thanks. And — hopefully — you’ll enjoy it.

A CUP OF JOSEPH DANIELS???

I heard the story this way,
And perhaps it’s mostly true:
That way back when, in World War I,
Coffee’s popularity grew.

It seems a Joseph Daniels,
Navy Secretary then,
Made efforts strong to change some things
And bolster moral men.

He instituted new rules
So Navy guys would think,
And contemplate the consequence
Of inebriating drink.

Banned alcohol consumption,
And, naturally, that led
To stewards brewing coffee more
For sailors to drink instead.

According to the legend,
This mark the guys did toe,
But much disgruntled at their loss,
Nicknamed their coffee “Joe.”

COFFEE

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

Coffee: Mmmmm-Mmmmm!

There just ain’t nothin’ like it.

Good to the last drop — 24/7

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Coffee Thursday 5/25/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

 

I’m getting a late start on this week’s “Coffee Thursday” post, and I actually missed last week altogether. Life is just too, too busy right now. In light of that fact, I think I’d better make this week the last “Coffee Thursday” for a while. Maybe when things slow down a little, I’ll bring you some more posts on the “elixir of life.”

In the meantime, here’s a happy “coffee thought” for you.

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“Oh Taste and See That the Lord Is Good” (Psalm 34: 8)

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
His blessings, they are rich and warm.
His presence gives forth an aroma so fresh;
A weary soul He can transform.
He’s just like a good cup of coffee — it’s true;
Quite stimulating and upbeat.
Robust and bold, yet quiet and smooth,
Like coffee, He’s the perfect treat.

Yes, I know I took a little liberty with this scripture, but I happen to know God has a sense of humor too.

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Coffee Thursday 5/11/17 – Coffee You Eat

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

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No, you didn’t misread the title. There really is coffee that you eat. It’s the brainstorm of the U.S. chocolate and coffee product manufacturer, Tierra Nueva — based in Miami, Florida. I came across the product as it is being sold through Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in my area of the country.

Tierra Nueva has three different versions of the coffee thins — Latte,  Espresso, and House Blend. Krispy Kreme’s versions offer three flavors: Original Glazed Doughnut, Cappuccino, and Caramel Machiato.

Called “Coffee Thins,” each of the individually wrapped thin squares — a little less than 2 inches in size — is composed of a blend of 100% of the coffee bean — plus some chocolate, some flavoring, and a few other ingredients to help give it texture and hold it together. And because it is made primarily of coffee, the producers say that it has the same effect in the body as coffee we drink from a cup.

However, just how many squares make up a cup of coffee — and how big a cup — is a little confusing. The packages show a picture that clearly indicates that one square is equal to one cup of coffee. (Now whether that’s a real 8 ounce cup or the common 6 ounce cup that most traditional coffee makers measure is not clear.) And the explanation is further muddied by the online advertisements — one of which says that each square is equal to 1/4 cup of coffee, while the other one says 3 squares equal one whole cup of coffee. (Still no indication of what size cup). So, my fellow coffee drinkers/eaters, I guess you’ll just have to try them out for yourself and decide what they offer in comparison to the liquid.

How do they taste? Well, now there I can help you more. I discovered the Krispy Kreme brand at my local Kroger store, and the first thing I did — after taking the pictures — was talk with one of the employees, Mr. Brian Dilday. He said he had tried the Glazed Doughut flavor and he really liked it. So, since he seemed to think it was a worthwhile investment, I decided I’d try one, but I went for the Cappuccino. It is very smooth and has great flavor. It definitely tastes like coffee — and chocolate — and cappuccino.

More recently, I discovered that Dunkin’ Donuts has produced their own version of coffee thins as well, but I haven’t sampled any of those.

I guess the big question is will I buy more coffee thins and eat them regularly? No, I don’t think so. I really enjoy drinking my coffee. Furthermore, a good deal of my enjoyment of coffee is the rich, comforting aroma while it’s brewing, and as it steams up from my cup. You can’t get that from a little square piece of chocolate. Added to that drawback, is the fact that I often like to enjoy eating something sweet along with my coffee, and if I ate the “Coffee Thins” while I drank the coffee, I’d end up with a definite caffeine buzz. Normally, I can’t tell any effect of the caffeine in the coffee I drink. And often I even drink the half caffeine/half de-caff kind, and I can’t tell any difference between them. But if I made a habit of drinking and eating coffee at the same time, I think it would be a severe lack of moderation on my part. And why bother???? I enjoy a cup of coffee rather than a bar of coffee. Plus — in the long run, brewed coffee is still cheaper per cup than the ‘candy bar coffee.’

I couldn’t help but wonder if this phenomena migh turn out to be a little like the digital book readers. They give you the printed words of a book on a lighted screen, and, yes, it’s true you can get the sense of the story just as well as when you’re turning the pages of an actual book. But there’s just so much extra satisfaction in holding that book, smelling the paper and ink, and turning each page individually that cannot be replaced by a hard, flat digital reader. Similarly, I’ll not be replacing my warm, fragrant, fortifying cup of good hot coffee with a little bar any time soon.

If you’d like to know more about “Coffee Thins,” and locations for purchase, you can simply go online and type in the general term “coffee thins.” That will get you a big selection of websites that tell you more about the product and give you lists of stores in your area and online.

Until next week, enjoy your coffee, my friends — however you ingest it.

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Coffee Thursday 5/4/17 – For Those Iced Coffee Lovers Out There

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

ICED COFFEE - naturepost pixabay
Courtesy Naturepost / Pixabay

Good morning, all you coffee lovers. Here we are at another “Coffee Thursday.”  I do love these posts — mainly because I love coffee. Today I decided to focus on some interesting material I came across for iced coffee lovers. I’m inserting links to two other sites with information you’ll enjoy.

First is a site that focuses on coffee ice cubes. I have to be honest and say I never thought of that. I do drink iced coffee occasionally, but even when I drink it hot, sometimes when I first pour it from the pot it’s too hot to drink immediately, and I’ll grab a small ice cube to throw in and cool it off just a dab. But, of course, it does weaken it. If I made coffee ice cubes, that would be perfect. Also, I agree with what the author of this article says about the last couple inches of iced coffee left in a glass. It’s sooooo watery. Now, with coffee ice cubes — problem solved.

HERE’S THE LINK TO ‘COFFEE ICE CUBES.’

Now the other interesting treat I came across this week is coffee popsicles. Wow!  Do they look good!!!  Here’s the article that gives a great recipe. There are other recipes out there, of course — some made with cream and some not. (These are made with a little cream, by the way.) I think I’m definitely going to try these soon. Hope you enjoy reading about these 21st-century coffee adventures.

LINK TO ‘ICED COFFEE POPSICLES’

If you try either of these suggestions, let me know. And, as always feel free to share your own coffee post on your blog and hop over here with your link.

Enjoy your coffee today. Bottoms up!

 

 

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Coffee Thursday 4/27/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

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A short Coffee post today. It’s a really busy time for me, but I do still love my coffee. Don’t forget: you’re invited to post about coffee on your site and paste your link into the “Comments” windows below — anytime this week.

Enjoy!

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I joined the queue outside the door,
Just after 6:00 a.m.
The morning sun had chased the fog,
But warmth was pretty thin.
My breath formed steam each time I spoke,
And pockets warmed my hands.
I yearned for coffee, hot and strong,
A large cup — maybe Grande.
We inched along with moderate speed,
And soon I stood inside.
The fresh aroma brought a smile;
It’s tantalizing tide
Mingled with the cozy sounds
Of orders glorified:
Venti Frappucino – Tall
Mocha Latte – Grande.
Americano, Cappucinno,
Really, there’s no end.
At last, I stood before the bar;
The young barista frowned.
He know I’d order coffee – plain.
No whip, no froth — just brown.

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Coffee Thursday – 4/20/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

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Good Coffee + Good Friends = One of Life’s Happiest Experiences

 

Well, ‘Coffee Thursday’ has rolled around again already. Time really does fly when you’re having fun. And I do have fun with my ‘Coffee Thursday’ posts. I wish more of my readers would share their own coffee experiences or thoughts with a post on their blogs and then hop over and give us the link. I know for sure many of you out there have particular thoughts concerning your coffee, and, undoubtedly, some of you have some experiences worth sharing — whether they be funny, happy, sad, or touching.

Most of the time, I like my coffee hot, rich, and mellow. But occasionally I enjoy a glass of iced coffee. But I’m pretty particular about it. If I do my own, I get the best, but second to my own, McDonald’s Vanilla Iced Coffee is my favorite. The one thing I can’t stand, though is lukewarm coffee. Make it hot or cold, but if it’s room temperature, I run for a microwave — fast!

 

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Coffee Thursday 4/13/17: The Story of Maxwell House Coffee

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

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One of my favorite coffees is Maxwell House. I also really enjoy Folger’s and one or two other brands. But my family and I used Maxwell House regularly for years.  One of my favorite places to live has always been Nashville, Tennessee, and, interestingly enough, Maxwell House coffee was born there.

A colonel by the name of John Overton, Jr. built a magnificent hotel in Nashville in 1869 and named it in honor of his wife, whose maiden name was Maxwell. Over the years, until it was destroyed by fire in 1961, that hotel hosted seven different Presidents of the U. S. , as well as many other famous persons.

About 23 years after the Maxwell House opened, a man by the name of Joel Owsley Cheek came to the Maxwell House to offer the owners his special-blend coffee. Joel Cheek had moved to Nashville from Kentucky, worked as a salesman for a wholesale grocery company, developed a serious interest in coffee, and eventually established his own coffee company and developed his own special blends. Believing he had a blend that was perfect for use at the Maxwell House Hotel, he offered them the opportunity to purchase from him.

The Hotel contracted to sell the coffee on trial for a period of time, and during that time so many of the visitors to the Maxwell House raved about the coffee that it became a house feature and gained a wide reputation. Cheek named it after the hotel. President Theodore Roosevelt is quoted as complimenting the coffee during his visit to the hotel in 1907, and it is he who is credited with the statement “It’s good to the last drop.” That simple sentence became the advertising slogan for Maxwell House Coffee for many years.

And, of course, the Maxwell House coffee, as a product of Cheek’s coffee company, went on to be sold nationwide and even further. Cheek acquired a partner named Neal, and eventually the Cheek Neal company was bought out by another company, which changed the name to Maxwell House Products Corporation (later changing to General Foods Corporation).

The Maxwell House Hotel now has a brand new home in Nashville (Millennium Maxwell House, Nashville), but the coffee is still the same great-tasting beverage it has always been. And it really is “good to the last drop.”

Now, just for the fun of it, I’ve thrown in two very old Maxwell House Coffee TV commercials.  (And don’t forget to share your own thoughts on coffee in a post on your blog, then leave us the link in a comment box below.)

 

 

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Coffee Thursday – 4/6/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

 

 

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I normally prefer a mug for coffee.
Although I’ve drunk my share in Styrofoam.
And when I’m traveling for work or pleasure,
I take a travel cup with lid from home.

A cup that’s big and roomy has its assets.
It lets me warm my hands around it’s bowl.
Unfortunately, it also has its drawbacks.
For long before I’ve finished, coffee’s cold.

Of course, that’s not a problem in this tech world.
For microwaves are everywhere these days.
And I just pop my cup inside to warm it.
Then sipping merrily, go on my way.

I’ll drink my brew from old-time percolator,
Or from a modern Keurig brewing pot,
Vending machines and fancy coffee houses,
And my drip coffee maker hits the spot.

I’m not too hard to please, and I’m a purist,
Just black with nothing added that’s bizarre.
Just please don’t bring me Starbucks or Gervalia,
And, for heaven’s sake, no instant from a jar!

Wouldn't you like to share your love for coffee with us? Pictures, poetry, prose, quotes .... whatever your favorite form of expression. Post on your own site and then hop over here and paste the link into a comment window below.

 

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Coffee Thursday 3/30/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

My coffee clock tells me it’s time to write about coffee again.

I learned just this week that coffee plants were originally exported from Africa to countries all over the world, and that currently there are 70 different nations that cultivate coffee.  I never paid must attention to the kind of coffee beans used in the coffee I buy, but over the past couple years, I’ve learned about Arabica and Robusta beans. Now, I think I’ll take special notice of exactly what the can or bag says when I take it off the shelf for purchase.

One of the things that helped educate me was a series of “cozy mystery” novels that center around a fictional coffee house in Greenwich Village run by the main character Claire Cosi. The series, Coffeehouse Mystery, is the work of a husband and wife team who write under the pen name of Cleo Coyle. If you love a good mystery, and you enjoy coffee as well, it’s probably a series you’d enjoy spending time with.

But be sure that when you sit down with the book, you have a fresh cup of your favorite coffee right at hand. Reading just isn’t the same if you can’t pick up that lovely cup or trusty mug and take a sip now and then.

And don’t forget: You’re invited to share your “coffee thoughts” by way of prose, poetry, pictures, or graphics. Just post on your own blog and hop over here to give us your link in the comment window below. (And you can post any time this week. It doesn’t have to be Thursday.)

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Coffee Thursday 3/23/17: Cinquain

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

You knew I’d have to do it: write cinquain on the subject of coffee. I’m running a little late getting my “Coffee Thursday” post up this week, but I’m a great believer in “better late than never.” So here we go. If you’d like to take part, post your version of celebrating coffee on your blog and bring your link over here. Just post it in a Comment window below.

COFFEE SHOP - MINE

LIFE’S ELIXIR

Coffee:
Life’s elixir.
The worlds most modest brew.
Yet holds the place most prominent
As drink.

Those who
Choose to abstain
Do not know what they miss.
For comfort and refreshing kick,
It’s bliss.

So come,
And share a cup.
Or maybe even two.
It warms the heart and bonds good friends –
Coffee.

 

 

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Coffee Thursday – 3/15/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

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COFFEE STEAMING - SEPIACoffee: It’s the elixir of love.  I know there are those who believe that title belongs to various other concoctions, but not so. It’s coffee. I’m sure of it.  In fact, as I was preparing to do this week’s “Coffee” post, I started thinking about how I’ve used coffee as the primary beverage between the romantic couples in all my novels. So I thought I’d throw together three excerpts from those stories for today’s take on the subject.

From Cameron’s Rib, page 119.

Thursday morning Suzanne sat across from Cameron at his desk and placed her tape recorder between them as she prepared to begin their interviews. The room was fragrant with the chocolate, hazelnut coffee they were enjoying, and as Cameron looked across at Suzanne, he felt a sense of deep contentment, sharing this time with her. …

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From Jonah’s Song, pp. 95,96.

That decision being made, they decided to play a game of Scrabble and have more coffee, and before they knew it, the evening had grown late, and all four of them were ready to turn in.  At the door to his room, Jonah turned to Vallie, who was just opening her own door.  …  “Why don’t we plan on setting down around 9:00 tomorrow morning,” he said. “And see what we can come up with.  That way we’ll have time to run through the music a couple of times before tomorrow night.”

Vallie nodded her head.  “That sounds fine.”

“Good,” he said, smiling his signature smile at her now.  “And thank you, Valentina … for agreeing to be my partner in this venture.”

Vallie smiled back, genuine happiness in her face.  “I’m happy to do it, Jonah.  Goodnight.”

“Goodnight, my dear,” he said, and turned to open his door.

As Vallie prepared for bed, she kept thinking about how he had called her “my dear” several times recently.  Every time he had said those words, Vallie had felt a tingling all through her.  She told herself he hadn’t meant anything special by the term, but still, the endearment lodged in her heart, to be taken out again later and treasured. …

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From Slate, pp.3-6.

Slate sat in a back booth at Katy’s Koffee Korner,  his eyes slowly scanning the room. They came to rest on a woman sitting alone in a booth across from his. She was sitting with her head bent forward and was massaging her temples.. Headache, he surmised, and glanced back at the waitress, winking at her as she set his coffee on the table and promised to be back with his breakfast in a couple minutes.

While he ate,  Slate glanced occasionally at the woman across from him. She had raised her head now and was sipping her coffee, her eyes closed. Her hair was a warm light brown shade, with just a tinge of highlights from the sun here and there. It barely skimmed her shoulders in soft waves. Her features weren’t classically beautiful, but she was really pleasant to look at. Her complexion was unblemished, and her eyes and eyebrows seemed to be etched in at exactly the right angles to highlight her whole face. Her mouth was rather wide, and her lips looked as if an artist had sculptured them. Yes, all in all, the sight was something he took pleasure in this morning.

He’d evidently taken just a little too much pleasure, because he’d been staring. Suddenly, she looked up and right at him, a question in her large, brown eyes. Almost exactly the color of a copper penny, Slate thought to himself as his attention focused on those eyes. He was caught off guard by the vulnerable look on her face, and instinctively he smiled his most genuine smile at her and then went back to concentrating on his food. A minute later, he heard her conversation with the waitress who had come back to bring her a fresh carafe of coffee.

“Can you give me exact directions from here to the Sandstone Motel?” she asked.

“Sure, Hon. It isn’t hard. I’ll write it down for you and be right back.”

“Thank you,” she answered, smiling and lighting up her face for just a moment, but when the waitress left, she went back to rubbing her temples and then her eyes. She finally leaned her head back against the high divider of her booth and closed her eyes, but Slate, glancing sideways at her, noticed a couple of tears trickling down her cheeks. After a minute more, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes, wiping the tears from her face with her hands, and by that time the waitress was back with her directions.

“Thank you so much,” she said and handed the waitress some bills. “This is for you.”

“Thanks, and you come and see us again, Okay?”

“If I have time,” she said smiling slightly at the retreating waitress, and then she slid out of her seat and stood up. Before she could take a step, she swayed and reached for the back of the booth to regain her balance. She was sitting in the last booth across from him, and no one else had noticed the unusual action. She sat back down on the edge of the booth, holding her head. Slate had learned better than to interfere in someone else’s business, but something about her just seemed so vulnerable that he couldn’t keep from getting up and walking over to her booth.

“Are you all right, Miss?” he asked, resting one hand on the table and leaning towards her. She looked up at him then, her eyes registering her pain.

“Yes,” she answered in almost a whisper. Then she cleared her throat and tried to speak louder. “It’s just this stupid migraine headache. They often make me woozy. Eating should help, but I guess the food just hasn’t had time to get into my system yet. I’ll just sit here another minute. Thanks,” she added, smiling wanly.

Slate sat down in the other side of the booth. “How about another cup of coffee?”

She turned back into the normal sitting position in the booth and nodded her head as he picked up the carafe and poured some into her cup. She began drinking it immediately, and Slate stepped over to his own booth and retrieved his cup, bringing it back with him. He poured fresh coffee for himself and topped hers off again. She smiled at him, her eyes seeming to show a little relief now. …

If you’d like to join in the fun for “Coffee Thursday,” just post your own picture, story, article, or poem on the subject and hop over here to leave us the link in a “Comment” window below. I look forward to seeing your take on coffee this week.

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Coffee Thursday 3/9/17

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

`COFFEE MAN - RED,YELLOW

My, there’s just nothing that quite equals the soothing, uplifting aroma of fresh-brewed coffee. And I’m tired of hearing all the uninformed critics out there who try to make coffee drinkers feel guilty because there is an element of caffeine in coffee. I have always maintained that, since the Lord told us in Genesis that He made the seed-bearing trees and plants for us to eat, then we should be able to partake of coffee with a clear conscience and a happy heart. And let’s not forget that God made the coffee bean with the caffeine in it. We human beings did not add the caffeine the way we add so many artificial ingredients into our food. That caffeine must have some good qualities in it, or the Lord would not have put it into the bean in the first place.

Furthermore, there have been numerous medical and scientific experiments done over the past half dozen years that prove coffee has many beneficial qualities for the human body — everything from quickening our brain function to eliminating headaches as quickly as aspirin to protecting the body against several kinds of cancer and heart problems. Naturally, nothing is good for our bodies if we partake of way too much of it, to the exclusion of other important elements. But in moderation, coffee is a great blessing. And considering the fact that, in my family, a good cup of coffee has always been associated with family togetherness, wonderful fellowship, and comforting relaxation, coffee is, for sure, a substantial ingredient in the recipe for living the good life.

If you’d like to participate in “Coffee Thursday,” simply post your own article, picture, story, or poem about Coffee, and hop over here to leave the link in a Comment Window below. I’m looking forward to your posts.

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COFFEE THURSDAY! – a new invitational

| Sandra Pavloff Conner

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Hi. Today I’m embarking on a brand new INVITATIONAL post. It works like a blogging challenge, but I don’t consider it to be a “challenge.”  Instead it’s an invitation to all other bloggers out there to share a post on the same subject.

And what is that subject you may ask?  COFFEE.

Yes, you read correctly. As most of my readers know, I am a lover of the brew, so I thought it would be fun to devote one day a week to focusing on a post dedicated to that aromatic, refreshing, comforting, and (yes) healthy beverage.

So if any of you readers would like to share you photos, graphics, poems, or prose on the subject of coffee, please join me on Thursdays. I’ll try to post very early in the day, and then you will have that whole week (until the next Thursday) to post your own response and hop over to my post for that week to leave your link in a comment window. And, of course, if you miss a week, we’ll be posting on the same subject again the following Thursday.

So let’s get started. My inaugural post is below. I’m eager to see some of yours. And while you’re working on that, have a cup of coffee on me.

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Photo for the month of March on my Dayspring calendar. You’ll find more of their products here.

 

 

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