it's my island

Category: Interests

  • Optimal Principles

    —

    by

    andy
    in , ,

    As many know I enjoy “[Strength](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_psychology)” work. As such I’m diving in to a new (to me) book [Optimal Thinking](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0471414646/sr=8-1/qid=1144240752/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7900888-8997554?%5Fencoding=UTF8): How to be your best self, by Rosalene Glickman. Every thought is creative. Make the choice to be your highest and best self, regardless of the circumstances. The language of your highest and best self…

  • Cupping for the Masses, part 1

    —

    by

    andy
    in ,

    I’ve been a consistant [cupper](“Flickr: Cupping” http://www.flickr.com/photos/ciordia/search/tags:cupping/) at our local [Counter Culture Coffee](http://www.counterculturecoffee.com) training facility since its inception. Over the last year I’ve met all flavors of coffee drinkers, start-ups, enthusiasts, professionals, and the curious. I’ve also held informal cuppings in the home and been to [Earth Fare](http://www.earthfare.com) for their community tasting classes/gatherings. Over time…

  • 5th Roast, Ethiopian Ghimbi

    —

    by

    andy
    in ,

    Continuing on my pilgramage of heat gun roasting we decided to give the Ethiopian a try. Robin and I enjoy a lot of coffees but we’ve found a love for the fruitier blends and Ethiopian’s generally do not disappoint. My real concern is that if I am going to continue this I need to start…

  • Roaster Humor

    —

    by

    andy
    in ,

    Today I did my first 250g peaberry roast.  Working in a new bowl, with a lot larger volume, and a bean that I am unfamiliar with.  I’ll taste it in the morning, curious of the results.  I was probably 80-90% even in roast. It just had it’s first crack at a very slow pace which…

  • Continued Espresso Work

    —

    by

    andy
    in ,

    I keep thinking of the book [Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0060958324/sr=8-2/qid=1141778747/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-5463207-1573560?%5Fencoding=UTF8) as I work on this project. Everything people create is a form of communication. They tell you what they think of the state of things. They let you know what they think of you and maybe some of themself. Sometimes you can…

  • Nuova Simonelli Work

    —

    by

    andy
    in ,

    I’ve got to post. I keep saying tomorrow and now my [Sciral](http://www.sciral.com/consistency/) is deep in red. I don’t like being deep in red, so lets start something. I’ve decided to modify my espresso machine and to a _light_ extent at this time my grinder. Welcome to the innards of a Nuova Simonelli Oscar. The Sirai…

  • New York, Espresso, Eats, et al

    —

    by

    andy
    in , ,

    I’ve been absent, lost in New York. No not really, it was Robin’s 27th birthday and we were there for her grandmothers 85th. This was our best trip to New York yet. While we hammed it up on Long Island (Hicksville) with the family half the time, the other half was spent travelling for good…