Category — Coffee

Lovely short, circa 1961, on brewing a good cup of good coffee. Some things don’t change much.

(via Brain Pickings)

This name is so terribly hilarious I had to share. Thanks to my brother Steve for discovering this gem, belonging to an espresso catering business based in Seattle. According to the “About” page,

“Our name “Magna Cüm Latté” is a silly pun based on the latin phrase Magna Cum Laude that means “With great distinction” and is usually associated with education and academics. In 1995 we received federal protection for this name!”

Sadly, they no longer have a storefront or I would so go there to take photos. And start a business named “Summa Cüm Latté” across the street (also my brother’s idea).

An old Wendy’s training video from the 1980s. No words.

In honor of National Coffee Day, I point you towards the handy Perfect Pour Coffee Poster by Plaid. It’s been around for over a year now, but I’m partial to it as it was the first piece of wall art I put up in my place.

Additionally, you could refresh yourself with some John Piper coffee!

See the poster details on Plaid

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Occasionally I like seeing what search terms people use to find this blog. Some make for a good laugh:

• Typical wow player
• Orange idea
• Strict parents
• Fear of the sponge
• Mutual magic massage
• How to tell if you are a nerd
• Shepherd triplets
• Beethoven saves Christmas

Etc.

Yesterday, the Term of the Day was “John Piper Coffee.” I got to wondering what this person was trying to find. A sermon on why God is glorified when we drink coffee? Piper’s recommendations for caffeine intake?

Or maybe this person thinks John Piper has pulled a David Lynch and introduced his own line of joe.

What if . . .

(Click for larger image)

Could be the new drink of choice for the Restless Reformed.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Weekly roundup of mostly-arts-related chatter around the web:

• Starbucks’ New Logo in 2041: Where it’s headed in another 30 years. Incidentally, this article basically sums up what I think about the whole 2011 change.
• The Changing Face of the Music Business: OK Go’s Damian Kulash describes how many musicians are now marketing themselves, not just their music.
• My terrible audition tape: Concert pianist Stephen Hough relays the story of how he ended up winning the Naumburg International Piano Competition, despite a less-than-stellar start.
• 7 Predictions for the Creative Community: Some good points to consider for those of us working in the arts.
• In Japan, origami folds are not just for paper:
  

  (A demonstration in English here, if you’re eager to try it with your own laundry.)

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Right now I’m on a short tour as part of the Michael W. Smith orchestra. It’ll be an exciting but nonstop few days (with a Christmas service in the middle too), so if you happen to think of it I’d appreciate your prayers!

Meanwhile, here are a few Friday diversions for your surfing pleasure:

• Britain’s version of Silent Night: across the ocean, John Cage’s 4’33″ is in the run for the #1 single for the 2010 Christmas season.
• Espresso as an art form: a primer (including some impressive examples of latte art).
• Let’s recycle that paper into a pencil: a bizarre but intriguing new office tool.
• I knew this would be epic when they zoomed in on the flower:
  

I’m what you’d call a fair-weather morning person — literally. I naturally get up with the sun. This means that in the summertime, waking up early is easy and even enjoyable. But for the other nine months of the year — and particularly at this time of the year, mornings pose a challenge.

Fact: short of a miracle, early mornings will never be easy year-round. But I’m grateful for small things that make them more bearable, namely the morning routine.

The key for me is front-load the first 90 minutes of the day (my brain needs that much time to defog) with several simple, enjoyable things to distract myself from thinking, “Waking up is hard to do.”

For me, the perfect morning routine includes the following:

• Some semi-strenuous aerobic exercise, accompanied by the news
• Two cups of strong and fully-caffeinated coffee
• Substantial breakfast, accompanied by some devotional reading and the NY Times crossword
• A hot shower

Do you have a morning routine? If so, what must it include?

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“The dignity of the artist lies in his duty of keeping awake the sense of wonder in the world. In this long vigil he often has to vary his methods of stimulation; but in this long vigil he is also himself striving against a continual tendency to sleep.”

-G.K. Chesterton

(Photo: jill meaux)

Weekly roundup of some interesting arts (and coffee)-related chatter around the web:

• Fruitful collaboration: Keith Getty reflects on lessons learned through his collaboration with fellow songwriter Stuart Townend.
• Jesus Paid it Some: Stephen Altrogge’s “Hymn of the Legalist.”
• Coffee Consumption: Starbuck’s “tall” size disappears from drive-thru menus. And there’s a Trenta (31 oz.) size? Gross…
• The world’s first Klingon opera debuts in the Netherlands: You knew it was bound to happen.
• Dudley Moore parody on Beethoven sonatas: