#the friendly kitchen

[zerofuckingwaste]

Easy zero waste tip no. 6: Find out what caffeinated beverage you actually want/need, then learn how to make it; aka "The Starbucks Lie"

Tl;Dr: You may be misinformed about how coffee actually works, leading you to purchase beverages that you may not actually like, that may not serve the purpose you want them to serve, and you can save money (and the environment!) by learning to make something you'll actually like at home.

Last week, I went to Starbucks to get a pumpkin chai latte, because I'm not perfect and needed to fulfill a craving on a bad day- but at least I used a reusable cup. Anyhow, while I was there, I witnessed the following conversation, not for the first time, nor the last, which I'm sure is commonplace:

Barista: What can I get you?

Customer: Do you have a dark roast? I like my coffee dark.

B: We just have a medium roast ready, but I can do a dark roast pourover.

C: Nah, that's not going to be enough caffeine for me, and I need drip coffee, not anything fancy. I'll have an Americano, then- espresso beans should be high enough in caffeine!

Now, if this seems like a reasonable exchange, that's ok- you're likely not a trained barista, and even if you are, there's a chance your training was at least a little bit wrong. Let's walk through it point by point, to explain why this exchange made me want to tear my hair out of my head.

"I like my coffee dark!" Most likely, this is false- studies have shown that people are most likely to say they want dark coffee, when they actually most enjoy a lighter or medium roast. Darker roasts are bitter, partially due to having more tannins- which is why they can cause more side effects, like headaches and digestive issues.

"Not enough caffeine" In fact, the longer (darker) you roast coffee, the more caffeine it loses. If you want a highly caffeinated beverage, you should opt for the lightest roast available.

"I need drip coffee, not anything fancy (pourover)" Pourover is essentially a method of making drip coffee one cup at a time. No machine or anything, it's the least fancy coffee option possible.

"Espresso beans should have high enough caffeine" The beans used for espresso are the same as the beans used for the drip coffee- they're just ground more finely before going through the machine.

"An Americano [...] should have enough caffeine" An Americano is a double shot with hot water, about 160 mg of caffeine if you're getting a 'grande'. A drip coffee that same size is over 300 mg.

This man claimed to love coffee, but didn't understand anything about it, leading him to pay $4.39 for 160 mg of caffeine instead of $3.28 for almost double that- keeping in mind that number could easily have been doubled again had he opted for the lighter roast. So, let's fix that.

1. Light or Dark Roast?

Have you ever wondered why Starbucks has a medium roast, the Pike Place, as their go to roast all the time? It's because it's the most middle of the road, bland option, completely inoffensive- not very good, but also, not too bad. It's a blend from a bunch of places, so there's no overwhelming flavor besides coffee with a slight hint of being burned. That burn taste everyone complains about, btw, is a result of the roast being too dark for them, hello tannins!

A lot of things happen to coffee as you roast it. Let's go through each point one by one:

The color changes. The darker the roast, the darker the roast- literally. This is best gauged with ground coffee, where you can see the average of the whole bean, not just the outer shell.

The mass decreases due to a loss of moisture. However, the bean actually expands in volume due to the strength of the cell walls. In essence, the density decreases.

Oils seep out from inside of the beans, coating them, and protecting volatile chemical compounds that give them flavor.

The caffeine content is lessened the longer you roast.

With high heat, the Maillard reaction occurs. While this reaction is responsible for the lovely color and the viscous, dark flavor notes, it's also responsible for breaking down the citric and tartaric acid, which causes the sweet and fruity flavors to dissipate. It also breaks down chlorogenic acid, creating caffeic acid and quinic acid, aka bitter, bitter tastes.

High heat also causes caramelization of sugars- but at a certain point, those sugars start to burn away.

Taking all this into consideration, we can begin to figure out what kinds of coffee you'll actually like. One quick note: always get single origin coffees. Each region has its own flavors, and if you're only getting coffee from one spot in your cup, then those notes will be amplified for your enjoyment.

A dark roast will have less caffeine, a stronger coffee bitterness, and very simple, up front flavors: chocolate, nuts, smoke, wood, etc. (My favorite tastes like dark chocolate with a hint of hickory)

A light roast will have more caffeine, a lesser amount of bitterness, and very complex, more nuanced flavors: citrus, caramels, fruits, florals, etc. (My favorite tastes like blueberries and white chocolate, with notes of almonds)

No two coffees are alike. My recommendation is that you purchase a bag of whole beans from your favorite local cafe or roaster based on your caffeine needs, and try out different beans until you find one- or two, or five, or a dozen- that you really love.

One quick note- a much, much greater flavor difference can be found in aerobic v. anaerobic roasted beans. I recommend reading into this process on your own, it's fascinating- both of my favorite coffees are anaerobic roasts, as it happens.

2. How should I make my coffee?

I'm a big fan of the affogato. I'm a dessert for breakfast kind of gal, so it makes sense; a hefty double shot over a scoop of ice cream. Absolutely divine; I pretty much only do espresso for myself, although my partner greatly prefers French press.

The overall rule for caffeine in your coffee is that the finer the grind, the more caffeine you're going to get out of the bean. That being said, that doesn't mean the final product will actually have more caffeine than another method, as different ways of making coffee require different amounts of coffee grounds. Keep the ratio of grounds to water in mind for this reason. However, you must remember that the perceived strength of the beverage- the concentration of flavors- is not necessarily correlated to the amount of caffeine. I'll now go over a few methods of making coffee which can be 100% zero waste (assuming you compost those coffee grounds!).

Cold Brew- You either let grounds freely float in water, or let them steep inside of a little filter bag. Let it rest overnight, up to 48 hours. If you like your coffee cold, and not a lot of effort, this might be your best bet.

Pourover- You put grounds into a little filter over either your cup or a pitcher. Pour water over the filter and let it drip down. If you like having a calming morning ritual, this might be for you. Essentially the same as drip coffee, except you don't have to care about a machine.

French press- You put grounds in the bottom of the press, then fill with hot water, and let it steep for a few minutes, then press the grounds down. If you don't mind a little work every morning, waiting a few minutes (when you could prep your breakfast, perhaps) then give this a go.

Moka pot- You pour water into the base, then put grounds into the basket, then screw on the top. Place on the stovetop, and remove as soon as the coffee begins to come out of the spout within. If you like a strong cup but don't want to invest in espresso, this is a great option. The pressure is too low for it to be true espresso, but it's very good.

Manual espresso- This is a bit more complex. It will be the same as automatic espresso, except there's no chance of the machine failing for any electronic reason. You fill a little basket with grounds, then tamp them down. Water is brought to temperature, then pressed through the espresso at a relatively high psi. If you want espresso, this is the way. You can get an entry level (Flair makes several that are fantastic) or you can get something high end with a built in boiler (I have a La Pavoni with an attached steam wand, great purchase).

Automatic espresso- Essentially the same as manual, but the machine does the pressing for you. If you love espresso but don't want to do a lot of work for it, this is a great investment! If you can buy used, do- just make sure the brand is one that offers replacement parts.

There are plenty of other options, but these are a good place to get started, when figuring out what works for you.

3. Why do I want my coffee?

Are you looking for a caffeine boost to get through a rough workday? Do you want something sweet to accompany your breakfast? Are you just bored?

Figure out why you want your coffee, then tailor your morning experience to your needs. If you need a caffeine boost for a rough workday, maybe don't do anything time consuming- prepare a middle of the road medium roast cold brew for the week on Sunday, and go ahead and grab a glass in your hurry out the door each morning. If you want something sweet with breakfast, get a light roast and a French press, and make it part of the routine for the meal. If you're bored, do pourover with a dark roast into a funky mug, or learn to steam milk to make latte art.

Really, coffee is something lovely, that you should enjoy, without mindlessly spending money on something that's not even good. As a bonus, you can support local businesses (coffee roasters and cafes), develop a new skill, and better the environment.

#zero waste #sustainability #anti consumerism #anti consumption #sustainable #eco friendly #environment #cooking #food #kitchen #coffee #cafe #barista #coffee maker #coffee machine #espresso

[gayspacedrawings]

"will Steve's hard head dent this pot?"

Who needs enemies when you have a best friend that lets intrusive thoughts win

2012 avenger w/Bucky au

#steve rogers #bucky barnes #them they have a friendly fight in the kitchen #found family #2012 avengers w/ Bucky AU

[allieebobo]

Haha thanks for the tag @thestarsstillfall !

--

Currently listening to: Wont repeat the songs in my current pinned post hehe but I'm also listening to the second season of the Empire podcast by Goalhanger and the episode "Sultanas to slaves" about women in the Ottoman empire was really good.

Currently thinking about: how the Icelandic horses are apparently very closely linked to the mongolian horse genetically(??) Wild!! (At risk of sounding very weird, this new book I'm reading got me hyperfixating on steppe horses. I'd kill to read an IF where I get to play as a nomadic herder someone write it pleeeaaase🙏🙏)

Currently obsessed with: ok the answer is probably central asian steppe cultures right now BUT also I'm so pumped for the Bern climbing world champs!!

Tagging everyone who follows/sees this, I would love to know your answers!! 💞

#friendly kitchen chat #tag

[spongefunny]

Kitchen Cleaning Sponges,24 Pack Eco Non-Scratch for Dish,Scrub Sponges

#sponge #kitchen #cleaning #dish #scrubbing #cleancore #please help #24 #no scratch that #eco friendly

[incompleteninny]

Another free, unedited chapter of my upcoming book, “The Heist at Cordia Aquarium” is now available on its website (or click here to read from the beginning). The reveal in this chapter makes me giddy. When I thought of it, so many world building threads clicked into place and it is so ding dang satisfying!

It’s wild what throwing random facts at a board can do when you start looking for how they connect to each other.

It's overrun. Elementary students zip through Avery's hallway of aquarium tanks like a pack of goblins, gurgling out laughs and indecipherable yells. Little hands topple over cardboard cutouts of cartoon sharks, fiddle with interactive displays, and try to open locked doors with signs that read "Employee Only".

Avery's already anxious mind explodes at the scene. Screaming; the usual fishy smells; none of the kids understanding personal space: it all melds into a cacophony of stimuli that keeps the world out of focus. She scrambles through the river of children, searching above the tiny crowd for the two much taller figures that can set her free from this madness.

They're no where. At least, they're not in this hallway. Are they in the lobby? Even more kids can't still be waiting in there, can they? In spite of the thought, kids keep streaming from the direction of the lobby and around the bend.

A girl's nasally voice breaks through the buzz. "Why is that fish upside down?"

Another kid speaks up: an overconfident, smug boy. "Oh, that one's dead. I had a goldfish and that's what they look like when they die. I'm going to ask if I can flush it down the toilet!"

[...]

#my partner is really into making fancy drinks #I had a bad time about an hour ago where our trash bag ripped open spewed trash all over our kitchen floor #not very friendly for ol' OCD that already has trouble with the cleanliness of floors #so my partner offered to make me a fancy drink #it tastes exactly like the red koolaid bursts #it is unlocking memories #anyway book tags I guess #queer book #novel #lgbtq books #lgbtq representation #lesbian protagonist #protagonist with ocd

[trans-xianxian]

girl I think I need to move 😭

#my housemate is getting less and less friendly #and I'm becoming more and more frustrated with her patterns of communication #I'm just always like. dreading encountering her in the kitchen #plus there was a recent thing that was definitely my fault but the way she communicated abt it was not helpful #or proportional to the issue #she'll be like really clear and upfront about some things and then turn around and be very passive aggressive about others #and its very stressful #plus she acts like she's the only one who does cleaning when that is so deeply not true #and I seem to be the only one doing certain tasks #and overall we just seem to be on different pages about living with other ppl #in a way that isn't either of our faults #it's just getting more and more clear that we're not as compatible as maybe we thought #and that added to the way she's been acting recently has nawt made it easy to live here #especially when I'm home literally all of the time #which sucks because I love this apartment and the rent is great #but alas #ghost posts #text

[sappho-favourite-pupil]

"I'm not mad, i'm just disappointed"

#lesbian drama #your friendly lesbian neighbour teaches you how not to cook #trying to cook #idk how could have this happened but it's a nice summary of the last week #no actually i do it's because i can't do shit in the kitchen without putting the whole house in jeopardy #reality is often disappointing #c'est la vie #life is hard

[apeshit]

i found this really nice gold tension rod at goodwill for $2 and i’m gonna ask my landlord if he can uninstall my blinds so that i can put some sheer pastel pink curtains at my kitchen window

#canto ix #id also love to put in renter-friendly kitchen toles eventually… i wanna do white and light green checkerboard

[zerofuckingwaste]

Easy zero waste tip no. 5: Paradoxically, you need to throw things away sometimes.

When I first went to college, I bought kitchen supplies for my dorm room. When I moved out of my parents' house, I bought some more. When I moved to a house, I bought even more. I was gifted more. I inherited more. More more more.

My kitchen became absolutely stuffed full of things, most of which I either didn't use, couldn't find, or didn't like but dealt with because hey, I already had it and didn't want to buy another.

Eventually, I sat down and pulled everything out of the shelves, the drawers, the baskets, the cabinets, absolutely everything. I was shocked to discover I had dozens of wooden spoons, but no pasta utensil. Seemingly a billion glass containers and only half of their matching lids. Like 6 pairs of tongs? For some reason?

I picked out the things I knew I used, and the things I knew I would use if I actually knew where they were. I was able to sell a few things, donate about half the rest, and the remaining, I unfortunately had no choice but to throw them away. I filled an entire trash bag, and then some, and felt terrible about it.

Then the most miraculous thing happened.

Since then, I haven't bought a single new thing for my kitchen. Meal prep has been easy. Making food in the moment has been easy. I love spending time in my kitchen, it's clean, organized, and fun. There's no stress anymore- and no compulsive need to buy when I couldn't find things, because hey, I know where everything is.

My waste has been significantly reduced by cutting the clutter out. And this is a principle that can apply to every aspect of your life.

Declutter your closet, you'll only wear outfits you love, and you won't feel nearly as much of a need to buy better all the time.

Declutter your bookshelves, and you'll only be surrounded by books you actually love and/or want to read, without feeling the need to buy more that will just end up being tossed out without ever being cracked open.

Declutter your bathroom, and you'll actually use all of the products you have with far less waste that goes bad before you can use it.

Et cetera.

Surround yourself with things you love, rather than just with lots of things.

#zero waste #sustainability #anti consumerism #anti consumption #eco friendly #sustainable #environment #cooking #food #kitchen #declutter #minimalism #minimalist

[thebirdandhersong]

But where do I put all this love? It's inside of me, growing and festering and threatening to explode out of me. Who do I give it to now? Where does it go? Where does it go to fade away? Where does it go to die a quiet death? There isn't a pair of familiar hands to receive it anymore, and no longer a welcoming mailbox waiting with its mouth open. Where does it all go and where should I put it? Who do I love now, the way I loved that boy?

#what a headache this is. i dont love him anymore which is just as well because oftentimes that ish HURT. #but whose hand do i hold who do i cook dinner for who will turn to me with laughter in their eyes #like they know i understand the joke who will hold the umbrella so far over my head their whole sleeve gets wet #who do i send letters to while full knowing i'll never get a response but still hoping for one who will wink at me across #the dinner tablr who will walk me home who will i think of while im dancing in the kitchen #who will i make tea for who will i agonize over while planning birthday and Christmas gifts #who will i love the same way? where do i put this mountain of love #what do i do with all the little specific ways i learned to love #and who will love me when the only person who has ever looked and me and said i love you and i want to cherish you #was also the person who made me feel like an afterthought a sincere but directionless fling #who made me feel undesirable and unseen and unwanted? i have never felt so unwanted the way i felt at the very end #anyway this is probably a sign that im up way too late anyway what is the point in wondering lol #since breaking up with the boy i have shot my shot with four other friendly candidates #and have been gunned down by disinterest or unfortunate barriers #since breaking up with him four of my friends have gotten engaged and one has begun a new promising relationship #and four others are pregnant. when will i not have to examine my heart #and see the ugliest kinds of covetous resentful thoughts and feelings and be like #ah yes this is not a healthy response #also no wonder the only boy who ever thought you were worth loving never loved you fully and completely #he signed up for what he thought was a beautiful heart a beautiful mind a beautiful soul no wonder he was disappointed

[valenthario]

why is ts4 so fucking unplayable im losing my mind

#txt #it takes my sims 10 queued 'friendly introduction' interactions & like 3 sim hours to introduce themselves to anybody #they make dinner inside their apartment and choose to eat it outside standing on the pavement instead of the dining table IN THEIR KITCHEN? #it wasnt that big of a deal to me in the past but now its soooo fucking annoying #the ai in ts4 is so fucking broken IM LOSING MY MIND #i truly just wanted to chill and play but im truly losing it #. eugh god #closing ts4 opening ts3 sorry. bye

[cakeywakeyfakey]

Cakey..........my bff.......where did u wander off 2.....

Ah!!! Hi!!! Hello!!! I wander off to set on to see the world… apologies for my long absence dear darling bff!!! :o(((

I just wanted take a break from posting since a lot has happened recently!!! First, I had to do a project with my mother!! I had to come up and draw her a character for her clinic, which is complete but I still haven’t technically submitted yet? :o7

After that, school opened for me!! Had new students, new teachers and all that!It’s so incredibly tiring nowadays because:

♥️♥️💗💗♥️♥️💗💗♥️♥️💗💗

1. I have to wake up early in the morning to go to school, it starts at 6 and ends at 1:30 in the afternoon!! 12 if it’s Friday though!

2. Whenever I come back from school too, I have tuition to attend to, which starts at 3… AND I USUALLY COME BACK AT 2:30. explodes

3. I am also! Currently fasting right now! During this hot weather! So at this very moment, I am experiencing the very same thing as SpongeBob and Patrick did when they were burning alive in that movie! :o)

(I hope I am not sharing too much personal information… though please do tell me if I am!!!!)

♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️

So, yeah! Hence the reason why I haven’t gotten a chance to post! Because I am incredibly tired! :-((

Though fortunate news! I will be posting again very very soon fellow friend! Even during my absence, I did a lot of Welcome Home art and I will be sharing them soon! :oD (hooray YIPPPE YAHOOOO!!!!!!)

Though! Keep in mind that some of the arts are quiteeeee old since I made them BEFORE the update!! So expect old designs!!!!

And don’t worry, I will eventually answer the asks I currently have right now which is- 2! It doesn’t seem much, which it ISN’T, but with what’s happening with me right now.. it’s quite a chore! Luckily, I like doing chores! So I guarantee this will be fun!! :-)

💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗♥️💗

Ah alright, I think that’s all I wanna say for now! Besides that the new update is really really GLORIOUS! That’s really it! Again, I SINCERELY apologise for the wait!! It’s a nasty old habit of mine, hopefully I’ll defeat it one day and that this wouldn’t happen again!!! :-((

I also am so sos sososoosos sorry if I sound less energetic and dry on this…. i would love to apologise MORE but I am sosososoososos tired….. I crave for chocolate right now……. Which I literally could go and take it but aghahhhh…… it’s past the time I usually sleep TOO… girl…………

#AGAIN I AM SO SORRYYYYYYYY #I had to help with a lot of home chores too… #Had a horrible painful headache….. #and a horrible ugly fever…… #CAN’T TAKE A BREAK NOWADAYS. #I love helping my mum in the kitchen because she deserves it #but going out…. #and going out AFTER #ON THE SAME DAY #DURING THE WEEKENDS? #not just a pain in the ass #but a pain in EVERYWHEREEEE #Hence my stupid headach!! yay!!!! #but serious note #I genuinely wanna come to posting because #I genuinely missed how fun it was :-(( #so I am coming back!!! horray!!! #tired but pleased! #yes yes!!! #can’t wait to ramble again!!! wahhhh!!!!!!!! #friendly friends ask <3 #kiss kiss mwah mwah!!!

[tante-litfass]

Und die Orange sprach: Lächle und sei froh, es könnte schlimmer kommen …

#Magick monday #The friendly face #orange #in the kitchen #healthy

[therugcollective]

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7022 AC Skinner Pkwy, Jacksonville FL 32256, USA [email protected]

#oriental rugs #kitchen rugs #rugs for sale #area rugs #rugs #eco-friendly rugs #large area rugs

[naturallyaching]

All I do is smoke weed. Am I high or am I always trying to get high?

#stoner witch #420 friendly #kitchen witch #indica #pothead #420everyday