great caffeine buzz....

Oh man, an old friend just sent me a pair of stainless steel Bodum travel presses that we'll use on a road trip this summer. I roasted some Sumatra Mandheling Blue Batak beans yesterday-- I'd never tried them before-- and am trying out the new presses and the new beans.

Whoa.

I highly recommend the presses-- the only complaint I have is that they keep the brew too hot for too long. Great for prolonged sipping, but tongue searing when you're in a hurry to get that first cuppa down. I'll pour the first cup into another container in future, but the press works great otherwise.

The coffee is fantastic. And man oh man do I ever have a jittery buzz!

I roasted to about City +, a decent middling dark roast. It's low acid, mellow, but with a full flavor that feels silky and round. I like it. Haven't tried darker roasts yet.

I've been drinking mostly Brazilian yellow bourbon and Chiapas FTO beans lately, and the Blue Batak is a nice change of pace.