Molly Cookie

Coffee done perfectly

Mar 29, 2011 Coffee, Drinks, Tips and Tricks

What just happened? How did two months go by without me writing about a single thing? What have I been doing? Or maybe a better question would be: Where has my mind been?

Well, unfortunately it’s been in a transition stage. I’ve been adjusting to a new job that takes most of my heart and mental energy right in the middle of the busiest time of year. I started this job in December, and after spending a few weeks of easing back into remembering how it all worked I’m now in full swing of planning the biggest event of the year. In April my organization will have a brunch and auction at a fancy hotel for 750 guests, and my job is to plan it and keep it all organized. I’m the person who hears all sides of the story and knows every single detail. It’s actually been really fun to do, but it’s hard to turn my brain off when I come home and stop thinking about details. If you’ve ever planned a big event or a wedding you probably know what I mean. When you lay in bed at night you thoughts of “I need to call the florist,” or “I almost forgot aunt Jean wants to sit with cousin Amanda, I need to fix that on the seating chart!” or “Did I ever put a deposit down for the cake? What if I lost my cake and my wedding will not have a cake!” run through your head. Everything turns out fine in the end, but the details drive you crazy up until the big day. Having a well organizes system is the only way to do it. Fortunately I have that. What adds to it a little is that I have a golf tournament about a month after the big brunch event that I keep telling myself not to forget about. My job plans 4 major fundraisers a year plus other events around our organization, so I’m always thinking details. After 8 hours + of detailed thinking I end up at home wanting to sit down at the end of the night and watch Parenthood or American Idol and switching my brain off completely.

I’ve learned that there are certain things I need in order to transition my brain from work to home so that I can be a worthy contributor to my family. There is sort of a transition routine that I’ve started and I’m trying to get the hang of. So far I think it’s working out pretty well. When I get home every afternoon, the first thing I do is change out of my professional work clothes and put on jeans, and around that time (approximately 30 seconds after walking through the door) Hurley starts asking me to take him on a walk. He runs to the garage door and starts whining and stretching his neck as far as it will go towards his leash that hangs on a tall piece of furniture next to the door. He look sat his leash, then looks at me, then his leash, then me, all the time whining as loud as he can and looking absolutely pitiful. I grab my Nikes and as I put them on he comes over to me and runs back and forth, his excitement growing. Then I put on his leash and we are off. Typically we go on a fast 30 minute walk, and by the time we are done I’m ready to make a cup of coffee and think about starting to make dinner.

The coffee is a key element to my transition period. I haven’t quite gotten the timing of it down, but sitting with a cup of coffee for about 20 minutes while reading blogs or checking Facebook is such great “me” time. After that, I make dinner, another stress-relieving thing for me, and chop, stir, taste, and season until I am no longer thinking about doilies or sponsorships.

Brian makes great coffee in a French Press. I have always enjoyed when he makes it for me but until recently I’ve never known how he did it, I just allowed myself to be waited on hand and foot and stay unaware of the recipe. I typically stick with drip coffee and it works out great, but his is definitely better. Now that I have this new routine, I had to ask him what to do because now I’ve begun to make a cup for myself before he comes home. It’s a nice little moment to myself before he gets home and I start cooking dinner.

I really don’t know why Brian makes coffee this way or where he learned how, but knowing him he learned it from a book he read about coffee once and it just stuck with him. He loves to read and he knows all of the ins and outs to why this is the good way to make coffee- but honestly I just like it. There will be no scientific reasons behind why this coffee is the best way to make it, you’re just going to have to trust me that it’s awesome and try it.

Coffee done Perfectly
Makes 34 oz (about 4 mugs)

Ingredients
34 oz purified water (we use a Brita pitcher)
1/2 cup fresh coarsely ground coffee
1/4 tsp salt

Directions
Put coffee grounds and salt into a French Press. Boil water in a tea kettle or saucepan. When the water is boiling, turn off the heat and let sit for a few seconds, then pur the hot water into the French Press. Stir gently to make sure the grounds aren’t just sitting on top of the water. Let sit for exactly 4 minutes, then press the handle down very slowly to push the grounds to the bottom of the pot. Pour into a cup and enjoy immediately.