Episode notes
Sometimes You Just Have to Let It Bloom
Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there?
You stand there looking around like the furniture might give you a clue.
“Okay... I know I came in here for something.” So you walk back into the other room—and suddenly remember. Then you return to get it... and forget again.
At that point, you don't need better memory. You need coffee and possibly a tour guide. But there’s a little life lesson hiding in those moments: not everything has to happen instantly. Sometimes we get frustrated because things aren't moving as quickly as we'd like. We want the answer today, the problem solved tomorrow, and preferably everything wrapped up neatly before dinner. Life rarely cooperates. Sometimes we need to give things a little time. And strangely enough, coffee can teach us something about that. Have You Ever Seen Coffee “Bloom”? If you've ever watched someone make pour-over coffee, you may have noticed that they don't immediately pour all the hot water over the grounds. First, they add just enough water to wet the coffee. Then something interesting happens. The coffee may bubble, swell, and almost look as though it's breathing. That's called the coffee bloom. Freshly roasted coffee contains trapped carbon dioxide. When hot water touches the grounds, some of that gas begins escaping. Allowing the coffee to bloom briefly before continuing the brew can help the water interact more evenly with the grounds. In other words, even coffee sometimes needs a moment before it's ready. I rather like that. Because people need moments too. Sometimes we're so busy rushing from one responsibility to another that we don't give ourselves time to think, regroup, pray, laugh—or simply sit quietly. We're constantly telling ourselves: “Hurry up.” “Get this done.” “What's next?” But maybe occasionally, we need our own little “bloom.” Sit down. Pour a cup of Cager's Coffee. Look out the window. Call somebody you haven't talked to lately. Spend five minutes doing absolutely nothing productive. And don't feel guilty about it. One of my favorite things about coffee has always been that it creates a natural little pause in the day. You can enjoy a cup of Snooty, with its fruity, floral, and nutty character, and for those few minutes the world can just wait its turn. Because sometimes slowing down doesn't mean you're falling behind. Sometimes you're simply getting ready for what's next. So the next time you forget why you walked into the kitchen, don't be too hard on yourself. Maybe you weren't going in there to get anything at all. Maybe your coffee was calling you. And if you finally remember what you wanted while you're drinking it? Well, that's just a bonus.
Visit Cager's Coffee Hut at www.cagerscoffeehut.com to explore our coffees, and remember to keep brewing kindness one cup at a time.