Notes on Light Roasts
I would rather do one thing with care than five things fast. Some of this will be plain; some of it took me years. The bloom is not ceremony; it lets the gas escape.
Looking ahead
Thanks for reading, and for the generous jottings that keep arriving. Most mornings I just want a good, simple cup. You can get remarkably far with a dripper and some patience.
In practice
A cheap grinder holds you back more than a cheap kettle. In April the light changes, and so does the work. This started as a quick note and bit by bit turned into something longer. I wrote most of this on a calm Saturday morning. Nothing here requires a hand grinder, though it does make things easier.
Before and after
I am still not sure I have it right, but it is closer. Light roasts reward patience and slightly hotter water. It is effortless to overthink weighing everything. It is harder to just start.
I altered my mind about filter papers twice while writing this. The shift showed up bit by bit, then all at once. Weigh the coffee and the water; guessing is half the problem.
The best advice I got was simply to slow down. The result is not perfect, but it is candid. Every spring I revisit the same questions about cold brew.