The coffee world is full of nuance and depth. Two similar beans could have vastly different flavor profiles depending on a plethora of external factors, such as altitude, geography, weather, cultivation techniques, and — arguably the most important ...
What Is So Special About Coffee from the Indonesian Island of Sumatra?
Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world and the world’s fourth most populous nation, made up of 17,508 different islands. Its people are scattered among nearly 6,000 of these. The Indonesian island of Sumatra, home to nearly 50 million ...
Nine Line: Tyler Merritt’s Lifeline on the Battlefield and Off
In wartime, soldiers are under constant threat of injury or worse. There is no 911 to call out in the middle of tactical field operations and contentious battle zones. What there is instead is the 9-line. The 9-line is a standardized list of ...
150,000 Kenyan Farmers Are Growing Some of the Best Coffee in the World
Many of the earliest fossils of man can be traced to Kenya in eastern Africa, where fossilized remains of humans and other hominids have been found dating back to the low Paleolithic era, more than 3 million years ago. Renowned for its vast natural ...
From Vietnam to US Marine: The Tana Le Story
Ho Chi Minh City, the most populated city in Vietnam, is a spiritual capital for those of Vietnamese descent. It is infamously the city where monk Thich Quang Duc set himself ablaze in 1963 to protest the persecution of Buddhists by the South ...
Guatemala Set to Leave the International Coffee Organization amid Coronavirus
Casual drinkers are likely unaware that the world of coffee extends far beyond the counter of their local cafe. Many never realize the politics, history, or bureaucracy behind their favorite caffeinated drink, but coffee is big business and the ...
How Rwanda Revived Its Coffee Industry by Focusing on Quality over Quantity
Hills as far as the eye can see, swooping valleys, vast savannas full of wildlife, and a resilient people characterize the nature of Rwanda. Known as the Country of a Thousand Hills, Rwanda is a landlocked East African country, nestled between the ...
Coffee in El Salvador and the Innovation of the Pacamara Bean
A tale as old as time — peasantry worked to the bone for nary a coin while the upper-class toils away in their mansions, castles, and fortresses. When the peasants rise up, their actions are met with force, if not blood. The history of coffee in El ...
Rich Volcanic Soil Makes Guatemala a Top Coffee-Producing Location
Guatemala is a country defined by its landscape, notably its many mountains, some of which are active volcanoes like Pacaya, Fuego, and Santiaguito. These mountains, which cut across the country from east to west, divide the country into three ...
Remembering Louis L’Amour, an Author Influenced by War and Education
Louis L’Amour published more than 100 novels — under his name as well as the pseudonyms Tex Burns and Jim Mayo — wandered the world, served in the military, and spread his joy of learning and reading. “That was Louis’s way, to find something of ...
Coffee in Space: A Brief History
For as long as humans have been traveling into space, coffee has been an integral part of the journey. But it wasn’t until the Apollo 11 space mission that astronauts could have hot coffee in space. “Behind the moon, I was by myself, all alone but ...
The Cure for the ‘Rona: When All Else Fails, Alcohol
The coronavirus pandemic has created a world wracked with worry and panic. Restaurants and bars have closed, people are stuck at home, and alcohol sales are up. Whether it’s wine o’clock or quarantini time, people have taken day drinking to a whole ...
This Green Beret’s Job is to Play Video Games for the U.S. Army
While bullets are flying overhead, a grenade suddenly lands in your lap, and you have to do everything you can to get away from it. After an intense battle and multiple casualties, you and your companions eventually win the fight. You exchange ...
Service, Politics, and Booze: US House Rep Denver Riggleman’s Path to Congress
Distilling liquor takes incredible patience. Even making a simple, flavorless vodka requires extensive study, expensive equipment, and a sizable stockpile of resources such as potatoes, corn, or grain. Those resources have to be made into a mash, and ...
Creating the Perfect Man Cave, Quarantine-style
Man caves, in one form or another, have been around as long as man himself. Cavemen probably had a separate space away from their cave family where they kept all their favorite rocks. Beyond the neon-tinted Bud Light signs and neglected wives, ...
The Washed Coffee of Papua New Guinea
Sweeping valleys and highlands, beautiful tree-covered landscapes as far as the eye can see, and about as temperate a climate as you could ask for — that’s Papua New Guinea. Located north of Australia on the eastern part of the island of New Guinea, ...
God, Family, and Service: Daniel Gade’s Journey From West Point to Washington
“Are we being well-served by our political leaders?” Daniel Gade asked rhetorically when thinking about his reasons for running for U.S. Senate for the state of Virginia. Gade made it clear that he didn’t exactly want to get into politics, but he ...
Ethiopia, the Birthplace of Coffee, Still Produces Highly Desirable Beans
Coffee is a diverse crop. Every continent across the world, sans Antarctica, has several major coffee producers and/or consumers. One such producer is the African country of Ethiopia. Coffee is ever present in Ethiopian culture, as about 60 percent ...
Why Didn’t ‘Titanfall 2’ Live Up to Its Predecessor?
There’s something about giant fighting robots that is seemingly irresistible. They’ve been staples in pop culture for decades, from “Power Rangers” to “Pacific Rim” — and the underappreciated video game sequel “Titanfall 2.” The allure of giant ...
Brazilian Arabica Coffee and the Meticulous Process of Natural Controlled Fermentation
There was a time when Brazil wasn’t the largest producer of coffee in the world, and that time was about 60 years before the world’s oldest person, Kane Tanaka, was born. In fact, since it became the leading distributor in the 1840s, Brazil has been ...
The Small But Mighty Indonesian Arabica Coffee Crop
There is a particular allure to internationally sourced java — a craft and style distinct to every region that grows coffee. Out of the 185 countries sprinkled throughout the world, around 70 of them produce coffee in some capacity, and each has its ...
Holiday Coffee Cocktail: The Skrewy Espresso Martini
The holidays are rolling in fast. The time for gift giving, massive meals, and too many parties and get-togethers. The perfect drink to keep you going while still catching a nice buzz is the Espresso Martini. The Espresso Martini as we know it ...
What Makes a Great Master Roaster in the Coffee Business?
Coffee is an art, and just like the most profound paintings, the craft requires artists to create, innovate, and improve. These innovators in the coffee world are called master roasters, and they are the brains behind new blends, roasts, recipes, and ...
What is Peru Red Honey Coffee?
The sun rises over the Andes Mountains on many small coffee farms dotting the hillsides. They prepare for another batch by handpicking the cherries, removing a small bit of the fruit flesh, and then leaving those beans out to dry for a few days. ...
Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Coffee?
As the sun breaches the cracks in the curtains, the only thing that makes getting out of bed sound like a good idea is a hot cup of joe — or two — fresh from the coffee maker. But is drinking too much coffee bad for you? Coffee is one of the most ...