Questions or comments podcast@coffeegeek.com or call the voicemail line (NEW!) at 1-206-965-8185, or Skype to Skype - search for the "CoffeeGeek" username.
Introduction, props going out to the EatFeed podcast, and a plea from Mark for them to start doing the show again.
Comments on new audio setup for the CG Podcast (including what appears to be one bum microphone :( ). Let us know how you like the audio: podcast@coffeegeek.com.
We're on Sirius Radio this week! Thanks to Tim Henson of the Distorted View show for featuring our podcast in his guest appearance, taking over for Adam Curry on Sirius!
- Too much news to list - go to the Resources section to see it all. - Nice discussion by a professor on equating a jar full of stuff (incl. coffee) with life. - Discussion on Maxwell House "lowering prices for consumers" and how Kraft Foods should instead keep prices level, pay farmers more, and increase the quality of their drink. - Discussion on Starbucks not going into black neighbourhoods, but Mark talks about how Starbucks is becoming McDonalds, and how the Washington Post parroted coffee blogs and CoffeeGeek.com by saying so. - 90 second rant on premade, prepackaged coffee beverages
Coffee Evaluation - Coffees evaluated from CoffeeEmergency: the CBX Dark Espresso and the Panama Berlina Organic. - Evaluation with Beata and Mark - Jeanette phones in comments on the Panama - Instaurator (Inny from Australia) and Mark evaluate the Panama.
Wrap up, reminder to go to Podcast Alley to vote for us, or to subscribe to the show in iTunes.
I broke the RSS by accident when first uploading it... but fixed it within an hour or so of having the new RSS online.
Shouldn't be an issue - but I noted that when iTunes first downloaded it for me, it only grabbed 23mins of it. This happens from time to time with a variety of podcasts I subscribe to, and something iTunes needs to fix. (in probably 4.9.1 or something).
You can always go over iTunes' automatic downloading, and get the episode directly by searching for it in the podcast section of the store, getting the show listing, and clicking on "get episode" for episode 13.
expobar Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2004 Posts: 3,003 Location: .
Posted Tue Aug 9, 2005, 5:50pm Subject: Re: CG Podcast 013 - Heap o' News Segment, Tasting CoffeeEmergency Coffee
When I tried the Panamanian coffee from CE, I got more chocolate than brightness. I mean - the brightness was definitely there, but the chocolate was huge.
CBX is called "Dark Roast," I think, because it mimics a dark roast flavor profile. Jason upped the indonesian part of his blend to add chocolate notes, and lowered his African to subtract brightness.
When are you going to do other coffee reviews? *jumps up and down impatiently*
It's funny... I got an email saying that the tasting was boring and needs to go. ;)
I was going to review Artigiano's new coffees next podcast, but decided not to. If I say anything even remotely negative, it may be misconstrued by the owner as being biased against them.
onocoffee Senior Member Joined: 5 Sep 2002 Posts: 729 Location: Towson, Maryland Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: La Marzocco Linea 2AV, 3AV &... Grinder: 4 Mazzer Major Autos, Compak... Vac Pot: That crazy Bodum eSantos Drip: Bunn CWT Twin, Bunn Water... Roaster: Petroncini The Crumb
Posted Wed Aug 10, 2005, 1:08pm Subject: Re: CG Podcast 013 - Heap o' News Segment, Tasting CoffeeEmergency Coffee
Hey Mark-
I hope you won't mind me posting this here but since you were asking on the podcast for feedback about the new sound gear and the potential mic problem, I thought I would chime in a little bit.
Bear in mind that I've only listened to about 3/4s of the way through the News with Jeannette Chan segment, so I don't know how the rest of the podcast sounds (I listen to them in my car as I commute around the city).
Sounds to me that you have an oversaturation issue. The "breaking up" you're getting sounds like it's due to the fact that your channels are "too high." I suggest you watch the meters on whatever it is you are recording on. In the digital medium, you do not want to exceed 0 dB. Unlike analog recording, where you want your signal to be right around 0 dB, doing this in a digital format will create oversaturation and distortion.
Ideally, you want to listen to the recording AFTER it has been recorded - so that you're listening to the recording rather than a live feed. With limited resources and affordable equipment, this becomes a difficult task to achieve. For the portafilter.net podcasts, we overcame this obstacle by doing test runs before each recording session to ensure that our levels were correct.
You also mentioned some concerns about the popping. This can be readily solved by using inexpensive foam microphone covers - you know, like the ones you see TV reporters using on their mics. They are relatively inexpensive and work great at both reducing popping and eliminating wind noise while outdoors or in windy conditions.
Other alternatives are the "pop screens" you may have seen used for studio recording. They're typically a fine mesh screen that you place between your mouth and the microphone. While these don't do anything for wind noise, they are excellent at controlling popping. You can also D.I.Y. by taking a wire hanger, bending it into shape and stretching panty hose over the orifice.
For the portafilter.net podcast, we typically use Shure SM58 microphones through a Mackie 1402VLZ Pro mixer and usually into an Apple Mac G5 running OSX10.4.2 and GarageBand. When doing remote podcasts, we've also used the Apple iPod for recording.
We're also continuously reviewing other gear to make things easier. I really like the idea of the Alesis 12 channel USB mixer and while I prefer the sound of the Mackie over the Alesis, it eliminates a step in the D/A conversion. Other units I've been reviewing are the Presonus Firebox M80 and MAudio Fast Trak Pro, as well as the PSC DV Pro Mix 3 and Wendt X5 mixers. Of course, the true object of my desire is the Cooper CS208-8T, but the new PSC Miranda is just too sexy for words.
Dwango Senior Member Joined: 10 Aug 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Washington, DC Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Aug 10, 2005, 1:26pm Subject: Re: CG Podcast 013 - Heap o' News Segment, Tasting CoffeeEmergency Coffee
Hello,
I just heard your show for the first time, and found it quite interesting. I did not know there was so much info about coffee.
I found your reviews to be very informative and hope you aren't serious about removing that segment. Sometimes you just have to shoot out your opinion and be damned the consequences. Besides, feedback is a good thing for improvement! I hope you review some of the Starbuck's coffees, as I buy them in the bean bag. I'd love to hear your take on thier "special" blends (I find their dragon blend good and rich, but the single plantation coffees series not so robust). I'm thinking of switching to Barnie's, as they have the more expensive locations coffees, such as Kona and Blue Mountain, that Starbuck's never seems to have.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,054 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Wed Aug 10, 2005, 2:05pm Subject: Re: CG Podcast 013 - Heap o' News Segment, Tasting CoffeeEmergency Coffee
Dwango Said:
Hello,
I just heard your show for the first time, and found it quite interesting. I did not know there was so much info about coffee.
I found your reviews to be very informative and hope you aren't serious about removing that segment. Sometimes you just have to shoot out your opinion and be damned the consequences. Besides, feedback is a good thing for improvement! I hope you review some of the Starbuck's coffees, as I buy them in the bean bag. I'd love to hear your take on thier "special" blends (I find their dragon blend good and rich, but the single plantation coffees series not so robust). I'm thinking of switching to Barnie's, as they have the more expensive locations coffees, such as Kona and Blue Mountain, that Starbuck's never seems to have.
The stuff I wrote above isn't so much a factor on whether or not I'll review coffees in the future - just that particular one mentioned.
I think the next one coming up are coffees sent in by Ecco Cafe. I'm hoping to receive them by this Friday.
I don't think I'm going to do any reviews of Starbucks coffees however; not so much because of snobbery or any anti-Starbucks feeling, but because I'd rather highlight smaller micro roasters or even some medium sized roasters that you may or may not have ever heard of.
Re shoot out the opinion and damn the consequences! LOL! I'm already facing consequences for the simple sentence I wrote a few posts back in this thread! :)
BlacklandCoffee Senior Member Joined: 28 Jul 2005 Posts: 29 Location: Dallas, TX Expertise: Pro Roaster
Espresso: Vetrano Rotary Grinder: Mazzer Super Jolly Vac Pot: Bodum Santos Drip: Not so much Roaster: 5 lb. drum roaster
Posted Wed Aug 10, 2005, 6:03pm Subject: Re: CG Podcast 013 - Heap o' News Segment, Tasting CoffeeEmergency Coffee
I agree. Reviewing coffees on the show is informative. I'm not sure you need to review them "live" though. How about you review them at your leisure and just report your findings... less slurping that way and it won't take up as much time. Also, you'll have more time to process and reflect upon the whole experience before showtime. That might even make for a higher quality and more useful review. But there are so many roasters and blends out there. You'll never be able to even scratch the surface. And if locally roasted beans is the way to go... we're probably not going to be enjoying the coffee you're reviewing anyway. It's still useful to hear the reviews though. They point out the nuances and subtleties to look for in good coffee.
Jeanette... please, let's tighten up the news segment. Less chaff and more bean. Just because the word "coffee" is in the story doesn't make it show-worthy. We're here to learn about coffee first and have a good time second. And if you're gonna rant... RANT! Put a little passion into it! Maybe write the thing out and practice it a couple of times. That, or change the name to the 90-second mildly-spoken opinion.
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