Coffee and States of Mind

"Today was the day that anxiety came around for, I hope, a short visit. Didn't sleep well, had disturbing dream, woke up with a painful sore shoulder, spent the morning being cranky.

Nothing tastes good. ...I get no pleasure from food or coffee."

I started and never finished this post last week. Partly because of the state of mind, which passed, and then because I didn't want to dwell on the negative. But I think it's worth delving into the connections between mental states and sensory perception. My son studied and is now engaged in some research in neuroscience, so he could probably school me on this topic.

It's a simple point here that I won't attempt to explain. Being mindful of the nuances of coffee and perceiving the myriad flavors, let alone enjoying the experience, requires a certain calm and settled mind going in. It would be nice if the ritual of visiting a coffee shop, sampling coffee and identifying subtle flavors could somehow serve to lift the spirits from anxiety and relieve stress on those days where it happens. Instead, I find myself completely blocked up and, in the context of keeping a blog, even more stressed that I can't find anything worth writing about. It's the kind of day where I need a comfortable, regular place where I go to enjoy the space and not have any agenda - just relax and decompress with a warm familiar cup and a scone.

Comments

Big Mouth Coffee Roasters

Beacon NY. First impressions. Good coffee. Bright, fragrant and flavorful. Chocolate maybe, something fruity. Lighter roast.* They don' do triple shots so I should have gotten a small instead of medium, a little watery but that's avoidable if you know they only do multiples of 2 shots. Ambiance. A little sterile somehow. Large cavernous space with utilitarian, almost Spartan furnishings. A leather sofa and chairs in one corner does little to remedy the lack of coziness and warmth. If that's what you want in a coffee shop. On the other hand there's plenty of space and few indoor patrons today - mostly grab and grow. So a good home office away from home. As I am typing a line forms and it's almost out the door, one person at the cash register also making drinks - that's tough. Maybe someone else will come in from the back to help. The line for some odd reason runs next to my table where's there's very little space instead of down the middle of the entranc...

Coffee Labs El Salvador Santa Rosa, Washed Process

First thing I note is slightly fermented fruit. Berry of some sort. Blueberry even, but I wonder if my brain is just primed for blueberry after that Ethiopian I had at Drip. Something nutty, bitter nut in the taste. No way I can tell what type, but not almond at least I know that. Hard to smell anything past the fruit, which is powerful and nice. Of course as soon as I say almond, I start to get that almond extract/cherry aroma. The power of suggestion. Taste is bright, acidic, a little bitter, some of that woody taste that is so familiar. Not getting any chocolates, caramels, or florals, unless the fruity and floral are combining in a way that I can't separate - it is aromatic. And now for the label notes: Cacao nibs, Meyer lemon, roasted hazelnuts. Roast level - 3 on a scale of 9 (light) Retasting after reading the notes. Yeah, OK, I can get the lemony - it's a cirtusy but sweet aroma, that fruit that I was struggling to name, but I would need to have a Meyer lemon on hand to...

First Village Coffee

Ossining, NY. Despite the small facade (the door on the right is a different business) it's reasonably spacious inside with a front display/bar area where assorted book-store type materials are for sale, and a back room with numerous tables and chairs, plus the covid-era outdoor seating on the street. Coffee first impressions- nutty, a little fruity, hint of dark chocolate. That woody taste as it cools. Light and smooth, easy to drink. I felt a little awkward today for some reason, having nothing to do with the coffee house - it was my second stop after venturing up to Newburgh where I also felt ill-at ease and out of sorts - it's me, not the place. Point being I didn't linger inside or ask any questions about the source of the coffee. Cute coffee shop, soft biscotti again - guess that's a thing now. It was fine once, but I prefer old-fashioned hard biscotti. Ratings (1-5 cups) Coffee: Ambiance/Comfort: Space/Size: Price (3 is average):

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