Comments on: Caffeinated Classics: Transcendentalist Style http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/ Your Coffee Blog Hero! Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:33:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Alex Scofield http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1163 Alex Scofield Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:46:25 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1163 @Farnoosh -- Thoreau's thoughts on coffee/tea rattled me, too. They clashed violently with what I'd expected him to say on the subject. ... And yet I got the impression he drank it from time to time -- so why the disgust for these fine beverages, Henry? My conclusion: "Again, we see not an actual distaste for coffee so much as we see an aversion to what it represents – a luxury imported from foreign places beyond Concord’s borders, an expensive taste which ultimately drains the time and financial resources of those who enjoy it and are unable to deviate from the routine of consuming it." http://www.ineedcoffee.com/00/thoreau/ So basically, if your love for tea or coffee is in harmony with your life and doesn't hinder you from getting "there", I don't think Thoreau (or Emerson) would be so critical of your tastes. If, on the other hand, you idle comatose in the Starbucks drive-thru for 15 minutes every morning, awaiting your "fix," maybe it's time to listen to what the Transcendentalists had to say. ;) @Farnoosh —

Thoreau’s thoughts on coffee/tea rattled me, too. They clashed violently with what I’d expected him to say on the subject. … And yet I got the impression he drank it from time to time — so why the disgust for these fine beverages, Henry? My conclusion:

“Again, we see not an actual distaste for coffee so much as we see an aversion to what it represents – a luxury imported from foreign places beyond Concord’s borders, an expensive taste which ultimately drains the time and financial resources of those who enjoy it and are unable to deviate from the routine of consuming it.”
http://www.ineedcoffee.com/00/thoreau/

So basically, if your love for tea or coffee is in harmony with your life and doesn’t hinder you from getting “there”, I don’t think Thoreau (or Emerson) would be so critical of your tastes. If, on the other hand, you idle comatose in the Starbucks drive-thru for 15 minutes every morning, awaiting your “fix,” maybe it’s time to listen to what the Transcendentalists had to say. ;)

]]> By: Farnoosh Brock http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1146 Farnoosh Brock Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:20:49 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1146 I am a tea drinker (unless in Seattle or Roma, Italia), and I don't mean those things called "tea bags" - but really fine loose teas. But I am feeling a bit out of sorts, reading what Thoreau said about tea. Alas, the mind of a genius. I wish I were that gifted. I am a tea drinker (unless in Seattle or Roma, Italia), and I don’t mean those things called “tea bags” – but really fine loose teas. But I am feeling a bit out of sorts, reading what Thoreau said about tea. Alas, the mind of a genius. I wish I were that gifted.

]]> By: Fresh Brews: Return Of The Coffee Wars And Topless Coffee Shops | Daily Shot Of Coffee http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1088 Fresh Brews: Return Of The Coffee Wars And Topless Coffee Shops | Daily Shot Of Coffee Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:57:24 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1088 [...] Hero Caffeinated Classics: Transcendentalist Style If you’re a bit of a bookworm, as well as a coffee fanatic: Alex Scofield has begun looking a [...] [...] Hero Caffeinated Classics: Transcendentalist Style If you’re a bit of a bookworm, as well as a coffee fanatic: Alex Scofield has begun looking a [...]

]]> By: Mike http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1054 Mike Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:30:42 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1054 The last time I was reading it I was living in the middle of nowhere upstate New York. The beach might give me a different perspective...or at least help out my lack of tan problem. The last time I was reading it I was living in the middle of nowhere upstate New York. The beach might give me a different perspective…or at least help out my lack of tan problem.

]]> By: Alex Scofield http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1053 Alex Scofield Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:09:06 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1053 Nothing like some light reading for the beach, eh? ;) Actually, come to think of it, the beach is about as appropriate a place as any to read Walden. Nothing like some light reading for the beach, eh? ;)
Actually, come to think of it, the beach is about as appropriate a place as any to read Walden.

]]> By: Mike http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1052 Mike Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:13:43 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1052 I'm sure they would have some different opinions if they had some Kona or Blue Mountain. Either way, I'm about due for some re-reading of Walden. I’m sure they would have some different opinions if they had some Kona or Blue Mountain.

Either way, I’m about due for some re-reading of Walden.

]]> By: Alex Scofield http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1051 Alex Scofield Thu, 12 Nov 2009 01:48:46 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1051 Good point ... how differently would Thoreau or Emerson feel if somebody served them up freshly roasted Kona or Blue Mountain, brewed in a French press? I don't know much about the prevalent roasting or brewing methods of that period, but I'm guessing that when Thoreau's woodchopper friend served him coffee from a stone bottle, it was neither freshly roasted nor freshly brewed. That's *so* First Wave. Good point … how differently would Thoreau or Emerson feel if somebody served them up freshly roasted Kona or Blue Mountain, brewed in a French press? I don’t know much about the prevalent roasting or brewing methods of that period, but I’m guessing that when Thoreau’s woodchopper friend served him coffee from a stone bottle, it was neither freshly roasted nor freshly brewed. That’s *so* First Wave.

]]> By: elara http://coffeehero.com/2009/11/caffeinated-classics-transcendentalist-style/comment-page-1/#comment-1047 elara Wed, 11 Nov 2009 18:53:50 +0000 http://coffeehero.com/?p=2254#comment-1047 Cool article. I agree--coffee helps us to deal w/ the mundane... But I wonder if these guys just didn't know how to make a good cup? Cool article. I agree–coffee helps us to deal w/ the mundane… But I wonder if these guys just didn’t know how to make a good cup?

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