A walk through a caffeinated mind!
January 20, 2009 by baldguy · 1 Comment
I’ve been reflecting the last couple of days (isn’t that what you are suppose to do in the first month of the new year?) on two key concepts which are not only critical to the success of our business but can also be applied to any facet of life: Knowing “where I want to go” and Understanding “what it looks like when I get there”
A business is a means to an end. Nothing more, nothing less. The business owner defines what the end is. This end could be about money, security, accomplishment, legacy, nearly whatever. At Bald Guy Brew, I periodically ask myself the following questions which help guide my thoughts and in return, my actions.
Business and the Imago Dei
• What are some tangible ways in which Bald Guy Brew can demonstrate a genuine respect for human life?
• What is the difference between “customer service” and “entertaining angels” for Bald Guy Brew?
Business and Environmental Stewardship
• What are five, low cost, eco-friendly projects Bald Guy Brew can initiate and implement that will result in less waste?
• In what ways can Bald Guy Brew reduce its carbon footprint over the next year? Three years? Five years?
Business and Social Responsibility
• What does a socially responsible business look like in Watauga County?
• How can Bald Guy Brew “do justice” and “love mercy” globally by working in the coffee industry?
Business and Life
• What does success look like both personally and for our family?
⁃ How much time do I want to take off?
⁃ Where do I want to be in the next twelve months, three years, and five years from a family standpoint?
No business is meant to last forever. Personally, I believe we are just passing through, sojourners, aliens living in a foreign land. The key is to learn to live with a loose grip, holding only onto those things which are important. Learning to hold loose or hang tight is a process…a process that, for me, always starts with these two fundamental questions: “Where do I want to go?” and “How do I know when I’ve arrived?”
Please pass the salt!
January 17, 2009 by baldguy · Leave a Comment
i just ran across an interesting trend developing in Taiwan: Sea salt and coffee! Wu Cheng-hsueh, owner of a growing chain of coffee and tea shops called 85°C (the perfect temp. for brewing coffee) has found that by adding sea salt to a milk beverage (think latte), it prepares the palete for the drink by stimulating the senses.
i think last month, someone told me that they were adding salt to their coffee. personally, i only like salt on my micheladas ( a mexican drink). anyway, here is the link that describes a growing trend both in Taiwan and China! who knows, i might include sea salt as an option at the Bald Guy Brew…one pinch or two?
2008 Caffeine Survey Released
January 14, 2009 by baldguy · Leave a Comment
A survey by HealthSaver reports that the most caffeinated city in the nifty fifty is Tampa, Florida. The least caffeinated city is Riverside/San Bernardino. Here is the breakdown:
Top Ten Most Caffeinated Cities in the USA:
- Tampa
- Seattle
- Chicago
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Baltimore
- Miami
- Boston
- Houston
- Phoenix
Personally, I think Boone, North Carolina could be in the top 10 if we were surveyed! Read the rest of the article here for an overview of our nations caffeine habits.
Mickey D’s on the war path in Korea
January 13, 2009 by baldguy · Leave a Comment
I’ve just returned from a whirlwind trip to California to meet with some friends about opening up a Bald Guy Brew in S.Korea. Will it work? Maybe. How long before we do it? Who knows…I never thought that we would be going in that direction, therefore, I need to revisit several areas before we can launch. Interestingly enough, I read an article on the plain ride home indicating that Ronald McDonald himself wants a piece of the coffee pie in Korea. Stay tuned!
More uses for coffee grounds
January 6, 2009 by baldguy · 1 Comment
Ok, so you won’t be able to extract the oil from the coffee grounds to make your own bio-diesel in your basement, but here are ten ways to use your coffee grounds after you get your morning cup of joe!
- Touch up furniture and other wood scratches with grounds and a Q-tip
- Sprinkle around areas where pesky insects, slugs and snails dwell to drive them away
- Mix with soil as a natural fertilizer for plants
- Dye clothing or paper
- Rub into your dog as an organic flea dip
- Fill old nylons and hang in your closet or fridge to repel odors
- Use to fill old pin cushions
- Scrub away grease and grime from pots and pans
- Throw on ashes before cleaning out the fireplace to reduce dust from spreading
- Feed to worms to help with your garden
- Rub on your hands to eliminate odors
- Mix 1/4-cup grounds with one egg white and massage onto face like a mud pack
For more green solutions, check out the folks over at The Daily Green.
Coffee grounds as a source of fuel
January 4, 2009 by baldguy · Leave a Comment
now this is cool…i mean way cool.
we make our own bio-diesel from waste cooking oil, but who would’ve thunk to make it out of coffee grounds? well, some folks out west have been doing a little research on coffee grounds as a source of fuel. check out this post from university of nevada’s chief researcher on how a day old cup of joe led to a little scientific research!
Podcast on NPR about Shade Grown Coffee
January 1, 2009 by baldguy · Leave a Comment
Howdy gang…
The crew at BGB hope that your first day of the new year has started off on the right foot (or left…depending on what side of the bed you sleep on…or maybe you haven’t slept yet!)
Anyway, a friend of ours turned me on to a podcast on NPR concerning Shade Grown Coffee in Chiapas.
Enjoy and remember, Bird Friendly coffee does make a difference!