First Crack Podcast with Garrick Van Buren

Back in episode 4 I proclaimed my love for the Melitta Mill & Brew. Even then I knew this day would come.

The little plastic hook holding the grinder lid down snapped and fell into the grinder basin. Without this hook, the grinder doesn’t grind and the water doesn’t get near the grinds. Basically, this fragile 1/4″ piece of plastic is the key to the coffee maker. Without it, no coffee.

After 3 years of daily use, this is my second Melitta and the second time this hook has snapped. Not an atypical problem, a handful of complaints about his issue in the Amazon reviews.

In the short term, I’m weighing it down with a bag of stale, ground coffee. In the long term, I’m looking for a new machine. Any recommendations?

A conversation with Minneapolis urban planners Sam Newberg, from Joe Urban, and Jay on how making a place distinct takes a hundred years.

This conversation was recorded at Keegan’s Irish Pub in Minneapolis with two Radio Shack lapel mics going into an iPod running Podzilla.

Listen to the Long Term Commitment of Placemaking [12 min]

Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1

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A big thanks to everyone that helped keep Betty’s open. Betty’s is a great independent coffee shop and I’m happy to see the community pull together and keep it open.

Tom Roe owner of Betty’s Bikes and Buns and I talk motorcycles, community, and the best coffee in Minneapolis.

The First Crack podcast website has been recently redesigned. It now has episode voting courtesy of the Votio plugin from Asymptomatic.net. I want to thank First Crack subscriber Jonas Rullo for identifying and resolving a CSS issue with the new site. Thanks Jonas and good luck on your quest for a West Bend Poppery I.

• There’s a nice write up on Betty’s in the Skyway News.
• White Rock Coffee Roasters
• My conversation with Gene at the One-on-One Bike Studio

Listen to From Betty’s Bikes & Buns [18 min]

Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1

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In celebration of the first great day of spring, I dust off the West Bend Poppery and roast up some Aged Sumatra. Then brew up some iced coffee in my Toddy Maker Cold Brew Coffee Maker.

Things mentioned:

• Home Renovation
• Coffee by Kenneth Davids

Listen to the First Home Roast of the Spring [12 min]

Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1

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We’re tasting honey wine, or mead, with homebrewer-extraordinaire Christopher Hadden. We taste the Dry Mead from White Winter Winery and discuss mead’s history, brewing process, where you can pick some up.

For more about mead checkout:
• About Mead
• The Complete Meadmaker : Home Production of Honey Wine
  “this *the* modern reference on the art and craft of meadmaking.” - Chris.
• A sip through time: A collection of old brewing recipes
  “An interesting look at how mead was made in the middle ages. This book is a collection of medieval recipies.” - Chris.
• honeywine.com
• Liquid Solutions
• Got Mead

Listen to Honey Wine Tasting with Christopher Hadden [32 min]

Got questions about coffee or comments about the show? Call: 206-20-BEAN-1

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