What’s in the Pot?

Coffee… every one knows what it is, that piping hot beverage that evokes a happy dance of the soul. For some coffee is a morning ritual or a decadent treat after dinner, for others a quiet refuge to gather thoughts. The smell is distinct, bold and connotative, and the taste is not for everyone. Still, the hot beverage has become staple in many cultures, including here in the U.S.

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Welcome to the first edition of, What’s in The Pot, one’s only destination for all things coffee.

This week we are drinking Private Selection Breakfast Blend Dark Roast. Although, this sounds like a top shelf coffee it does not taste like one. The Private Selection brand is tricky marketing by the mega-retailer Kroger Co., or commonly known as Kroger. According to a list distributed by Forbes Magazine, Kroger is the third-largest retailer in the world and the #17 largest corporation in the U.S. by revenue.

Kroger carries at least three different store brands on their shelves in East Tennessee. The coffee selection includes three Kroger brands: Spotlight, Kroger and Private Selection. The three are supposed tiers of the same products and have varying associated costs. According to the packaging, all three are distributed out of Cincinnati, Ohio, but have little other similarities.

The Breakfast Blend in the pot this week, list 100 percent Arabica Coffee Beans as the ingredients. The Kroger labeled breakfast blend is milder and does not sport the same claim. Check in next week for what the Spotlight label list as the ingredients.

First impressions of the ground coffee are very bold and in-your-face. The smell of the coffee consumes the senses. Opening the bag fills the air with a memory-inducing aroma that thrust one into thought. It is a coffee that reminds you that you are drinking coffee.

The color before brewing is dark, but not as black as expected. It is a black/brown darker than black walnut. The particular color of these ground beans is typical of dark roasted Arabica coffee. A pleasant surprise is that the grounds were not dry but they did dry-out quickly. This is important because proper packaging and storage reduces diminished flavor when brewing.

Brewing fills ones home with the scent of the bold drink. The bag in review here was ground before purchase. It is more convenient but does diminish the flavor. One also loses the control of the grind. This blend has a fine grind like an espresso.

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The grind affects the flavor of the coffee greatly. An espresso will always have a fine grind, and bold flavor. The more course the grind the lighter color and flavor after brewing.

This particular brew has a strong flavor as advertised with a bit burnt nut on the back of the palate. There does not seem to be a bitterness that can come with other bold coffees. There is a little acidity but not as much as a bottom shelf or stale coffee. With some dark roast one can become bloated and gassy. This blend does not have that issue unless one over indulges.

The stale-coffee after taste does come with this particular brew. One must minutely over-indulge to get the taste, but it is powerful. Be warned that too much of this coffee will repel others. Carry a mint, gum or toothpaste and brush while traveling away from home after drinking.

Overall, this is a good coffee and decent for the price. One should not pay more than necessary for this particular brand. Luckily this coffee is on sale a lot, but only available at Kroger. The caffeine content is typical of a dark roast. If one is looking for the higher levels of caffeine go with a medium or light roast breakfast blend.

Next week’s topics will be history of coffee and how the drink has spread across the globe. There will be a new brand and blend to review so check it out.

Specialized 2FO Flats Product Review

 

Welcome to American Dream Overland Expedition, I’m your host Kenneth Medley. This is a product review about the Specialized 2FO-flats. This is the first pair of shoes I’ve bought with a manual, albeit useless, because it was for a different pair of shoes. This is great marketing by Specialized. There is warranty information so do not throw it out.

What does Specialized say about these shoes?

“Pushing the limits requires confidence in your equipment. 2FO brings control, comfort, and protection to platform pedal footwear without any weight and fit penalties. Developed and tested by gravity and all mountain athletes worldwide, 2FO uses our SlipNot rubber tread compound for ultimate platform pedal hook-up. Foot out, flat out.”

Well there it is folks, straight from the company’s website. There is a bulleted list that describes more specific details, found here, Specialized website.

Does the shoe perform? The short answer is yes. Now I will explain why.

First is confidence:

These shoes won’t keep your feet on the pedals as if you were wearing clip-ins, but will give you the confidence as if you were. There is the obvious inability to pedal on the upstroke, however, moment can compensate. If you are used to riding flats, you’ll have no problem.

The difference of riding with a shoe designed for mountain biking is night and day. Be safe and confident in your equipment and your session times will improve. The Specialized described, “shark-skin forefoot tread pattern,” grips the pedals well. This translates into confidence on the trail. Confidence translates into speed.

Second, Comfort:

These shoes are comfortable for all day Stage-Enduro races, social rides or Dirt Church. I placed 12^th in the Fire Mountain Inferno race wearing them. They are great for hike-a-bike sections. A little slippery on wet rocks, but they are not made for that. The tread will pick up a little mud when hiking but is easily stomped clean.

They are perfect for grabbing a beer after the trail. Since a lot of my rides end at the pub instead of the podium, I wear these all the time. They are my go to for social rides and when I know I will be on my feet a lot.

That being said, I recommend buying a pair of insoles with the shoes. The factory insoles are garbage and not worth wearing out. Throw them out and get new ones.

Third point I want to talk about is style.

I love the red and black. I am partial to the color combination though. I have a lot of gear in the combo because it is available, goes well with a lot of other colors and I like the two together. I get compliments on these things all the time and if you care about that, cool. Specialize has many different offerings.

Next, protection:

I absolutely love Speacialize’s, “Injection-molded toe kick, anti-tear toe, and high-side cuff.” These features really do provide lightweight armor-like protection. You do not have to worry about trail hazards puncturing your foot when riding.

They are not bulletproof, but do provide a higher level of protection. I have hit plenty of sticks, roots and rocks jutting onto the trail with these and never missed a pedal stroke. Also, they don’t scuff on pavement and protect from road rash during urban assaults.

Last two things I will hit on are price and durability. I think these go hand-in-hand. I know I want a product that is going to stretch my dollar. I purchased my 2FOs through The Bike Shop Johnson City and got a closeout deal, because of color. I am amazed at how they have held up.

I have pedaled hundreds of miles wearing these. Landed my first doubles, ridden in three different states and been down more times than I can count. The only items I have replaced are the insoles. They come with two pair of laces, which is nice. Use the trademarked Lacelock and you don’t have to worry about replacing the laces.

Cleaning is easy. Garden hose them off, remove the insoles to dry and place in the sun. I recommend some deodorizer to kill any leftover scent.

Yes they do what Specialized designed them to do. Yes they are worth the money but look for a deal. Yes they are flats so everybody knows you’re gnarly on the trail. Yes they provide some protection.

No the insoles are not comfortable so buy some. No they are not armor or bulletproof.

Most importantly, YES, I would definitely recommend these to another rider. I can’t wait to get another pair. I will try a different model in the line-up but it will be a flat.

I hope this review helps you make a decision on where to spend your hard earned cash. Whether you are racing, meditating or socializing you won’t be disappointed with these shoes.

Subscribe to American Dream: Overland Expedition for future product reviews. We have some Troy Lee Designs shorts, Ryder Glasses and a glove review coming up. Make sure to check back for those and more.