50:50:50 - Days 11-20

So many albums, so many coffees.

I’m on a mission to listen to all of the RNZ top 50 albums of 2022, while using all of the coffee crap I’ve collected over the years.

50 albums - 50 coffee - 50 days. Welcome to Fiddy Fiddy Fiddy.

I covered the first ten days in this previous post. And what a ten days that was.

Now to crack into the next ten!

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Day 11: Beyonce RENAISSANCE and the Clever Dripper

Rating: Slaps hard

I'm on leave, hanging with the kids, watching it bucket down while we listen to Beyonce's RENAISSANCE (in all caps) and smash a Clever Dripper.

@beyonce rules.

Of course this album slaps - its Queen B. It's an amazing mix of pop, hip hop and RNB that makes you want to dance. Just nonstopp dancing.

While I missed this album when it dropped, my deep obsession with TikTok means I still recognized a lot of the tracks.

Wicked album even if pop isn't ya jam. Cos this ain't pop - it's a club banger.

Also banging is the Clever Dripper. It's Clever because it merges two brewing techniques - immersion (like French Press) with percolation (like a V60 Dripper).

These steep and release brewers are great for quick, easy, and non complicated coffee brewing.

Day 12: Big Thief ‘Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You’ and the Kalita Wave

Rating: Check it

Busy day today - a day off with the girls to smash out some fun fun fun. The coffee needed to match the excitement, so I dialed up a Kalita wave over ice, alongside Big Thief's album 'Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You'.

BigThief are a cool, folk, country, indie rock band from the States with some mad jams to have a chilled listen to.

I didn't spend heaps of time with this one today cos the surf called, but the track Red Moon stuck in my head for the day.

It's worth checking this one out.

Beach day demanded a flash cooled Kalita Wave.

The kalita is a flat bummed cone filter brewer, sort of like a V60 but with a flat bum. The flat bum makes it easier to control and less prone to inconsistency. Solid as and one of my go-to brewers.

Day 13: Bill Callahan ‘YTI⅃AƎЯ’ and V60

Rating: Nope

V60 using the @thedrummingbarista 6060606060 method, listening to Bill Callahan YTI⅃AƎЯ ('reality' spelt backwards).

Did. Not. Vibe. With. This. Album.

A listen, not for me.

The coffee was though.

Used the V60 with a recipe from The Drumming Barista. 5 pours of 60g (for 300g all up). The agitation helps to extract more from the coffee.

A great method that was a part of Sean's top V60 methods of 2023.

Day 14: Black Country, New Road ‘Ants from up there’ and the Moccamaster

Rating: Shit

Moccamaster and Black Country, New Road with the album 'Ants from up there'.

Shit, 2 weeks already? It both seems way longer and a bit of a surprise all at the same time. Today's music choice didn't help progress the feeling of time matching on...

After a few adult beverages with a dear old friend, and looking towards a day full of adventure, maximum volume of the good stuff was in order. So the Moccamaster was called up to the big leagues from retirement. When you need 1000ml of coffee quick snap, there's no better option.

My mate had to go hit the trails early and left without coffee - so I had it all to my self! So good. So easy. So consistent. I recommend the moccamaster to everyone. Would trade again.

Now, this album. I have no idea what I listened to today. Some albums I've said I don't vibe with, but this one is just shit.

No common theme, story or musical idea made this a hard listen. Individually, some choons might be okay, and I could see these cats being a fun night out live, but as a album - it can join the delter press.

Day 14 done.

I'm tired.

Day 15: Black Keys ‘Dropout Boogie’ and the Tricolate (new brewer unlocked)

Rating: Good times

New toy - new album.

The Black Keys with 'Dropout Boogie' and the Tricolate. The whaaaaaaat??

Righto - 15 days ago, I looked in my cupboard at all the shit I have collected and decided to use it all. And then I remembered I live for new coffee toys and bought a new toy to add to the mix.

I have only brewed on this once, and I have to say I was impressed. I'll do a proper write up of this on the blog in the next few weeks but basically this combines a pour over brewer, like a V60, with the control of a shower screen that distributes the water.

What this means is that the agitation applied to the coffee bed is controlled and consistent.

Agitation makes a big difference to your brew. The general rule is, more agitation = more extraction. But too much agitation might lead to bitter coffee. So it's all a balance.

Tricolate controls the agitation, so it's super repeatable.

The other thing is that, unlike cone brewers that all allow some water to bypass the brewing by getting in between the filter paper and the brewer, the Tricolate makes sure all water kisses all the coffee.

I had a great brew out of this, and I'm looking forward to experimenting more.

Now for the tunes - Black Keys are a band I used to listen to a lot and then sort of just stopped. I'll start again though- this album is a good listen and the other BK discs are pretty good.

Day 16: Bret McKenzie ‘Songs without jokes’ and the Mitzudashi

Rating: Check it

Cold coffee thanks to the Hario Mizudashi cold brew coffee pot Bret McKenzie with 'Songs without Jokes'.

I had low expectations of Songs Without Jokes. I mean, Bret is a funny man, known for being funny, so without that, what is he? A Goddam legend that's what he is.

This album is a mix of ragtime, pop, rock and a lot of fun (though, not funny).

Bret's voice is quite intriguing. Soft but with a bit of a dark edge from time to time. Cool album with some really run times. 'A little tune' is a great tune.

You know what else is cool? Cold coffee.

The Mitzudashi is a brewer that makes hella good cold coffee. Super easy too - put coffee in the basket, add water, and let it steep for 24 hours. Remove basket and drink! Can't be easier.

You can also make the exact same coffee in an old boot - but you don't want that in ya fridge so get one of these.

This one was made with #FlightCoffee Bomber Blend. A really awesome coffee cold. 75g coffee to 1000ml water. Steep 24hrs. Drink.

Day 17: Bruce Springsteen ‘Only the strong survive’ and the Bruer

Rating: It’s fine

Day 17 of Fiddy to the power of three.

MORE cold coffee, this time thanks to the cold drip maker, the Bruer, and The Boss with 'Only the strong survive.'

Who needs 5 ways to make cold coffee?! Well, me I guess and the Bruer is another of the cool gadgets I have to do that.

Unlike the Mitzudashi brewer, the Bruer does its thing one drip at a time. For the lighter roasted coffees, this brings out a lot of sweetness and floral notes.

I used the #FlightCoffee Bomber blend again, and I prefer the brew made with the Mitzudashi over the one with the Bruer.

However the Bruer is a great piece of kit and worth getting if ya into cold drip and have super funky coffees on hand.

My brother loves Bruce Springsteen and no doubt loves this album. I, on the other hand, don't have strong feelings either way.

This album is obviously quality - it's The Boss after all, but for me, it's not my jam. It's the stuff you'd here playing at a supermarket - non offensive background noise.

(Sorry Darrin!)

Day 18: Cate Le Bon with ‘Pompeii’ and the Puck Puck Me

Rating: Good times

Today, the PuckPuckMe cold drip coffee maker attachment for the Aeropress, and Cate Le Bon with 'Pompeii'

Cate Le Bon is not someone I've heard of before but holy moly this is a great listen.

Pompeii is a quirky album with amazing instrumentalism paired with rad vocals. It's a poppy, chilled, fun album and it's a real interesting listen. Fun.

Now, the PuckPuckMe. It's an attachment that pops on top of the Aeropress, turning it into a cold drip coffee maker.

Just pop it on top of the Aeropress, add water and then have a blast. You can dial in the number of drips so you can really tune in the brew.

I used 50g of coffee to 600ml water that will make a brew that you can add water, ice, tonic and gin.

I have used the Coffee Untitled Brazil for this one and I'm so excited to use it. Such a great coffee!!! Looking forward to featuring it more over the rest of the 505050 project.

It's an affordable way to get into cold drip, especially if you already own the Aeropress. Solid as.

Leshgo!

Day 19: Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul, with an oat milk flat white

Rating: Slaps hard

An oat milk flat white, served in a cup you can eat, listening to Charlotte Adigéry and Bolis Pupul with 'Tropical Dancer'.

This. Album. Slaps.

RNZ described this as "made for the dancefloor, brimming with a mischievous type of fun - but the pair have opinions on a range of topics and the album is focused on making them heard."

Not even sure how to describe the genre, but who cares just get up and dance. Check this one out.

After 19 days I've come full circle and I'm back to the espresso machine. Last time was a long black, but today was an oat milk flat white with the Alternative Dairy Co oat milk they hooked me up with (with some other goodies) served In the Twice Edible cups.

The oat milk was good - nice and creamy and not too oaty. Coped with my terrible milk skills and went well with the chocolate cup! Looking forward to playing more with this milk.

I can't so latte art hahahaha someone teach me!

A great way to start the day.

Day 20: Christine and the Queens and a Chemex

Rating: Good times

A post run blast of the Christine and the Queens album "Redcar les adorables étoiles' and a beautiful chemex with the Brasil from Coffee.Untitled.

Weirdly fun album to listen to. Awesome basslines and driving drums along side some sweet poppy vox. A fun summertime album to enjoy.

Pairs nicely with a chemex - cos what wouldn't.

Blasted the Brasil today. Makes an amazing chemex - great body and nice sweetness that I enjoyed half of before dropping it at the ball court.

Good day. 20 done.

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Wow - that was an exciting 10 days. Will the next 10 be as exciting? Hopefully.

Does the next 10 days include New Zealand’s answer to poo on the shoe “Sux60”? Well, you’ll have to wait to find out.

Peace!

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