Coffee snobs are everywhere
September 21, 2008
I like coffee. Just strong, black coffee. But, what I don’t like about coffee are the coffee snobs who know everything there is to know about the bean and figure that if you don’t also, you have no business drinking the black gold.
Phooey! Why can’t I just appreciate the smell, the warm goodness flowing down my throat, the atmosphere of an old coffee house without spoiling the romance that is contained in the unknown, the mystique of the bean? I don’t really want to know how it is grown, harvested, roasted, brewed, etc. Knowing that makes it real, familiar. I want a magical, mysterious relationship with my cup of coffee.
So, all you Joe haters who think that we’re not “real coffee people” because we enjoy a good cup of coffee while talking about things other than coffee…. phhhttttttttttttt!
Yeah, real mature, Joe.
Who cares. When you’re not a snob, you don’t have to act like one.
PS Guy, still waiting on the coffee link.. please tell me I don’t have to be a snob to get in 
How to tell if you are all grown up
September 10, 2008
I get asked a lot by the Gen Y generation how to tell when one of their ranks crosses into adulthood. Here is the no-nonsense, tried and true test. You have to pass all three of these things to say “I am an Adult.”
1. You have a job that pays your rent, in full, on time and every month.
2. You read a newspaper every day, in paper format.
3. You have developed a taste for strong, black coffee.
That’s it! All three and you are an adult.
Now, go out and make a difference for someone else.
Sphere: Related ContentKindle replacing newsprint? Just say no!
June 24, 2008
Arik Hesseldahl with BusinessWeek reviewed the Kindle as a replacement to the four morning newspapers he reads each day. Short story long, he concludes the the Kindle saves him money over subscribing to the newspapers and it does save some trees and “it is a fair, but imperfect, replacement for the daily newspaper.”
Arik focuses on the readability of the text, the low quality photos, the battery life, the data vs data argument of e-newspaper and paper. But, the one HUGE thing he misses is the visceral experience that a newspaper brings to the reader; the crinkle of the newsprint, the smudging of the ink, the folding of the pages and yes, even the wind blowing the pages on a “breezy Saturday.”
Like a good, strong cup of coffee, the “experience” starts way before the warm, black liquid meets your lips and slides down your throat on it’s way to waking your cells up in the morning. It starts with the aroma of the beans in the grinder, the aromatic steam rising from the carafe. It continues on with the way your hands feel, cupped around your favorite mug, the first real morning breath leaning into the steam before you sip.
While you can get caffeine almost anywhere — just like you can get news from a Kindle — the experience of coffee and the rustle of the morning newspaper is priceless. Plain Joes will always read the morning news on paper, just like they will always drink coffee strong and black.
Sorry, Arik. While newspapers may shrink, become harder to find and may be more expensive to buy, Plain Joe believes the newspaper, like a good strong cup of coffee, will always be part of the early morning ritual.
Sphere: Related ContentGet Laid Off and Take Your Plain Joe With!
May 10, 2008
In a recent article written by Kate Lorenz, posted by MSN.com, covered the Six Ways to Prepare For a Layoff.
Here at Plain Joe, we want to give you the six essential steps to get out of there and still take your Plain Joe with you!
Six ways to leave with your Joe:
1. Get Your Plain Joe Gear Organized.
Start by cleaning out your Plain Joe mug everyday. You don’t want to be presented with a pink slip and have to worry about spilling day-old coffee on your shit. At the same time, start packing up important personal items. Performance reports, copies of projects you and Plain Joe worked on.
2. Drink all the Plain Joe You Can.
Drink up and take any pain to the docs. Don’t worry about complications of Plain Joe and your acid reflux, stains on your teeth, or high blood pressure. Drink up now, and have the doc fill your medications before loosing benefits.
3. Network With Plain Joe.
Clearly, after the lay-off you’ll need to find another source of income. Start schmoozing up to fellow co-workers, clients, and friends by sharing Plain Joe with them. Our suggestion; order a gift pack with two Plain Joe mugs and whole ground beans.
4. The Hunt Is On!
In addition to updating your resume and keeping it clean of Plain Joe spills. Start searching the web for new job opportunities on sites like narms.com.
5. Get Caffeinated Up!
Anyone who’s been laid off can tell you that the day it happened they got that “vibe” from the office. Prepare yourself. Grab an enormous cup of Plain Joe, making sure it is steaming hot. Start chugging to get your heart rate up. In the event the HR people feed you lines of bull, keep your cup full so you can chuck Plain Joe at them. Always, stop and sip on your joe before signing any paperwork or agreements. You’ll need the time to fully asses your options and a cup of Plain Joe will provide that.
6. Plain Joe’s Exit Strategy.
After you’ve been canned, the single most important exit strategy will be grabbing all your Plain Joe beans. Don’t leave those jerks with a premium brew like Plain Joe. Instead switch it out with one of the other guys, like Folgers Decaf. They’ll miss you in the end!
