Brews, news, and the St. James Infirmary Blues.

This is a test. Blogs and podcasts, they're all the rage right? Well, I found that we had set this up so I'm going to give it a go! So for this test, where have we come from, what are we, and where are we going. When I (Chris), (hi), took over Pour Jons almost 3 years ago I had no idea what I was doing, where coffee comes from and how to brew it right...well I knew nothing except that I loved the shop, people, music, and caffeination. I still have a lot to learn! But we, Pour Jons, and it really is we, because my amazing wife Emily Moore, the supremely creative Arlene McCloud, and barista extraordinaire Mr Hunter Black have as much to say about this lovely place, are always trying to get better. Always looking for new and interesting coffees and musics and foods and we love this town. We hope to be a community hub. A place where people meet, to form new business plans, catch up with an old friend, get studying done, or plot to over throw the government, and while you're at it try something delicious, maybe something you can't find anywhere else around. So you may ask who are all these weird bands we hear about and why do sell vinyl records, who listens to vinyl anyway. We are getting a lot of small independent bands who are passing to the next town stopping to play music and we are seeing some amazing talent! Its usually a small crowd but our dream is to develop the music scene in Siloam and that means anyone who wants to play book a show! Let's make local music a happening thing, grow a community of musicians! We have open mic night the last Thursday of each month so come out and jam, and then come to a show. I believe the quote with all my heart that without music life is a mistake. In that vein the reason we do vinyl is because the whole experience of listening to a piece of music on vinyl, hunting down the album, the art, pulling the disc out and cleaning it and setting the needle down to hear that light crackle and reading the liner notes while you listen is like nothing else. Vinyl has a niche for everyone. Maybe you collect deleted Smiths singes, or original, not re-released mind you Frank Zappa albums, or you're just trying to find another of the hundreds of different versions of St. James Infirmary Blues. There's something for everyone. Streaming music has its place in the background but to truly get the fullness of an album vinyl is the way to go, and getting together with friends a crate of records and talking about music?! what's better than that?! We take the same care when it comes to coffee because like the artist puts their heart and soul into a piece of music, the farmers and roasters put their heart, soul, sweat, and money into producing a perfect bean so we try and put the same care into providing you with a great cup and a great experience. We also try to give you coffees you can't get anywhere else, this week we will have a couple coffees from Oddly Correct in Kansas City, one of the best in the midwest, and we be having a limited amount of Sight Glass coffee from San Francisco in the shop soon! We are the only shop in Arkansas right now serving Topeca coffee and we always have an offering from Onyx Coffee in Springdale which are just the best! So that's what we're about and we welcome your input!! Let us know what we can do better, converse with the baristas about a coffee you like or don't like, a record you like or you just want us to take off the turntable! The best thing about downtown Siloam and it's surroundings is the community and we hope to foster that and be apart of it, it's a great town! Well I hope that wasn't too boring. Next weeks post will be much more interesting, who knows what it'll be about...I don't even know yet. Have a great week and I'll see you in the shop!
---Jon Pour

Turkish Delight

Coffee has always been the fuel of dissent, the amplifier of resistance, and Turkish coffee is certainly part of such tradition.

  The first coffee products introduced to Turkey date back to the 1500's. At first, the pulp of the coffee cherry was mashed and fermented much like a wine. Later around 1555 royalty started to roast and then brew the beans inside. Any sultan worth his palace would have a royal coffee servant called a Kahveciusta. This man had to be highly trusted and usually went on to a higher position of authority in the kings court. The whole ceremony would require 40 servants to assist.

   As time went by the Turkish coffee worked its way across class structure ending up as a household item. The traditional method of preparation is as such - roasting the green beans in a pan over open flame to a mild city+ roast, grinding the beans with a mortar and pestle to a very fine dust (even finer than espresso), sugar is then added, and depending on the person cardamom to taste. This was all then added to a special pot called an Ibrek, with the grounds floating on top of the water. A series of slow rolling boils extracted the flavor solubles in the coffee.

   After boiling, the liquid is very dark and thick, the sugar dissolves into the water and some of the coffee and cardamon particles as well. The coffee is then left to cool and poured into a small 2 ounce cup. There is no filter involved in the brewing, which makes it unique in the coffee world. With this non-filter process some of the grounds pour into the cup and settle at the bottom. However, the Ibrek has bevels meant to hold back most of the grounds.

 Turkish coffee at its best is a social drink which teaches patience and reverence for every moment. The slow tedious nature of preparation demands a calm patient attitude, while the small amount of coffee forces you to savor each sip.

  In Turkey, the Turkish coffeehouse served as the meeting place for men to discuss problems of the day. As such, those who had objections to the government often gathered in coffee houses to talk against the powers that be. The government quickly took notice and soon outlawed both the coffeehouses and Turkish coffee itself. The first offense resulted in a beating, and the second, drowning in the nearest river.

   As we know prohibition doesn't always work well and despite the law popularity of coffee grew and spread into new countries. All eligible women would learn how to properly brew Turkish coffee, much like tea in Japan. It was said that the only way for a bride to voice her opinion of her husband-to-be was in how she made the coffee. Sweet meant she approved, mild - indifferent, and bitter - utter dread.

 So next time you come to Pour Jons to plan a revolution, try a Turkish and connect with your rebel roots!

Drink thoughtfully.

Andrew

PJP: Smoothie Sailing

Hey, there, summer readers!

Need a chance to beat the heat? Well, move to Canada!

If we made a smoothie with this, we'd
have to call it a "roughie".

As a cheaper alternative, try grabbing one of our new smoothies at Pour Jons. Name a fruit and we've probably got it in stock! I mean, we don't have durian. But I would be disturbed if someone actually ordered a durian smoothie.

Other exciting news in the store: We have a couple of new teas in stock. Blueberry hibiscus is currently our Iced Tea of the week, but it's also great hot. There's also organic flowering fruit, a great combo of hibiscus, rosehips, and lemongrass. Herbal and flavorful.

In coffee news, we just opened a fresh bag of Nicaragua Dipitto beans. With a light roast, a caramel smooth body and a lemon finish, this bean is delicious as a pour over or even a french press.

For all your hot and cold beverage needs, come see us.

~P.J.