Lame Cuppa Joe

I bought a bag of drip-grind Equal Exchange fair trade coffee for $8 (12 oz) at a non-profit gift shop in Central Square. I'm almost to the end of the bag, and the coffee has uniformly come out watery and flavorless in spite of increases to the coffee-to-water ratio. I have a drip coffee maker, and it doesn't have settings, so all I could do was decrease the water level. It's still like drinking weak broom straw tea.

This was my first try with fair trade coffee. At this point I'm disinclined to try it again, though I wish that wasn't the case. My usual brand is Maxwell House, which is about $5 for a standard size can, and it's always good (to the last drop, I might add). I'm not interested in buying fancy brewing equipment in this economy, and I'm not fond of espresso or steamer drinks made with it. I just like regular drip coffee. My thinking is that the Equal Exchange was just crappy quality coffee.

But my question: are there other brands of fair trade coffee that are better and can produce a good brew in a standard drip machine? I do have a grinder, if that matters. _{(Note: I don't shop at Whole Foods, so elsewhere will have to do.)}

65redroses

Several months ago, LJ spotlighted the journal of 65redroses, a courageous, inspired, beautiful young woman in Vancouver living with cystic fibrosis. CF is a brutal and incapacitating tragedy, and it is rare for those suffering it to live into adulthood. In spite of it, she has been a teacher, activist, charity fundraiser for CF research and a blogger read by tens of thousands. A documentary was made about her life with CF and her work, and in the crew of the documentary she met and fell in love with the love of her life, who continues to be her beloved partner. Several yeas ago she underwent a double lung transplant, and her body has been in chronic rejection ever since. Most of her work has been done from her hospital bed.

Her name is Eva, and yesterday she received news from her doctors that she is going to die within the next few days. Last night, in the arms of her family and friends, she made a short video explaining that her body will be leaving very soon, but that her love and energy will remain always. It is true. In her short 25 years, she has changed lives around the world.

The video was posted last night, and I don't know whether she's already gone. Her dying wish is for everyone to love as much as they possibly can, and I want to share the things she has taught me in the few short months since I found her.

If you would like to meet Eva, first scroll back a few pages in her LJ, to see her many photos and poems that contain her spirit on both good days and bad, and see the "wall of love" in her hospital room made of cards and letters sent from strangers all over the world. Then watch the video.

65redroses, may you be tight in the arms of your many loved ones when your time comes. The love you've given the world will live on and on and on.