So anyone who knows me, knows that I love coffee. I got started drinking Folgers at my grandparents’ house as a child. Of course then, I filled the cup, practically, half-way-up with sugar…as kids do most things. However, when I was eighteen, I had the wonderful privilege of working for a coffee shop. We also sold boba teas and smoothies, but this is where I really began to fall in love with coffee. One day, I didn’t want anything sweet, but I wanted coffee. So I grabbed a mug, and began to taste test what we were serving. I found what I liked, then looked on the bag to see what defined what I liked. Then I researched the vocabulary: bright, bold, smooth, etc. It wasn’t long before I started becoming a connoisseur of sorts. I even learned how to make latte art, pull better shots of espresso, and developed a flair for mixing flavors.
When that shop closed, two years later, I began to work for America’s Best Coffee. Something I learned, through them, was more of what went into producing quality coffee. I still am involved with them, over two years later. I even sell it outside of the coffee shop, through an organization that they created. Something I learned, that is rather cool, is how coffee is decaffeinated. There are multiple methods. The one most people know of is the European method, which involves using a chemical solution to separate the caffeine from the bean. This method leaves the bean tasting, rather different. Not to mention that the idea of a chemical in their coffee, freaks most people out. Instead, America’s Best Coffee (and consequently, America’s Best Coffee Reserve) uses the swiss method, involving water pressure. This leaves more of the natural flavors and oils in the beans while removing more of the caffeine. This is, practically, the closest to completely removing caffeine that humans can do. It is also used on teas.
Similar methods are used to separate cocaine from the cocoa leaf used in coca-cola. However, in all of these, there are still, always, trace amounts. It’s unavoidable. Even at our best, we cannot undo what God has done. Just this simple, everyday illustration reveals a little bit more of God’s sovereignty in regards to our free will. We are able to chose and God is never bothered by it. No matter what we do, God’s purpose will still be accomplished and everything He made will be used in the manner for which it was created.
Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it?
Even at our best, we can never undo God’s work, or throw Him off of His game. He’s got it all in His hands.
