It's sometimes discomforting as you grow older to realise that your memory is going the same way your vitality has gone. However, it does occasionally provide a pleasant surprise.
I was recently digging through my stash of greens, hidden away up in an unused room on the 3rd floor, when I discovered that I had 25 lbs of a "Moccha Yirgacheffe" that I bought 6 months ago and forgot all about! In fact, I had not even opened the box they were in. In all fairness to my failing memory, these kinds of things happen when you move from one house with more than 20 rooms to another house with more than 20 rooms.
Since I was using crutches to get around and was alone I could only bring a small bag full that I slung around my kneck and dashed (?) down to the kitchen, pulled out the old Precision roaster and did a quick roast (typical 6 minutes for full city - about 30 sec into 2c). I was surprised that the smoke was quite pleasant, almost chocolatey and the roasted beans were beautiful, very even with a sheen and a delicious chocolate aroma. Looking closely at the greens I noticed how clean and perfectly shaped they were. I roasted another two batches of 80 g and put them aside to degass.
Two days later we had company, a neighbor couple who have helped us at various times after moving to the village.
As dessert we served a sinful chocolate injection described by Jamie Oliver. You know Jamie Oliver, the Steve Leighton of cooking.
Anyway, I gingerly asked whether anyone wanted coffee, hoping they didn't because all I had was the Yirg that I had not yet tried myself and was looking forward to with some excitement, but they did.
Although these folks normally drink supermarket coffee from a drip machine they both went through a cappuccino, an Americano and one of them even tried an espresso! I couldn't believe it. I think they were as impressed with the coffee as with the chocolate. "What a rich flavour!" "What a beautiful color!" "It smells just like chocolate!"
It was a bitter experience for me as it was 10 PM and I don't drink coffee that late at night, but my breakfast cup(s) the next morning proved that the neighbors were right. What a lovely espresso, chocolatey, creamy with a long, smooth, clean finish. Yumm! I don't think I've had an SO I've enjoyed more. Unfortunately, I don't know anymore about the Yirgacheffe, but I will call my bean lady and ask her the details.
All this to say that I definitely was mistaken. The uninitiated CAN tell the difference and recognise a fine coffee. On the other hand, I do feel a bit self-righteous (less than George, though) about being right concerning the effort people will make to get a good cup. I told the neighbors I would roast some and they only had to grind it and they could use it in their drip machine. "Grind it? Oh, that's too much of a bother. No, thanks, it's not necessary. Our coffee is good enough for us." Oh well.