Morning Coffee & Afternoon Tea

Butter Problem Solved

There are two problems here, really. 

One is a Tea Party Lady issue.  The TPL in me wants to have pretty butter pats arranged nicely on a plate for tea parties and other gatherings.  And what a mess that is to try to do by hand!

The second is that man I live with.  We've never been able to find a butter dish that he likes AND that fits in the fridge slot.  So what happens is - he leaves the butter, still partially in the paper wrapping, sitting on the counter.  You can imagine how much I enjoy that.  Awful, buttery, melted mess.  I've tried just leaving it there for him to deal with later, but ... well ... you know how that goes.

So, along comes this nifty little doo-dad that I just had to try.  It seemed like the perfect answer to all my butter problems!  It's called the One-Click Butter Cutter, and it's truly ingenious.  It was conceived 10 years ago by a gentleman in NY, who believed that one ought to be able to

reach into the refrigerator with one hand and take out a device, a Butter Cutter, and be able to squeeze off a couple of slices quickly before ones muffin might cool or maybe to add to the frying pan quickly while in the midst of doing all the other things that have to be done while cooking.

Many years later, his invention became a reality, finally hitting the market for the public to enjoy, a tribute to human ingenuity.

Some caveats.  I've actually had this thing for a while, but couldn't find butter to fit it!  Apparently on the east coast, long skinny butter sticks are the norm, but out here in the west, short and fat is what you find in most places.  So it took me a while to find a long, skinny butter stick to test it with, and even longer to find a brand of long skinny butter that the hubs would eat. 

After all, it's a fun gadget, and it turns out pretty pats, but if the hubs won't use it on a daily basis, it's not much more than a TPL toy. 

Other than that, I have nothing bad to say about it.  This is a great gadget.  It's easy to use - it does work best with very chilled butter, so refrigerator storage is a must - and easy to clean, another very important factor.  And it comes in a bunch of different colors, which you can see on their website.  All in all, this gadget gets a big thumbs up from me.

Tiny Tea Things

I have a penchant for tiny things.

I gotta take a moment here to gush and coo.  Manly stoic types, avert your heads and stopper your ears.  You have been forewarned.

Isn't this just the cutest little tea set?  Can I get an "awwww"?

Somebody gave me this many years ago to add to the massive teddy bear collection I had at the time.  I've since reduced the bear population to just a few of the smallest ones, due to space constraints and hubs complaints.  But bears are still some of my favorite people.

As you can hopefully tell, the tea set is tiny enough that my little friends can enjoy the comfort of tea, just their size.  The teapot is only an inch tall. 

See, I've been bringing out my tiny teddies to arrange them for Christmas.  They've got their own little decorated tree and wrapped presents and everything. 

Oh, come on.  We need another "awwwww" here.  I know, I know, it's just too Mrs. Butterworth's.

I'm sure this fascination I have with miniatures isn't that unusual.  I don't KNOW any other adults that collect little tiny things and set them out like a child's playhouse, but I'm sure there MUST be some other folx out there like me.  Who else buys all that dollhouse furniture in the craft store?  Surely that can't ALL be for kids?

Ok, only one more teeny tiny cutesy thing, and I'll be done.

This little tea ball w/ cup and saucer was in some of my mom's things that my aunt brought me.  It was in a bag with a bunch of cake decorating stuff, which apparently my mom was planning to learn how to do before she got sick and left us.  I'm not sure I have the cahonies to try cake decorating yet.  But the tea ball I've used quite a lot. 

Isn't it just the cutest thing?  It's only about 2 inches across.  The cup is attached to the ball by a little chain.  When you're done steeping your tea, you can set the ball on the cup and saucer.  I don't know why this tickles my fancy so much, but it does.  Unfortunately, the tea ball is metal - wire mesh - but I don't care, I still think it's just the cutest thing in a single-serving tea ball.

Ok, I'm done.  We now return you to your regularly sized program.

Coffee Roasting Report #2

My, my how the time does fly.  In between this post and my last ... let's see, we had a touch of the flu; a strange orange crested bird started showing up at my feeders; mass quantities of food were consumed by extremely grateful people, and my brother announced that he and his are going up north for Christmas.  This last was announced carefully, as if they thought I might pitch a fit.  I did.  But I waited till they left, in my own room.  It's not the same without them here for Christmas.  *sigh*

Oh yeah, and a whole lotta coffee has been roasted.  Heh.  I think I'm finally ready to give my two cents worth on the Z&D Home Roaster. 

The first thing I noticed, which you can't really tell when you're roasting in the oven, is how much the beans expand.  I took some "action pics" here during the process to show the changes.  Click for big'uns.

It's definitely a process that needs to be tended to.  In spite of roasting time guidelines, each is different, and you can't just assume roasting time for one bean will work for another.

As promised, it self-ventilates, so I can roast without smoking up the house.  But it still smells like coffee roasting, and that's great.  No, that's WONDERFUL.  There are some smells that send me into nasal nirvana, and coffee roasting is right up there.  Baking bread, cookies fresh out of the oven, bacon in the morning, and coffee - roasting grinding and brewing.  My only complaint is that by the time roasting is done my nose has sent my mouth into overdrive-anticipation-mode.  But most stuff I've read says the flavor is best if it's had a few hours or so to expand and breathe.  Geeyod it's hard to wait. I have had to learn self-control.  Not an easy task for me.

I'm sure enjoying experimenting with the various green beans I have here though, and I think I've made the hubs a convert.  Actually, I may have created a monster.  Now he doesn't want anything but fresh roasted.  For now that's no problem.  I've got quite a supply of samples and we're going through them all one by one.  I'm doing two roasts of each kind - one dark and one medium/light.  The individual flavor of the bean is definitely more pronounced a medium roast.  I'm having a grand time tasting and making notes, deciding which ones I like best. 

The only other complaint I have is that it's not easy to clean.  We don't generally warrant running the dishwasher every day here, so if I want to roast more than once a day (am I getting obsessive???) I have to wash the thing by hand, and that's no easy task.  But the destructions - including the instructional video - all really emphasize that you MUST clean it after each use.  What a pain!  You need all kinds of special tools and implements and my local store doesn't carry those kinds of small brushes. 

I guess I can live with this small inconvenience.  I have to say this has already proven to be the best birthday present a girl like me could get.  I love love LOVE it.

Happy Birthday to Meeee!

It's here, it's here!  My actual bird-day isn't till later this month, but birthday presents arriving early ranks right up there with chocolate, especially when the present is a brandy new Zach & Dani's coffee roaster.

A coupla weeks ago, the hubs asked me what I wanted for my barfday.  As you may remember, I've been lusting for the Zach & Dani's home roaster kit for a long time now, but unfortunately it turns out the Z&D roaster is "out of stock".  What a huge disappointment.  However, salvation was right around the corner at Sweet Maria's. 

Ever since I told him what I wanted I've been waking up SALIVATING at the thought of freshly roasted coffee beans.  And it's here, it's sitting on the counter!  Hippo Birdies to me!  Hairy Birthmark to me!  I can't wait to get started. 

Guess what I'm going to be doing tonight?  More pictures will follow!

EspressoExpress™ Recalled

If you've purchased one of these little doo-dads, take it back.  Atico International is recalling the little devil because apparently the heating element can "forcefully separate from its base during the brewing cycle" and reek havoc. 

I should say so.  Holy cats.  "Forcefully separate"?  Doesn't that sort of imply ... explosion? 

Care for some espresso?  Something in a projectile perhaps? 

Shades of Stephen King - attack of the killer espresso maker.

Atico says:

Consumers should immediately stop using the EspressoExpress™ and contact Atico International USA, Inc. toll-free at (877) 546-4835 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.aticousa.com

You can read the recall notice here.

The New IngenuiTEA

It's here already! 

I just love getting stuff sooner than you expect it.  When I ordered a new IngenuiTEA day before yesterday I didn't select two day delivery, but here it is already!  And it is indeed, a better design.  Some little improvements -

• The base is slightly larger - it fits better on a large mug now.
• The plastic piece that allows water to flow feels more firmly in place.  My old one was a little wobbly.
• I'm not sure, but I think the volume is greater on this model.
• It's got a sort of ribbed handle so yer fingers fit into it, which I don't really care about, but it does look pretty on the counter.  Sort of a regal shape. 

Most importantly for me, they've solved the filter issue.  It's removable.  It pops out from the inside, and they now offer replacement filters so if this one gets moldy or falls apart, I'm not up the creek w/o my cuppa.

I only have one complaint.  The tea pours out faster than the old model, and since I couldn't see into the cup as it poured, it overflowed, and a lot quicker than I was prepared for.  Hot tea all over the counter.  Oh well, the counter needed wiping anyway.  And now I have a better idea of how much tea it holds so I'll just be more careful in future.

In a nutshell -  I'm really glad I upgraded!

Tea Tragedy

Ok, maybe this isn't quite a tragedy.  But damn, color me disappointed.  I went to make a cuppa using my Agadio IngenuiTEA the other day and found the net/infuser/filter had mold on the underside.  On the UNDERside, between the filter and the plastic bottom.  I was gonna take a picture to show here, but really, it's just too gross.

Now, I know the mold is not Adagio's fault.  It's the fault of the dummy - who shall remain nameless even though her name is Christine - who left wet tea leaves in it for ... a really long time. 

The problem is, the thing is not dismantle-able.  If that's not a real word, it should be.  I can't take it apart to clean off the mold which seems to have bonded permanently to the tight mesh of the filter.  I ran it through the dishwasher.  I tried blasting it with the super-high-power hot water blaster.  I tried yelling at it.  Nothing works. 

The good news is, when I went to Adagio's website to complain about this bad design, I saw that they have a new model.  I'm not sure they've solved this particular problem, but I love the thing so much that I went ahead and ordered one.  AND a replacement infuser thingee.  And of course, I had to order a sample of some of their holiday teas while I was there. 

Now comes the hard part.  Waiting for it to arrive.
Color me disappointed AND impatient.

The Iced Tea Maker!

I finally got around to testing out my new Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker.  It's been sitting in the back of my car all this time.  It's not that I'm a procrastinator - although I am - it's that I've been so busy I can barely stop to pee.  Now THAT's busy.

This afternoon the weather is hot but muggy, and instead of being feverishly hurrying through lines of code, I'm hurrying up and waiting for phone calls to be returned.  The beauty of the hurry-up-and-wait is that the ball is now in their court, so I have a minute to pee and do other things - like make iced tea!

I wish now that I'd rescued this little doo-dad from the car sooner.  It's wonderful.  My new favorite thing.  I can now have tea in the afternoons again.  It says on the destructions that it makes great iced coffee too, so I may have to try that.  It was easy to use and quick - it took about 10 minutes for the water to heat and steep through.  I used a combination of Adagio Ti Kuan Yin tea and a lemon spice concoction.  And the result is cool and delicious. 

The downside (there's always something, isn't there?) -- the parts are not dishwasher safe.  What the???  That is a MAJOR downer.  And of course the hubs isn't happy about having yet another appliance on the counter.  I told him we need to remodel the kitchen so we have more storage space.  Heh.  I guess that does seem like an overkill solution.

Stuff For the Lazy

These items tickled my funny bone.

The Self-Stirring Mug from Hammacher Schlemmer, for those days when gravity is so heavy you can't even lift a spoon to stir the cream in your coffee.  Or the honey in your tea.  Tired of having your cocoa mix drift to the bottom of the cup?  This little doo-dad has a tiny battery-operated propeller at the bottom that will churn the beverage within the cup and keep the mix ... mixed!  It's got an on-off button on the handle and comes with a lid that keeps the liquid from spilling over while it is being churned.  This is the ideal gift for the lazy coffee/tea drinker.  And it's pretty too!  Definitely one for MY wish list.
found via Popgadget

I first ran across the Rotating Ice Cream device on the Patently Absurd Inventions Archive where you can see a design/drawing of the inner workings of the thing.  But it's gone beyond the design and imagine stage.  You can actually buy one at Hog Wild for $10.  I first thought this has got to be the silliest invention ever.  I mean, how lazy can you get.  But I can see where folx with arthritis or other handicaps might find this "just the thing" so they don't have to give up slurping ice cream in a cone!  This also runs on batteries and has an on-off button, thank god.  But my question is, does it have speed control?  I could see my nieces getting a chuckle out of turning it on and letting ice cream fly all over everybody, happily exploring the world of centrifugal force.  Aaah, to be young and carefree.

National Ice Cream Month

Well, I've missed the first 2 weeks of it, but July is National Ice Cream Month.  I love ice cream.  The only way to make this any better would be to make it National CHOCOLATE Ice Cream month.  But according to American Food Holidays site, Chocolate Ice Cream Day is in June.  What's that about? 

Anyway, I haven't been ignoring it.  In the few spare minutes I've had, I actually went in search of an ice cream maker.  I mean, a person really OUGHT to have an ice cream maker, especially they live in the hottest part of the universe.  What better way to keep cool with all your favorite flavors? And what better month to take the plunge into homemade frozen ... stuff?

My first venture was to my local Target.  Would you believe it - no ice cream makers.  Not one.  I searched around online and couldn't make a decision.  And then - yesterday while at the grocery store - I found one!  I'm not too sure of the quality.  I mean, it was in one of those "beat the heat" party displays, with other high-tech toys like the "make your own cotton candy" machine, and the fabulous home version of the hot dog rotator, so you too can have burnt hot dogs just like at the ball park.  Honestly, these devices look to be one step above the Easy Bake Oven.

I had my doubts about the quality of the ice cream maker too, but ... I had to try it, and it was cheap.  It came with a bucket (for freezing your "Amazing Homemade Gourmet Ice Cream", four packets of Quick and Easy Ice Cream mix, and 3 little bottles of flavoring. 

The inner container is in the freezer now, only hours away from my first attempt at making ice cream.  Hopefully I'll have something cold and brown and homemade to blog about for Chocolate Friday.  Heh, I guess even if it's a disaster, I'll have something to blog about.  Wish me luck!

Oh, and in case you're interested, the Bizarre Holidays site lists these special ice cream days in July as well:

• Creative Ice Cream Flavor Day--July 1
• National Strawberry Sundae Day--July 7
• National Peach Ice Cream Day--July 17
• National Ice Cream Day--July 18
• National Vanilla Ice Cream Day--July 23

No chocolate on that list anywhere.  What is that about????? Redemption can be found back on the American Holidays list, where July 25th is National Hot Fudge Sundae Day, and July 26th is National Coffee Milkshake Day. I may just have to slide those two together.

Tea-Zer Tea Tumbler

This nifty little thermos from Pacific Cornetta is designed for maximum time save-age.  You don't have to wait for your tea to steep before you dash out the door.  Put the tea into the little metal infuser, pour water, secure lid and go. 

You do still have to boil the water, and as we all know, waiting for water to boil is a terrible long ordeal.

But there are a few points about this doo-dad that I have problems with. 

I haven't had the need to dash off to a meeting, so I can't say I've used it in the car for a real "road test", but I think it will come in handy for such an occasion.  The problems I've had are these:

• The holes in the infuser are too large for certain types of loose tea.  The rooibos I used the first time leaked all out of the holes and into the tea.  Larger tea leaves worked better.  I also got tea leaves in my mouth when I sipped.  Using tea bags instead would solve these problems, I know.  But I hate to be limited like that, and since it advertises as "The only loose-tea brewer that travels", this is a considerable issue.
• I tried to simulate a "road trip" experience, so I didn't remove the infuser.  If I drank the tea too slowly, the water level remained too high, and the tea continued to steep until finally it was undrinkable.  And if I drank the tea too soon, it was too darn hot.  And if I had been in the car, removing the infuser would have been unworkable, unless I had the presence of mind to carry around a little plastic baggie or some such thing, and doesn't that rather spoil the point of the "gadget of convenience"?
• It doesn't fit in the cup holder in my car.  If I ever do want to use it on the road, I would have to rig up some kind of holder or brace it, and that's WAY inconvenient. 

Other than these little problems, it does do the job.  It's a good size for one person: 10-fluid-ounce capacity.  And it kept the tea hot for a good long time, much longer than I expected, and I tested it without pre-warming the container. 

You can find it online from between $10 - $15.  I found it at my grocery store for $8.  Most of the sites I found sell this red version, which is pretty, but I like to see the color of my tea.

It's a Teapot Morning

I bought more stuff.  I couldn't help it, and it's not my fault, and ... other blame-diverting words. 

It all started here with a blogpost about this teapot, shaped like an espresso maker.  I think this so cool!  I want one!! It's all mixed up, just like me.  Then I just need to find a coffee maker shaped like a teapot.  Heh. 

So I went in search, but I couldn't find anything on it.  Nada.  Zippo.  And Colin of the CoffeeCrew doesn't say where he found it. 

I tried the Teapots, Teapots blog, but couldn't find it there either.  BUT, I did find a post about  interesting spot called TeaPot Island in Kent.  The photo shows a woman standing next to a ginormous teapot fountain.  Another must-visit place to add to my travelogue, for sure!  There's not much detail on the Teapot Island website, but they do have a VERY interesting photo gallery of unusual teapots. 

That was good for an hours' worth of diversion, but then I continued my search, and landed eventually at The English Tea Store, where they're having a closeout sale on some of their teapots!  So ... well, you know how it is.  I had to.  It was a moral imperative.  I bought two Amsterdam teapots, one large, one smallish.  Very cute, very cheap, even with shipping.  See, isn't it cute?

I am now putting the credit card away, in a box, high on a shelf, behind something really heavy and difficult to move.

Shopping Spree!

I celebrated the first day of Spring by spending all kinds of money.  I shopped, and I shopped well.  I'm a good little consumer, seeding the economy with my hard earned cash... errr ... credit.  Heh.  Dontcha just love credit cards?

First stop, the grocery store, where I bought some essentials not worth mentioning, but also found a Tea-zer Tumbler, which I blogged about previously and have been wanting to try.  I'll let you know how I like it after I try it out.

Home again, but not content, with my credit card burning a hole in my pocket, I went online in search of Jerry Garcia Teas, which my cuz suggested (betcha thought I forgot, huh?).  Strangely, Google didn't land me in the right place to purchase - and the only clues I had were these news articles here and here.  Finally I found The Republic of Tea, which is the company that makes the Jerry Garcia "Artisan Tea Collection".  I had to order the Magic Herb Tea just for a lark, tho Jerry would be disappointed to know there's no mary-magic in this tea, just "chamomile, hibiscus, orange peel and peppermint."  I also ordered some Jerry Cherry  just because it sounded good - "organic black tea blended with the essence of ripe Bing cherries and the sweet notes of vanilla".  And I was glad to read that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each tin is donated to DrawBridge, a non-profit organization providing arts programs for homeless children. 

Oh yeah, while I was there I also ordered a sample packet of their loose leaf Yunnan Gold, just to test and compare to the other Yunnans I've had.

From there, I moved on to Sweet Maria's to buy some green coffee beans.  They sell sampler packs of beans, so I bought an 8 pack to have an assortment to try roasting here at home.  I can't wait.  I've prepped the hubs for a smoke-filled afternoon, but I promised him some good coffee in return.

Amazon was my next stop, where I just HAD to buy a couple of coffee books, a new french press (the one I have is just too small), and a DVD. 

All without leaving my chair!  Ahhh, the beauty of shopping online.  I'll have plenty to report on when all this stuff arrives.  But now comes the hard part.  Waiting for my merchandise to arrive.  I've never been very good at waiting.  I'm a run-to-the-window, foot-tapping kind of gal.  Where's my stuff???  Where's my stuff?????

Keeping it Cool

Well, we had the USB CafePad to help keep things warm at your computer.  And now, with summer just around the bend (at least here in the southwest), I guess it's time to think about keeping things cool.  Give half a glance to the  CoolIT, another USB device for those who love gadgets and have to frequently run into meetings and leave their cold drinks behind. 

I dasn't ask why they don't  just take their pop cans with them.  I'm also wondering what happens when the condensation from a cold glass of iced tea drips down onto / into the CoolIt?  Do we hear sputters and fizzes, or will it just keep on cooling?

Found via GadgetMadness, where this gadget has been given a 2.45 rating (out of 5).

Roast Your Own Coffee Beans

I've decided I want to try roasting my own coffee here at home.  I want to be able to use terms like "first crack".  More importantly, I want to taste really truly fresh-roasted beans, and have the satisfaction of knowing I did it.

I've been reading on the net, and I found a couple of posts where regular folx like me have tried this (as opposed to the uber-knowledgeable barista-types with big budgets).   It sounds like something I could at least try at home on the cheap.  Then, if I like it, maybe I'll invest in some gadgetry. 

There's the oven method here and the skillet method here, and this one uses a special popcorn popper.  And here's something from Engadget on converting your popcorn popper into a coffee roaster.  I don't know if I'm up for all that.  I think I'll go with the oven method.  And I better do it soon while it's still cool enough here to open the windows, which all the destructions I've read say is extremely important.   I gather a lot of smoke is generated. 

The smoke issue led me to this gadget .... 

The Smoke-Free Home Roaster Kit from Zach & Dani's.  Smoke-free, it says.  That would be cool.  The kit comes with the roaster, 3 bags of beans, an instructional video, and optional grinder. 

For $150, it sounds like a pretty good deal, especially if it really IS smoke-free.  Then I'd be able to use it here even in the summer months. 

But I can't find any testimonials or posts about this roaster.  Has anybody used it?  Any words of wisdom?  Tips in general on roasting your own?

Bodum Assam Tea Press

I know this isn't a new item, but I just got one, on sale at my local grocery store.  I really want one of the double-walled thermal tea presses, but ... that'll come later.

The Assam Tea Press from Bodum. 

It's cute.  A cute round little teapot.  Not pretty or elegant, but definitely cute. 

I really like a glass pot.  I like being able to see the color of the tea as it steeps.

This is my first experience with a tea press of this kind, and I like how it works. 

The holes in the tea container only go down about halfway, so that when the tea is the strength you want, you simply press down and the tea is pushed down to the bottom and steeping stops.

Well, not quite.  I did find that there was a tiny bit of leakage.  I could have removed the holder after steeping, but I frankly wanted to see if it really did stop steeping or if the tea would just keep getting stronger and stronger.  It wasn't a lot, but I did notice the second cup was stronger than the first. 

The tea did manage to stay fairly warm for the 2nd cup, even sans double-wall or tea cozy.  But it's not really practical for me alone.  I usually don't drink more than one cup here by myself.  I'll continue to use my one-cupper IngenuiTea for my solitary afternoon tea, but this little tea press will come in handy for when I have guests.

If I was going to rate such things, I'd give it 4-cup salute (out of 5).  Me likes.

Oh yeah, you can buy them online here, or here.

Tuesday Tidbits

Think those coffee pots with timers are new and inventive?  Check this article, showing there truly is nothing new under the sun.

To the woman who thinks my Jingle Ball humor is sophomoric: Sophomoric vs. The Giggle Monster, or How I Found My Christmas Spirit.

Hadta laugh, speaking of sophomoric humor, when I stumbled across this blog: Darjeeling in the Teapot.  Is it just me or does that image look like a diaphragm?  I was hoping for more teastuff here but couldn't find any.

This and That

Coupla items I want to mention before I get abducted by aliens again... or maybe those little creatures were really Santa's elves eh?  Hmmmm.

ANYway, firstly, the Carnival of the Recipes #69 is up at Dubious Wonder.  Great holiday themage here, go check out all the great recipes!

Next, two posts from the highly diva-ish Divas at La Dolce Diva about tea:

Holiday Tea Break - You don't need to sell me on the benefits of tea time.  Scroll down for the creme of this post, a truly delish sounding recipe for EGGNOG SPICE POUND CAKE! Oh yeah, now that's a good addition to any tea break.

Gifts for the Tea Lover -  Hmmm, not a bad list here.  A bit scant, but there are some items I might add to my Xmas list.  Like the Tea for One teaset here, now isn't that pretty?  Just right for an old broad like me sipping tea alone on a wintry afternoon.

And now, something for the coffee lover, another interesting way to make coffee while you travel: The Press-Bot, a coffee press that fits inside of the standard bottle everyone carries with them when they travel, camp, etc.

I don't know about the "standard" part, from the looks of it, I might have a bottle that would fit. I'd like to try one out to see.  Actually, this looks really familiar.  Have I blogged on this before?  Did the elves mess with my memory?  Heh.  I'd rather blame it on elves than early Alzheimer's. 

Bodum Thermal French Press

Bodum makes the coolest stuff! This is a purely wonderful idea, definitely going on MY Christmas wish list. I really must stop adding to my own list, I'm supposed to be shopping for other people. Oh well.

I have a little french press that makes good coffee, but I've often wanted to make more than 2 cups at a time, either for guests, or just to save me from having to get my butt out of my chair.  The problem is keeping it hot.  I could make a bunch of cups in my french press, I guess, and pour them into the drip coffee carafe, or a thermos, but what a pain!  This cool item from Bodum solves the problem.  It does double-duty as both a french press, and a thermal pot.  It claims to keep the coffee hot for 2 hours, which is more than enough time for me to decimate the contents. 

This would be the perfect gift for me anybody who works in an office and wants to have good quality coffee at their desk.  In fact, I found this via Cubicle Coffee, a cute little website dedicated to better office coffee.

And it comes in different sizes, 3-cup, 8-cup and 12-cup.  The 8-cup size would be perfect for me any small gathering, or me just making it through a morning's work without having to get up to refill.

Immersion Heater Recalled

If you're a traveler, you might have one of these.  My mom had one some years back, and she loved it.  She said it sure made staying in cheap hotels (or at my brother's house) a lot easier.  Just plop the heater into the cup of water, plug it in and bwalla, ready for tea.  Unfortunately, it's been recalled.  The reason: "Moisture in the heating element could cause corrosion over time, presenting a shock hazard".  Bummer.  If you've got one, return it and get yer money back!

For more info, check the news release here.

The Tea Server

I really want one of these.  The perfect blend of high-tech, tea culture, and the slightly weird: The Karakuri: Tea Server, a modern novelty originally designed almost four centuries ago by those clever Japanese:

This Kabuki-styled doll approaches surprised guests with a full teacup on a tray; it stops walking when the teacup is taken, waits quietly, bows, then slowly turns around, smoothly scooting away with the empty teacup on its tray.

Originally designed as a luxury toy of feudal lords and successful merchants in the Edo Period between 1603 and 1867. It was often used more as a social ploy to break the ice and get the conversation going between businessmen rather than to actually serve tea.

Comes in a kit you can assemble yourself for $89.95, or fully assembled for $169.95.  I actually might be able to talk the hubs into getting the kit.  He's very into robotics.  Unfortunately he's not much into completion.  We had a full-size R2D2 in our kitchen for about 5 years, complete with wheels, remote control movement and noises and all, but it never got past 80% completion.  But this seems like a very small project.  I want one!  Whaddya think hun?

Found via Engadget

New for Coffee Shops: Smart Lids

Now THIS is a great idea.  Coffee shop owners, heads up, this will save you a bundle in law suits, not to mention keeping your customers happy, AND increasing your revenue via advertising:  a lid that changes color to alert your customers that hot liquid is inside, slowly changing back to brown as the liquid cools, and also indicates when and if the lid is securely fastened.  This is just too cool.

From the news release found on Badgett's It's All About Coffee:

Smart Lid Systems, an Australian product development company, have commercialized the world's first color-changing single-use coffee cup lid. The "Smart" lid offers drastic advancements over currently available lids alerting consumers that the contents are hot by changing from a coffee brown color to a bright red when heat is applied. More importantly the lid indicates whether or not it is securely attached to the coffee cup, placing the store-owner at ease regarding safety concerns.

Aimed at both high-volume users (large quickservice chains), and small independent cafes, this new lid has entered the market at the right time. Current consumption numbers for to-go beverages are above 50 billion per annum in America.
...
Hot beverage consumption this winter will be a whole new experience and also allows a new medium to put logos and text on coffee lids, with messages appearing as the lid changes color. Advertisers now have the vehicle to take branding and advertising on disposable lids to the next level, allowing the large fast food chains to further enhance the purchase experience.

For more info, visit the Smart Lid System website: http://www.smartlidsystems.com

Waking Up IN the Shower

So, now that Halloween is over, I find myself looking down the slope to Christmas and realizing that I'm waaaay far from ready.  So I started browsing the net for interesting coffee or tea related gift ideas.  I was originally shopping for others, really.  No, really!

Anyway, I found this old post on Engadget this morning, complete with links to action photos. Caffeinated soap.  No, not for eating, silly wabbit ... for sudsing.  To be absorbed through the skin.  Apparently a lot of anti-aging creams use the same idea, adding caffeine to the product to stimulate blood flow to the skin.

This brand says it contains 15 servings per bar with 250 milligrams of caffeine per serving, and is wisely scented with peppermint, not coffee, otherwise the half-asleep might be tempted to munch.  But, the key question is ... does it give you a caffeine lift?  Not much, to go by the comments and reviews.  But hey, what a great novelty stocking stuffer for your favorite coffee-head!

Ingenious IngenuiTEA

It really is.  Ingenious, that is.  This little baby arrived yesterday afternoon, and let me tell you, I was a happy puppy opening my little package.  Adagio's ingenuiTEA is everything it promises to be.  It's easy to use, easy to clean, and it's pretty.  I was a little worried about the size of the rim, but it even fits on my pretty china tea cups, tho I have to be careful not to overfill.  In short, I love it! 

I tested it all kinds of ways, in the nuker, using boiled water, with loose leaves and tea bag, and for the one-cup-at-at-time person, it's just about the best thing since sliced bread. 

It arrived with 3 kinds of tea.  I tried the Jasmine Pearls first.  The smell, ohmigod, the wonderful smell.  I had actually planned to try all 3 last night, but frankly, I got stuck on the Jasmine and couldn't move on.  You know what they say about smell being tied to memory?  Well, it's true, and this tea transported me back to spring days, when the jasmine was blooming on my patio.  I open the sliding glass door to let the fragrance waft into my office and library and I'm in heaven.  Sipping this tea was another little slice of heaven.

The second steeping was as fragrant as the first, though not as strong tasting.  Still good.  The second time around I took the pearls out of the bag.  It didn't seem to matter to the flavor, bag or no bag. 

What I love is how the pearls unfold.  It's a visual treat as well pleasing the other senses.

They start out like this ...

  ... and end up like this

Now isn't that just beeeyootiful? 

On the agenda for this afternoon... Golden Yunnan. 

Flavia Fusion Drinks Station

I ran across the FLAVIA® FUSION™Drinks Station from SharperImage (via GadgetMadness), and it sure is pretty.  But what's it do?  According to SI:

• At-home brewing system uses foil-fresh single-serving "filterpack" leaf tea or fresh-ground coffee to make a variety of cafe drinks with no hassle at all.
• Eliminates the need for a kettle, carafe, strainer, filters, grinder and everything else — except your own mug!
• Includes Drinks Station, travel mug and an impressive selection of 34 filterpacks.

I still can't wrap my mind around the idea of having my coffee or tea delivered via POD.  Filterpack.  Whatever.  I mean, this item claims to make "single cup of coffee, espresso, tea, latte and more".  Tea in a pod as well as coffee, apparently without compromising the taste of either. 

The folx at GadgetMadness tried it and liked it.  And it's not too expensive, just over $120 with shipping and all.  And it IS pretty.  Wouldn't that look nice on my countertop?  But still.  Can I use anything other than the filterpacks?  If not, I'll prolly pass.

Lord.  Am I becoming a coffee/tea snob???

Teapot Blogging!

Teapots, teapots, teapots is a blog all about that friendliest of vessels, the teapot! 

This is a fun blog!  Lots of variety, from elegant and beautiful to whimsical, cute and collectible.  Not to mention strange and unusual.

Check out this oddity, the "Box too small" teapot.  Would you believe it sold for $4000?  Amazing.  I'm in the wrong business.

via Wonders of Tea

Brugo Travel Mug: Tip & Sip

For the traveling coffee connoisseur, the BRUGO™ Travel Mug from Jolex.  The idea behind this gizmo is the old "how to keep it hot" problem.  Well, according to the press release, it's a little more complex than simply keeping it hot:

"Fresh coffee is brewed at 200 degrees or more, but its vibrant flavors are most distinguishable and pleasing at around 150 to 170 degrees. By using a simple "tip and sip" motion, BRUGOTM owners transfer sip-sized amounts (one fluid ounce) of their hot beverage to the temperature control chamber, where it immediately reaches this "perfect temperature zone." Only the liquid in the chamber is cooled and only this liquid exits the sip opening. A tight seal keeps the remaining coffee at its hottest and most aromatic. This inventive system eliminates the need for coffee drinkers to blow on their beverage, add ice to it, or wait for it to cool. Instead, they have immediate access to their hot beverage, and they can enjoy it longer at its peak freshness and flavor."

This little doo-dad has a lid with three settings: locked, tip & cool, and sip.  I dunno if that's gonna fly, folx.  Can the average driver do all that with one hand (and eye) still on the wheel?  I assume they've eliminated the possibility of getting hot coffee down your front by confusing tip with sip.  I guess I'll have to get one to see how it works. 

What I really like is the little animated cups on their website.

Oddz & Endz

It seems like a sacrilege to keep blogging about coffee and tea when so many people don't have coffee.  Or tea.  Or fresh water ... or homes to go to.  Although I read on another blog that some of the bars opened up and were selling alcohol and giving away water.  Bars open when nothing else is.  Doesn't that just sound like the Big Easy?  Good for you guys.  Party on.  My heart goes out to the Katrina survivors, especially those who are stuck and can't get out. 

Some oddz and endz from the link file:

• Tilt, Caffeinated Alcohol - coming to a store near you, a berry flavored malt beverage that also features caffeine, guarana and ginseng.  Too bad this isn't out now, we could send a few hundred cases in to N'awlins.  That'd keep folx alert, but happy.
• Puck's Self-Heating Latte - not brandy new stuff, but it was interesting reading the comments in this post.  Hey, a few hundred cases of this stuff could go NOW.
• 12-Volt Beverage Cooler / Heater - use your car adapter to heal (or cool) yourself a cuppa. I want one!
• Hovis Invisible Crust Bread - For those tea party sandwiches, no more cutting off the crusts!  How cool is that?

Tea Gadgets & Coffee Tunes

Happy Coffee Day!
May your cup always be full.   

Couple of items I missed when I was abducted by aliens the other day.  :)

Kat posted this great song on Friday - St. Caffeine by John Gorka.  What a great companion song to The Blessed Holy Caffeine Tree!  While you're there, have a listen to Ray Charles singing Oh What a Beautiful Morning - great way to start the day.  And remember, these songs don't stay online forever, so download them while you can.  If you see something in her archives that's not online though, just contact Kat.  If you whine enough, she'll send it to you.  :)

Cin sent me this link to a cool tea gadget, the Tea Stick made by Gamila.  Similar to a tea spoon, but in a stick shape.  Scoop up tea leaves, slide the sleeve down, steep.  Gotta love those little gadgets. 

You're Kidding, Right?

This is without a doubt THE most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.  A Mouse-Mug.  No kidding, a functional mouse, that is also a coffee cup. 

The idea - part of the SloWeb project - is to force you to slow down. 

Well, it would certainly do that.  But it would also drive me up the frikken wall!  And if you want to slow down, why are you drinking coffee at your computer anyway???

Ok, to give them their due, these folx have something of a point.  Our society is obsessed with speed and that is a cause of stress.  I see the need for slowing down, I really do. 

I do it in other ways though, with my tea rituals and gardening and so forth.  When I'm working and thinking, I want to go fast, think FAST, and being mega-caffeinated helps.  This mouse forcing me to go slow lest I slosh hot coffee all over my hand and desk and keyboard would frustrate me no end.  It would last less than 5 minutes.

SLOWEB also offers a blind for your monitor, a special slow mail service and a unique version of Google that puts you in a waiting queue.  You can also use your cell phone to call up a slowish metronome to walk in time to. 

Type A personalities, pay attention!  Enlist these products to help you avoid that heart attack.  But you might want to put some herbal non-caffeinated tea in that mug instead of the double shot of espresso you're used to.

Via Coffee Addict

Keeping it HOT!

Coffee or tea, keeping it hot (or cold) is always a problem.  I drink fast, but you know ... sometimes you get on the phone, or you gotta let the dog out to pee and then they end up chasing a baby bird which you have to rescue by standing on a precarious chair to reach the nest while the momma bird is flapping around you and the dogs are barking and ... well, you get the idea.  By the time you come back to your cuppa, it's lukewarm. 

I saw these cool products / gadgets on HGTV last night.  They were covering the 2005 International Home & Housewares Show and they had a section on coffee / tea products.  Some very cool stuff!  I had to start a whole new wish list!! 

Sexpresso?

Behold the Nespresso Essenza coffee machine!  It fairly sings "I'm too sexy for my ... own bad self."

Why, it's so sexy, the gals at Shiny Shiny, won't have even one of these in their kitchen. 

...their “original, contemporary styling” is making us feel pretty shabby as well, and that’s the last thing you want first thing in the morning – feeling inferior to an espresso machine is not the better way to start your day.

But if you’re one of those people who house looks like the pages of a “retro contemporary” spread in some po-faced interior design mag, these have got to be the perfect additions to your urban-sophisticate, open plan loft abode (you can tell we don’t write about interior design very often, right?)

It IS pretty.  And your purchase also buys you some kind of service-agreement-on-steroids (specialists available 24 hours, at my beck and call, giving personalized service and brewing tips? wow). But what kind of coffee does it make? Good?  Bad?  Indifferent?

Here's a review by a guy who got one for Christmas.  He likes it.  But it costs $180 smackers!  Actually - for me - that's not the bad part.

It uses special "capsules" portioned exclusively for Nespresso machines.  I don't like the sound of that.  They say they use "premium coffee blends".  I still don't like it, even if they are "hermetically sealed".  I would NOT like being limited to only coffees that they provide.  That I have to purchase in their special pods.  I don't think so.  It'd have to be a LOT prettier than that, I'm afraid, and the resulting espresso would have to have a little bit of gold in it. 

Heh.  Or maybe just chocolate. 

Yeah, ok, I admit it.  I'm a chocolate ho. 

More Coffee Gadgetry

A couple of interesting items I just ran across...

Firstly, The Coffee Magic Frothing Mug - if you don't want to learn all about frothing milk or don't have the budget for the equipment, you can shell out £4.98 (that's $9.42 in US dollars, according to the XE.com currency converter) and get this battery operated mug that does the frothing for you, right in the cup.  Hit the switch, let it do its thing, pour in the coffee afterward.  I dunno, it's easy enough for folx like me, but it seems like it takes some of the magic out of the whole process.

Next up: Roasting Coffee in a Popcorn Popper. Not your average home popcorn popper, I'm afraid.  This article recommends a very special and hard to find popcorn popper.  But there are good detailed instructions and more roasting information links at the very bottom.

While you're thinking about roasting your own, check out this page.  Also roasting with a popcorn popper, and the same popper in fact, but controlled with a computer.  Aren't people ingenious? Don't we just have way too much time on our hands?