Coffee, Tea and Me

Buying a New Coffee Maker – the Search is Over

RT Cunningham — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:09:35 +0000

Back in April, I lamented the lack of coffee makers in the city where I live. It turns out I may or may not have been wrong, depending on a single factor. How's that for being ambiguous? I and the wife looked through the appliance stores in the city, but we didn't look anywhere at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone. We actually did look, but it was before a lot of things were built or reorganized.

Royal Subic, SM Olongapo and the Ayala Mall at Subic

Either early this year, or last year (I don't remember – sue me, I'm old), the Royal Subic store was completely renovated. The interior was remodeled and confused everyone as to where everything was until they got themselves organized. The wife and I had checked what they had available as far as appliances were concerned and they didn't have much.

We knew they were moving in large plasma and LCD TV's but every time we shopped, we ignored everything else they were adding to that section of the store. A couple of days ago, while I was waiting for a different store to open (and the Royal Subic was already open for the day), I and a relative spent about 20 minutes inside the store, just looking and killing time. It was then that I noticed the GE refrigerators, and electronic section and a small appliances section.

In the appliance section, I spotted three different coffee makers, each of them automatic drip, ranging in price from about 700 pesos (about $16) to 4000 pesos (about $93). I didn't take a good, hard look at them because I didn't have the money on me to buy anything there. One was a Phillips brand, that I remember and it was the most expensive.

Even if I had not found those particular coffee makers, time is on my side. The SM Olongapo mall will be finished this month and I'm sure they would carry them. Even so, if they didn't, the new Ayala mall near the gate at Subic would and it's supposed to be finished early next year.

Still Missing

As I mentioned once before, I still need other items and one of those items is a new iced tea maker. I am sick of doing it the old-fashioned way, with a saucepan on the stove.

There are still other appliances that I need, but along with the iced tea maker, they'll be arriving whenever the cargo box from my son in Phoenix arrives – I don't even think it's been sent yet.

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The Cuisinart DCC-1100 Coffeemaker

RT Cunningham — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 05:29:58 +0000

The Cuisinart DCC-1100 coffee maker is has a little more red on it than I care for, but red is what the wife likes so I have to consider it. It's an older model than the Cuisinart DCC-1150 Coffee Maker I virtually reviewed almost two years ago, but it holds 12 cups vs. 10 cups. The 1150 only comes in black or white, but this one comes in only red. Of course, that may be because, as I'm writing this, there are only six of them left at Amazon.

Features

Fully automatic coffeemaker with 24-hour programmability
12-cup carafe with ergonomic handle, dripless spout, and knuckle guard
1 to 4 cup setting; brew pause; self cleaning; 60-second reset
Gold-tone coffee filter and charcoal water filter ensure great-tasting coffee
Measures approximately 8 by 8 by 14-1/4 inches; 3-year limited warranty

The only confusing part above is the 1 to 4-cup setting. Does this mean it only brews 1-4 cups, but holds up to 12 cups in the carafe? Since I have to order my coffee maker, I'm going to pass on this one just for that reason. My questions have to be answered before I place an order.

Non-Features

Other than the features that come in higher-end coffee makers, this particular model comes with everything a normal person would know to want. There's nothing I could add to it myself.

Pricing and Availability

As I mentioned earlier, only six of these are left at Amazon. It sells for $79.99, unless you find one in Walmart or something, where you'll probably find it cheaper.

Amazon Reviews

It seems the design quirks are what detract from this model. The permanent filter won't stand up by itself, so the coffee grounds have to be added while the filter is in the machine. There are ways around that, of course, like propping it up against something or by using filling a paper filter and using that to fill the permanent filter.

Condensation inside the machine seems to be an issue with some people, but not me. Because of the relatively high humidity in the Philippines, there's condensation on just about anything during temperature changes – all the time.

Other than these minor quirks, it seems to be a good machine all-around. If you can find one at a local store, you'll have a better idea of what it's capable of – don't expect to get it through Amazon.

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5 Characteristics of a Great Café

Annabelle — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:15:54 +0000

Everyone has their favourite café, their local hangout where they go for their must-have morning coffee, meet their friends for lunch, or even go to study or work.

When it comes to great cafes, they typically have very loyal customers who know the names of all the staff, who rave about their favourite café to friends and family. Wouldn't it be great if your café were like this?

If you are thinking about opening up a café, or you work in a café already but wish to improve it: here is a list of must-haves for a quality café. Owners and managers take note!

Happy and Friendly Staff.
You could have the best coffee in the world and the most amazing food, but it wouldn't guarantee you loyal customers if your staff are rude and clearly don't love their jobs.

Working in hospitality is a difficult job and those who are best at it are those who love working with others and meeting new people everyday.

Strong personalities who can create an energetic vibe and handle the occasional difficult customer are best.
Quality Furnishings and Inspiring Surroundings.
The best cafes are those where the owner or managers are proud of where they work and put an effort into making both the interior and exterior design comfortable and stylish.

Allowing local artists to hang their paintings on the walls; supporting the local area by printing an information bulletin; taking the time to buy the newspapers each morning; and most importantly, making sure the place is clean and comfortable.

All these touches will mean customers will feel inspired when coming there for a work meeting, for their lunch break, or to relax for half an hour after work. It will also attract more students and parents who do not work during the day.
Table Service.
Even in the smallest of cafes, table service is always a nice touch, especially if you know the customer and make an effort to remember their favourite orders. This will make them feel valued and appreciated for their business.

However, try to avoid assuming they will want the same order every time, because they might then feel unable to change their mind every now and then – and you don't want them going somewhere else because of it!

You do run the risk of walk-outs with table service, but as long as you have vigilant staff and keep an eye on things, generally this is worth the risk.

Loyal customers who sometimes forget won't mind if you add it to a tab. You can always chat to a debt collection agency to figure out what you can do if they refuse to acknowledge what they owe.
Do One Great Thing.
Depending on your resources, if you struggle to deliver top quality food, coffee, cakes, and drinks – stop trying.

Focus on what you want to be known for – a range of organic food, amazing chocolates, or maybe quality espresso? – and stick to it.
A Small Menu, Great Specials.
Having decided on what you want to be known for, shorten the menu and keep the rest of the options simple.

The last thing you want is to be "average" at everything. If you really do make the best espresso, that will draw the numbers in. Then have a few basic meals that you can prepare to perfection, or some great daily specials that you can be proud of, and concentrate the rest of your efforts to maintain the excellent espresso standard.

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Five Most Commonly Sold Drinks

Annabelle — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 16:05:54 +0000

The most commonly sold drinks vary from hot beverages, to soft drinks (from your Westinghouse fridge), to alcohol and the list even includes water. Bottled water is a popular drink to buy even though you can easy get it from the tap. It is likely the popularity of bottled water has increased due to the convenience as well as the taste. Tap water usually tastes of chlorine and other contaminants although this can be removed by a water filter or water purifier.

Coffee

Coffee is one of the most commonly sold drinks and people who are coffee lovers know exactly how they like to have it. Coffee is made from coffee beans which are ground up and when added to hot water makes the drink of coffee. As well as instant coffee that most people drink at home, coffee can be served in many different ways. It can have milk added to it or flavour, it can be drunk extra strong or with frothy milk, and coffee even varies from country to country. There are different types of beans which can produce coffee with a different aroma and taste.

Coca Cola

Coca Cola is one of the most popular drinks in the world and easily one of the most commonly sold. Interestingly it came into existence by mistake. A man named John Pemberton was trying to make a headache tonic, which he created at home and then sold at a pharmacy a few blocks from his home. A customer bought some of the syrup, which was supposed to be mixed with water, but the person dispensing the syrup accidentally mixed it with soda water instead. The customer proclaimed that it was delicious and Coca Cola was born.

Beer

Beer is the third most popular drink in the world and the top four producers and consumers of it are the Czech Republic, Ireland, Germany and Australia. Throughout the world almost one hundred and forty eight billion litres of it is produced in a year. Beer makes up a large portion of the drinks sold in liquor shops and is served in pubs on tap. Different countries have their own unique blends of beer and the taste can vary quite significantly. There is also light beer, which has a lower alcohol content, beer with a lower carbohydrates and even beer with added flavour.

Water

Bottled water has become one of the most commonly sold drinks. Often people purchase bottled water when they are travelling to countries where the water is not fit to drink, while some people buy water in bottles simply because they believe it to be better for them than tap water. Water from the tap can have contaminants and chlorine in it and bottled water does taste better. You can solve this problem by having a water filter installed on your tap.

Tea

Tea was first discovered by the Chinese and was used for medicinal purposes as well as drunk for pleasure. It wasn't until the trade route to the Far East was established that tea came to Europe. It is a popular beverage in Britain as well as many other parts of the world. It comes in many different flavours, popular varieties being English breakfast and Earl Grey. You can also buy herbal teas and green tea, which has enormous health benefits. Remember to keep all of those cups clean in your Bosch dishwasher!

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Red Coffee Makers

RT Cunningham — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:56:39 +0000

I don't know how she did it, but my wife weaseled the facts about red coffee makers at Amazon out of me. It had to be a Jedi mind trick or something. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Actually, I think she cheated and read my article on the Hamilton Beach 43253 Ensemble 12-cup Coffeemaker (and she's not supposed to know this website exists). Ah well, I guess I should never underestimate the power of women and gossip in small groups.

Red Coffee Makers at Amazon

I'm afraid, no matter what I want, I will end up ordering a red coffee maker of some kind or another from Amazon. That is, if I want to sleep in the same bed as my wife.

I brought up the Amazon website and did a search for "red coffee maker" and lo and behold, there are many to choose from. I'm going to list all the 12-cup automatic drip coffee makers that fit within my price range and nothing else, and in the order displayed to me:

Hamilton Beach 43253 Ensemble 12-Cup Coffeemaker with Glass Carafe, Red
Cuisinart DCC-1200MR Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Metallic Red
Mr. Coffee SKX26 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Red (that's an ugly red)
Mr. Coffee EJX36 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Stainless Steel
Mr. Coffee TFX26 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Red
Cuisinart DCC-1100R 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Red
43603 Brewer by Hamilton Beach
Mr. Coffee FTX49 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Red
Kalorik 12-c. Metallic Programmable Coffee Maker, Red.
Betty Crocker Appliances BR-736U 12-Cup Red Coffeemaker (that's an ugly red)
Better Chef 12-Cup Coffee Maker, Red (that's an ugly red)
Red Metallic Programmable Twelve Cup Coffee Maker (I think it's the same as the Kalorik above)

I specifically ignored the 8-cup, 10-cup and even the 14-cup coffee makers. 10 cups at a time is not enough and 14 cups is too much, at least in my opinion. Since I'm the one buying, it's my opinion that counts.

Ugly Red Coffee Makers

If I'm going to give in to my wife's desires, and order a red coffee maker, it can't be a shade of red that makes me want to gag. The small, lead-in image at the upper left of this article is an example of a color that makes me want to give up my lunch in the worst kind of way.

I'll be examining all of the red coffee makers I've listed, regardless of the puke factor. As I write about them, I'll link to them in the list above. As of right now, as I write this, I have already examined one (virtually, of course) and I've linked to my article on it. If you want to know more than what I write, you can go to Amazon and look for yourself.

I do more than just look at the pictures, the specifications and the price. I also read all the reviews. I don't have much time either. The wife wants to get a cargo box shipped in December (2011) to arrive here (the Philippines) within three months of that date. I'll do my best.

After I'm Done

Did I say done? It seems like I'm never done with anything and dealing with coffee makers is no exception. I'm supposed to look for permanent coffee filters and which coffee makers they're compatible with. It would really suck if I can't find one that works with the coffee maker I finally select.

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Hamilton Beach 43253 Ensemble 12-Cup Coffeemaker

RT Cunningham — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:25:05 +0000

If I buy this red coffee maker, it will only be because I'm trying to please the wife. You see, she has this thing about the color red. If she had her way, everything we own would be one shade of red or another. We had a 1990 Toyota Corolla once and, as you can probably guess, it was red. Fortunately, I don't make my purchasing decisions based on color alone. There has to be something else that compels me to make my selection. Nevertheless, when I spotted the Hamilton Beach 43253 Ensemble 12-Cup Coffeemaker on Amazon, I just had to take a look and read the reviews.

Features

The features seem as if they should apply to just about any decent coffee maker, with minor exceptions like exact size and such:

12-cup coffeemaker with user-friendly control panel and digital display
Programmable clock/timer for "wake-up" coffee; brew-pause function
Glass carafe with stay-cool handle, measuring marks, and drip-free pour spout
Nonstick hot plate; 2-hour automatic shut-off for safety; easy-to-clean removable parts
Measures approximately 11 by 8 by 14 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Non-Features

This is a relatively inexpensive automatic drip coffee maker and as such, some of the features the higher-priced models include just aren't there. You get what you pay for, and this coffee maker is no exception.

I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I really don't need a removable water tank, bean grinder or cup warming plate. On the other hand, there aren't any strength settings either, something I've come to expect in any coffee maker I buy. I don't care about the timer, but it seems like every coffee maker beyond the ultra-cheap has it installed.

Pricing and Availability

If it's on Amazon, I'm sure it's available all over the place, including the local Walmart store (if you're in the US, that is). I can't buy this locally with our lack of coffee makers and I'm not sure I would want to.

The coffee maker sells for $41.99 (on up) on Amazon and I don't know what your local prices may be. Even if I buy it, I would have it shipped by a relative in the US who sends me a couple of cargo boxes each year.

Amazon Reviews

I didn't notice it until I read the review, but the top of the carafe doesn't leave room for more than 12 cups if you overfill the water tank. I suppose it's not a big deal, but a person could be in for a surprise if he or she isn't paying attention.

Other than that, I didn't really read anything bad about this coffee maker. The only recommendation I noted was that a permanent coffee filter was recommended because they work well with it.

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Are you a Good Candidate for Laser Hair Removal?

Annabelle — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:06:31 +0000

Given the low prices these days, getting laser hair removal might be tempting, but you should be aware that not everyone is a good candidate for the procedure. A dermatologist or cosmetician trained in handling Palomar machines can determine whether you're a good candidate or not, but here are a few pointers to help you figure out if you should bother to go to the clinic at all.

1. Have realistic expectations

"Laser hair removal" is actually the wrong description for the procedure. It should be called "laser hair reduction" instead, as laser does not "remove" the hair but eventually, after several treatments, drastically reduces the thickness and regrowth of body hair.

Having realistic expectations means not expecting that all your body hair will be permanently removed after one session. Depending on your hair anatomy, its growth cycle and other factors, it may take several sessions to see results. You might also still have hair, even though it will be thinner and less noticeable.

2. Skin tone matters

Although this is less and less an issue, skin tone is still an important factor in determining your candidacy for laser hair removal. Laser is much more effective on white skins than it is on brown or black skins. Why this is so also relates to the color of your hair, which is our next topic.

3. Hair color matters

Laser hair removal works by killing the bulb of the hair. However, a pale hair on a pale skin is much more difficult to treat than dark hair on pale skin or dark hair on dark skin. This is because the hair needs to absorb the laser light, and a big contrast between hair and skin makes most of the light go in the hair instead of diffusing on the skin.

This is why both skin tone and hair color matter for laser hair removal. The most effective treatments are on pale skins and dark hair, but new and improved machines have shown promising results on darker skins, even though never to the level of white ones.

4. It depends on your hair cycle

Each hair has a specific, genetically-determined growth cycle that tells it when to grow, stop growing and shed. Not all your hairs are on the same cycle, however, so it might be necessary to have a few treatments to catch all your hair in the growth stage.

5. Other stuff matters too

External factors like sun exposure, skin diseases like herpes or an easily scarred skin might influence your results. Discuss any medical conditions with your practitioner as it might help determine whether it will affect the results of your laser hair removal.

Drinking caffeine might be bad right before the treatment, but green coffee doesn't have as much and actually helps you lose weight, so grab a cup on your way to your cosmetician's office. You'll slim down and get some of that hair removed at the same time!

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It's Time to Get a New Iced Tea Maker and other Appliances

RT Cunningham — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:13:52 +0000

I need a new iced tea maker because a few weeks ago, my local electric company did something stupid and overloaded the 110v line coming into my house. The end result is that everything using 110v (that was plugged in at the time) no longer works. I know how to make iced tea the old-fashioned way, so it's more of an inconvenience than anything else. Still, it burns my butt that I have to replace appliances due to the actions of stupid people. I would sue those clowns, but it would probably cost me more in the long run than just replacing everything I need replaced.

A New Iced Tea Maker

I still have the burned out Hamilton Beach Iced Tea Maker. I'll probably toss the machine while saving the decanter (or pitcher, if you prefer that term) once I get a replacement. They're not sold locally, so I have to rely on my wife to send a new one (she's in the United States until she decides she's had enough of our son's family) and it may or may not be the same brand.

It really doesn't matter which brand of ice tea maker I use, as long as it isn't more complicated than doing the saucepan routine with the teabags.

A New Coffee Maker

Luckily, I didn't own one when everything got fried. It was one of those "wait for the opportunity" kind of things because the only brand I found locally wasn't very good. I would prefer a locally made coffee maker with 220 voltage because then I wouldn't have to unplug it all the time when not in use.

I'm okay with instant coffee – I really don't have much of a choice until my wife or my son decide to send me something that's a lot better than what I can find here.

Other Appliances

An old TV, which used either 110v or 220v was plugged into the 110v line. It was my other son's TV (the one that lives with me) that he bought in 2005. It was a CRT, so it needed to be replaced anyway. He's using my 19" LCD TV temporarily – I never watch TV anyway.

My rice cooker, made in Japan, was purchased in the US, so it ran on 110v. Yep, it got fried too. I've temporarily replaced it with a local brand, but that rice cooker sucks. It burns the rice if I leave it plugged in. I need my wife to send another one because neither of us is going to be hunting for rice cookers outside of Olongapo.

I'm sure other appliances got fried, but I can't think of any right now. I have brain freeze.

Anyway… I'll be sure to mention what I get when I get it. I shouldn't complain about anything at all, though, because it's not like I'm working for living anymore. I have all the time in the world, or so it seems.

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Green Coffee For Weight Loss

Annabelle — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:06:47 +0000

Maria wakes up, takes a shower and gets dressed. She goes in the kitchen and opens the fridge to grab a bag of beans that look curiously like coffee — just not brown or black. Maria is drinking green coffee, or coffee from unroasted coffee beans.

Why does she drink green coffee? Maria has heard that it can help with weight loss, and she's trying to lose her last baby pounds. She still exercises and eats well, but she finds that not only does green coffee wakes her up and gives her energy in the morning, but it has also helped reduce her weight by a few extra pounds.

Green coffee actually works by slightly increasing your metabolism. An increased metabolism makes your body burn more calories during its ordinary functioning, and more calories burned means more weight loss (in a calorie deficit diet).

What's so special about unroasted coffee that regular roasted coffee doesn't have? The lead scientist behind green coffee research, Hiroshi Shimoda, explains that when coffee is roasted, the chlorogenic acid contained in coffee decomposes and transforms into the fragrant compounds that gives coffee its rich taste and smell. Green coffee, on the other hand, doesn't smell and tastes slightly bitter.

Chlorogenic acid is the key ingredient here. While caffeine contained in coffee and tea helps release fatty acids contained in your body fast, chlorogenic acid helps the liver process those fatty acids before they are released back in the body or eliminated. More fatty acid elimination means, eventually, more weight loss.

Shimoda studied the effects of green coffee by feeding mice one of three things: green coffee bean extract, just caffeine and just acid. In the last two cases, no effect on weight was reported, but in the mice being fed green coffee bean extract, a 35% reduction in body weight was observed. The conclusion is easy: the combination of caffeine and chlorogenic acid helps the body lose weight.

This is a very interesting study, and since then more scientists have started to study the effects of green coffee on weight loss. The research is similar to that conducted on green tea, another case where the roasting (to make black tea) destroys the beneficial polyphenols that help increase metabolism and eventually lose weight.

Some people who have tried green coffee say they have lost significant amounts of weight without increasing their exercise or changing their diet. Some also report that it reduced or eliminated cellulite. This, however, is only based on testimony and research has yet to support these claims.

What happened to Maria? She did lose her baby weight, and then some. Green coffee is now part of her daily routine and she has seen incredible results that would have been difficult to achieve with exercise and dieting alone. And the best of it all, green coffee is a natural product that isn't harmful like the dangerous ephedrine stuff. Now happy with a thinner body, Maria is thinking about getting breast implants to have the body she's always dreamed of.

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Sweet Tea Southern Fried Chicken

RT Cunningham — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 03:42:59 +0000

If there's anything I like better than the beverages of coffee and tea, it's the food that's prepared with either of them. Now, rather than try to convince you that I know anything about cooking more than the average household food, here's a video from SmashMouthonTV:

Sweet Tea Southern Fried Chicken

SmashMouth on TV

Finding the SmashMouthonTV channel on YouTube was pretty easy after Allyn Hane shared the information about SmashMouth TV. Allyn is a pretty familiar face, being the popular video blogger at Blogger Illustrated (never mind the fact that he's whacked nearly all of the content there due to… umm… discontent, I think).

Anyway, I think Allyn is doing all of the videos for SmashMouthonTV himself – probably in return for a frequent feast. Heck, I'd do it too if I knew anything at all about doing videos (and I don't care to learn, really).

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