After I posted the Tèo I received many emails about the no-nos of using teas that come in tea bags. One fine reader pointed out this Teastick Infuser that is great for brewing single cups of loose leaf tea with easy cleanup. The Teastick is made out of stainless steel and is designed so you can scoop the loose leaf tea, slide…
We only ever buy pure maple syrup, but the Noble Tonic number 02 from the Old Faithful Shop makes the pure maple syrup we buy sound significantly more simple. Noble Tonic 02 starts with maple syrup from the Quebec orchards and adds Tahitian Vanilla Bean and Egyptian Chamomile Blossom to give it a floral and fruity aroma with buttery apple-like flavor. Sounds…
How many years have we been forced to wrap the string of our Celestial Seasonings tea bag around our spoon and draw it tight to wring out the last of the tea? Or how many times have we used our fingers and suffered the heat of a tea bag just pulled out of steeping hot water? Well, my friends, no more. The…
Though I do not yet own one of the Hario kettles (I use an electric kettle), this is an item I'd love to add to my coffee shelf one day. The Hario kettle works great in any scenario, but it's designed especially for use with pour over coffee makers such as the Chemex or a single serving pour over option. What makes…
We boil water at least 3 or 4 times a day. Anna for her tea in the morning, me for my coffee, me again perhaps for my afternoon tea, and then the two of once more in the evening for our after-dinner tea or decaf coffee. In our kitchen have a similar version of this Breville that is made by Hamilton Beach,…
My parents are hard and fast tea drinkers. And, despite my obvious and outspoken affinity for a good cup of coffee, I too am a regular tea drinker. In fact, I probably drink at least as much tea as I do coffee. This tea infuser from Forlife is great for several reasons: (a) it's big enough to hold plenty of loose-leaf tea…
I have a pair of Bodum double wall glass coffee mugs, and they are fantastic. They keep the coffee (or tea) nice and hot for longer than a standard ceramic mug does, and they keep the outside of the glass cool enough to hold. And so this new-to-me double-walled french press sounds wonderful. I currently have a classic Bodum french press, but…
Calphalon makes fantastic cookware at a fantastic price. Anna and I received two Calphalon non-stick omelet pans almost 5 years ago for Christmas and they still look and feel as if they were brand new. When we next purchase new cookware it will be this exact set — we prefer the stainless over the non-stick, and we love the way the Calphalon…
Brewing coffee with my siphon vacuum pot is a blast — especially when guests are over. The coffee is delicious and the process is enjoyable and gratifying. Most siphons come with a glass container with a wick meant for burning denatured alcohol to boil your water. This works, but it can be messy and dangerous, and is especially not wise for storage.…
I recently stepped into the world of home coffee roasting, and I may never go back. My home roasting journey is beginning with a 1970's WestBend The Poppery, which means I am currently air roasting my beans. However, word on the street is that if you're serious about home roasting then a domestic drum roaster is the way to go because they…
These log bowls are handmade from reclaimed Canadian wood by the Loyal Loot Collective in Alberta, Canada. What a fine way to display and hold stuff (Like candy. Hello!) this fall. Sizes and colors vary.
Perhaps one day I will own an expresso machine. And but so, in the meantime I guess posting about them on Tools and Toys will have to suffice. I have it on good authority that as far as home machines go, the Rancilio Silvia is the best of the best for the price range. Don't waste your money buying something at Target…
We know that you know that the best way to keep your roasted coffee beans fresh is to store them in an airtight container that doesn't see any sunlight. Most coffee aficionados find the nearest jar with an airtight lid and call it good. But after you've closed that jar what about all the air that is still inside it? That's where…
If you’re persnickety about your coffee and brew some every day then the AeroPress may be your cup of tea. I own a drip coffee maker, a Turkish coffee maker, two french presses, a stove-top espresso maker, a siphon, and an AeroPress. The latter makes a cup of coffee as delicious as you'll get from a french press or siphon, yet with…
Crate&Barrel (a.k.a. The Helvetica Store) has, in my opinion, some of the finest glassware you can buy. So many of their pieces have a unique and classy style, and these Granda Glasses are no exception. They are handmade from recycled glass with swirls of orange, red, yellow, and turquoise. Available as a 19 oz. Highball and 11 oz. Double Old Fashioned .
Regardless of whether you make coffee in a french press, an AeroPress, or a Siphon Vacuum Pot, you're going to need to stir those grounds. Those who know better will tell you that a metal spoon or knife is rubbish for such a task — it steals heat from the brewing liquid and it's just not wise to go around banging a…
If you've ever felt that brewing coffee should be like a fun science experiment, well my friends, the Siphon Vacuum Pot is for you. Not only is it a lot of fun to brew a pot of siphoned coffee, the end result is very delicious. While you're at it, be sure to pick up some extra cloth filters, some bamboo stir sticks,…
No living room is complete without a set of coasters to protect your coffee table while showing your guests you have class. And nothing says class more than a set of classic yet fun coasters. Especially this argyle-patterned set which is laser cut from bamboo.
These delicate mugs work wonders to keep your coffee or tea hotter for longer. Which has been known to make your morning better and your day a little bit brighter. And between you and me, that's something we could all use more of.