Author Topic: Gadget WEEKENDS (Read 1,149,626 times)

NigelH · « **Reply #50 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:13 PM »

Used a Moka Pot (Bialetti) for ages.

Am now using an Aeropress.
http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

mouser · « **Reply #51 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:21 PM »

Please remember to attach images to your posts, it makes it funner that way!

vrgrrl · « **Reply #52 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:27 PM »

Now if you are looking for ESPRESSO machines...look no further than the Nespresso Pixie!!

This is not that amazingly different than your coffee pod machines but it is for espresso only and if you go with nespresso brand...wow! Good stuff! Chris just made some in fact and so now our apartment is filled with the smell of espresso coffee shop like goodness!

http://www.nespresso-us.com/item_detail.cfm?product_ID=2&id=item_ID

vrgrrl · « **Reply #53 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:29 PM »

But to get the FULL espresso experience, you MUST also get yourself a milk frother! And Nespreso makes the one I love -- the Aeroccino!

Now I've owned espresso machines that have come with milk frothers but they always end up gunking up like mad and it's the first thing to go. So even if you have another machine, you might still want to get yourself a separate milk frother and this one is great! There are no hangdown pipe things to clean -- you just pour the milk in put the lid on and press the button. In one minute - perfectly frothed milk! And you can have it do hot or cold froth (depending on if you are making an iced drink or not). Easy to clean -- just wipe the botton with a towel to get off the milk residue and rinse with water. No scrubbing needed!

I think I'm more impressed by the frother than the espresso maker but together? A GREAT coffee set up!

http://www.nespresso-us.com/item_detail.cfm?product_ID=7&id=item_ID

NigelH · « **Reply #54 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:57 PM »

My milk frother.
Obviously not steam based.
Works as well (for me) as any $30 frother - last one lasted me 3 years until I dropped it on concrete.

IKEA "PRODUKT"
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10076320/

vrgrrl · « **Reply #55 on:** November 24, 2012, 11:15 PM »

I used to have that milk frother too!! But trust me...mine is much better!

barney · « **Reply #56 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:26 AM »

Quote from: NigelH on November 24, 2012, 10:09 PM

I've used this stuff for decades, albeit by a different name though.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prestik

Yeah, great for impromptu stuff. Used it to tack up reference pages near the computer, and frequently to tack up blueprint-like drawings when working in the garage/woodshop. Also handy to hang a printed recipe on a kitchen cabinet. And it works well to secure small tools and parts in a convenient, albeit untypical, location. 'Bout the only thing it cannot help with is sex

.

app103 · « **Reply #57 on:** November 25, 2012, 12:48 AM »

Quote from: vrgrrl on November 24, 2012, 10:29 PM

Now I've owned espresso machines that have come with milk frothers but they always end up gunking up like mad and it's the first thing to go.

A trick I learned from working in a deluxe Dunkin Donuts that had a $20,000 combo espresso machine/milk frother (this was before the awful stuff the chain now calls espresso was introduced):

Always use skim milk.

Using anything else would gunk up the machine and cause it to break down. If the boss caught you using whole milk, 2%, 1% or light cream, it was grounds for immediate dismissal.

vrgrrl · « **Reply #58 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:04 AM »

That's good to know April about the skim milk -- I always use it anyway! No wonder I have fewer problems!

Renegade · « **Reply #59 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:09 AM »

Quote from: app103 on November 25, 2012, 12:48 AM

Quote from: vrgrrl on November 24, 2012, 10:29 PM
Now I've owned espresso machines that have come with milk frothers but they always end up gunking up like mad and it's the first thing to go.

A trick I learned from working in a deluxe Dunkin Donuts that had a $20,000 combo espresso machine/milk frother (this was before the awful stuff the chain now calls espresso was introduced):

Always use skim milk.

Using anything else would gunk up the machine and cause it to break down. If the boss caught you using whole milk, 2%, 1% or light cream, it was grounds for immediate dismissal.

I've never had a problem using full cream milk.

My espresso machine has a milk frother built in, and as long as I clean it properly, I have zero problems. It has a tool to clean the spout (a glorified straight paperclip). The nozzle unscrews, so it can be cleaned like that as well.

One thing that I do is to run steam through it after I've used it. This flushes out anything that has gotten up into the pipes there.

Does skim milk froth better? I tried some different milk, but forget which worked best. I only buy full cream milk now.

app103 · « **Reply #60 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:26 AM »

Quote from: Renegade on November 25, 2012, 01:09 AM

One thing that I do is to run steam through it after I've used it. This flushes out anything that has gotten up into the pipes there.

Not exactly practical to flush it out after every use when we are talking about a high volume environment that the machine is almost in constant use. It was flushed out every 6 hours, though.

Quote from: Renegade on November 25, 2012, 01:09 AM

Does skim milk froth better? I tried some different milk, but forget which worked best. I only buy full cream milk now.

Technically, very cold skim milk can be frothed to a level where it resembles whipped cream, using a very powerful hand blender and a good whipping attachment. In fact, this can only be done with skim milk or heavy cream. As far as in an espresso machine, I don't know, but nobody ever complained about it while I was working there.

I only shared this tip in case anybody wanted to know how the "pros" do it with those large expensive commercial quality high-tech automatic espresso machines, how they keep them from getting gunked up to the point of breakage. If using skim milk extends the life of their machines and cuts down on repairs and down time, it should do the same for home equipment, too.

Renegade · « **Reply #61 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:55 AM »

^^ Mine is a small one designed for home use or small, low-volume business use. I used to work at a 5-star restaurant, and this one is better than the one I used there. But that was 25 years ago, and I'm guessing that the durability of that one would be better than mine. (Stuff isn't made like it used to be.)

Flushing only takes about 2~3 seconds though. I'm only turning on the steam. It's not a large, commercial system. So, it sounds like they're not very comparable there. Kind of like a Mack truck and a Chevy pickup.

But I've never been able to get a really good, very thick froth - certainly not like whipped cream. I can get it pretty good, but not like I've had in some cafes. I suppose I just kind of suck at it. Dunno. Could be the system. Could be me.

I might pick up a small carton of skim milk to see if I can manage to get that "whipped cream" texture. I've only been able to get it "thick", but not thick enough to draw in or mold.

app103 · « **Reply #62 on:** November 25, 2012, 07:54 AM »

Well, if you want to do it like a real pro, this might help: http://www.home-barista.com/espresso-guide-frothing-milk.html

cranioscopical · « **Reply #63 on:** November 25, 2012, 03:59 PM »

One for the workshop.

Find the relative angle between two surfaces.
Fast, accurate way to set up saw blades and plenty of other things.

[attach]

app103 · « **Reply #64 on:** November 27, 2012, 07:19 AM »

Quote from: app103 on November 24, 2012, 09:29 PM

This is the one I have (this color, too): http://www.amazon.com/Rachael-Ray-Teakettles-2-Quart-Porcelain/dp/B004WLJAJU/

Is this the very same kettle I linked to on Amazon? Why, yes...yes, it is! Even the same color!

This is a screenshot of an ad that was shown to me on Facebook just moments ago. They are starting to get really creepy.

mouser · « **Reply #65 on:** November 30, 2012, 10:48 PM »

Ok my gadget for today is a combo:

First, a low-tech invention that has no doubt been perfected over the ages, an Apple Peeler/Corer:

http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Apple-Potato-Peeler/dp/B0000DE2SS/

Second, a food dehydrator:

http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-FD-80-FD-80A-Square-Shaped-Dehydrator/dp/B0090WOCM6

Using these two in combination I have been making dehydrated green apple slices, and they are a delicious healthy snack.

Lots of different brands of both of those available everywhere -- I don't have a particular reason to prefer one brand over the other.

Renegade · « **Reply #66 on:** December 01, 2012, 12:29 AM »

Quote from: mouser on November 30, 2012, 10:48 PM

Ok my gadget for today is a combo:

First, a low-tech invention that has no doubt been perfected over the ages, an Apple Peeler/Corer:

(see attachment in previous post)
http://www.amazon.com/Back-Basics-Apple-Potato-Peeler/dp/B0000DE2SS/

Second, a food dehydrator:

(see attachment in previous post)
http://www.amazon.com/Nesco-FD-80-FD-80A-Square-Shaped-Dehydrator/dp/B0090WOCM6

Using these two in combination I have been making dehydrated green apple slices, and they are a delicious healthy snack.

Lots of different brands of both of those available everywhere -- I don't have a particular reason to prefer one brand over the other.

I've wanted a dehydrator for a long time. Sigh... But I just don't want to buy anymore stuff until I move. It's tough moving across continents... It ends up being cheaper to throw things out rather than ship them.

My grandmother had a huge dehydrator when I was a kid. It was about the size of an oven.

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #67 on:** December 01, 2012, 12:36 AM »

Perfect Gift for the Female Geek

The Duet is a waterproof multi-speed vibrator with 8 or 16 GB of storage and will have a MSRP of $139.99 – $349.99 depending on the model you buy. The 349.99 model is 16GB and has 24kt gold.

http://www.lovecrave.com/

Renegade · « **Reply #68 on:** December 01, 2012, 01:08 AM »

Quote from: Stephen66515 on December 01, 2012, 12:36 AM

Perfect Gift for the Female Geek
(see attachment in previous post)
The Duet is a waterproof multi-speed vibrator with 8 or 16 GB of storage and will have a MSRP of $139.99 – $349.99 depending on the model you buy. The 349.99 model is 16GB and has 24kt gold.

http://www.lovecrave.com/

Ummm...

Quote from: mouser on November 16, 2012, 03:09 AM

Here are the rules:

4. You must personally OWN the item you are posting about.

Are you trying to tell us something?

KynloStephen66515 · « **Reply #69 on:** December 01, 2012, 02:06 AM »

Meh...I didn't read the rules...Figured it would be a good share for Christmas Pressy Ideas xD

ewemoa · « **Reply #70 on:** December 02, 2012, 11:23 AM »

Got an object that allegedly helps to reduce the chances of dropping a gadget:

So far it seems to work pretty well -- at least on a mobile phone.

It's supposed to be reattachable -- and this has worked here at least once

mouser · « **Reply #71 on:** December 07, 2012, 11:05 AM »

My gadget for today is one I've posted about before on DC, a carbonation machine for making your own seltzer:

From http://www.sodaclubusa.com/

Here's my original DC post on it: http://www.donationcoder.com/forum/index.php?topic=5598.0

4wd · « **Reply #72 on:** December 09, 2012, 04:43 AM »

Quote from: Renegade on December 01, 2012, 12:29 AM

I've wanted a dehydrator for a long time. Sigh... But I just don't want to buy anymore stuff until I move. It's tough moving across continents... It ends up being cheaper to throw things out rather than ship them.

A Solar Food Dryer from Cardboard Boxes

Recycle it when you're finished.

ewemoa · « **Reply #73 on:** December 10, 2012, 01:19 AM »

Perhaps some may not consider the following a gadget...

Very handy for cleaning certain hard-to-reach areas.

This particular one was obtained at a Daiso store.

robinsiebler · « **Reply #74 on:** December 10, 2012, 10:26 PM »

I am with NigelH. I have owned an Aeropress for years. It makes a better cup of coffee than a Keurig machine and a better cup of espresso than a $2k commercial espresso machine.