This is a travel gadget made after my own heart - a portable, hand-pump mini espresso machine that you can take anywhere to enjoy freshly made espresso! The technology behind it is simple but genius. The whole unit weighs less than a pound and can be held in one hand. You open the top to put in your coffee, which can be ground beans or a coffee capsule (it supports Caffitaly ...
drinks of distinction
UltraPortable Kole Thermos Flask – 4 shots of Espresso or Whiskey a Go Go
After all our posts about coffee recently, it seems appropriate to discuss how you might carry it around with you. The Kole thermos flask looks like a large cigar holder but holds your favourite beverage, instead, keeping it hot or cold until you need to consume it. I wouldn't use the Kole thermos flask for soup, though. Can't imagine how you'd clean out that mess with such ...
Coffee Grinder is better than Coffee Blender
I used a portable Krupps coffee blender for years and was none the wiser, until it packed up and I had to find a new one. Something caught my eye with the deLonghi coffee grinder and, despite the higher price, I went for it. I am extremely happy with my decision. The difference in taste is really significant! Even though the Krupps is classified as a coffee grinder, it ...
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Whiskey
It's always sad to say goodbye to somebody you love, and that includes the person who gave me the bottle in the first place. On a recent trip over, a friend gifted me a special presentation bottle of Suntory's Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master's Select. Not only was it a beautiful bottle on the outside but even more so on the inside. I have been a fan of Japanese whiskey for ...
Smoothest Coffee in the world – Osaka Titanium Coated Filter [REVIEW]
If you love coffee, you will love and appreciate the Osaka Titanium Coated Cone Dripper. The fine mesh allows water to slowly seep through the coffee grinds on the inside, to the outside, where it drips neatly down the central column and into your cup. The titanium coating may be overkill but it definitely prevents any flavour from the metal mesh from being transferred into the ...
A Good Flask for Armageddon – The Macallan
If you like ridiculously over-spec'd things, then you're going to like this. Here's a liquor flask that can probably withstand the Guns of Navarone without spilling a drop. The Macallan is a joint project between Oakley, the sports brand, and Macallan, the esteemed whiskey producer. Together, they have created a flask made from steel, carbon fibre, and aeronautical aluminium ...
GSI Mini Outdoor Expresso Set
Engaging the brain without caffeine first thing in the morning can lead to unfortunate events in my experience. That is why I prefer to be prepared to brew at all time. Brew Anytime, Anywhere The GSI Mini Outdoor Expresso Set comes in 1 cup or 4 cup sizes. The stovetop device brews directly into the cup, cutting down on its size. Plus, it's made from aluminium, so it's ...
Chateau Bourgneuf – Great Pomerol for under £25
As you probably know by now, I love good wine. I love great, inexpensive wines even more. And I love Pomerol best of all. Chateau Bourgneuf combines all my passions into one. It tastes exceedingly good for the price. Now, I'm not going to wax lyrical about chocolate notes and hints of blackberry and all that tosh... probably, because my palate is not that refined. But I know ...
Forget Red Bull – This low calorie energy drink without caffeine kicks some serious backside! [REVIEW]
When I lived in Japan - long before Red Bull came along - I used to stand in line with the salarymen every morning at the drinks machine on the station platform and hammer home an energy drink. They came in wonderfully small screw cap bottles and had a semi-official medical look to them punctuated by tall claims and colourful graphics. The truth is, Japan has been in the ...
Bosch IXO VINO – DIY wine bottle opener
After assembling that shelf from IKEA, why not treat yourself to a bottle of wine... ...And make use of your electric screwdriver tool to open a bottle of wine. The Bosch IXO VINO is a cordless, lithium-ion battery powered, rechargeable screwdriver that comes as a special edition with a corkscrew attachment to open wine bottles... turning it into an electric wine ...
