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Quality mugs make a difference and can be fun!

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I was setting out to do a post on a set of Bodum Bistro mugs that where given to me for my recent birthday. They are double walled coffee mugs so they act as a insulator to keep drinks warm or cold. For me, I have a tendancy to drink through my drip coffee quickly since I like it warm to hot. When it cools down it is less of a pleasure drink. I’m sure I’m not the only one, but maybe…

If you have not had the pleasure of a glass coffee mug, there is entertainment value beyond the termal features. For drip coffee, there is quite a show as you add a bit of cream and it works it’s way around the cup, mixing with the dark coffee. Like a Lava Lamp, every showing is different. I attempted to get a image of this and kept ending up with a reflection of my camera. I will post up something when I get it right.

For now, here is a image I grabbed from the provider’s site so you can see it is truly a mug.

I was given a pair of the 15 oz version (Bodum Bistro Double-Wall Insulated Glass Café Latte Mug). They insulate well enough to keep the coffee inside warm while the outside of the mug is cool enough to hold without using the handle. A nice side feature I noticed from a site also reviewing the mugs is that you don’t need to use a coaster since the double wall of glass prevents condensation. Not that I ever sit my coffee around the house but that might be important to some folks. Another item is that while these glass mugs do insulate very well, they are glass so they break easier than a thicker mug.

Now, onto a bit of fun I found while looking for the above image. The folks at Beautiful Life have a post of 25 Creative and Original Mugs. Be prepared when you make the jump, this is a nice showing of mugs. Which means they have a sprinkling of ‘tea’ mugs in there too. It’s a fun collection to see, whether it makes you coffee taste any better or not is another matter.

Cool Coffee Maker That Will Never Be

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There are a lot of really, er… interesting coffee pot designs that we all know will never make it to our local supplier. Every now and then there is a design that is simple and really should get a manufacturer’s attention. Sadly, this one looks and works in concept very well but will get missed by the masses.

There is nothing new here in the science of coffee making. In fact, there are makers on the market that look similar. This ‘gravity defying’ coffee maker by Lina Fischer would look great in the middle of the table when coffee drinkers come together. The Yanko Design site has this posted on their Form Beyond Function Web site. Hmmm…. think someone should tell IKEA about this design?

Glass Found in 100g jars of Nescafe – Recalled

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Nestle is recalling 100g jars of Nescafe Alta Rica, Alta Rica Decaff, Cap Colombie, Suraya & Espresso. Due to the possibility of small pieces of glass in the jars. Customers should be expecting refunds. The company reports that the recall shouldn’t be needed for any other products.

The recall is getting news all around the world, which really shows how far reaching the product is. The Times Live – South Africa, CBC – Canada, Arab News, Irish Independent,  and the Voice of Russia.  There doesn’t seem to be any mention of a particular bar code, ID coded or expiration date to limit down which are OK and which are not.

Design Artists Gone Wild on Espresso Machines

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What if we had a bunch of creative design folks that could come up with an espresso machine that worked but was also a piece of art… yup, what if.

Well, the group at YankoDesign reached out and have some real fun hardware that begs to be in our kitchens. The Design site has many fun coffee and espresso ideas. Like, cups that make a coffee in it’s self. Here are a few machines that are note worthy – we can dream…

A design by Adam Zerbib. Who said making two espressos at the same time they have to be made with the same coffee grounds. Those interesting looking cups to the right are just that, a handy stack of artsy cups. Take a look at the full write up…

Next is a All-In-One espresso maker by Soren Henssler. Sporting a bean holder for just-in-time grinding as well a water bin. This offering is nice in the office or home counter. I’m not as sure about usability with the water and beans on different sides, but then we are just dreaming here. Looks great and brags that it’s easy to clean…

Finally, while this maker is a stand alone table which you might see in an airport, it will be great anywhere in your home. The Maurizio Maiorana designed espresso maker is a stand up table that is completely self contained… it even has it’s own trash can.

Arabic/Turkish Coffee Info

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For the years before marrying my lovely wife, I would be given Turkish Coffee by her mom when I visited. It has a ‘different’ kind of taste that is more… robust than regular coffee but not the bite of a espresso shot. I can’t believe I didn’t look before, but this morning I took some time to get a better understanding of what makes coffee from coffee beans a Arabic or Turkish Coffee.

When ordering coffee, or when offered coffee, be sure to tell the server or host/hostess if you would like sugar. Sugar is actually added during the preparation, not after the coffee is done. Arabic coffee can be tart and many people like to add some sugar to cut the tartness. There are several variations with sugar in Arabic coffee:

  • awha sada: black coffee
  • ahwa ariha: lightly sweetened
  • ahwa mazboot: medium amount of sugar
  • ahwaziyada: very sweet

I found this nice article over on About.com about making your own Arabic/Turkish Coffees. As well, food selections that go well with your coffee.