espresso

Coffeehouse in your house

The corner caf? may be a symbol of coffee culture, but that doesn't mean it's necessary to frequent one to get your coffee fix. Any coffee aficionado is familiar with the abundance of options that exist for home brewing the magic elixir. From stovetop configurations to press pot models, if you have a preferred method, rest assured there is a way to brew it at home. For espresso fanatics, this means an espresso machine.

The Breville Programmable Espresso Maker with Integrated Burr Grinder combines all the features one would expect from any caf? machine. With a gauge to … Read more

Gadgettes 149: The single-purpose gadgets episode

OK. So we promised you on last week's episode that we would do a single-purpose gadgets episode this week. Turns out, promising that type of thing in advance isn't such a good idea as we actually had to work to find gadgets that fit the theme. So we made it, but admittedly by the skin of our collective teeth. It's all worth it for the segments, though. Patience, young grasshopper!

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 149

Sony responds to Kindle onslaught with Reader Touch and Pocket

Pancake machine churns 200 flapjacks per hour (thanks, Peter Lee!)

Ramen robot!

Multiblade pizza slicer guarantees perfect-sized slices

Lava Lamp returns as Mathmos Fireflow

A Propos (of) Nothing The Wall-E USB drive is too cute for even baby talk to describe

This week in hello kitty Hello Kitty limited edition Casio Exilim EX-Z2

It’s About Time Darth Vader clock radio has no patience for your sloth

PRETTY Bugatti Diva espresso machine inspires poetry

Potty Time Public urinal lets you pee into the wall

Kill Me Sony’s new “Girlz Play Too” campaign

Pink Watch (Kill Me Edition) ChicBuds “by women, for women”… Read more

Automatic espresso in your kitchen

Many of us make a trip to the local Starbucks first thing in the morning because we don't want to have to mess with making our own espresso. There's a process to making good espresso, and sometimes it's just easier to leave it up to an expert. But with the Automatic Espresso Machine XP7225 from Krups, it's possible to put an expert on your kitchen counter.

This espresso machine is fully automatic: all you need to do is add the necessary ingredients and it will brew a cup to your specifications. Even cleaning it requires minimal … Read more

A portable espresso machine

If you need an espresso to start your day, Espressi had you in mind when the company designed the Mypressi Twist. The Mypressi Twist is a portable espresso maker that ensures you have a fresh espresso any time you want one, without having to lug around a full-size espresso machine. To use it, you place fresh espresso or an ESE pod in the holder, add water, and pull your shot. The Mypressi Twist uses a pressurized cylinder, rather than pumping, to power a shot through the extraction cycle with constant pressure. The CO2 cartridge used to create that pressure will … Read more

An espresso machine that learns what you love

As a means of saving money, I've started to make my own coffee at home as often as possible. I've made enough pots in my French press to know how to get the brew just like the corner store does it, extra thick and black without being too bitter. This works out to the mutual benefit of my roommates, since I usually make a whole pot and don't drink all of it (although I've been known to do it every once in a while).

But sometimes, a girl's just got to get something a little … Read more

MacHeist 3 brings back the great software deals

For the past two years, several independent Mac software developers have teamed up to put together a bundle of award-winning Mac apps at a vastly reduced price--with 25 percent of the purchase price donated to the charity of your choice (chosen from a list). The whole thing takes place at a very well-designed site called MacHeist.com and over the past two years, thousands of Mac users have snapped up the limited time offer--it's really a great deal! The fun part about the MacHeist offer is the developers of MacHeist make it into a kind of scavenger hunt. They … Read more

Take a sip from a Pantone-style cup

If you've ever dabbled in graphic design, worked at a print company, decided to repaint the kitchen, or taken a trip to the grocery store, then you've probably seen a booklet of paint samples, each swatch with its own unique identification number.

This numerical color-standardization system is called the Pantone Color Matching System, introduced in 1963 by the Pantone Company. The company's main product is a series of cardboard strips, printed with closely matched colors and bound as tiny books. These booklets have made color matching a more straightforward task for painters, print companies, and graphic designers. … Read more

Nespresso makes the very best...coffee.

Because I married the greatest guy in the world, he understands my need for coffee. So for my birthday, he upgraded my Nespresso C190 to a fire-engine red D290 Concept machine. And I am in love. With the machine and my husband.

Nespresso machines use proprietary capsules (pods), which means you can make espresso drinks in moments, without the mess and effort involved in grinding and tamping beans. And the most shocking part of these nontraditional coffee makers is that you're not sacrificing quality for a cleaner kitchen. In fact, loyal Nespresso drinkers wind up preferring their brew to … Read more

The prettiest thing that's ever graced your stovetop

Several years ago, I decided to buy an espresso machine. Thus began a long series of trips to various discount stores, kitchen-specialty shops, and department stores, searching for the right coffee maker to fit my tastes and my budget.

It wasn't long before I found out that shopping for an espresso machine is about as overwhelming as looking for an apartment in New York City. I gave up when I couldn't push through the intimidatingly long list of potential candidates and the series of troubling reviews. As a result, I've continued to fork out the cash for … Read more