coffee

On this week's Digital City podcast, we discuss new MacBook Pro rumors, and discover why New York drug store chain is using a sushi-making machine to bring raw fish to its shelves.

Then we lament how laptop users are no longer welcome in several big NYC coffee shops -- to counter this disturbing trend, we run down some of our favorite spots for computing on-the-go.

Finally, Heavy Rain hits the streets this week. Everyone's interest level is high, and Dan and Scott give some spoiler-free impressions based on their very different playthroughs.

Bonus: if you've ever wondered … Read more

Sometimes to be a good host you just have to let people serve themselves. Though everything from salad bars to buffet stations employ this concept, when it comes to beverages the idea can be put into action beyond just cheap all you can eat restaurants. Perfect for small offices, or even for home use, single serve brewing systems allow for individuals to brew the exact beverage they desire.

With a wide assortment of available K-Cups, the Cuisinart Single Serve Brewing System combines convenience with variety. By including an adjustable temperature control and a choice of five cup sizes, the brewing … Read more

The convenience of a single-serving brewing machine is hard to deny. When faced with the need for coffee (or other brewed beverage), expediency is key. Make it easy, make it fast, and make it good: that's all coffee drinkers ask for. (Not counting all the stuff you can put in your coffee after it is brewed.) With the efficiency of a dedicated appliance designed for ease of use, fresh, hot coffee is but a button press away.

With this popularity in mind, Keurig recently introduced the Commercial Series B155 Brewing System. Featuring a full color touch-screen interface (a first … Read more

There is one kitchen appliance that comes to mind perhaps more than any other in the morning: the coffee maker. No matter if it's drip-brewed or espresso that is doing the calling, the allure of that particular machine leads us out of bed and down the hall, where we contend with sleepy motor skills as we prepare our morning caffeine fix. For a moment, all attention is focused on this one undertaking, one that requires a trip to the sink for water--and that's where we run into last night's dirty dishes. Suddenly, the coffee maker isn't … Read more

Coffee drinkers know what they like. Walk into any coffee shop for a demonstration. As the line moves forward, patrons order their favorite beverages with more precision than that of a fine steak. Rare, medium, and well done are the basic gradations for steak; but when it comes to coffee, numbers come into play. In the past, one lump or two was suffice enough to determine coffee preferences. But in today's world, a dozen different sweeteners and creamers are available--not to mention temperature-specific preferences. As diverse as the world of coffee (and caffeine in general) has become, there is … Read more

Tea drinkers understand the art of brewing tea. Though coffee drinkers do appreciate interacting with their favorite beverage in order to make it, the vast majority of coffeemakers are automatic drip machines. They quite often make a fine cup of coffee, but after the initial choices of beans and grind are chosen, the actual brewing process is automated. The same cannot be said for brewing tea.

Different types of tea require different brewing temperatures; hearty black teas do well with a high brewing temperature, and green and herbal teas benefit from brewing at a lower temperature. The Capresso PerfectTea Cordless 48-Ounce Electric Glass Kettle … Read more

After all the shopping and cooking and traveling, the end of the year can be a real time crunch, and it's easy to overlook the little day-to-day things we regularly attend to without a second thought. Thankfully, when it comes to the most basic consumables of our daily lives (coffee), there is a product designed to help those of us who need to save every minute (or are incredibly absent-minded).

The Self-Stirring Mug from Think Geek can help us shave precious seconds off of our daily routine. Powered by two AAA batteries installed in the base, the mug accomplishes … Read more

Serious coffee enthusiasts will agree that coffee is both an art and a science. Time and temperature play crucial roles during the roasting process of the raw bean. While we may not usually be able to control what comes out of the bag, we can control what happens after that point. Just as time and temperature determine what kind of bean you get, the variables also come into play during the brewing process. Of course, there's the grind to consider: coarse, medium and fine. However, an additional factor for the coffee lover to consider is how to grind the … Read more

Last year around this time, it was still a challenge just to get a Wii. Now that everyone's got one, let's take a look at some inexpensive gift ideas for the Wii people ("Wii-ple"?) in your life.

1. Buy.com has the Wii AirCharge Inductive Charger for $17.99 shipped. "Inductive" means you just lay the controllers on the charging base and presto: they recharge. It even works through the silicon sleeves and with the new MotionPlus connected. The package comes with the base and a pair of rechargeable batteries. I'm getting one.… Read more