coffee

I've been a sucker for "Star Wars" merchandise ever since I had to get a second C-3PO action figure as a kid because I wore all the gold color off of my first one. My first kiss was with a friend named Arnie, who made my nerdy young heart beat with a sweet collection that included an X-Wing Fighter. My brother and I had matching stuffed Ewoks.

I still get a kick out of "Star Wars" swag today because of the creativity that goes into it. Fans almost always get it right when they do things like build a carpet-covered AT-AT cat condo or custom-painted Stormtrooper My Little Ponies complete with helmets and belts. These things have heart.

But this brings me to the limited-edition $120 Nestle "Star Wars" coffee makers that will be available only in Japan. You can choose between a Dark Side coffee maker with Darth Vader on it or a Rebel Alliance coffee maker with C-3PO on it. Pretty much all Nestle did was slap on some graphics and change up the colors on its regular Barista coffee machine.… Read more

Halloween is a time for make-believe. Apparently, that goes for kitchen appliances, too. While it could be said that some multitasking appliances are just overachievers (that may or may not perform all of their functions satisfactorily), the make-believe in question here is solely regarding appearances. And in this case, that means a lot of bling.

Halloween is sure to bring an assortment of questionable costume choices; why shouldn't the kitchen want to get in on the act, too? The Limited Edition Cuisinart SCC-1000 Swarovski Crystal 14-Cup Coffeemaker (about $200) offers a shinier alternative to the morning routine. Decked out … Read more

More so than any other time of day, every action in the morning is associated with a certain amount of time spent doing said action. After the coffee-making and breakfast-eating have been checked off the list, then the rest of the day can proceed at its own pace with responsibilities being accomplished and reshuffled (or ignored) depending upon the degree of importance. Luckily, the simplified routine of morning gives us all the foundation that we need for the complex actions of the day, now in as few as 45 precious seconds.

If it takes longer than a minute to brew … Read more

Nokia is taking wireless charging one step further.

Its new Lumia 920 comes with wireless charging using the Qi (pronounced "chee") standard, which is found in other products like some BlackBerry devices and third-party inductive chargers.

Nokia knows it isn't enough to integrate Qi, but that it also has to provide the ecosystem for people to use it. To that end, Nokia has partnered with Virgin Atlantic and the coffee chain Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to begin seeding wireless charging stations in airport lounges (London's executive lounge at first) and coffee shops.

In addition, Nokia … Read more

You're lounging on your couch watching "Star Trek" reruns. You need someplace to set your sleek new MacBook. How about on your Crunching Numbers G4 coffee table, where its ancestors can keep it company while you're gone?

Reform Designs is recycling old Macs in a creative way by turning them into coffee tables that will match your geeky decor. The whole table is made from up to 70 percent reclaimed materials, so you can feel green about your purchase.… Read more

The top tech headlines for this photo-fun Friday:

Ustream will soon launch an app that lets you stream live video to your Facebook page. Called BFF (Broadcast for Friends), it'll be available in the coming days on Android and Apple devices.

Facebook has found an answer to the photo deletion issue that Ars Technica uncovered three years ago. The problem: Once you deleted a photo, it could still be found if you had the original URL. But now, Facebook says when you delete a photo it will be gone within 30 days. Ars Technica reported that it saw photos … Read more

iPhone, iPad, and Android users looking for the new Seinfeld Web series "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee" can now watch it in their car via Crackle's latest mobile app.

Crackle is a free app for iOS and Android that offers a tiny selection of movies and TV shows. We're not talking Netflix or Amazon here, but there are some interesting choices.

Its movie selection includes Monty Python's "And Now for Something Completely Different," "The Fifth Element," "Groundhog Day," and the unforgettable "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living … Read more

It is pretty easy to become complacent regarding availability of goods and services. Mobile devices let us order whatever we may need with a simple touch and can even tell us directions on how to get to a good old-fashioned brick-and-mortar store if the need arises. While there may be countless apps for helping us to order, organize, and plan, even the best of us will occasionally forget to plan for the big stuff -- like making sure there is enough coffee.

The Nespresso Zenius is an office and hospitality solution that keeps the coffee flowing. Using a SIM card … Read more

The perpetual interest surrounding the humble coffee bean can in part be attributed to its ability to be served in so many different ways. But whether imbibers enjoy their beverage hot or cold, sweet or bitter, there always needs to be a way to get from bean to cup. And as strong as preferences tend to color cups of coffee, so too is that opinion found in brewing method.

The Aroma AEM-621SS Hot Moka X-Press Electric Moka Maker offers a tried-and-true brewing method updated for the modern home. Modeled after a popular stovetop coffeemaker, the device is geared for countertop … Read more