tea

Capresso brews a cup of coffee or tea in 60 seconds

Apparently, there are times when brewing an entire pot of coffee is not desired. Perhaps this occurs while running late or just trying to get out of the house. (Certainly there can be no other sane reason why just one cup will satisfy.) In any event, for those rare times when just a cup will do, one countertop coffeemaker is ready to provide. In less than 60 seconds, thankfully.

The Capresso a la Carte Cup-to-Carafe Coffee & Tea Maker ($179.95) not only understands that time is of the essence when waiting for coffee, but that a nice cup of … Read more

The beverage pitcher that works for you

Not all kitchen gadgets are gleaming devices shimmering with moving parts. Sometimes, utility is provided by something just sitting there minding its own business. Take tea, for example: not much goes on while it steeps. Another example might be ice chilling down a beverage. Finally in a trifecta of passivity, infusions require little more than placing a bunch of sliced fruits, herbs, and whatnot into a liquid. Considering the simplicity involved, it only makes sense that there would be one kitchen helper designed to do all three of these tasks.

The Primula Flavor It Beverage System 3-in-1 Infuser Pitcher, which … Read more

Tea kettle has nothing to hide

A watched pot may never boil, but nobody said anything about a tea kettle. The Cuisinart DK-17 Cordless Stainless Steel Electric Kettle ($79.95) incorporates a large viewing window, dispersing at least some of the mystery surrounding the art of tea brewing. Like a window to see into its water-heating soul, the design of the modern kettle gives tea drinkers a glimpse into the inner workings of one of tea-brewing's most unassuming aspects -- even if it is just watching water boil.

But as it turns out the device does have something to hide -- in a good way. … Read more

Nokia bringing wireless charging to Virgin, Coffee Bean

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

Hot tea at the touch of a button

The art of brewing tea is an age-old process that has been refined for generations. Cultures far and wide have developed traditions and ceremonies surrounding the ubiquitous beverage. The drinking of tea offers a way to bring together people, giving them a reason to slow down, relax, and contemplate their place in the grand scheme of things. Also, it is available caffeinated.

The rush to get caffeine into our system is not of minor importance. In recent times we have seen the proliferation of coffee shops and energy drinks -- there is even an inhaler contrivance out there called the … Read more

Steeped tea takes a step sideways

Coffee drinkers have all the fun. That is not necessarily a bad thing as so many people drink coffee, but tea drinkers need their say, too. When it comes to gadgetry, there seems to be a disproportionate amount of coffee tools as there are tea-making tools. But with so many varieties of tea available both loose and bagged, tea drinkers deserve to have their teacake and eat it, too.

The Nesco TM-1 Tea Maker provides an easy method for brewing both loose and bagged tea. All that is required to make up to 1 liter of freshly brewed tea is … Read more

TeaTotal brings tea into barista territory

There is something magical about ordering a cup of coffee or an espresso drink at a cafe. Face it, if there wasn't some type of extra allure, we would still be living in the dark ages. (Those dark ages being the 80s when it wasn't a given that a half-decent cup of coffee was available within a one-block radius.) Luckily for the afflicted, it is easier than ever to observe the coffee-making ritual--but tea drinkers are still mostly an afterthought.

Seeing no reason to continue leaving tea drinkers in the dark, Cambridge Consultants, a British design and development firm has created the TeaTotal. … Read more

Is Google lining up Republicans against antipiracy bill?

Few companies are as closely aligned with the Obama administration or the Democratic Party as Google.

Google managers and employees gave generously to President Barack Obama's candidacy. Chairman Eric Schmidt stumped for the president and is a member of the White House council for science and technology. Marissa Mayer, a Google vice president, hosted an Obama fundraiser. Former Google employees now hold high-ranking positions with the administration.

Despite those close ties, Google is now taking a much more bipartisan approach than before. Word coming out of Washington last week was that leading up to a September 21 appearance by … Read more

In online game, Tea Partiers make 'zombie' targets

A new online video game company has come up with a controversial new twist on the traditional zombie-killing gaming concept: the zombies targeted for kill are prominent figures in the Tea Party movement.

The game, Tea Party Zombies Must Die, features a handful of Tea Party members--including Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Newt Gingrich, and a blood-spattered, bra-clad Michele Bachmann--who the gamer is instructed to kill with either a "melee weapon" (in the first level, at least, it's a crowbar) or a gun.

Other featured Tea Party targets include: "Generic pissed off old white guy zombie," "Pissed off stupid white trash redneck birther zombie," "Factory-made blonde Fox News Barbie who has never had a problem in her life zombie," and "Glenn Beck Zombie (Back from the dead!)."

Upon the player's death, one is told, "You got Teabagged! P.S. You didn't have health insurance, so you died. P.P.S. There's no such thing as God, so you died for eternity."… Read more