(Part 3) Best dining drinkware according to redditors

Why don't they just use chopsticks? I think I saw that as LifeProTip here once, and I can't go back. It makes it so easy to reach into the bag and grab a chip without getting oil or cheese-dust onto your hand.

I even bought stainless steel chopsticks on amazon so I could just keep washing them and reusing them.

Edit: OK, I realize OP meant "french fries" and not "crisps" you crazy Limeys.

The bottleneck is too narrow to efficiently transfer wine into that "wine glass". Try this instead.

What you need is a microwave-safe spatter cover.

Never clean your microwave again. I just throw my cover in the dishwasher once a week.

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-291-Butter-Keeper-Porcelain/dp/B000A1APL8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1368284972&sr=8-2&keywords=butter+bell

they don't cost that much

just get one

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DCYNP2G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These are Soylent bottles.

I got one of these bad boys about a month ago have have used it multiple times daily since then. I can't even drink tea/coffee without frothed milk now, that's how amazing it is.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VZGVIC/

Same product, lower price.

if others wanted one as much as i did when i saw it

Yes. Just do it on low power, for very short times (20 seconds at a time) to avoid popping. Related: a microwave shield would be an excellent investment for you.

You can get quick-cooking rice, and steam-in-bag frozen veggies.

Oatmeal (or oatmeal smoothies) is always a good go-to breakfast. Don't get the sugar-filled packets. Get rolled oats or steel-cut oats. You can add frozen or fresh fruits, peanut butter, cinnamon, etc.

Ideally you want a tulip-shaped glass when drinking neat, it will give you a better nosing experience by directing/concentrating the fumes. Same reason you use a large bowl-shaped or tulip-shaped glasses for red wine.

That said, I think a glencairn is less than optimal for anything more than a small taste of lower- to moderate-proof whiskey. It has the tapered shape to concentrate the nose, but it's actually a little too concentrated for stuff like barrel proof unless you just really enjoy smelling ethanol fumes.

The biggest issue with the glencairn though, is it's just too small. The nose develops due to air exposure, and the larger the surface area of your whiskey in the glass, the more quickly (and more fully) the nose will develop. When you pour 1.5-2 oz into a glencairn the surface area is actually quite small relative to the volume of liquid.

IMHO you'll get a better nosing experience for high-proof stuff by using a small rocks glass, or some sort of tulip-shaped glass with a larger bowl than a glencairn. My personal favorite is the Taylor'd Milestone.

It sounds like he prefers sweeter flavoured drinks. You can experiment with adding Torani syrops to lattes. Making a mocha at home is not hard, you just need to make an espresso shot (aeropress, for example) and froth some milk and chocolate in "manual milk frother" (amazon). Also, look at Mr Coffee Cafe Latte (again, coffee snobs, please don't kick me)

HIC Milk Creamer Frother Cappuccino Coffee Foam Pitcher with Handle and Lid, Stainless Steel, 14-Ounce Capacity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X7GF40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fnZvybVW93Q2S

Mr. Coffee BVMC-EL1 Cafe Latte https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005BG7MK4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_QmZvybASF2XX3

Get one of those flexible bag flasks, the ones that look like Capri Sun pouches (I'll post a link in a sec).

Put one of those in your crotch and move it around until it looks natural, even if the pattern you down it's hard for them to feel it. Bonus is they get past metal detectors. Just use two of those and they'll be good

edit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O84199K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521763016&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=flexible+flask&dpPl=1&dpID=41RxvdNVn3L&ref=plSrch

why from the internet of course! Here yah go

Hand Cranked Ice Crusher

I switched from a bag and mallet to one of these and never looked back. Also very inexpensive. You do need a stable and very smooth countertop for it to work properly - it attaches with a large suction cup on the bottom.

Looks like this my man

https://www.amazon.com/Taylord-Milestones-Reserve-Improving-Glassware/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q

"Reserve Whiskey Glasses"

[Butter Bell] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000A1APL8/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?qid=1421268338&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX200_QL40)

I don't have experience with any of the Trader Sam's Mai Tais but the original 1944 Trader Vic's recipe is detailed in one of my earlier posts.

The consensus seems to be to use Small Hand Foods orgeat if you can get your hands on it and Pierre Ferrand Dry Curacao. I used what I had on hand when I made it in the post above. For the rum, Denizen's Merchant Reserve 8 Year was formulated especially for the Mai Tai, being a blend of Jamaican and Agricole rum. You can also do a 50/50 split between an Agricole Vieux and an aged Jamaican rum. I have Clement VSOP on hand for my Agricole Vieux which is a good option but others can chime in with their favorites. The world of aged Jamaican rums is vast and it's fun to substitute different ones in the Mai Tai and see how it changes. Appleton Reserve might be a good rum to start with as the Jamaican component and you can experiment from there.

For juices, always used fresh squeezed and preferably juice within a few hours of using them.

For crushed ice, you can take a lewis bag and ice mallet and smash ice cubes (while releasing some stress). If you don't want to buy those, feel free to use a rolled up clean dish towel and a rolling pin or something like that.

For bigger parties, I know people recommend the ice from Sonic Drive-In or Chick-fil-A. They'll both sell you a bag for cheap.

I've been looking to get a hand crank ice crusher but haven't yet. I've seen this one recommended a lot as well as some of the vintage ones on eBay like the Oster Snowflake.

I have a solution. Wine glass

The Hario is made of thin glass but I've poured hot coffee right onto ice with no issue many times through it. Also ran it through a dishwasher.

Only major risk is if you drop it I'd imagine.

I use Vacu Vin Containers. Usually the tinted ones, but if we have a lot of beans, we end up having to dip into the clear ones. :D They do a fantastic job of extending the life of the beans.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/54unmhd4dcig6py/vacu-vin-containers.jpg?raw=1

http://www.amazon.com/Govino-Glass-Flexible-Shatterproof-Recyclable/dp/B002WXSAT6/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1415677865&sr=1-1

I've gotten the recommendation in the past of switching to glass pitchers instead to avoid the "sticks to the inside of the plastic pitcher" issue.

The Soylent pitcher is just a rebranded Takeya 2L pitcher you can get off Amazon if you want it faster, FWIW.

the one that soylent sends is 15.21$ on Amazon

Do your self a favor my friend. You’ll thank me later.

You actually can do that if you have a big enough tea basket or a small enough cup. You do it a little different tho.

You want to put the strainer in the cup or gaiwan first, then put the leaves in the strainer. Then when you're done steeping, instead of pouring the tea out of the gaiwan into the cha hai, you can just lift the strainer out and drink from the gaiwan.

So it's basically like standard western style tea brewing, but with very short steeps and a lot of leaf for the amount of water. I use about 8 grams of tea leaves for 90ml of water and then start steeping 8 to 10 seconds. Every steep I increase by a couple of seconds. You can often get 10 steeps from a tea, which at 90ml of water per steep is almost a liter of tea! For good puerh I sometimes can get 20 steeps or more.

They also make a device that is a self contained gaiwan and cha hai. I have one but they're a little difficult to clean. https://www.amazon.com/Kamjove-Gongfu-Teapot-Infuser-TP-757/dp/B00MA4WSU4

That's awesome he wants to learn more! Hope you also get to enjoy that exploration with him.

My first idea is usually to look around what you have locally, whether specialized tea shop(s) or more commercial tea selection at coffee places. Starting where you are can connect you with the people also interested and supports businesses around you.

Next my question might be whether "black-based" means flavoured or not. The highest-end black teas I have are single-origin and I usually brew them in greater tea (g) per water (ml) ratios, keeping the leaves in the water for short periods (10-20 seconds, increasing after the 3-4th time usually), usually referred to as "gong-fu" style. If that's what your boyfriend wants to go for, a nice simple starting point may be something like this, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MA4WSU4/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_wasIDbQBJ6CBZ.

If flavoured, I would usually more go for "western" brewing (less leaf-to-water ratio and longer steeping time) and you could search for "glass teapot" in Amazon or elsewhere.

For tea itself, the vendor list on /r/tea is an amazing place to start, https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/wiki/vendors/page_01. Once you've gotten into them there is a surprising amount of variability in flavours from varying places in the world and he might narrow down what types he likes most.

I'll throw in a plug for what I believe to be the best creamy earl grey you may ever find, http://www.lucasteas.com/shop/black-tea/lucas-earl-grey-cream/ , just in case you're looking for flavoured tea suggestions.

Here are some of the things I bought on Amazon for this year. Still plenty of time for W2 and if you move quick, can definitely have these things for week 1.

GoTenna.
Buff for Dust.
Plastic Flasks.
Hydration Powder.
Folding Fan

Mead is super easy and rather cheap compared to other types of brewing. If you have a local homebrewing store they can help you get started and will have everything you need, most major cities have one and I find that the people are almost always very helpful.

The first thing is to decide volume, then if you want to boil or not, and then recipe (which includes batch strength). I prefer to boil my mead to help dissolve the honey and make sure its good and sanitized, but thats not entirely necessary

So Optional Equipment (if you boil)

1 Big Boil Pot - This needs to be big enough to do however much you want as a batch. If you get a 5 gallon pot, this is good enough for 2-3 gallon mead as well as if you got into Extract Beer Brewing. If you buy a 10 gallon boil pot (usually $120 or so) its big enough for 5 gallon All grain beer batches, as well as 5-8 gallon mead batches

2 Burner - If you are doing smaller batches your stove can handle it, if you move up to big batches or beer batches it helps to have a propane burner and propane tank.

Non optional Equipment:

1 Fermentation/Secondary Vessel - There are two options here. The cheaper route is the 8 gallon buckets with a lid and an airlock. A rubber mallet also really helps to get it on the first time (trust me here). They are about $20. The second option which I'd recommend is one of the Speidel fermenters, they are a bit more expensive at $50-$60 but have a nice spigot for siphoning and are super nice. You also need an aging vessel as you need to let it sit for 5-6 months before bottling. For this I recommend a PET carboy or a smaller Speidel Fermenter

If you are doing 5gallon, get the 8g Speidel or equivilant sized bucket. Get a plastic carboy or the smaller speidel fermenter for aging

The downside to not doing the Speidel fermenters is then you need a bottling bucket and a siphon pump to get the mead out of the bucket, I like the speidel fermenters because I can just transfer to it and use it to bottle with.

Bottle Filler and 3' rough of Hose - This is for bottling

Bottles - I prefer the nice flip top ones but they are usually around $30 for only 12 of them. The other option is to buy some bottle caps, and clean

Iodophor / Star San - Cleaner, just google them. You need this to clean all your equipment as well as your fermenters

There are some minor other things, such as a Big spoon for stirring, having a thermometer is a good idea... maybe other things but I think I covered most of it

Recipe: (The recipe itself)
Normal recipes are around 3 pounds of honey per gallon of water, so you need to get 15lbs of honey if you do 5 gallons. More honey will up the alcohol, less honey will lower it

A vial or two of yeast. I like to pitch two of them just to make sure it starts. I use Sweet Mead Yeast

Yeast Nutrient - Mead doesnt have some of the nutrients beer does, so a bit of this added per the instructions gets the yeast going

Optional - Flavoring. I tried out strawberry this time, totally optional but just google it and you can find it. Usually it comes in a tiny bottle

Instructions

First you dissolve honey into water. If you are doing a 5 gallon batch, use 5.5 gallons of water. If you are going to boil, nows a good time. During this process, Add the yeast nutrient. Put the mixture into your fermenter vessel. Cool it down to room temperature (important)

Its fairly important to ferment at 68-70 degrees for at least the first week or two (yeast stuff), so if you don't have central heating/cooling that could be an issue you have to tackle from another angle. At this point, pitch the yeast and seal it up and let them do their job

Wait about a month for it to ferment (the airlock will go bloop bloop a lot). Sanitize the hose and secondary/aging vessel, this vessel should be close to your actual volume so there isn't head room. Then transfer to the secondary, pop the airlock on it and let it age for usually 3-6 months, depending on your patience. At that point, transfer it back to a different vessel (to get it off the trub) and during this process add any flavoring (if any). Finally, siphon into bottles using that little spring bottle filler attached to the hose, and cap it

That was a bit long winded but I was trying to be thorough. if you have any questions feel free to PM me!

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-XGS-60TB-Range-Server-600Ml/dp/B000P4931S/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1398347128&sr=8-3&keywords=hario+decanter

I have this. It's great. You heat the milk on the stove.

theres a reddit for everything haha

Things that I'd like to get sooner or later no buy why can't you be over sooner?

1 24 Lipsticks Organizer

2 shotglass

3 doefoot applicators for my LipTars

When I was in college, I ate so much cereal, the ones in the bags!

Right now I'm using Schmilk (chocolate). I do weight training so I add protein (double rich chocolate, but they have tons of flavors); really speeds up the healing process, no muscle pains the next day.

Benefit of Soylent was that you didn't need a blender, but it's recommended for Schmilk, so I got an immersion blender. Felt a bit bummed that I had to buy an appliance, but it's so much faster and better than shaking a half gallon of liquid!

I backed Soylent's Kickstarter, and it came with this pitcher. It's so awesome that I bought a second one, so I can have one in the fridge while I wash the other in the dishwasher. I fill 1/4 of the pitcher with milk, add 4 meals worth of Schmilk/protein, little more milk to cover the powders, and blend right in the pitcher. Add some more milk, blend again, and top off. It's ready to drink right then or chill overnight (my preference) -- done for two days!

The ready-to-go bottles of Soylent seems convenient, but it's a little less than what I'm drinking now (414ml vs 500ml), it won't save me any time if I want to add protein (adds a lot of flavor/variety for me), and costs a bit more.

I've posted this before, but here's my routine.

Every night, I get out a 2L pitcher and a 1L Nalgene bottle. Into the pitcher goes a full back of Soylent and a pinch of salt. I add to that 600mL of water measured in the Nalgene (they are all graduated, which is super convenient). Seal the pitcher and shake vigorously for like a minute. Open up and add the final 1L. Shake again, let set in the fridge overnight. In the morning I add the oil, shake, pour myself 400mL for breakfast, 1L in a Nalgene for use throughout my workday, and then finish off the rest of the pitcher when I get home.

I've found this pattern to be ideal because it reduces the grittiness significantly. I have also been taking a probiotic mixture every morning to help reduce gas and improve overall comfort. If you opt to not get the extra pitcher, anything that holds about 2L or more will work. If you have another pitcher that doesn't seal well enough for shaking, a whisk will get the job done.

Prepared Soylent lasts about two days. Keep it refrigerated of course.

Here is the exact model pitcher Soylent is shipping in the Starter Kit. You will want to have more than one of these so you don't have to wash it every night. Unfortunately, it's actually 5 pieces and kind of a pain to wash.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DCYNP2G/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00DCYNP2G&linkCode=as2&tag=jelder-20&linkId=LVAAGHCSEQ6L7HPU

If I hadn't already wound up with three of those, I'd want to get something simpler. Nalgene also makes these awesome looking 2L lab bottles:

http://www.amazon.com/Nalgene-2121-0005-Wide-Mouth-Bottle-Polypropylene/dp/B004O6NFBW/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1408564567&sr=8-20&keywords=2L+bottle&tag=jelder-20

I also have a few of these for taking my prepared Soylent to work with me. They never leak and are pretty much indestructable.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0048SZ5T6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B0048SZ5T6&linkCode=as2&tag=jelder-20&linkId=7KA7TOMS5RWBHRCR

Get him this!!!


https://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Glass-Set/dp/B00H143UXW?ref_=mw_olp_product_details

Fun fact (for those in the US and buying on Amazon at least): while buying 2 puts them at ~$7-8 each[1], the sweet spot is usually in 6 or 12 packs at ~$5 each[2].

[1] https://smile.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Glass-Set/dp/B00H143UXW/
[2] https://smile.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Glass-Clear/dp/B003VAWA68/

I found the exact tray on amazon

To get started in glassware, I would keep it simple. I find that most drinks can be successfully executed with two types of glassware: a 5oz coupe/cocktail glass and an old fashioned/rocks glass. I consider a Collins glass to be optional, as I personally don't like drinking out of them (they're typically served with a straw which is wasteful). I'll often use an 11oz double old-fashioned glass in its place.

In terms of brands I own several sets of the Luminarc Barcraft series coupes (available on Amazon). I like them because they're a fair price, which is great because I don't have to feel bad if one breaks. I also have the highballs which are also pretty decent.

If you're looking for higher end, I really like the New York Bar series from Stolzle. You can checkout the whole line here.

I personally use a Top Shelf shaker which I really like. Feels much nicer then some of the cheaper ones. The strainer I have is from Modern Mixologist. After having so many of the cheaper ones break, I decided to get one that I hopefully wouldn't have to replace. So far its been great and I enjoy using it.

The other tools I would consider getting is a meddler, a fine mesh strainer, a mixing glass, and a bar spoon!

edited: typo

I have these and they have served me very well. Not as fancy as cocktail kingdom but very affordable and sturdy.

In my opinion, these type of flasks that masquerade as something like a camera, phone, lotion bottle, etc all suck if you get someone at security who's even remotely diligent at looking through your bag. A lot of the times these flasks feel cheap and the moment you pick it up, you can just tell it's not real.

I find just taping one or two of these to my inner thighs work well. It'll be uncomfortable until you can get to security but eh, booze.

Get one.

Or just use a microwave food cover, which you should totally have anyway.

I'm not sure glass is a logical step. It's nice for sanitation reasons, as brewsky points out, but that's basically where the "plus" column ends. It's heavy, fragile, and very temperature sensitive. Glass fermenters aren't safety glass (e.g. like a car winshield), so when they break (and they do break), razor sharp pieces of glass and 5 gallons of sticky warm liquid go everywhere. If you DO get glass, get a brewhauler.

I used to use glass, but I have transitioned over to plastic Speidel fermenters. They're lightweight, easy to clean, and have carrying handles.

When you clean, use an Oxygen-based cleaner. Don't scrub. Let it soak - for tough soil let it soak overnight. You don't want to scrub because you will scratch the plastic. Scratches (even those too small to detect) will harbor bacteria and will infect your beer. Use a soft cloth and if that can't get it clean, let it soak longer.

Don't worry about crap going into your fermenter. It won't hurt your beer. In fact, it will provide nutrients for your yeast (and they, in turn, will "scrub" out off flavors if you leave them to their work long enough).

When transferring to your bottling bucket, an autosiphon will leave the trub behind (it will work even better if you cold crash your beer before bottling).

For bottling, I'd use a plain old racking cane and a bottle filler

Hm suck on the siphon? Have you heard of an auto-siphon? They're pretty cheap and available at any brew store. http://www.amazon.com/Learn-To-Brew-Auto-Siphon-3/dp/B000E60JF6 They come in different sizes and everything.

I think a bottling wand is worth it. Trying to do it with just a spigot can introduce a LOT of oxygen. Doing it with an auto-siphon is feasible but stopping/starting the siphon so often would be annoying.

Get yourself one of these.

I use a v60 and that Zojirushi, but not together.

I could not get it to work well and mainly it wasn't stable and almost tipped over a couple times.

I pour into a server and then put it in the thermos.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000P4931S/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7KBUCb6WD8QPF

I sort of prefer the mechanical ones:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X7GF40/ref=pd_aw_sim_sbs_79_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N0H5DQ3ERJKJ0335ZBNB&dpPl=1&dpID=61ehmMWbrNL

If you froth it a bit then put it in the microwave it gets real poofy.

This is the one I use. I've used almond milk before and it froths up great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000X7GF40/ref=mp_s_a_1_16?qid=1453704312&sr=8-16&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&keywords=milk+frother

This one looks similar and it's $13: https://www.amazon.com/Govino-Glass-Flexible-Shatterproof-Recyclable/dp/B002WXSAT6

Uh, /u/-Hermione_Danger- you need these. Just don't put them in the dishwasher (even on the top rack) or you will warp them.

This was the funniest thing that I just happen to have on my list...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0085MQPSG/ref=aw_ls_9_3?colid=31Q3FXCXIR5LJ&coliid=I3ELGT0VEB2PP9


Flintstones.

At the bar we have this ice crusher. Pretty fast and the ice is still comparable to the Lewis bag in terms of dryness.

I have this new one and I'm very happy with it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVRZEFS

For vintage you want to be looking for Swing-A-Way. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=ice+crusher+swing-A-way&_sacat=0&LH_TitleDesc=0&_sop=15

Even a glass half empty person should have a full glass on thier birthday

No worries at all, I'm more than happy to help as much as I can. I'm super passionate about tea and love seeing new people want to try it out, especially gongfu!

Because you've expressed interest in having a full gongfu set up, below I'm going to give you a couple examples of starter-packs consisting of a tea table, gaiwan, pitcher, strainer, and tea cups (and a tea pet if you're really feeling like going all out).

Nearly everything I'm going to list below is from Yunnan Sourcing's US-based website, because that way you won't have to wait for China shipping. Although, don't get used to US shipping. The deeper you get into this hobby, the more you're going to be ordering from vendors who ship directly from China, which generally takes anywhere from 10-15 business days. It's best to accept that fact up front and just get used to it--honestly, now I don't even notice. It shows up when it shows up.

Okay, without further ado, here's the full gongfu package that I'd recommend for one person just getting into gongfu.

Tea Table: ~$45.00USD (US Shipping)
https://www.amazon.com/Tasteful-Bamboo-Gongfu-Table-Serving/dp/B00M3Y8LNY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503637708&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=gongfu+tea+tray&psc=1

Gaiwan + Teacup: $10.00USD (US Shipping)
http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/index.php?id_product=1074&controller=product

Cha Hai (Glass Pitcher): $6.50USD (US Shipping)
http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/index.php?id_product=86&controller=product

Strainer: $3.20USD (US Shipping)
http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/index.php?id_product=89&controller=product

^That will have all the brewing utensils that you'd need to get started with gongfu (though some would argue you don't need the tea table, just use a cloth or a dish or something, but since you seem interested in the full package, that's what I'd go with...that's actually the table I use now!)

Now...when it comes to tea...

I'd first highly recommend picking up a scale (this one from Amazon is only $9.00USD and works really well: https://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-Scales-AWS-600-BLK-Nutrition/dp/B000O37TDO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1503639369&sr=8-1&keywords=American+weigh+scale

As for strong sweet flavor that doesn't need sugar, I'd recommend starting with oolongs, which are typically very smooth, sweet, floral, and somewhat creamy.

Here are a couple of my personal favorites that are extremely budget-friendly, ship super fast, and are all from Eco-Cha.

Four Seasons Spring Oolong: https://eco-cha.com/collections/all-tea/products/four-seasons-spring-oolong-tea-1

Dong Ding Oolong: https://eco-cha.com/collections/all-tea/products/dong-ding-oolong-tea

Alishan High Mountain Oolong: https://eco-cha.com/collections/all-tea/products/alishan-high-mountain-oolong-tea

If you're feeling adventurous, then I'd definitely pick up some puerh as well. The Basics Puer Tea Sample Set from White2Tea is
one of the best introductions you can ask for. It's $39.99USD for 400g of solid tea (4x100g cakes of Spring, Autumn, Huangpian [large leaf], and 10-year-old tea), and it always comes with a free puerh pick, and ships anywhere in the world for free, which is super nice.


If you purchase everything I listed, you'd spend ~$130.00USD, which would set you up with a tea-set you would grow into, and enough tea to last you roughly 2 months, and that's assuming you drink 10g of tea every day, which is highly unlikely.

If you're on a super tight budget, then I'd recommend ditching the tea table and just getting the gaiwan+teacup, the scale, and the teas. Everything else isn't nearly as important, though if you have the money, it's certainly nice to have the full setup.

I was kind of being sarcastic about being a snob. I'll drink folgers or earl grey or w/e is available and it won't bother me, but I like making good stuff when I'm at home.

The grey jar is dried lavender I use for lavender tea sometimes. The "french press" is actually a nifty thing for brewing tea.

The pu-ehr I got was just some random one I found on amazon called "yunnan longrun". One of these days I'm going to put in a big order on yunnan sourcing or something and try out a bunch of different teas.

Perhaps you might be interested in this? This is easily my favorite/go to glass.. Big enough for ice if that's what you want, wide heavy base.

You need one of these Butter goes in the cone and water goes in the other half. The water keeps the butter from picking up other tastes, odors and from molding and lets you leave it on the counter.

The best boxes are Egg boxes you can find in grocery stores, they are high-quality and they will protect your stuff because they can protect the eggs.

Trust me, you will need these here!

Get a good splatter guard. This helps steam the food while it is cooking.

Use the Nordic ware tray and cover, works like a charm. I clean mine in a dishwasher to deal with the mess.

http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Sided-Round/dp/B00004W4UM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1396564769&sr=8-2&keywords=microwave+bacon+cooker

http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Spatter-Cover/dp/B000BOA2D0/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1396564769&sr=8-9&keywords=microwave+bacon+cooker

I either use nothing or a microwave splatter cover: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BOA2D0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nfSMDbRQ6VJTC

I'm probably the 30th person to suggest this, but if he's into beer and science and technology AND DIY, you seriously need to consider homebrewing.

You need to figure out if you want to bottle or keg, but I would ONLY suggest kegging, because bottling is dangerous (if you have too much sugar and hungry yeast, your bottles will explode). If you DO want to homebrew, I would suggest getting a kegerator and soda kegs. It's relatively compact, can hold up to 10 gallons if you set up two soda kegs, and has wheels.

You'll need a 6 gallon glass carboy with a lifting harness. I wouldn't suggest using the metal rim grip kind because it chipped our carboy. The nylon harness you see in this picture would be a good substitute, it just makes it so you can more easiliy lift 5 gallons of liquid. You'll also need a bubbler plug, which is very inexpensive. Probably the cheapest thing, aside from the hops bags.

You'll also need a thermometer (infrared is a better option than a dip thermometer because it'll protect your hands better)

If you're going with a kegerator, you'll need CO^2, which they usually sell and fill at the homebrew store.

You'll also need a giant, stainless steel kettle. Actually if you buy a turkey frying kit, it has everything you'll need except a propane tank (which you can rent at the grocery store).

The most important object though, is probably an auto siphon

You'll also need sanitizing powder. You can use bleach, but then you run the risk of bleaching other stuff.

They should have all this stuff at your homebrew store, and definitely ask them for help. They'll also have recipes there you can grab for free, and can suggest a good recipe for beginners based on what type of beer he likes.

My favorite:

http://www.amazon.com/Daron-FFPP9784-Giant-Wine-Glass/dp/B000O3PZ1M

I would use [this wine glass(http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B000O3PZ1M) to help, because I have never been to the snow before and I'm sure I'll be cold. Drinking some wine first would help with that, and then once I've emptied the glass I can use it to scoop snow. Plus, I'm sure I'll appreciate my artistic attempts after I've emptied the glass of wine.

I'm looking into getting some sort of pour-over (a barista friend is set on a Kalita, but I haven't really decided which I want). Anyways, I've seen people mention things like the Hario Range Server and I'm just wondering if it's really necessary to have when getting a pour-over? Is it difficult to only do one serving and that's the reason people buy them?

I make this all the time with my Nespresso machine as well - except I use this to get micro-foam and it works amazingly well!

Absolutely agree on milk frothing. Bought a manual (pump) one a few months ago and have used it every. single. day. A little more expensive at $20 but no batteries and it's not just plastic for the landfil! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000X7GF40/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This looks promising:
http://www.amazon.com/Vacu-Vin-Coffee-Saver-Starter/dp/B000XR2GMK/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

Based on the Amazon reviews this would be a good choice. I'm a little surprised that the container is clear, as I have heard that light also degrades coffee.

One comment on tightvac. With their name they try to make you think it creates a vacuum.

In fact it's just a tight closing like many plastic containers. When you press on the button, you allow the air from the lid to exit while you push it in (otherwise you would not be able to close it. Try without pressing on the button).
Once it's closed, you are at atmospheric pressure inside. If you try to open it by pulling without pressing on the button you will have a depression while pulling (more volume, same quantity of gas).

If you really want something with vacuum, the best I have found so far is the Vacuvin which comes with a pump and you really store coffee under low pressure/vacuum (=less O2 molecule available to oxidise the coffee).

It's called Govino and it's plastic, not rubber. It's shatterproof and reusable.

We could use some chopsticks! Enough left over to gift someone else, too~

Thanks for the contest! :D

YAY good mood!!! Can you feel the love? I feel the love! Sushi makes me happy, but I'm the only one in the house with real chopsticks D=

This makes me unreasonably happy.

So I met this guy named Donovan. He was in some special branch of the military. He told one of my friends and I some of the military secrets he knew. Here they are:

You remember the Miami zombie? At first, the media was saying that he was on bath salts, but Donovan knew the truth. You see, when humans are born, they have something called the hox (hawks? I've never seen it spelled) gene. It shuts off after a few minuets after birth. This gene makes sure the baby grows correctly in the womb, but more importantly, It inhibits the deterioration of DNA. As you may know, as people get older, the ends of their DNA strands start to unravel. This is why people are less healthy when they get old. So if the hox gene remains active, it prevents aging.

The military started doing experiments on the hox gene and were able to turn it back on. Just as they had suspected, it did prevent aging. However, there was a side effect. When a person with an active hox gene enters a fight or flight response, their body undergoes a change. They grow many inches taller, and change into one of six different archetypes. Donovan never told me what they are, but he did say that one archetype has thick fur and claws and another has feathers, a beak and talons. So you can imagine that the others have something to do with animals. Anyway, this change occurs within just a few minutes. In the process, the body uses up all of its stored nutrients and fat, leaving the person starving. Because of this, the only thing the person can focus on is eating. And they will eat anything around them. So the Miami zombie was actually an escaped test subject from the secret underground military base Fort Patrick.

Another thing he told us was about the reason for the gulf war. The oil thing was actually a cover up. What the military was really after was something they found buried deep underground in Iraq using satellite imaging technology. They had to go over there to find out what it was. When they dug down to this thing, they found that it was a room miles long with hieroglyphs covering the walls. This room was holding a massive creature 14 miles long and a mile high at its highest. It was covered in bone plating with openings all along the sides. At these openings, there were large sphincters that would open up when approached. Inside, there were what appeared to be hallways and living quarters. It had many pairs of legs along its side, but also gills and fins. It also had a special set of organs which could create gravity wells used to allow the creature to fly. So they secretly transported this thing back to Fort Patrick to study it more.

They found out that this creature was called a leviathan, and that there were two others. One is very famous and is known as Atlantis. The other is at the bottom of the Mariana trench. When James Cameron went to the trench, he was actually on a top secret government mission to find this other leviathan. Anyway, when studying this creature in Fort Patrick, they found what looks like a cockpit. However, try as they might they could not open it. They tried forcing it open, but it didn’t work. They also tried shocking it with giant cattle prods, but all that did was make it angry. In retaliation, it used its special gravity well making organs to alter the climate above where it was being held. This change created a tropical storm which grew larger and became Hurricane Katrina. Just when they had run out of ideas, they found out that the leviathan would only open it for the person it chose to be its pilot. They finally found the chosen one, who just so happened to be Donovan.

Inside the cockpit, there were more hieroglyphics and a command chair thing. After deciphering the writing, they found out that it was instructions for piloting the leviathan. They also discovered that in the process of becoming the pilot, Donovan’s brain and spinal cord would be removed and assimilated into the leviathan. You may be asking how it could assimilate a human nervous system into a leviathan body. Well, the answer is that the DNA of the leviathan is identical to the DNA of humans. So Donovan decided that he wanted to keep his body and declined the position of pilot. The military did not like this and tried to force him, but he escaped. Even now, he and the leviathan communicate through dreams.

Is any of this true? The only thing I can be certain about is that I did meet Donovan and he did tell me these things. I will let you decide about the rest.

This is the thing I want! I hope you liked my tale.

Pretty nifty skull shotglass that he might like!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! to your friend!

A lot of the CDs on my wishlist are under $5 if bought used. Surprise me!

Bubbles

Link

That's an add-on only.

This one is the same thing for $3.33 plus free shipping, and is not an add-on item.

http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Skull-Pirate-Glass-Cocktail/dp/B007VZGVIC/ref=cm_wl_cp_al_pt
Have always wanted one of these! :P

It looks lame, but trust me, you'll be happy you got one.

If you have an Iphone 4 or 4S

A little big, but can store a lot

For when friends come over

Because sometimes you need to take a break

For whipping up healthy drinks

The obvious accessory to most college dorms

Retractable extension cord

A little expensive, but c'mon...

Make lots of friends in the most childish way possible

And finally, the most important thing of all...

Would you like a falafel with that?

That’s awesome. I might even google “gifts for pharmacy school students” there is a huge community of online forums for med school, pharmacy school and nursing school students and applicants. I’m not creative at ALL so I like to steal other people’s good ideas. I got a pill bottle shaped mug, it was great and I still use it years later! Link: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0085MQPSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LSI1Cb65QY35C

[Link to his mug](BigMouth Inc The Prescription Coffee Mug, Ceramic, Funny Gift for the Caffeine Lover https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0085MQPSG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_JOTOBbDZ62P98)

You're welcome. http://www.amazon.com/BigMouth-Inc-Prescription-Coffee-Mug/dp/B0085MQPSG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452013232&sr=8-1&keywords=coffee+prescription+mug

Pretty sure it's this prescription mug. (I have a few myself)

Pac-man mug

Prescription mug

http://www.amazon.com/Big-Mouth-Toys-Prescription-Coffee/dp/B0085MQPSG/

I got this hand-crank ice crusher a few years ago after seeing it posted on Reddit. It takes some effort, but it works great. It wouldn't be good for more than 2-4 drinks at once, but for my wife and me it works fine.

Would something like this thing work? I'd hope that I could find something closer to the Alaskan ice Crusher for less than 230 on etsy,
but that one also looks to take up half of someone's yard!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AVRZEFS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480549249&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=hand+crank+ice+crusher&dpPl=1&dpID=31LNZSqasXL&ref=plSrch

There should be two silicone O-rings: One around the inner cap and one in the groove on the underside of the outer cap. Are they both in place?

Edit: If necessary, you can buy a replacement lid and handle from Takeya for less than the price of a new pitcher (not including shipping).

Try making what i call 'tea water' too, which is simultaneously a lazy person's iced tea and actually surprisingly good. It's cold brew tea, so just toss some tea bags in some room temp water and throw the whole thing in the fridge for a while.

I usually take one of my pitchers (amazon link, although costco has a better price if you can find it there), fill it up to the top, put in two jasmine tea bags, and leave it for 12 hours in the fridge for a lightly jasmine'd flavored water. If the tea gets too concentrated for your taste then you can just mix in more water! Add more tea bags and/or time for a more serious iced tea.

---

If I don't do that with cheapo $3 for 100 tea bags though (Asian markets!!!!) I usually drink really high quality loose leaf tea. I'll either use a teapot/mug for one or a gaiwan and bring the water kettle over to my desk and just keep on making more infusions of the tea with a timer. Having the brewing device next to me or even straight up being the drinking device too makes it a lot easier for me not to forget about the tea, and it means I won't reach for sugary drinks too :)

I do. I have been using the Takeya pitchers that Soylent sends out to new customers, I liked them so well I bought a total of 7 during the crowd-funding, so I can just throw them in the dishwasher every day. It looks like the amazon prices have started going up, but you "should" be able to get them for about $10 ea, and I've heard Costco has them in a 2 pack for $15.

I use 24oz Thermos hydration bottles when I go out, I bought mine at Walmart for about $20 ea.

Some recipes will need a blender, but I've stop using it for my current recipe. Just shake well in the Takeya, my current recipe also emulsifies really well and tends to stay that way.

Hey. Bulleit is a good sipping bourbon that deserves to be savored. Try a larger glass so that you can get your nose into it. A 'rocks' glass will work, but I like my fancy Glencairn glass for the good stuff.

Thumbs Up Half Pint Glass, Clear https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00K6JPJB0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_skjLwbDNBFPA3

here you go

Here ya go
http://www.amazon.co.uk/thumbsUp-GmbH-HALFPINT-Half-Glass/dp/B00K6JPJB0

We got it from Amazon.

I got it from Amazon.

Edit: This one: https://www.amazon.com/Tasteful-Bamboo-Gongfu-Table-Serving/dp/B00M3Y8LNY

This is the one I have. I've been using it for the last 8 or so months and I have no complaints.

You don't need much in terms of apparatus. Personally, I would begin with the following. Keep in mind I am only talking about loose leaf tea.

• Something like this to which you add loose leaf tea, water, let it steep, and then push the button down to decant
  
• A digital scale to accurately measure the quantity of dry leaf. Something simple like this will suffice
  
• If you're going to experiment with a variety of tea types (black, green, white, oolong, etc.), I would highly recommend a variable temp kettle. Or at the very least, an immersion thermometer. This will help you accurately measure the temp of water. I have this one
  
  The above combined will set you back <$60. Honestly, you can substitute the Kamjove tea maker with a simple all purpose teapot, eyeball the dry leaf instead of weighing it, and guess the temp of water and do without the variable temp kettle - I personally wouldn't do it for a variety of reasons, but if you're on a budget...
  
  The next step, and the most important one, would be to get your hands on samples of tea. A lot of vendors, incl myself, offer samples. Get small quantities from a variety of vendors so that you have enough tea to experiment with, but not so much that you're stuck with a large quantity of tea you don't like. Once you have sampled enough to determine your likes and dislikes, invest in larger quantities of tea.
  
  Good luck!

This is the one I have. I bought it a year ago and it's served me well through college so far.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00MA4WSU4/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491921419&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=gongfu+teapot

My advice for a simple way to brew that is really tasty is: get one of these, learn how to use the gong fu style of tea brewing in it. Your tea will taste less biter, have stronger aromas and you'll get many infusions out of each brew.

Here's a good video that explains how it works, go to the 25 minute mark. Or watch the whole video for education on all brewing styles. It's a great YouTube channel for tea education.

https://youtu.be/puldqGnW9P0

Don't worry about the short brew time, caffeine dissolves very quickly 😉

Thanks! They are cheapies. I would personally prefer a smaller stem but finding smaller than 6 oz is difficult. If you are shopping try looking for the Leopold Coupe from Cocktail Kingdom. I think they are a little more high end looking while not being very expensive.

I agree with the premise here, but disagree with parts of the solution. In terms of quality, a martini is really only good when it’s very cold. So by doubling the volume (unless you drink really fast), you’re significantly increasing the chances of winding up with some martini that’s much warmer than is probably pleasant. I would just invest in some smaller glasses. Look for a coupe, or Nick & Nora glass anywhere from 4.5 to 5.5 oz. and you’ll be good to go. If you prefer the straight sided ones for vodka, go for it.
I agree about the picks, though. I have stainless steel ones with skulls on the end that look great on a negroni, black Manhattan, or anything with some dramatic color to it.

Check out these coupes

And/or these Nick & Noras

I like these

I'm guessing this is the occasion so one might also want to stock up on these.

From Amazon

I'm bringing these. Traditional flasks are metal and will trip metal detectors

Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey Glass - Set of 2 10.5 oz Scotch Glasses. Premium Bourbon Rocks Glass Shaped for Improving Tasting and Aroma of Spirits. Crystal Clear Glassware https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HHEyDb6VMRHYW

It's made by taylor'd. Called milestones. Basically a super sized glencairn. Here's a link to Amazon. I like doing the high proof stuff in it. Let's the alcohol fumes out but keeps the rest in.... Kinda

Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey Glass - Set of 2 10.5 oz Scotch Glasses. Premium Bourbon Rocks Glass Shaped for Improving Tasting and Aroma of Spirits. Crystal Clear Glassware https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KkR1CbKG73JTE

start scroll

Episode 1: A Noob Hopes

In a galaxy far, far away

A long time lurker decides to sack up

and provide some horrible reviews

for some good scotch.

On to the review....

end scroll

=========================

What's being reviewed: Compass Box Peat Monster

In what: Glencairn on steroids. This one actually.Let's forego the rest of the details since you all know it by now.

Pre-drink thoughts: I like Compass Box (tried the Muse at a bar, loved it, bought a bottle 2 weeks later. That's a review for another day). But I'm not sure if I like peat. But the wife does and this is a hobby I'd like to share with her, especially since I plan on spending our money on it - so why not try something she might enjoy as well.

Nose: Smoke. Nasal burn. Light band-aid-y scents.Taste: Faint smoke, kind of like how I would imagine what my shirt would taste like the morning after a bonfire. There's a sweetness to this as well. A hint of something salty I think.

Finish: Might be me, but the finish seems long. It's smokey, It stays with me after the exhale, it lingers...like a memory. (Also that medicinal note is there too)

Rating: * * * *Would I buy again: Yes absolutely

Final Note: This review is being written without notes to reference, as I want to only convey the parts that really stick with me. Plus, I can't discern things like "malty peat", "hammy fruit jam", "wafting fields of baby octopus tentacles", hence the very short descriptors.

================Rating System (stars)

• 1 = nope. never again
  
• 2 = will drink if offered for free
  
• 3 = would not buy a bottle, but would buy at a bar
  
• 4 = must have on hand at home at all times
  
• 5 = cream of my crop. willing to pay premium for a bottle.

inb4 "get yourself a butter keeper!"

Get yourself a go fuck yourself.

What you need my friend, is a butter keeper. Your life (and cholesterol level) will never be the same.

Buy one of these and regular old stick butter and never destroy a slice of bread again.

I must say, as a fellow hockey fan, Mr. Pavel Datsyuk is quite a cutiepie!

If you have Prime, I'd love this The Tao of Pooh or this butter keeper. Honestly though, anything on my $5-10 list would be fabulous.

Or you could just put something over it like a paper towel. I don't get why people have such an issue doing this.

"That doesn't help the environment, Groggy! Maybe some of us don't want to use napkins/paper towels because it's wasteful!"

OK? Then buy a $10 microwave cover (or, if you want the cheaper alternative, a $3 cover) from Amazon...it's resuable, it rinses off, and you don't have to wait 10 minutes to heat up a bowl of soup. And yes, I own one.

It's faster to cook it on regular heat and let it stand for a minute than putting it on low and waiting way longer.

Edit: Downvoting it doesn't make it any less true. And if you're going to downvote, please chime in with why you think having a reusable cover is a bad thing.

Just a bunch of spiteful people on this site anymore.

Better LPT: Buy this http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000BOA2D0?cache=ff0d32fe5e7eed2f7671556856acadd2#ref=mp_s_a_1_1&qid=1393659200&sr=8-1 and your microwave will stay very very clean.

Unless the directions say to keep it in the box, don't keep it in the box.

If you're concerned about splatters get one of these - http://amzn.com/B000BOA2D0

You'd be better off with an Auto-Siphon than an automotive siphon.

Mind looks exactly like this and I've never had problems with it.

I’ve used an auto-siphon for beer brewing, it just helps move liquid around without you disturbing it too much. I wonder if this would do the trick?

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-To-Brew-B000E60JF6-Auto-Siphon/dp/B000E60JF6

Get one of these

and about 6 feet of this

You just throw the end of the tubing into a bucket, put the siphon head into the water, and give it one good hard pump. You don't need to shove a bunch of tubing into your tank or really even get your hands wet. They have 'em at your local homebrewing shop if you need it yesterday.

Edit: Oh yeah, bucket still has to be below the aquarium obviously. You can't change physics.

http://www.amazon.com/Learn-To-Brew-Auto-Siphon-3/dp/B000E60JF6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377796614&sr=8-1&keywords=autosiphon

http://www.amazon.com/Spring-Loaded-Beer-Bottle-Filler/dp/B000E66A4U/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1377796614&sr=8-6&keywords=autosiphon

For less than $20 you won't have to deal with this in the future.

You should look into using one of these. When you use an auto siphon you can pull from the primary fermentation vessel without disrupting the trub. You should end up with a much cleaner bottle of Kombucha.

you'll also need a piece of food grade tubing as well.

Close, I got this one.

https://www.amazon.com/Daron-FFPP9784-Giant-Wine-Glass/dp/B000O3PZ1M/ref=pd_sim_79_16?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000O3PZ1M&pd_rd_r=28Z4ND4M9QM5DK98THW5&pd_rd_w=BTFh3&pd_rd_wg=vlSHN&psc=1&refRID=28Z4ND4M9QM5DK98THW5

Relevant

I'm so going to buy it for my alcoholic friends birthday!

Are you saying you want to set a pour over cone/dripper (like a v60) on top of something like this and brew directly into a pitcher like this?

Make sure to measure the opening of the server, and compare it to the rim and flange on the dripper. Personally I bought a Karter scientific graduated beaker as my server -- since I can use it for other things in the kitchen (I try to avoid single use items as much as possible). A lot of people I know have one like this.

I have an AeroPress for single cups and a V60 drip with a Hario glass range for multiple cups. A gooseneck kettle makes the drip easier, but it's not absolutely required if you already have a regular kettle. If you're careful enough you can make it work just fine. I have no experience with Chemex.

Have you considered switching the the pour over world? If so I would start looking at the v60 or the clever, I think they make a much better cup of coffee than french press.

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-V60-Coffee-Sever-Set/dp/B002BA2J06/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1417699309&sr=8-10&keywords=hario+v60
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VDGN-02B-Coffee-Dripper-Edition/dp/B00JRY42H2/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1417699309&sr=8-9&keywords=hario+v60
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-XGS-60TB-Range-Server-600Ml/dp/B000P4931S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1417699309&sr=8-4&keywords=hario+v60
http://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Shrub-CLEVER-Clever-Dripper/dp/B0047W70GY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417699464&sr=8-1&keywords=clever+coffee+dripper

I brew my 185 into a Hario Range server without any problem. Well, until last weak when the glass cracked. I think it lasted 2 years and I am going to replace with a Kalita just because I can now find them in Canada (finally).

If you're looking for the one in the Amazon photos, it's the Hario V60 Range Server: http://www.amazon.com/Hario-XGS-60TB-Range-Server-600Ml/dp/B000P4931S

Otherwise it's generally known as a carafe.

If you have the Hario V60 Server, it's the same one I have. Remember that the coffee holds on to a certain amount of the water after brewing. I've actually brewed with as much as 750ml water (not recommended!) without overflowing the carafe.

We make espresso with a stainless stovetop percolator similar to this

Our aerolatte frother recently died, we liked it until we replaced it with this which makes an incredible microfoam

Electric milk frothers like the Voche aren't very good. They whip air into the milk using a dinky little magnetic whisk while heating, and they just can't operate at high enough energy to approximate the effect of a steam wand. It gets foamy, but it's more like soap foam than microfoam.

You can make decent, but not great, microfoam with the steam wand that comes with espresso machines, though it's dependent on how high the boiler pressure you can get. Some consumer machines help you with a so-called panarello wand, a gadget that I believe was invented by Saeco/Gaggia, which is a replacement for an ordinary steam wand, and which has an additional hole that sucks in air while it's steaming, which supposedly improves the foaming abilities; some people like it, some don't. Saeco/Gaggia also invented a type of accessory called a cappuccinatore, which is a spherical chamber that draws in the milk and combines it with steam to produce a finer foam. Better than the steam wand, in my opinion, but still not perfect.

My best results have been with a manual pump frother like this one from HIC. This low-tech gadget produces the best microfoam I've been able to produce at home, bar none. Add heated milk, pump for 20 seconds, and done. It doesn't sound like it should work, but it does; it produces velvety microfoam that doesn't collapse right away. Unfortunately, these frothers are not designed to be put directly on a burner, so in theory you should be warming up the milk in a pan or microwave, but in theory you could do this, as long as you have something to hold the handle with.

I haven't tried the Bellman product the other commenter recommended, but given the small boiler size I suspect it's similar to having a steam wand on a consumer machine. Still worth a try. But the HIC is cheaper.

It just takes some experimentation. At this point, I've got my system down and I still make a bitter cup every once in a while. It's usually thanks to a faulty seal. If pressure escapes out the side of the pot, your batch is ruined. Make sure the gasket is totally clean, and that you don't overfill the basket!

Here's how I make my approximation of a cappuccino/latte drink:

• Start electric kettle boiling water
  
• Stainless milk frother filled 1/4 with almond milk (I prefer not to consume too much dairy and Trader Joe's almond milk is excellent, milk works well too though) on low heat gas burner.
  
• Fill basket with coffee (I prefer a slightly finer grind than I often see recommended... 2 steps coarser than espresso or so.) I use a shot glass to balance the basket while filling.
  
• Pour boiling water into base (I fill just under the pressure valve, so the water isn't touching the valve.)
  
• Insert basket and tighten top (use a towel or paper towel to prevent burning your hand on the base. It's already hot.)
  
• Quickly apply medium high heat (I have a gas stove, and eye ball the size of the flame so it's just the size of the base.) I prefer higher heat than I often see recommended. Contrary to how it may seem, the lower heat leads to longer heat exposure, which leads to bitter coffee in my experience.
  
• Keep an eye out, if done correctly, coffee will appear very quickly (haven't timed it, but under a minute I'd say).
  
• Right when the coffee starts to lighten in color, but before it starts gurgling, remove from the stove and immediately run cold water from the tap over the base for about 10 seconds. It's ok if it's less coffee than you expect. We're going for flavor and strength, not quantity. It won't quite fill the top basin.
  
• Quickly pour into your coffee cup.
  
• Pump milk frother and pour over coffee. Enjoy!
  
  With this method (and I have been trying a variety of minute changes for almost a year) you will get sweet, strong coffee with no bitterness. At this point, I prefer my own coffee in my moka pot to most coffees I have tried "in the wild." The great $4 espresso spots of course still make an excellent latte/cortado, but mine is damned good. It also makes a great Americano if you put extra water in your electric kettle.
  
  Also, I highly recommend PT's Southpaw espresso for the moka pot. Seems to really suit its strengths, and is excellent when accompanied with milk.

I use the smaller size of these... Vacu-vin

I keep whole beans in one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Vacu-Vin-Coffee-Saver-Starter/dp/B000XR2GMK

I do second-runs too but it's a bad idea to do it ontop of the oil from the first run. It's best to use a new pyrex or scrape out the first run before the second.

I've tried a few vac methods. I'm not gonna buy a $200 pump so instead I bought a VacuVin. it does the job pretty well but since it doesn't pull hard enough (I need ~30lbs, I'm getting around 25lbs) it requires 2-4 rounds of vac-purges to get everything out.

http://www.amazon.com/Vacu-Vin-Coffee-Saver-Starter/dp/B000XR2GMK/ref=sr_1_20?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1318517947&sr=1-20

I have a couple Vacu Vin storage containers I use to store my roasted beans (only grind as needed). Works great as the number one enemy to roasted coffee is oxygen.

It uses the same vacuum pump/stopper you can get for wine bottles.

I've got this
I use it for whole beans, but I bet it's good for ground coffee, too.

On a side note, you could check for a local roaster who'll deliver coffee to you. They'll grind the coffee right before they send it out.
Buying coffee from the store, who know how long they've been sitting in that condition.

The Vacu Vin Coffee Saver works extremely well at keeping my beans fresh!

The hand pump requires a little effort on your part, but it's is well worth the extended shelf life. I was amazed at how fresh my coffee smells/tastes even after a month! Plus, the tinted plastic protects the coffee from the harmful effects of light.

Every since I discovered stemless wineglasses I've never liked anything else! After a massive house party, I'm missing all but one :( the thing that's got me pumped and happy this week is starting my DREAM JOB on Monday as a vet tech!!! SO STOKED! Grape

1. I know I could just use reparo, but I'd rather my wine glasses not break in the first place. Plus, there's no putting wine back in a broken glass, and we can't have that! If I drop it, I'll just use wingardium leviosa, and the wine will be saved!

2. Whenever I put my dog on the back of my broomstick, he's always trying to chew off the handle. Maybe this item will fool him.

3. I'm not sure I can afford my own, but I have three friends who might let me borrow theirs. I might have to dust them off a bit.

4. This would help me understand the magic of the mind, and the mind magic behind the magic!

5. I have a feeling my school trunk would just be full of dirty clothes.

6. Cape! I'd really like to find a cape like this guy has. Practical AND fashionable. I think he really epitomizes those two qualities.

I am not a materials scientist :), so I have no idea what grade of silicone it is. Are there any health concerns related to lower grades or is it more of a texture, rigidity, and strength rating?

but yeah, I'd personally suggest going with glass if you want to entertain. Or these might be a good compromise.

Town Drunk

These shatterproof wine glasses I'll be investing in soon since I've broken almost all my wineglasses! Down to 3 different ones left!

This contest is awesome sauce!!!

• These are great for entertaining!
  
  
• Super cheap!

I love short work weeks

stainless steel chopsticks!

Meow~

I'm only going onto Reddit for a minute....

Link

Thanks for the awesome contest :)

I see you have chopsticks on your list. I recommend these. They were gifted to me a little while ago and I love them. :o Easy to clean, no splinters, very sleek looking, and you can use them as wolverine claws!

Head scratcher dealie, which is actually for my doggies

Chopsticks

Not 1, not 2, but 3 Boondocks books

Doggie treats

Mustache iWhatever button covers, notepad, and face decorations

College Bound

You don't have to put alcohol in it, it just looks awesome.

A gift card for me would be great because I'm saving up o:

And, it was only about $5 on Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Crystal-Skull-Pirate-Glass-Cocktail/dp/B007VZGVIC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1370644293&sr=8-2&keywords=skull+whiskey+glass

I was just about to suggest that you gift yourself, not realizing it was you. i was about to post a commenting telling the person doing this contest to gift /u/IguanaGrrl then i noticed that you were the one who was doing the contest. haha, awkward huh? but I guess other than gifting you something because you're such an awesome person I would love a gift for my boyfriend. he is obsessed with skulls and I love surprising him with gifts. most of the gifts i give him are hand made, just as you do.

thanks for the contest as well!

This is awesome. I have this at work.

I also love that he appears to be drinking from a prescription bottle coffee mug, which makes him even more geeky and funny.

That mug. No, it can’t be this

Out of curiosity, is there any advantage to a Lewis bag over a simple hand cranked ice crusher like this?

this little dude performed admirably through a tiki-heavy summer for me.

ill admit its not the prettiest or most solid-feeling thing in the world, but its super cheap, gets the job done, and i find it more practical than smashing shit with a hammer (mostly because im in a crowded apartment)

buy yourself one of these puppies:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AVRZEFS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Grinds 4 cups of ice in course or fine. About as low tech as you can get, but works well for home use (and parties). Well worth the $23 bucks!

1. silver-plated julep cups are about $15-20 so it's not that scary if you just start with one or two :)
   
   
2. I used this cheap hand-crank ice crusher which works pretty well. I realized when I was testing this recipe that my blender has a "crush ice" setting but then remembered that it also produces wildly-varying sizes of ice ranging from powder to large chunks so I felt a little more confident in my purchase.

The Amazon product page lists the dimensions as 6.1 x 4.1 x 12.2 in. My tape measure agrees.

Glencairn they are preferred by whiskey and also translates good with tequila for picking up notes in the nose.

Glencairn Crystal Whiskey Glass, Set of 2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H143UXW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HXaEDbCWV92R9

I use glencairn glasses like this: https://www.amazon.com/Glencairn-Crystal-Whiskey-Glass-Set/dp/B00H143UXW


I am thinking maybe that glass is intensifying the smell which normally I enjoy, so maybe I should just drink it out of a rocks glass neat, and won't get the smell as much, does that make sense?

OP's glasses are not too bad looking for whiskeys tbh. It will work nicely with a really high proof dram. Why not pick up a set of 2 or 4 glencairn's to go with current glass set as a just in case. You can get similar looking glencairns as well but they cost a lot more. OR not worry about it, i like having different glasses in my collection so maybe this person will too.

I don't understand the purpose considering most people who tend to really care about scotch use a Glencairn style glass which would never allow for a giant ice ball. Most scotch drinkers I have met simply add a small drop of water to open up their scotch or drink it straight. If you're buying expensive scotch, the likelihood of adding water or ice at all becomes increasingly unlikely.

glasses

TL;DR - Standard answer, the Glencairn glass (the official {Scotch} Whisk(e)y glass). My current favorite though is the Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey and Scotch Glasses available HERE

I'm by no means an expert, but I have tried many different shapes of glassware over the years... So, here are some of my experiences.

The standard highball/lowball, with their straight 🥃 (or even at times obtuse _/ ) sides, allows for too much area for many of the aromatics in the whisky to disperse and even escape, making the whisky very bland and uninteresting, thereby "weakening" or "taming" it a bit. Hence, this is where most people start.

Something with a bit of a bowl or tulip (_) to it is kind of the next step up. This helps to concentrate the aromas and can help to bring out some of the subtleties of a good whisky.

Then there is the Glencairn style glasses, which kind of combine the previous two. It is a slightly bowled base with the straightened tip of a lowball. This is the official Scotch Whisky glass, and does a really great job at really getting you intimately close with your whisky, bringing out even the slightest nuances. However, to me, this can be a bit much for whisky that is a little heavy on the nose.

So, the 3 different glasses that I have tried that use a very similar shape to the Glencairn, but widen the rim up a bit, thereby taming the nose ever so slightly, are the Canadian Glencairn, the Norlan, and the Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey and Scotch Glasses.

The Canadian Glencairn is a great glass but there are two things that bug me a bit about it. First off, it is slightly awkward to drink out of, as you nearly have to put the glass vertical before anything comes out. The second, much more minor issue, is that your hand is right on your whisky only separated by a very thin layer of glass, which will lead to warming up your whisky. Which you may or may not enjoy.

Then came the Norlan glass. It is essentially a Glencairn glass with some aerators in the bowl housed in a double walled tulip shaped glass, that way your hand will not warm up your whisky with a lingering enjoyment of a good dram. However, again, to me, it is just slightly awkward to sip from.

Enter the Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey and Scotch Glasses. And mentioned above, this is currently my favorite glass to enjoy a nice dram in. It is essentially a Glencairn this has an opening that is about 1.5 times the diameter (which can tame a slightly heavy nosing whisky just the right amount), and then a nice lowball type weight at the bottom of it. So, it feels great in the hand, and you don't have to have your hand right on the whisky if you don't want to. It also feels much more natural to sip from.

The link to the Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey and Scotch Glasses is at the top, but here are some links to some legit Glencairns.

The original Glencairn - 2 pack, 4 pack, or 6 pack

I would recommend that you use either the seller Stock Your Home or Our Pampered Home, as they both sell the official legitimate Glencairn glassware, and tend to be one of the lowest priced ones as well. There are a substantial amount of fakes out there! So, here are the same links, but for Stock Your Home (if available).

Original - 2 pack, 4 pack, or 6 pack

And then for Our Pampered Home (if available).

Original - 2 pack, 4 pack, or 6 pack

(Sorry for the delayed post, I've had a busy past couple of days)

All the best... Enjoy!

Buy here- http://www.amazon.com/Thumbs-Half-Pint-Glass-Clear/dp/B00K6JPJB0/

Not really an Irish thing, OP just said it to make it seem more funny. Pretty cool novelty gift!

http://amzn.com/B00K6JPJB0

One of these
https://www.amazon.com/Tasteful-Bamboo-Gongfu-Table-Serving/dp/B00M3Y8LNY/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1494108554&sr=1-7&keywords=tea+tray

They have removable water trays and are pretty nice looking / build quality isn't terrible. when i was looking, ones cheaper than this didn't seem high quality/would have issues. I looked around quite a lot and that is the cheapest price for those that I found.

I got it from Amazon There are a few different sizes. I really like it and I would highly recommend it. It's the same one the guys at TeaDB use.

I have 2 tea trays from this seller and I love both of them. I recommend spending a bit more than you'd expect on a tea tray as the quality of the cheaper budget ones really shows (before I bought the second I bought a 20 dollar one from another manufacturer and it fortunately arrived damaged so I sent it back and picked up one that wasn't so awful)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00M3Y8LNY/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?qid=1463497355&sr=8-11&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=tea+tray

Found it on amazon here

I actually got it on Amazon (here's the link... if it doesn't take you to the model I pictured, just click the little options boxes on that page.)

However, this is a really popular model and you can find it sold elsewhere, sometimes for less. For example, here it is on Dragon Tea House for a few dollars less (also free shipping).

I think I have seen this one on AliExpress before too.

Also doesn't stop your tea from steeping until you pour it. Something like this dumps the brewed tea into another chamber.

Not really, it's a personal gravity steeper. Super easy to use and works with anything. Also, my bad... I lied, they went up in price since I last looked. The one I would recommend is $16, but it would change your tea game.
https://www.amazon.com/Kamjove-Gongfu-Teapot-Infuser-TP-757/dp/B00MA4WSU4/ref=sr_1_8?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1481078936&sr=8-8&keywords=kamjove&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

Seriously, I use this thing at work multiple times a day.

It depends on what your brew method is. If you're using something like this it takes 1-2 minutes to make a cup. Follow up cups are even quicker as the leaves have already been prepared.

Oh i just got some cheap stuff on amazon, nothing special (coupe glass)


I kinda liked these ones, but until i actually have space (and my own bar in house), I have to wait

$18.29 for a set of four 5.5 oz. Luminarc coupes on Amazon (Prime eligible): http://www.amazon.com/Luminarc-Barcraft-Coupe-Cocktail-Clear/dp/B00MW3YKCM

They have plenty more fancy ones (Riedel and Zweissel have gotten the memo that these are popular) available Prime as well, if you're looking for something more upscale.

Relatively cheap on Amazon, though you need to buy it as an Add-On I guess?

Edit: looks like it's not available fulfilled by Amazon at the moment.

https://www.amazon.com/Concealable-Reusable-Cruise-Flask-Anywhere/dp/B00O84199K/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=clear+plastic+flask&qid=1564779733&s=gateway&sr=8-3

/u/Tullyswimmer

here's the ticket

https://www.amazon.com/Concealable-Reusable-Cruise-Alcohol-Anywhere/dp/B00O84199K/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1549560135&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=plastic+flask&psc=1

​

Then stuff it where it fits. i.e. boobs or crotch.

You can fill up one of these with liquor and put it in your pants. Works like a charm.

Concealable And Reusable Cruise Flask Kit Sneak Alcohol Anywhere - 3 x 8 oz + 1 funnel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O84199K/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_kaAbBb6H6JMHX

Happy smuggling!!!

It truly does depend on the security guard you have. My 'never fail' way is taping / trying soft plastic flasks to my inner thighs. I can get about 10 shots in that way.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00O84199K/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1464288619&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=plastic+flask&dpPl=1&dpID=51B40Dr2juL&ref=plSrch

I like these.

Here’s one next to a Glencairn.

I agree, a lot of the time I want something heavier in the hand for relaxing with a dram. These are my go to now :

Taylor'd Milestones Reserve Whiskey Glass - Set of 2 10.5 oz Scotch Glasses. Premium Bourbon Rocks Glass Shaped for Improving Tasting and Aroma of Spirits. Crystal Clear Glassware https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ATV2Q5Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_IzoQBbAYXQ2AB

Mostly a glencairn, but I'm starting to like the Taylor'D glasses for bourbon. They're basically a wider, shorter glencairn.

butter keeper

Fill with half an inch of salt water, and it'll keep for 2 weeks easily for salted butter.

Uhm dude one question: have you really never heard about those things?

http://i.imgur.com/kzzHBzF.jpg

You just put it over your plate. If it gets dirty just wipe it out or throw it in the dishwasher

They are available at IKEA or amazon for example http://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Spatter-Cover/dp/B000BOA2D0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412259675&sr=8-1&keywords=microwave+lid

(or search for microwave cover or microwave lid wherever you want)

Ugh. If it's just ONE stitch, you might be able to ladder it back up with judicious use of a crochet hook? After a washing and wear or two the tighter stitches should even out. Unless there are increase/decrease complications, in which case I just recommend you grab a glass of wine (I recommend this one personally) and tie off the dropped stitch.

Wine glasses for the nights where you want to cuddle up and watch Ponyo. Or an ice cube tray to make that perfect drink. :)

i don't get why people compain about customers ordering iced cappuccinos, just get a milk frother.
http://www.amazon.com/HIC-Brands-Cook-Stainless-14-Ounce/dp/B000X7GF40/ref=sr_1_6?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1409114447&sr=1-6