Sunday, October 31, 2010

Hand Powered Espresso Maker for the Home

In case you don't know, I love Americanos.  An Americano is simply hot water added to espresso, usually 1 shot per 8oz of water.  For the past year or so I have stuck (mostly) to my pledge of not drinking coffee from a disposable cup.  This means that if I am out and about and I want a cup of coffee but I don't have my own cup with me...I'm out of luck.


Each morning, I hand grind my own coffee beans (Blind Dog Coffee - a local fair trade, organic, coffee roaster.) and then use my French Press to make my morning cup of joe.  I love making coffee this way because of the low energy impact...just enough to boil the water. 


However, some mornings I really want an Americano but I have no way to make one at home.  I really don't want to buy some huge power hungry machine so I've been searching for some sort of hand powered espresso maker...


The first espresso maker I found was the: Handpresso Handheld Portable Espresso Machine.




This seemed like a great little machine and I loved he fact that it was portable...hello camping espresso!  The downside I found to this device is that you can't use your own espresso, you have to use those little espresso pods that just get thrown away... No thanks.  Price is about $135 (price is in British pounds)


Then this morning I came across: the Presso Espresso Maker
I love this espresso maker!  Everything is hand powered like my french press and the best part is that you can use your own espresso.  This also comes with a double shot maker attachment so with this machine, I would be all set to make my own Americanos!   Price - $150


While $150 is a bit much, I think it would pay for itself within the first year.  Plus the whole thing is recyclable. 


Sunday, October 24, 2010

Catching up

I love fall.  I love that the weather is starting to cool off and that life's pace is slowing down.  We are eating more soup and I can bust out my favorite long sleeve shirts.  

We've done a lot of the past month so let me catch everyone up.

My brother-in-law got sent to Switzerland for work at the end of last month and i decided to join him. I got to spend several days in Geneva while he worked at the W.H.O. and then we spent several days hiking in the alps and checking out small villages.


While I was gone, Firefly had a wood insert installed in our fireplace (we were going to do it after I got back but she wanted to surprise me)

Our Silkie hen went broody on us and stopped laying eggs and was also causing the other hens to slow down as well.  To finally break her of being broody, I dunked her into a bucket of water.  This is not as mean as it sounds.  You have to find a way to cool her off and lower her body temperature.  Dunking her in cool water on a warm day is the best/fastest way to do it.  


Firefly has finished one chair and is getting ready to start on the second one!

 

 we added a red ball and pull string after this shot so that it can be pulled around...which makes the legs move.

I have a list of projects to make for Christmas this year and I'm also thinking of starting a wood working blog/website to start building my wood working portfolio.  I really like old wooden toys and I think I might try and focus on making them.  I like that they last a long time and don't contain harmful chemicals or metals.  Maybe they'll even be passed down for a few generations.  Stay tuned for more on this.