(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best serverware

Pictured is my Ortofon 2M Bronze, which I added to my setup roughly 6 months ago now. After spending half a year with it, I can confidently say it’s both the most dramatic upgrade in sound, as well as the most “sound value” per dollar spent.

I bought my Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, with the stock 2M Red and metal platter, in early 2015 and have made a few modifications to it and my set up in general since then. I was getting quite frustrated with the IGD from the Red, and wasn’t very happy with the overall sound, so I decided to move to the 2M Blue – picking up a Blue stylus for $200 (the cart body for the Red and Blue is the same so I was able to save some cash there). Around this time I also ditched the stock platter in favor of the Acryl-It for $100 (and a Pro-Ject record puck for $80). The Blue helped clear up most of the IGD issues I had with the Red, but even after getting past the “break-in” period I still felt the sound was a bit to “sterile” for my taste and began searching for the next step for a cart/stylus. I was relatively happy with the acrylic platter; my biggest desire was to help with static issues I was having and the platter upgrade definitely helped there. Not sure how much improvement in sound it made, but the reduced static and lack of need for a mat were welcomed. The record weight seemed to have helped reduce some resonance and picked up a bit of bass, and of course helped to flatten some records with minor warps. Around this time I also picked up a pack of vibrapods for ~$25; which helped further isolate the table.

So, at this point I had invested ~$400 in upgrades and was moderately happy with my sound, but was ready for a bigger jump. Enter the 2M Bronze.

I had narrowed my next cart choice down between the 2M Bronze, the AT4440mla, and a Goldring 1006. It came down to price and availability at said price, as I found an open-box (yet unused) 2M Bronze cart for $300 on ebay. A few weeks later I received it, mounted it, and was wowed immediately. Any minor traces of IGD leftover from the Blue were gone completely. The soundstage seemed wider, fuller, and more “colorful”. The music, as cliché as this may sound, sounded “musical” again. It handles surface noise like a champ, reducing some irritating pops and clicks to background noise. And on a well mastered album, it truly shines as each instrument has enough room to full breathe and be heard clearly. As time wore on and the stylus really opened up my initial excitement only grew. Now, about 6 months in, I am still as happy as I was on day 1. I’ve since sold my Blue stylus, recouping some of the initial upgrade costs.

In retrospect, I do wish I had skipped the Blue all together and gone straight to the Bronze. While I was able to sell the Blue at only a $50 loss, I just felt like it may have been unnecessary. That isn’t to say the Blue isn’t a good cart – because it is a perfectly fine piece. But it just wasn’t what I was looking for and I probably jumped the gun too early on the change from the Red. Overall, the Bronze is by far the best investment I made, followed by the record weight/acrylic platter and finally the vibrapods. Overall, I’ve put in a net $550 into my table and I’m reasonably content and don’t have any major upgrades for the table planned (the next move is either getting a second 2M Bronze when this wears out, or upgrading the table as a whole to a VPI Scout or something similar). Next up is the phono stage…thinking about adding tubes to the chain!

I apologize for the wall of text for those just looking for pictures ;-). Part of what prompted this post is simply my continued joy of having the 2M Bronze, but another was that I’ve had a few questions come in about upgrade paths and people on the fence between the Blue and Bronze (or other carts in similar ranges). So, in that second regard, I hope that helps a bit! Feel free to ask any questions about the carts or upgrades!

Edit: Bonus shot of the 2M series from Red to Bronze

No worries. With that in mind, you'll want to do a few things before anything else.

You'll have a few challenges ahead of you, but if you're willing to put in some elbow grease and a bit of cash, and your friends are amiable to you making a few modifications, you can have a nice tiny house. The fact that you're looking at living there for the next few years implies you're willing to do some work to make it nice. Your immediate challenges include:

• Weatherproofing. The shed will need to be insulated so you can stay comfortable, and ideally with a moisture barrier to keep mold away. Read up on insulation requirements here and vapor barriers here.
  
• Electricity. You'll need some power in the shed for things like your computer, charging your phone, running an air conditioner, etc.
  
• Privacy. You cannot be caught or else you'll be out on your ass, so avoiding the neighbors as much as possible is a must.
  
• Comfort. You'll need a bed, space for your belongings, and some basic creature comforts for those days when you simply can't go anywhere else.
  
  One thing missing is plumbing. I am hopefully correct in assuming that your friends will allow you to use their bathroom, shower, etc.
  
  First, you'll need to insulate the place. This is to keep your space warm during cooler times and cool during warmer times. The easiest way to accomplish this is with foam sheeting insulation, available at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. You simply cut the foam to size and press it in between the studs that make up the walls; friction holds it in place. Cut as carefully as you can as any gaps means a space where heat can bleed through. If your friends are okay with it, you can patch up small gaps between the foam and the studs using expanding spray foam insulation. Insulating the roof is a little more challenging but can be done in much the same way. I'm not a contractor so you'll want to do some research into installing insulation and vapor barriers.
  
  Once insulation is in place you can finish the walls with drywall or other wall coverings, nailed into the studs. Drywall has higher cost and is harder to work with; you might want to consider something simpler like wood paneling. If you want to go on the cheap and are willing to work a bit, start collecting and disassembling shipping palettes. Remove all the nails from the boards, sand the boards smooth, then nail the boards between the studs to cover the walls. When you're done you can paint it or stain it or seal it.
  
  The bare plywood floor is going to be a turnoff, and I would avoid carpet since you won't have a way to clean it. On the plus side, since the shed will be a small space you can get a couple of boxes of good quality vinyl plank flooring and lay it all down in a single afternoon. It'll be durable, attractive, and easy to clean.
  
  For electricity, don't even think about running an extension cord as there's too many ways that could go wrong. I might consider two options. A couple of solar panels on the roof connected to a couple of simple car batteries can provide reasonable DC power for indoor LED lighting, charging your phone, running a fan or Bluetooth speaker, and other low-load devices. Supplement that with a gas-powered generator for higher load items like an air conditioner. Gasoline generators are cheap and run for up to eight hours on a tank of gas. When shopping, find one that's QUIET and reliable (read: Honda).
  
  If the shed has any windows you'll want to install something that will keep light from bleeding out and prevent people from peeking in. The last thing you want is for a cop car to drive by and wonder why there are lights on in a shed late at night. Consider applying mirrored blackout film (allows light in, doesn't allow light out) to the windows and installing blackout curtains on the inside.
  
  Air circulation is going to be key to your comfort. A hang-out-the-window air conditioner isn't in your future, nor is lighting a fire. Consider a small portable heater/AC unit that you can connect to your generator for power. Some of the better ones also act as dehumidifiers (if you're in a damp area) which can be helpful. If your shed has cross ventilation grates near the roof, consider changing them out for powered fans that can be connected to your solar batteries, and are reversible so that you can have good airflow as needed.
  
  A convertible bed or futon would likely be your best approach for sleeping arrangements. If your shed's roof has horizontal beams inside like the green boards pictured here then you might even be able to get creative with some plywood and build a loft bedroom up there. Screw down the plywood, cover the floor with more vinyl planks, put a small mattress up there, and set up a ladder to get up and down.
  
  Then it's just an exercise in minimal living. Forget about a big TV or high-end gaming computer; use a laptop as your "entertainment center" and stream everything. (Oh, right: If your wifi isn't strong enough from the house you may want to bump your data plan to "unlimited" and use your phone as your internet access point for your laptop.) Be careful with appliances as they often consume a lot of electricity (you don't want to be running your generator 24/7). An insulated water cooler filled with ice and water from the house can provide a convenient and cool water source for several days.

Putting my hat in the Scotch camp here. I also like gin, sake, and am getting more into beers, especially homebrew beers. Just had some great porter I helped make. I'm just basically not a wine guy. No idea why, but I just can't seem to get into it. Or vodka. Or any of those notorious spirits that are popular among college students whose main 'virtue' is getting you plastered. I have to have a bit of quality and flavor when I drink. And I know you asked about alcohol, but I also have to talk about soda a little. Only because if you make it yourself (no, I don't mean sodastream, I mean real, from scratch, yeast carbonated soda) it not only tastes amazing, but it's better for you (no high fructose corn syrup and actually natural ingredients are easily possible) AND with yeast doing the carbonation, there's even a very slight alcohol content (something in the range of 1% but still technically there) which is nice.

Current favorites:

• Scotch - Glenmorangie 10 year. Absolutely awesome. Best selling Scotch in Scotland for a reason.
  
• Sake - not a lot of experience with it but I love a nice hot bottle of Gekkeikan. The hotter the better up until it hurts. As the temperature rises, so does the flavor level. Served cold, as is traditional with some kinds of sake, it tastes no different than water. Room temp is better by a lot, but as it warms up it really opens up and starts to resemble a great green tea or high quality gin. Very aromatic as it gets hot. And it being hot is comforting and makes you slow down so you don't drink too much. Well, not usually.
  
• Gin - I love Bombay, Sapphire is better than original, but East is even better. I also like New Amsterdam.
  
• Beer - don't have a favorite yet, but I can say that homebrew can easily outdo store bought beers. The flavor and (for lack of the correct vocabulary) thickness of the flavor is awesome. With a nice hearty brew you almost want to chew it and you totally get why beer is legally considered a food. It's like you just bit into a really soft loaf of bread, but with carbonation and alcohol going on too.
  
• Soda - As far as commercially available sodas, I do like Mountain Dew Baja Blast. I think MD shot themselves in the foot making the deal with Taco Bell to have it be exclusive for so long. So far as far as home brewed soda, I've only done root beer and it turned out so well that my boss at the time, who said how much he hated Root Beer, tried it and said it was so good he'd buy it.

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.

(Warning, this will be a very dense comment.)

there are 2 common approaches when it comes to enjoying tea, western style, and gong-fu style. (here is a link to some photos of my equipment http://imgur.com/a/8NPN3)

The western style approach involves using a teapot with a removable metal mesh strainer to brew tea. You need to simply place your desired amount of loose tea leaves into the strainer, place it in the teapot, add water of the desired temperature (usually 170 for green tea, 180-190 for oolongs, and a full boil for black tea), and let it steep for the appropriate amount of time, once it is done steeping, simply remove the strainer and leaves and enjoy your tea. You will usually be able to re-steep the leaves multiple times depending on the quality and type of tea your brewing. You will usually be able to obtain a decent teapot and cups for around $30 online (http://www.amazon.com/Japanese-Cast-Iron-Black-Trivet/dp/B0002AAP5I/ref=sr_1_3?srs=9976066011&ie=UTF8&qid=1452434419&sr=8-3&keywords=tea).

Gong-fu brewing explained simply means brewing with more leaf, less time, and more times (usually with a smaller brewing vessel). this is usually the preferred method to brew teas if you want to make brewing tea an experience and more than just a casual drink. The easiest way to brew tea in the gong-fu style is to buy 3 things: a gaiwan (basically a lidded cup), a cha-hai (basically a small pitcher to decant the tea into), small cups (to drink from and let the tea cool faster), and an optional strainer (unless you do not mind small leaf particulate in your tea.) First, fill the gaiwan with the appropriate amount of leaf then add water of the appropriate temperature (usually 170F for green tea, 190F for oolong tea, and a full boil for black tea, but feel free to experiment). let it steep for a few seconds and pour the tea into the cha-hai using the gaiwans lid to hold back the leaves. Pour the tea into your cups and drink up. repeat the process until you have either had enough tea or the leaves lose too much flavor to steep again (some teas might go for as many as 20 steeps!!!). I know this might seem intimidating at first, but if you find that you really enjoy fine teas, you will really enjoy having a relaxing gong-fu session. a gong-fu set like this will usually run you around $30 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00RTSHXSS/ref=s9_dcbhz_bw_g79_i2_sh)for something usable, but prices can vary, especially if you get into the premium side of things (http://yunnansourcing.com/en/jian-shui-teapots/3768-jian-shui-clay-classic-gaiwan-by-huang-shou-zhen-240ml.html).

Lastly, I will mention another method commonly known as "grandpa style"(http://imgur.com/4OMa3ud). this is as simple as it gets, just add tea leaves into a mug, add hot water, and drink using your teeth to strain the leaves as you drink adding more water as you go. (I only recommend grandpa style for more forgiving, less bitter teas as the less forgiving kind will tend to get unbearable bitter.)

By the way, it goes without saying that these methods will use full, loose leaf tea. Personally, I cannot recommend loose leaf tea enough. It is a significant improvement in taste over teabags, and is not much more expensive considering it can be re-steeped unlike teabags. I was only able to develop a passion for drinking and brewing tea after trying loose leaf tea and actually did not really like it back when I had only tried Lipton tea bags.

As for where to buy loose leaf teas and which ones to try, I will point you to 2 helpful articles that helped me out back when I was first getting into tea. along with the website that I use most.
http://www.yunnansourcing.us/store/
http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/02/best-tea-where-to-buy.html
http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/04/tea-introduction-starterkit.html

I would also recommend giving this article a read if you want to know more about tea http://www.seriouseats.com/2015/01/tea-for-everyone.html

I'm not sure how much you know between you and your gf so I'm gonna give you a lot of info here just in case.

I highly recommend this detangling brush. My sister has 4C hair similar to this and with the right conditioner, it detangles her curls in a flash without too much pulling. Also, start from the ends, work your way up, and work in sections.

What products are you using to detangle? I would suggest getting a good regular conditioner as well as a leave-in so the curls and knots come apart with less effort. Aussie Moist is my fave in-shower conditioner and Shea Moisture Black Castor and Shea Butter is my fav leave in cause it detangles my hair in a instant and leave it soft and moisturized all week. It's not for everyone though so definitely do some shopping around.

Also, try wetting and detangling the hair a bit before washing because (in my experience) the movement and shrinkage of the hair during the makes the tangles a bit worse.

Technique is also important with curly hair. When you wash, try using slightly diluted shampoo in a squeezy bottle so you can apply it directly to the scalp and to the hair. Of course you want to shampoo the hair as well but it's better to work the shampoo from the root to the tip to avoid tangles.

You'll want to massage the scalp with your fingertips through the hair. Do not do this or yall will have a bad time lol. This creates so many tangles and damages the hair. I would recommend checking out a few poc curly hair wash day youtube videos for good technique.

Also, pat her hair dry. Please for the love of all that is good do not rub her hair on the towel.

I would recommend styling her hair while its damp with a leave in conditioner if thats easier for yall. There's nothing wrong with styling the hair while wet, in fact, a lot of curly girls prefer this because managing the hair when its dry has the potential to cause frizz or breakage. Also, I noticed you mentioned you oil her scalp. Try using the oil after the leave in so it seals in the moisture.

I'm not sure if you guys are already doing this but definitely give night scarves and bonnets a try. They'll be a huge help in the long run because they help combat frizz, tangles, lint, and breakage that occurs from sleeping on cotton.

For the sweet tooth (like my dad, these are all things he likes):

• A candy jar or bowl filled with her favorite candy.
  
  
• An artisan ice cream scoop.
  
  
• An ice cream maker. You could get an ice cream recipe book as well.
  
  
• One of my dad's favorite gifts was a sugar dispenser... I think that shows his level of sugar commitment.
  
  
• Some artisan marshmallows.
  
  
• A milk frother that doubles as a hot chocolate maker.
  
  For the executive (like my mom, these are all things she likes):
  
  
• A high quality thermos for coffee on the way to work.
  
  
• A smart home setup, maybe an echo and some smart outlets or the google home. Really good for turning lights on/off, asking for the weather and news, listening to music, etc.
  
  
• A FitBit to help her keep healthy even working long hours.
  
  
• A popcorn maker that allows you to make non-microwaved popcorn in the microwave.
  
  
• A white noise machine. If she has any trouble sleeping this thing is AMAZING.
  
  
• A Roku or Chromecast that makes it easier to watch Netflix on the TV.
  
  
• Wine tasting or cooking class that you can do together. Really my mom loves doing stuff with her family.

I have the Pro-Ject DC Carbon (https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Debut-Carbon-DC-Black/dp/B00IIMXATU), which is even better with the upgraded platter (https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-ACRYLIT-Acryl-It-Platter-Upgrade/dp/B0097CY4NQ).

Absolutely love it, but for the lower price-range the LP120 is where it's at if you want new. My friend has one and it's pretty nice.

As he (Serariron) said, vintage stuff is great and can be found cheap, but then you might need to worry about fixing something up or making sure you have nice pre-amps and whatnot to go with it. So for ease and cost the LP120 is really the best choice.

I personally use wooden utensils in place of silicone ones. They equally don't scratch up non-stick surfaces and can be more affordable.

I'd also get a stainless steel high walled pot like this. It doubles as a frying pan and a sauce pan, which means less storage and clutter. I do 90% of my cooking in this.

Like others have said a crock pot or Instant Pot. I have both and if I had to choose one I'd get the Instant Pot. It does more faster.

If you like making smoothies, purees or sauces a blender can be invaluable. But outside of that it's not necessary. I've been a home cook for a decade and only recently got one because I wanted to experiment with making my own hot sauce.

I would also get a few wide mouthed mason jars. They make for fancy cups, great storage for meal prep, or fermenting/pickling. I'd get a few 16 oz and 32 oz. Not an absolute necessity unless you're into fermenting/pickling. If you just need meal prep storage then any glass container will do fine. I prefer glass because it's safer for microwaving.

Also a really nice to have is a splatter guard for your microwave like this. It has the added bonus of steaming your food a little and of course keeps your microwave clean.

A spice rack will keep your spices organized and can add a world of flavor to your cooking even if you're just making beans and chicken breast all the time. Something like this will get you started.

Stay away from as many single-use gadgets as you can. They'll just end up breaking on you and cluttering up your limited kitchen space.

Other kitchen tips to make cooking cheaper/easier/quicker without spending extra money include reusing glass jars (pasta sauce, oil, etc.), having a dedicated rag/towel for wiping up oil and grease, and planning out meals in advance whether it's writing them down on paper or making food in bulk. Like any other skill it takes practice and time to get it down right. I've burnt plenty of things when I first started. Have fun!

I got this cheap glass pot as a gift: http://www.amazon.com/Primula-Flowering-Half-Moon-40-Ounce-Black/dp/B002T1TUHC/ref=pd_sim_sbs_k_4?ie=UTF8&refRID=0MWNCZMSYM915K4N6NDW The reviews for it suck but I've had mine for 3 years and I love it. A friend knitted me a tea cozy for it and my tea stays hot for hours.

I also have a mystery ceramic Japanese style pot from the thrift store. It was four dollars. It's very beautiful and came with matching cups. I love it too.

I don't think you really need a fancy pot unless you really want one. I'm happy with my cheap pots.

Man, this contest made me realize how share-able my wishlist items are!

As for one specific item... I have two candy dishes at work, one for normal candy and another for sugar-free candy (for the diet-conscious and diabetic). Everyone gives me compliments on the glass fishbowl, but no one seems to share the same affection for the (boring?) basket. I think this unique glass ziplock bag candy dish would catch more eyes and make the clear candies more attractive! These sugar-free Jolly Ranchers and Crystal Light candies are really yummy! Plus, it would go nicely with the other glass bowl.

It's really simple if you (at first) just ignore flavoring reviews, creating, and all that and look at top rated recipes on alltheflavors. Pick something that looks reasonably close to your usual preferences and it'll probably be a good fit.

From there, in terms of the mechanics, you're just clicking the "Mix" button and dripping stuff into a bottle until a scale reads around the number on ur screen.

You need:

Bottles (I use dropperbottles.com and buy 100 at a time)

Whatever flavorings go in the recipes you chose (bullcity and ecigexpress are good sources. Diyvaporsupply too)

Nic (I use Vapers Tek, which is good quality EU nic and not expensive)

VG/PG (Can use Essential Depot on Amazon if u aren't ordering from somewhere that sells base)

A scale that measures to the hundredth of the gram (a lot of people use the American Weigh Scales LB-501)

And you're done :)

Probably be good to include 30ml bottles so you can split up the nic. A small funnel would help with that. Put the nic you're not using in the freezer. Disposable gloves can be a good idea.

Nothing else I can think of that really makes it easier. I guess [condiment bottles like these](7-pack Plastic Squeeze Condiment Bottles - 16 Ounce with Red Tip Cap - Made in USA - Perfect for Ketchup, BBQ, Sauces, Syrup, Condiments, Dressings, Arts and Crafts - BPA-Free https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HAWNA5M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gWVEDb927PWQC) for dispensing the VG/PG if you start out with bulk. Have to cut the tip around the second line for VG to flow.

Oh wow, someone said world peace so now this seems to trite. But maybe this could help check someone off your gift list.

These blooming flower teas look beautiful. I would love the experience of putting one of these hand sewn tea flowers in and watching is "bloom" into life before me. Like usual, I didn't buy one for myself but I did get two of them plus the glass teapots for two wonderful women in my life. I hope they enjoy them very much.

I don't own a proper scuttle, but I do have a hot/cold dip set that does a great job keeping my lather warm.

Before I jump in the shower, I fill the bottom bowl up with hot water, set the top bowl in and fill it with hot water and throw my brush in there to soak. When I get out of the shower, I dump out the top bowl, shake out my brush, and proceed to lather up. I let the brush sit in the nice, warm upper bowl until it's time to apply more lather. Works great. Sometimes I even drop my razor in the hot water while showering so it will be nice and warm, too.

Personally, I use these:

• Same razor just about everyone gets
  
  (I use Feather blades, but that's just because I'm hardcore. Get a sampler pack and see what works best for you.)
  
  
• Edwin Jagger super badger brush I got on sale
  
  (Though this is a great deal on a just-better-than-starter brush that's still very high quality)
  
  
• Norpro dip server for lathering
  
  
• Bay Rum shave soap in a wooden bowl from these guys
  
  (Sometimes I also use their Bay Rum aftershave. At least two straight men have told me I smell good.)
  
  Total outlay is about $120 out the door (assuming the cheaper brush), but after that you buy blades at $0.10-0.50 per blade and a puck of soap for $6 every few months. Instead of spending 5 minutes hating shaving, you spend 10 minutes enjoying it.

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.

Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006IW040/ref=sr_ph?ie=UTF8&qid=1420403457&sr=1&keywords=norpro

Unfortunately it seems the price has gone up, it was only $15 when I picked it up a few days ago. I would love nothing more than one of the beautiful handmade scuttles that some of you guys have, but it isn't in the budget right now.

For anyone interested in getting a scuttle, I can definitely recommend this. It works very well.

Cream used is AOS Ocean Kelp (my favorite cream atm)

So I wasn't gonna contribute, considering almost all my gear has already been posted, but if you have a V60 and are making multiple cups, I highly suggest this, a Hario server:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000P4B4LU/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1373555238&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX112_SY192
I just got one last week, and it's awesome. I mean, it's no better at its job than any other container that a V60 sits on, but since hario makes it, it is a perfect fit, it comes with a lid, and it's nice to look at.

I would consider adding a rechargeable DVD player, like thisone & have maybe one 'new' dvd for the kids as well as old favorites. Something they can watch together.

I'd tuck back a couple of books/games that are new too as a surprise.

Not a big fan of candles (I have cats - the candles are an accident waiting to happen). If you insist, please make sure you have a couple of fire extinguishers and the adults know where they are & how to use them. I have a variety of solar rechargeable lights in windowsills. One small one I leave in the bathroom all night when power goes out as a night light, then recharge the next day. That one is a cheapie. (I have a number of cheapie/give away ones).

This one is more expensive, not solar, but lasts 200 hours on one charge. It's great. Don't know how old your girls are, but maybe stash some glow sticks back.

Starting TODAY, adults need to follow the basic 'no gas tank goes below half a tank' rule.

Power banks, yes indeed. A couple of them minimum. If you or spouse will be going to work, you can take those with you to recharge at work. Or in the car.

Most everything else was covered by other replies. Water, of course. I'd add in some individual water flavorings & dry milk - it's borderline nasty, but works just fine on cereal for breakfast. Make sure you have food that can be prepared with what you have available. (Keeping in mind that opening the fridge/freezer should be kept to a minimum). Do you have charcoal/gas for the grill you planned on using? Frozen hot dogs grabbed from the freezer at the start will last a couple days in the cooler. Paper plates/cups are the name of the game here as well.

One last thought. Husband and I are both coffee in the morning people. We only run the generator in the evening for a few hours to keep the fridge/freezer charged (and plug in every rechargeable during that time), but we also make our coffee the night before. We have two good carafesthat we keep the coffee in until morning. Hot enough, and still tastes fresh.

edit: corrected link from CD player to DVD player

Just realized I didn't answer your scale question.

I use this scale:

WAOAW 500g/0.01g Digital Pocket Stainless Jewelry & Kitchen food Scale, Lab Weight, 0.001oz Resolution https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B4KX6JQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8wT7ybYTFX7DC

This beaker:

Emsa Perfect Beaker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001BDLWE8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_MxT7yb79S2TG0

This blender:

Blendtec TB-621-25 Total Blender Classic with WildSide+ Jar, Black (Certified Refurbished) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00TKRQWS8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fyT7yb71ZK449

And this jar:

Takeya Airtight Pitcher, 2-Quart, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CYAIRG8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VyT7yb8J2NX2P

Happy mixing. :)

Also you asked elsewhere on the thread about D3. Here's what I use:

Doctor's Best Best Vegan D3 Vegetarian Capsules, 60 Count https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00E816ROU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_HBT7ybFJPMH6J

A great intro to pour-over coffee is this Melitta which, imho, makes fabulous coffee especially for the money. Just snag some #6 coffee filters and you're good to go.

I do think that a goose neck kettle makes a big difference in your ability to pour slowly and methodically but if you have a regular kettle already you can start with that.

To keep things warm you can pick up a nice vacuum carafe and you can enjoy hot coffee for about 10 hours. The linked one is nice because if you make a full pot, then pour off two cups for you and the misses, it should hold the rest.

What are you doing right now? Be as specific as possible. (And don't answer commenting on this thread, smart ass) I'm commenting on this... oh. I'm sitting at my dining room table with my laptop, watching Into the Wild on my TV, drinking tea, and coloring in a coloring book. :P

Why are you doing that? I'm not feeling very well, so I didn't feel like doing much else.

What are you going to do tomorrow? Apply for jobs. YAY FUN.

Name one long-term goal you have (A month off or more) I'd love to publish my own cookbook.

What is on your desk? Be as specific as possible. I'm not near my desk, but let's see... There are plastic drawers with post-it notes, notepads, and recipe cards. Lots of pens, sharpies, highlighters, and pencils in jars next to a picture frame. There are binders, a culinary book, and a sketch book. It's a mess.

Open the nearest book to a random page and post the first sentence from that page. "The straw on the floor stank of urine. There was no window, no bed, not even a slop bucket."

What book was it? A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

What was the last thing you had to eat? Chocolate covered peanuts. :D

What is the last book you read? Did you like it? The Perks of Being a Wallflower. It was a great read, I really enjoyed it.

What is the best book you've read since the start of 2013? Perks!

Link to the item you want most on your wishlist. hmm... This or this.

Zweihander

https://www.talasonline.com/Methyl-Cellulose

https://www.hollanders.com/index.php/methyl-cell-3-ounces.html

https://www.hollanders.com/index.php/methyl-cell-8-ounces.html

When you buy it it comes in a powder, so you'll need to make the glue yourself. There are multiple ways to do it, but here's what I do.

Take 4 tsp. of the MC Powder and pour it into your bottle. I use a 16 oz. condiment bottle. Then you fill up the bottle halfway with hot water, shake the stuff a little bit, and let it stand for ten minutes or so. After that you can fill the rest of the bottle with cold water, shake it again, and let it stand for 24 hours. I've found that, ideally the MC should be kept in an area between 70 and 75 degrees F, but as long as it isn't in extreme temperatures it should be fine. The warmer the room the less viscous the mixture is. After the 24 hours have elapsed you should be good to go. The consistency should be kind of like hair gel, but again the temperature affects the viscosity.

I use Methyl Cellulose for two things mainly.

1): I use this by itself for helping me remove old spine reinforcement (mull, extra reinforcing paper, etc.) so I can replace it. I basically take a tiny amount of MC and spread it over the materials I need to remove, wait about a minute so it isn't too wet to work with, and then gently scrape off the materials with a painter's knife (these aren't sharp and so I don't have much risk of cutting the sigs or thread). I do this a bunch of times until enough material is off.

2): I also use this in a 2-1 PVA to MC mix (so 2 parts PVA, 1 part MC) when I'm gluing over large surfaces and I need a bit more time to make sure everything's lined up properly. Usually I add some PVA separately just because the mix doesn't have enough tack for me.

Hi! If you want to get into tea, I would reccomend starting by watching Alton Brow's episode on tea here. It's a good background on everything involving tea and tea brewing.

If you have a Peet's Coffee near you, you can go and order mugs of tea (brewed with loose leaf). They will give you free hot water refills so you can drink as much as you can handle. You can find a tea you like without having to commit to a huge container.

I prepare my tea in the morning in a tea pot (I have this one, but I don't like it because it's hard to clean) and pour it into a travel mug.

They make travel mugs that are similar to a frech press (here) where you put the leaves and hot water in and just push down a stopper to stop brewing. I'm really picky about the lids on my travel mugs, so I don't own one.

For resusable tea bags, the most popular style is a [tea ball] (http://www.amazon.com/Progressive-Stainless-Steel-Mesh-Ball/dp/B00004RIZ7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407090137&sr=8-1&keywords=tea+ball) (although the one I linked is a little too small to allow the tea to fully unfold). They are cheap and fairly easy to clean, but you have to be careful where you store them so they don't get bent up.

They also make tea bags for loose leaf tea. These would be easy to pop into your travel mug. You can also find bags made of muslin that can be washed out, but I don't know where you would do that.

No offense but that's nasty, IMHO. Heated plastic leaching for the last 20 years cannot taste good or be healthy. Do yourself a favor and invest into something worthy to use for the rest of your life. A good French press or stovetop espresso maker is so worth it. Much better tasting, way nicer and artisan. I've been using this for the last 10 years Bialetti
If I were to buy a press, this would be it:French press
And if I were to buy anew stovetop: Vev Vigano

edit: learning to link

Here's something I think you would really like!


And this tea pot looks really nice!


I would love this cute vaporeaon plush!!

Get some of these for pg and vg. Makes it much easier on bigger batches. Other than that I think you should be good to go!

Wilton Set of 2 6-Ounce Mini Melting Decorating Squeeze Bottles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VMBF6/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_PEFQub048W01T

This scale is widely recommended on this site. It works great and is cheap.

American Weigh Scales LB-501 Digital Kitchen Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005UGBG20/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_XGFQub1Z148CF

Edit: Also something bigger to mix in on big batches like beakers or mason jar. Something like that.

1. Turn off the news. When looked at objectively things *aren't* bad. They aren't as good as you wish in whatever area, but I bet money, marbles or chalk that at least 1/3rd of the people strongly disagree with you and wish it was that far in the OTHER direction, so while it could be better, it would be worse for someone else.
   
2. Spend more time outside in green places. Go for a hike in a national forest/national park. It's good for your mental state. This is science.
   
3. Get a PROFESSIONAL massage. Both of you.
   
4. Start exercising regularly. Weights and "cardio". These are proven stress reducers. If the kids are a problem, find a gym that has child watch. Most of the 24 hour fitness (not to advocate them, but they aren't *horrible*) gyms around here have some sort of play area for kids. Put the kids somewhere (relatively) safe for an hour or 90 minutes and burn off your sweat. Some places have a hot tub.
   
5. Get a jar of coconut oil (supposedly unrefined is best, IDK why). Get a bottle of this https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Organic-Aloe-Health-Moisturizing/dp/B00XW8CSE8 and one of these https://www.amazon.com/7-pack-Plastic-Squeeze-Condiment-Bottles/dp/B01HAWNA5M from your local grocery store. Fill it about half way with the coconut oil. Then the other half with the aloe. Put it in a HOT cup of water to keep it liquid. Cover your bed with an old blanket (or a cheap one from target/walmart). Now use about 1/4 that bottle rubbing down your wife. Then tomorrow night she uses another 1/4 rubbing you down. That bottle of Aloe will get you two bottles of massage oil. Good for your skin AND your state of mind.

I posted it in my own response, but it's worth another mention..the Bodum Kenya, or the Bodum Assam are both great for steeping loose leaf tea. I brew most of my tea in a Kenya, including making stronger brews for iced tea. These pitchers/kettles/whatever are good at keeping leaves separate, so you can pour your tea over a full pitcher of ice from them and stick it in the fridge.

Also, any French Press does this job pretty handily.

Store-bought mayo is definitely unhealthy; companies like Hellman's use refined soybean oil, low quality eggs and everything is pasteurized. Make your own mayo with healthy, cold-pressed oils and fresh eggs, and don't be afraid of fat from good sources. Here's the mayo I always make:

• Combine 2 raw egg yolks, 1 whole egg, 1 Tbsp mustard, 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper.
  
  
• Combine 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup coconut oil. If you have a bottle like this, use it. Anything that allows you to control the stream of the oil will do.
  
  
• If you have a high speed blender, add everything but the oils to the carafe and blend on a moderate speed. Add a slow stream of oil to the blender, starting at a few drops and increasing the flow until the oil is completely combined. Be careful not to overheat it.
  
  
• If you do not have a suitable blender, you're going to be whisking with one hand and pouring oil with the other. The process is the same, albeit slower.

Very exciting, I hope you enjoy the hell out of it for many years. I've written about this before but you might be surprised when you get out there how little you need any kind of formal system. KISS, at least to start. :) To wit:

> Ideally we'd like enough power to power 1 or 2 led nights [sic] at night, maybe a small 32in TV etc. If there is enough power, a coffee maker maybe.

All that said I may not even get to my place next week and if I do I may die in the cold there, so there is the downside to just winging it. Do you have any pictures to post of what you got?

This is not a recipe suggestion as much as a tip. Get squeezy bottles for:

• Oil, peanut or some high temp oil
  
• Broth
  
• Soy sauce
  
• Fish sauce [edit: just saw the seafood]
  
• Sesame Oil
  
• Sriracha
  
  Also the little Soy Sauce Dishes for:
  
  
• Ginger paste
  
• Garlic
  
• green onion tops
  
• green onion bottoms
  
• sugar
  
• msg (or broth powder or ignore if you hate msg)
  
• cornstarch
  
• touchi
  
• XO sauce [contains seafood]
  
  Finally, do not buy the products I mentioned through the links I supplied. Go to your local chinatown. It will have all these products and cost less.
  
  Other accessories: a gas burner, you can get a portable one at 10$. A wok ladle. and a spider.
  
  As for recipes... er... popcorn? ;)
  
  Stir fries are great, but once you start making your own fried rice you'll look forward to converting ALL leftovers into carby goodness.
  
  Enjoy and don't hesitate to ask us questions!

For a variable temp kettle I just got this and it works great. Same brand as top comment but it's variable temp (also comes bigger in a 1.7L)

For infusing: this is neat and not too pricey, not glass but allows you to see the leaves. You can also get one of those neat glass mugs that have the infuser in it that you just lift out, I've got one of them too but not a link.

Use a squeeze bottle. It's airtight and you get a lot more wallop from each sniff because of the extra volume allowing atomizing. Some people recommend you use a cotton ball or paper towel as a wick. I tried this and found it wasn't useful, because you can't pour it back in the original bottle for storage. The tapered nozzle makes this a breeze. I've read that it is exposure to oxygen that is the accelerator of the degradation. I have had great success with purchasing the 30ml bottles and keeping them rather potent until they are used up. I just pour them in the squeeze bottle to use, then return to the original bottle to store. You can buy them at Walmart or Michaels for a couple of bucks. Here's the amazon link.https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Mini-Squeeze-Bottles-6-Oz/dp/B0000VMBF6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1492628236&sr=8-4&keywords=squeeze+bottle

Try an insulated/double walled mug (I have several), and you could also invest in a mug warmer to keep it warm.

I also just started using a cast iron tea kettle that is heated underneath by a tea candle, and use small tea cups such as these. So the amount you pour is less, but the amount you drink will always be at that sweet spot and you just refill.

Hope this helps!

If it does not fit and you need a gooseneck I would suggest just getting a stove top gooseneck like this. It has a thermometer so you can always check the temp. I have a non gooseneck electric kettle and couldn't justify spending 80$ for just the gooseneck so I got the stovetop one. It's fully stainless steel so it holds the temp pretty well. I haven't tried to see how well it works pouring from the electric kettle straight into the gooseneck after I pre heat it though.

Happy Birthday, mang!

I too bought the Sterile Siphon Starter racking cane & hood after reading u/brulosopher's write-up (Cheers, bro). It's much simpler than a clunky auto-siphon (which I've been using for almost 2 years now).

Because I don't have a utility sink, and our kitchen sink is small (and the stainless cane is quite tall) - to rinse and clean, I just use food service squeeze bottles like these and run hot water, and/or PBW/Oxy solution, and then with Star San. Not sure if this is of any value, but otherwise - Cheers!

I have one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Takeya-64-Ounce-Silicone-Handle-Avocado/dp/B003DTLNI8/ref=pd_sim_k_6

But I got it at TJ Maxx for $12.99. But now that I have it, I think it's definitely worth the money. It's really easy to clean, too.

im not sure if this is what you are looking for but I have used mine for over a year without any problems. It makes 4 cups of tea

http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-34-Ounce-Teapot-Stainless-Steel-Filter/dp/B0009VF4V0

Combined with a mug warmer and you have warm tea all day :)

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-MWBLK-Mug-Warmer/dp/B000CO89T8/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1414736043&sr=1-1&keywords=mug+warmer

I'm glad you posted this. I have tried cold brewing a few times and it never comes out as crystal-black as coffee shop cold brew. Mine always looks a little darker than tan. I don't know if I'm not using enough coffee grounds, or if the roast I'm using isn't dark enough, or if I'm not steeping it long enough. I think I'm filtering it well enough.

I use a Takeya that looks exactly like this but I leave out the filter insert and just put the grounds into the pitcher.

I have been trying to go cheap on the coffee until I get a result I'm happy with. I've used Starbucks French Roast, a Kirkland medium roast which was roasted by Starbucks, and a dark roast from an online coffee seller. I weighed 4oz of ground coffee and put it into the pitcher. Then I poured unfiltered water on top to fill the pitcher. Then I put the pitcher in the fridge for 16 hours. I inverted it probably 4 times in the steeping process in an attempt to mix the water through the grounds.

After 16 hours elapsed, I filtered first through a French press. Then I filtered it through a basket filter in a drip coffee maker. I did not run it through the coffee machine, I just poured the grounds/water directly into the filter and waited for it to run through.

Anyway, the result I'm getting just doesn't seem strong enough or black enough. So I'm wondering if I need a darker roast, or simply to use more grounds, or to steep it longer.

I really like my Coffee gator gooseneck from amazon. Has a built in thermometer which is awesome!

Have had it for a good 10 months now and use it about 5 days a week, I just rinse it every once in a while. No rust or loose parts or anything.

Link: ~42$ via Amazon POUR OVER Coffee Kettle - Coffee Gator

I have one. Currently has peanut butter M&Ms in it. Amazon, Fred & Friends is the brand. I bought it 2.5 years ago and it's held up great. here is the link

I have this Bodum teapot at home which does stop the tea from steeping when the plunger is pressed down. A French press won't work in the same way. It sounds like you've figured out a pretty good solution for brewing tea with a French press though. It's either that or pour all the tea into a separate container once the steeping is done.

I get condiment bottles at the dollar store. They're made of nice, sturdy and food safe plastic.

There's the typical yellow/red for mustard and ketchup but they usually have white ones that are semi-transparent and the tip is kinda like a little funnel.

Like this: https://www.amazon.com/Wilton-Mini-Squeeze-Bottles-6-Oz/dp/B0000VMBF6

The opening is so wide you can just sit a 30ml glass dropper bottle upside down in it.

Also a root beer lover and homemade root beer kits were my favorite thing to do when I was a kid. You can find a few different kits on Amazon. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a selection of different root beers, varies by store.

https://smile.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-Home-Brewing/dp/B0033UX8A8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1494083459&sr=8-1&keywords=make+your+own+root+beer+kit

For the Pro-Ject tables, I'd recommend the acrylic platter rather than just the mat. This one is specifically designed for these tables and looks pretty nice. I have one and haven't noticed any static issues.

Hario V60 Serving Carafe - $28 - A normal carafe which compliments the V60. You can substitute any other carafe which fits the V60, although this comes with a lid and fits perfectly.

If you want a cheap teapot that will work well with any type of tea (as I did) I got this. For <$20 it gets the job done. As a bonus, if it breaks, you're not heartbroken.

http://www.amazon.com/Primula-40-Ounce-Teapot-Infuser-Flowering/dp/B002T1TUHC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1318022254&sr=8-2

As you know with is his videos, it seems like some squeeze bottles and a bit of food coloring can go a long way for really cool 2d pancakes. I'm definitely going to try it one day.

You want Manly?

I'm the Manliest, Man that ever Manned uh..a man...ok, that doesn't work. But damnit I'm practically dripping with testosterone and so is my wishlist!

Don't believe me? Here..Take a look at all this glory. Just looking at this shizz will grow a magnificent beard upon your face, callous your hands and beat a lion into submission!

Aint no man, manlier than Darth Vader. He's voiced by James Earl Jones and chokes people for a living!

Cause I like to shoot people*

Because MEAT!

I still like to shoot people!**

Because real men cry at this movie

Bacon beer, yeah.. That's how I roll!

Real men brew their own beer....ROOT BEER that is!

*Virtual people, sure..wanna fight about it?

**With their permission and with plastic pellets...

Get me whatever you want if I win, I trust you to pick something appropriately MANLY from my list.

In my opinion, a thermometer is definitely a must. It will help you get the right extraction and allow you to repeat the results. I use a goose neck kettle with a built in thermometer.

This is what I have.
https://www.amazon.com/POUR-OVER-Coffee-Kettle-Built/dp/B018WDAQBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482244833&sr=8-1&keywords=thermometer%2Bkettle&th=1

This should be higher up. Jim's creations are excellent and the plastic squeeze bottle makes this LPT much more convenient. You can get three of them for $6.

I'm pretty sure this is the same pitcher as I received with 1.6 order:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYAIRG8/

$15.99 - $19.99 on Amazon (Lowest $11.84 - Apr 24, 2016)

I've had significantly better luck with black tea based teas, but I've also done a peppermint tisane and it turned out well. I usually use my takeya, or I just got a Teavana Tristan to give the leaves more room to expand.

About half the time I use teabags to make my cold brew tea; and the last time I used a loose leaf black, I didn't notice as much unfurling of the leaves as I expected.

Well That item looks mighty fine. I think you are going to buy the teamaker because it is summer, hot and you want some nice iced tea.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012FRA8UC?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00

Bought this 2 weeks ago. Stays hot for a while. Caveat, since it does stay hot, I recommend pouring into another device or it will over saturate your beans.

After brewing, I move mine to this:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydro-Flask-Insulated-Stainless-32-Ounce/dp/B00K5ZRSP0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452885259&sr=8-1&keywords=hydro+flask

and I just bring this to work, stays hot for 2-3 hours easy

For daily simple use, I've always enjoyed using the ingenuitea:

http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-32-Ounce-Ingenuitea-Teapot/dp/B000RJDX3K/ref=pd_sim_k_1

Though the filter is plastic, I've no no problems with it to date (8 months), and the pour is fantastic!

Do people not have those microwave plate covers? Keeps your microwave clean, and I think it also cooks your food better.

Hands down favorite! https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Gator-Pour-Over-Kettle/dp/B018WDAQBE?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

It pours in a controlled way and has a built-in thermometer (water temp is important when you brew tea!). I use it all the time. It's also stainless steel:)

I swear by ingenuiTEA (they also have a 64oz one). I've bought all the tea lovers in my life one. It's dishwasher-safe, the handle never gets hot to the touch, and you can steep as little or as much loose-leaf as you like. It's freaking magic to everyone who sees it for the first time, because it's gravity-fed and all the tea drains out through the bottom into the mug.

Make sure you buy at least one spare filter, though. I've accidentally thrown one away when throwing out the used tea leaves (look, I don't function well in the morning before I've had my first cuppa, okay???) and another time I accidentally popped one out in the sink and it fell down the garbage disposal, I didn't see it, turned on the disposal, and it made the most god-awful noise. Whoops.

\ They recommend the 64oz size good for "brewing a pitcher of iced tea". Well, screw that, I have a 72oz monster mug and you bet your ass I'm going to enjoy every last drop. Pitchers, hah.

Okay so maybe it barely breaks the $20 limit, but I've had this root beer home brewing kit in my wish list for a while now. Who wouldn't want to home-brew their own root beer?

Takeya Airtight Pitcher (Black, 2 Quarts) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CYAIRG8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wPQSCbD6JCMK6

I use this for my iced coffee. It withstands heat, never have had an issue. I love them for iced coffee.

It is but don’t waste that money.



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B4FY8YO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_QoRKAbBW18T9F



And then some Coleman butane/propane fuel from Walmart for $5


And then a good liter camp cup. I recommend this

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007OJKI2U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_kvRKAbZDCD0DN


And then a French press.

You can be selfish:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F9ZTL6U/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-wRKAbS4WN09P


Or be the hero the platoon needs:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012FRA8UC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_myRKAbK7P7BYP

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.

Just get a bunch of clear squeezy condiment bottles like these ones

https://smile.amazon.com/Condiment-16-Ounce-Condiments-Dressing-Workshop/dp/B01HAWNA5M/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1523415418&sr=1-5&keywords=condiment+squeeze+bottles

Zojirushi AHGB-10SE

I bought this to keep coffee hot for my office. It has kept coffee hot for 7+ hours and the coffee still tastes great.

The only con I have is that I should have bought a bigger size...

I've got one of these.

I'm usually lazy and do the cold brew method overnight. The filter on the basket is great. I've never had an issue with tea leaves getting through the filter. The only thing is that the pitcher is tall and will only fit in the door of my fridge.

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

I had to show you two.

The one with the fish is smaller and I don't use it as much because I always reach for the big ones, but I have owned that thing for probably 25 years -- I bought it in Hawaii when we performed at the ProBowl halftime show when I was in high school.
The second is, admittedly, a Starbucks mug but it's so my taste and the colors are amazing and it does NOT say Starbucks on it.

Also included in the picture is the reason my husband has banned me from buying any more tea... and that's not all of it. I could open a store, I think.

As proof of my tea geekery, I have had this on my wishlist for ages. Of course, I could also replace my favorite mugs with something like this.

Of all the silly nonsense, this is the stupidest tea party I've ever been to in all my life.

I'm trying to make a keg cooler for my 2.5 gallon keg. The keg has dimensions of 9.125in diam x 14.5in tall. This water cooler thing has dimensions of 14.5x13x19.5in. It seems like the keg is small enough but I'm not sure why there's two measurements for the keg and three for the cooler.

Currently I just use a picnic tap so I'm unfamiliar with shanks and stuff like that. Would this work if I just put the keg in the cooler, drilled a hole in the side wall and attached a shank and a faucet to the keg?

I also have a mini regulator like this that I plan on using for a CO2 source.

Some kettles do continuously reheat up to near boiling or whatever temp you specify if it's variable temp. Another solution would be a carafe like this you can use to dispense water. http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-Polished-Stainless-Insulated-Thermal/dp/B0016S4TJS

Get a few of these in different sizes, heights. They are a lifesaver.

Amazon link

This is the pitcher it comes with:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYAIRG8/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00CYAIRG8&linkCode=as2&tag=mlb07f-20&linkId=P5L7B4OC4BLQJRBZ

I've tried cheaper ones that don't work as well. This pitcher is awesome.

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!

Microwavable squeeze bottles. Fill with coconut oil. Nuke for a few seconds and you have nice, warm slip and slide.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VMBF6/

Takeya 2 Quart Pitcher. It came free on your first order of powder.

You'd pour an entire bag in with water and that was an entire days worth of food.

You can still buy it... but only on Amazon. Not on the Soylent site.

See this Old FAQ at the bottom

Perhaps not terribly useful for you, psywiped, since it'd be a little bulky and fragile to mess about with at the truckstops, but others might want to check out this $13 dip server as a very serviceable makeshift scuttle. It's stoneware, so it will retain heat better than the metal bowl, and it even comes with a lid.

I think it's hysterical that the full 6 pages of "customers also bought" products for that bowl are nearly all shaving items.

I find it is easier to just keep the coffee hot. I just bought a thermal Zojirushi carafe from Amazon. I made coffee at 11am and it was still hot at 7pm.

Zojirushi AHGB-10SE Vacuum Insulated Thermal Carafe, 1.0 Liter, Polished Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0016S4TJS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_B3MOCbD83M4YC

i use the heat delay and heat the strike water and sparge water together. then before i mash i use the pump and take out the sparge water and put in a cooler ( https://www.amazon.com/Igloo-Gallon-Seat-Beverage-spigot/dp/B000FDXEN2/ref=sr_1_12?crid=1BNXXYIJMXUF3&keywords=igloo%2Bcooler&qid=1558019690&s=gateway&sprefix=igloo%2Caps%2C127&sr=8-12&th=1&psc=1 ) it keeps it hot. its not 167 degrees but its close and i figure its better than sparging with cold water.

Squeeze bottles are my choice. My syrups are generally made 2:1 so it takes forever to use a regular bottle with a speed pourer, and squeeze bottles are great to cut the flow exactly when you want to.

Welcome to the world of Schmoylent! ;) The main thing you'd want is to get an airtight Takeya pitcher to mix up your Schmoylent in - it makes it really convenient, since you just add a whole bag and enough water to fill the pitcher. No blending required.

I was actually just going to buy a 2 part dish on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006IW040/ref=ox_sc_act_title_9?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A2FP3WC79CXYXU it has shaving reviews, seems like a decent buy for something so cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0033UX8A8/ref=cm_gift_org_lp_link?ie=UTF8&coliid=I33DYZA037CVXQ&colid=138EOXCOEEGV1

Fits the $20 requirement, and is pretty weird...

I have the same one as well and love it but I got mine off of amazon much cheaper than teavana.

This is a nice Kettle with a Termometer!

Seconded. My only additional comment is that it is important to remember that you should adjust your grind depending on the quantity that you're making.

For instance, if I'm only making a cup for myself in my v60, then I'll use a medium-fine grind. If I'm making a full pot, then I'll do a medium to medium-coarse. The reason, which may seem obvious, is that you still want similar extraction times. A coarser grind will allow you to hit that same extraction time on a larger batch.

Depends on the mood really. But I would recommend a frother over FP, much easier to work with and not expensive at all. I have this one, but there are cheaper ones

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

I just bought that for my wife for Christmas! I also got her this bowl that looks like an open ziplock bag.

I got this as a candy jar for work. Decided against it since it actually somehow made the candy look unappetizing.
Link for anyone interested:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001XSLEN0/

Ok, I don’t know where you live, but in the USA you can just buy condiments in squeeze bottles. Alternatively, you might try amazon for bottles you can use.

amazon squeeze bottles

• Espro P3 - French Press $70
  
• Hario V60 Glass Coffee Dripper (Size 03, Black) $21
  
• Hario V60 Misarashi Coffee Paper Filter (Size 03, 100 Count, Natural) $8
  
• Hario V60 Misarashi Coffee Paper Filter (Size 02, 100 Count, White) $6
  
• Bialetti 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker $27
  
• Bialetti Replacement Gasket & Filter for 6 Cup Espresso Maker $6
  
• Bodum Milk Frother, Latteo Milk Frother $24
  
• Hario V60 Glass Range Server (800ml, Clear, Size 03) $23
  
  Total: $185
  

It’s called Unzipped. You can try amazon (24.59USD, prime eligible) or Uncommon Goods (16.50USD, $4.95 economy shipping)

If you are outside the US... I am less helpful.

These and others like it should work.

I have a 02 hario v60 that I make 700ml coffee (using 02 600ml glass server (the server holds more than 600ml)) . I bet 03 would work for you with a 03 server. I looked the 03 server up on Amazon and the reviews says it can hold 900mL. Also there is nothing wrong using a larger server than what I suggest, you just need something for the coffee to drip into.

Here is the link:
03 800mL glass server

For a more moist cake, soak it in simple syrup.
Put equal parts water and sugar into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Allow to cool, and then soak your cake. After that, fill and decorate as usual.
Use one of these guys for getting the syrup on the cake.


(I should probably clarify that "soak" doesn't mean the cake should be sopping wet. You want the cake to be wet to the touch, but not ridiculous.)

If you don't want to do BIAB get yourself a 5 gallon cooler, throw on a weldless bulkhead, and get a paint strainer bag as your filter. It'll maybe cost you 40-50 bucks max. Links below.

1/2"x10mm Stainless Steel Ball Valve Weldless Bulkhead for Home Brew Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075M2KL5B/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_y-73Ab9B9J8XY

Igloo 5 Gallon Seat Top Beverage Jug with spigot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FDXEN2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bb83AbPCZY0XB

5 Gallon Elastic Opening Paint Strainer Bags 6 Pieces https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C2A9L0Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_Ib83Ab8YSXHGR

You can probably find a cheaper 5 gallon cooler at your local home improvement stores. They usually run 20-25 at my local Home Depot during the summer.

The platter is clear acrylic but it sort of takes on the color of the vinyl a little .

I got it at https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-ACRYLIT-Acryl-It-Platter-Upgrade/dp/B0097CY4NQ

What I usually do is put a little glass of water and the food in the microwave and then put one of these on top of it all. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00004W4UQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1502121964&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=microwave+cover&dpPl=1&dpID=41T7u4amH4L&ref=plSrch

Teavana is ludicrously overpriced. Their heavy iron teapots are marked over a hundred bucks and you can find them on amazon in the 30-60 range Black, Red, Green.

Also if you want blooming tea you can find it on amazon for about $12.

I was used to that too and had the same situation, new apartment fridge didn't have the water line. Filter sink attachment and filter were too bulky for me, and I prefer cold water. My solution was just to keep a pitcher of tap water in the fridge so it's always cold... when it gets low I fill it up. I got this one. Also if you don't care for the taste of tap water, when it's cold you really can't taste anything.

We brought one of these and filled it with water. We also brough a little scrub brush and some soap. Precooking as much stuff as you can is definitely the way to go. And if you are going to cook bring foil and it will make it a little less messy if you put that down first.

I have this one and it's held up fine so far. It's a Buono style copy but with an integrated thermometer.

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.

Some say that a squeezable plastic condiment bottle - as is commonly used for ketchup and mustard, and which is available for just a dollar or two in the grocery store - makes a viable and low-budet alternative to the rocket blower.

And it doesn't look like a bomb.

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Fred-UNZIPPED-Hand-Blown-Glass-Bowl/dp/B001XSLEN0

$25

Not exactly a scuttle. This is more of a cheap man's scuttle but if you look at the comments a lot of people seem to use it as one.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001XSLEN0/

microwave plate cover

You can actually make the very traditional kind of root beer at home. The process is similar to making homebrewed beer.

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Root-Beer-20041-Root-Beer-Making/dp/B0033UX8A8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312977734&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Nordic-Ware-Microwave-Plate-11-Inch/dp/B00004W4UQ

Plate cover buddy, decrease your slob game by 100%.

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

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

[Stainless] (https://www.amazon.com/X-Chef-Stainless-Espresso-Shatterproof-Unbreakable/dp/B012FRA8UC) Steel Coffee Press. I used to break them all the time till I found this one. I love it.

> glass bag jar

Yep

It was originally made by Fred & Friends, though. If that type of quirky household item is appealing to you, they should be your go-to.

Here you go

Just use a microwave cover, won't need cleaning, if at all, for a long time.

> condiment bottles

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01HAWNA5M/ref=psdc_3744131_t1_B00OZOW6E0

Half Pint Creamer Glass Mini Milk Carton, $10.11 on Amazon... http://www.amazon.com/Half-Pint-Creamer-Glass-Carton/dp/B0029SXDO6

there is also a glass Ziplock bag... http://www.amazon.com/Fred-Friends-UNZIPPED-Hand-Blown-Glass/dp/B001XSLEN0/

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Adagio-Teas-IngenuiTEA-Teapot/dp/B000RJDX3K - 950 ml is definetly more than 2 cups.

Here you go

There ya go.

http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Piece-Stoneware-Stay-Server/dp/B0006IW040/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1348702914&sr=8-3&keywords=dip+chiller

This root beer making kit my boyfriend from my food list is only .02 over. $17.35.

Buy it in a squeezy bottle

Or pour it into your own

I ordered this. I was gonna get an electric one but this is a lot cheaper and has the thermometer built in so that's nice.

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.

Someone posted this the other day.

I have a root beer kit on mine. Does that count?

Easiest

https://www.amazon.com/Primula-Half-Moon-Teapot-Flowering-Tea/dp/B002T1TUHC/ref=mp_s_a_1_26?keywords=glass%2Btea%2Bcups%2Band%2Btea%2Bpot&qid=1567294911&s=gateway&sr=8-26&th=1&psc=1 I fount the tea pot but idk where the cups are from

Get a reliable pourer if you're spilling. Chances are your bottle sucks. For oil, you could use a squeeze bottle or an oil bottle to reduce spilling. If your container is unwieldy, you're more likely to spill.

One other thing to consider- when my doctor gave me some medication for my scalp it came in this awesome bottle with a conical nozzle- similar to those cheap condiment bottles you see at a BBQ place. If it hadn't had that cool pointed nozzle, I would have had no way to apply the medicine to my head, between my hairs.

If you bought some of these you could decant sunscreen (better to find smaller bottles than 6 oz but I was looking hurriedly) and use it to squueeze/apply within the beard.

This works. For VG, I used an 8-oz barbeque sauce bottle for a while then bought 16-oz HDPE bottles. I can turn it upside down and squeeze the hell out of it with no leaks around the cap (unlike the seeping from my cheapie bottle). The bottle opening is a little small but I have no trouble with refilling it from a gallon jug.

For PG, I use a 250ml laboratory-type wash bottle. Works great, and no funnel required to refill this one either. No leakage around the cap because you don't need to invert it.

For nic (PG base), I use a setup like this 2-oz LDPE bottle with Luer Lock cap and 14-gage dispensing needle. One squeeze gives about 1 gram delivery and gravity-only flow is about 0.1g /second. Easy to use.

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

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

Just a few tips I've found. Don't be afraid to experiment. Ive made some juice that sounded good in my head but was disgusting and I've made some that sounded bad on paper but was delicious.

Keep up with what you mix. I use a small notebook for this but the worst thing you can do is make an amazing mixed berry cheesecake with just the right amounts of yogurt to make it Tangy and you forget. Sounds a tad specific huh?

And if throat irritating is a problem I would suggest not adding pg outside of your flavors. Most of them are pg from my understanding. Just be careful with some tanks not wicking well with high vg blends.

Finally mix. Mix... MIX. You literally cannot shake it enough. It's important to get a good mixture going for it to steep properly.

Some tools I use that aren't usually advertised in kits and things of the like include

Empty commercial sauce bottle for your vg something like [this] (https://www.amazon.com/OrangeTag-Squeeze-Bottles-pack-Clear/dp/B000QJBNII)

LOTS OF PAPER TOWELS

And labels. I use Avery 1"x3" ones. They are 250 for I think 8 bucks at my office store.

The point is that the OP you responded to is but one example and your attempt to rebut it by pretending its the only one is basically dishonest. There are all kinds of purchases made overseas we only buy every decade or even one time. That doesn't matter. What matters is the entirety of our consumption, which you ignored.

For instance, I just bought these three items from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OZLSYYY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GW1OPXI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CYAIRG8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When am I going to buy such things again? Look at how cheap these are. I would have never afforded these before this last decade. They would have been too costly or too low in quality.

And you can pull your tactic with any example you want. "Well that's just one example." The question is whether it has characteristics of enough of all the other examples you can come up with. Let's be honest here.

I live in Southern California so it's definitely not as hot as AZ but I think it's doable. With no poo I think a lot of people don't really wash their hair that much (2 times a week maybe?) but for you that number just might be 3 or 4. For the hard water, what I do is boil the water, let it cool a bit, and then put the baking soda in. I have an old Thayer's witch hazel toner bottle that I pour the mixture in so I don't have to boil water ALL THE TIME and a full bottle of the mixture lasts me about a month.

EDIT: You could even try a squirt bottle like this: 12 oz squirt bottle I just checked and the Thayer's witch hazel bottles contain 12 oz! I just squirt the mixture at my roots.

>What kind of cooking oil should I use? I'm leaning towards extra virgin olive oil.

EVOO has a lower "smoke point", making it bad for certain types of cooking/temp ranges. Basically, it depends on how you're using it. I have a squirt bottle of Olive Oil and one of EVOO, and I generally only use the EVOO in salads, and use the OO to do most of my cooking.

Personally I have been using this one from Amazon for a long time and have nothing but good things to say about it, although I recently left it on my stove for way to long and ruined it, so I've been thinking about replacing it with this one.