I love tea – have I mentioned that? I think so, but it bears repeating. Tea is super good for you, pretty much regardless of its type it has a plethora of healing properties. I was reading an article on arthritis remedies the other day (yes, I am apparently geriatric now) and green tea was listed as a health aid. I mean, it’s not like I’m shocked or anything because green tea is basically the king of teas but it did give me a reason to drink more of it on a regular basis.
If you’re serious about your tea like I am, then you need a serious brewer. Skip the tea bags (they’re amateur hour) and stock up on as many varieties of loose leaf tea as you can stand. Then scale it back a bit so you can afford the Breville One Touch Tea Maker (Amazon, $249.00) – it’s a bit expensive but one hell of a machine. What makes it so great? You can brew any type of tea in here and it will come out prefect every time. The secret here is that you specify which type of tea (green, white, black, etc.) and the machine automatically knows what temperature to brew at and how long to let the tea steep. The brewing basket instinctively knows when to lower the tea basket into the hot water and when to raise it at the end of each brewing cycle. Heck, the brewer even agitates the tea leaves to give you a more precise brew! If you like to customize your brew, there’s also a setting for that as well as the ability to brew just hot water. The brewer will keep you tea warm for 60 minutes after brewing and even keep track of how long it has been since you last brewed so you don’t end up drinking a stale cup of tea.
Tea time has never been so chic.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 9″ x 7″ x 11.8″
-Fully programmable for all tea types, water temperatures, and steep times
-Tea basket cycle auto lowers and lifts
-Agitates tea leaves for precise infusion
-60 minute Keep Warm feature
-Variable temperature control
-Time Since Brew monitors freshness
-Auto start
-Kettle made of Schott glass
I drink a lot of tea and I have to agree with the notion that loose tea is better. There’s no need to start arguing about it; I’ve done the necessary research and it’s simply the truth. The problem with loose tea versus tea bags is that tea bags are just so darn convenient. I mean, you can reach for a tea bag and you’re in business whereas loose tea involves measurements and contraptions. It can be a bit daunting at first.
My least favorite thing about loose tea is cleaning out my infuser afterwards. No matter what, tiny specs of tea leaves always get stuck inside it and it seems like I spend an eternity trying to get them out. Meanwhile, my tea has gone cold. The Paper Tea Filters (Not On The High Street, £4.50) allow you the luxury of loose tea living without the hassle of fine mesh infuser cleaning. Because these paper filters are disposable, all you need to do is fill one with your tea of choice (I’m currently into oolong), slide the wood stick through the notches, and place the whole thing in your cup. The wood stick keeps the filter upright and provides a burn-free extraction. Each set of 40 even comes packaged in its own reusable cotton bag!
Tea: the other breakfast beverage.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Set of 40 filters and wood sticks
-Loose leaf tea infusers
-Disposable
-Made of non chlorine bleached pulp fibers
Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get back to work. This is never an easy thing to do after a long weekend, much less an extended holiday break. Whether the break is long or short, I think the key to productivity is caffeine. I can safely assume that I’m not alone on this one.
The appeal of caffeine is that it perks you up when you’re feeling less than perky, so it should go without saying that anything that can give your morning a jump start is a good thing. The Morning Mug (Generate Design, $29.00) manages to brighten your day without being overly cutesy or in-your-face about it. At first glance, this ordinary black mug has a white sleeping face printed on it, but that all changes once you pour your hot beverage of choice into it. Coffee or tea (it doesn’t matter as long as it’s hot) will change this black mug to a white one with a new facial expression printed on it. Much like yourself after getting a caffeine jolt, the mug will display a look that can only be described as serene alertness.
Isn’t it nice to have someone to wake up? Especially when that someone know not to disturb you until you’ve had your coffee.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Dimensions: 3.75″ x 3.25″
-Mug changes color when hot
-Cold mug is black
-Hot mug is white
Are you ever in the car thinking, “Gee, I’d love a cup of coffee right now” but there’s not a Starbucks in sight? Probably not because Starbucks is everywhere, but it would still be nice to be able to have a piping hot cup o’ joe whenever, wherever you wanted.
Although I’m not sure about the safety issues here, I’m still totally down with the Car Kettle (Latest Buy, $17.95) because it is the epitome of mobile brewing. Yes, there are a plethora of coffee shops, but why pay a bundle for one cup of java when you could make four cups yourself? This electric kettle plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter and takes just a little bit longer than your standard tea kettle to heat up a pot of hot water. If you’re not a coffee drinker, you can also use this baby to make tea or even soup! The set includes two cups and a strainer (for coffee grounds or loose tea) so you can even use this kettle to entertain via automobile.
Please please please don’t kettle and drive – it’ll be just like when that woman spilled McDonald’s coffee in her lap except you’ll have no one to sue but yourself.
5 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
- -Dimensions: 10″ x 3.7″ x 3.7″
- -Make hot beverages in your car
- -Includes kettle, 2 cups, strainer, and mounting bracket
- -Plugs into cigarette lighter
- -12V DC suitable for automotive application
- -Makes 4 cups (up to 550ml of water)
- -Ideal for hot water, instant coffee, tea, or soup
I am super busy this week! Blame it on Irene, but it seems like everything I was planning on doing for the month of September has managed to squeeze itself into the upcoming week. Ok, so maybe it’s less the hurricane’s fault and more like time mismanagement, but I don’t think Irene will mind taking one for the team. In times of chaos, I find it helps to jot down a few notes about the tasks at hand. A to-do list, if you will.
To-do lists are great, if you can manage to keep track of them. I mean, what frazzled person hasn’t attempted organization only to lose the very thing holding it all together? To save yourself from this maddening frustration, why not just write your list on your morning cup of coffee? The Memo Mug (Perpetual Kid, $14.99) helps keep your notes with something you’ll be hard-pressed to misplace – your caffeine fix. One side of the mug is curved like a normal coffee cup, while the other is flat to allow for maximum writing space. The side of the mug even has a slot for the included pen so as long as you can keep a hand on your java, you won’t be without your notes or special writing utensil. Once you’re done with your list, wipe it off and your mug is back to square one.
Some of you might set down your coffee in the morning and then be unable to find it later, rendering this gadget totally useless to you. Not me, though. My coffee cup is glued to my hand until the last drop has been consumed. In fact, the only issue here is that I might guzzle up all that caffeinated goodness before I start in on my to-do list.
4 out of 5 stars.
Specs:
-Capacity: 8oz
-Mug doubles as message board
-Includes pen
-Pen holder integrated into mug
-Wipe clean to start over
-Ceramic
