What are the new kitchen necessities?

[Miscka]

lmao...I feel like an idiot too! I thought maybe it was a term I had not heard. Ditto Haven on people with elaborate systems. We have a pretty odd hand-made one for cold coffee.

Oh well

 

[Haven]

I feel I''m in good company, at least, Miscka! Maybe it is a special brewing system?

There was a great article in an Utne Reader magazine a few years ago about coffee fanatics. The machines they created were unbelievable. I love it when people care enough about something to try to improve their experience of it.

 

[Elmorton]

Hmmm, I feel like the must-have kitchen stuff is more in the kitchen itself than small appliances - you see the cabineted sub-zero fridge, pro-quality stove, copper hood, butcher block countertops... someone around here has temp controlled counters..Italia maybe?? Anyway, I feel like professional chefs has become such a pop culture thing via reality tv that anything that''s pro quality - from gel mats on the floors to copper pots and pans is highly coveted.

Now, in my own kitchen, there are two things that DH and I enjoy getting compliments on - the first is the kitchen aid, and the second is our nice knives (which is funny, because with the exception of one wusthof, they''re nothing truly spectacular, but to our cooking-novice friends, they look ultra nice).

And, the must-have for me currently is nice window treatments!! My gma offered to sew up new ones (we had mini-blinds when we moved in, oh ew) and today I just found the perfect fabric on clearance. I''m pumped.

Re: hand poured - my guess is french press too, but I used to go to a coffee shop that did latte art - I wonder if that''s what she meant? I swear, a latte tastes amazingly better when it''s absolutely freaking gorgeous. I''ve tried it at home, but there''s something in the wrist movement that I think a person just needs to learn from a pro.

 

[gemgirl]

Date: 8/13/2009 3:55:05 PM
Author: Moh 10
I felt bad about all the diesel exhaust I was contributing to the air by having Sparkletts deliver water bottles so I bought this Reverse osmosis water filtration system at Home Depot for around $279 and installed it myself.

The water is fantastic and saves money in the long run.

It is also great for aquarium water.

We''ve had a PUR water filtration system for years. That does the same as your reverse osmosis system. I thought that purifying the water we drank and cooked with was enough, especially here on Long Island where they blame our ground water and our environment for the high cancer rates. Apparently all of these filtration systems take out the impurities, but they don''t take the acid out of the water. Who knew we had acid in our water?

Most of the expensive bottled water that we''ve been buying for years was only purified tap water anyway.

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/13/2009 1:57:28 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 8/13/2009 12:51:26 PM
Author: Shopaholic
I feel like those pod coffee makers, like the Keurig are all the rage now....not really a necessity - though some really view it that way....they always say that they don't know how they lived before without it.....

I don't know, I still don't like the taste of the coffee that it makes - I am a coffee connoisseur though, still like the hand poured kind....

I'm intrigued--what is hand poured coffee? I did a Google search but all I found were several links to hand-poured coffee scented candles!

We just use a plain old drip coffee maker, but I've always wanted one of those balancing siphons. They're so pretty.

Hi Haven,

Hand poured is really just setting a micro mesh filter over a carafe or cup (I have a small espresso one too) and you put the coffee straight into it and pour hot water right in. Then you just wait for it all to drip through. It takes longer than the auto drip machines, but this way the coffee brews a little longer in the water - which gives the coffee a bit more time to release all it's natural flavor and oils.

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/13/2009 5:13:42 PM
Author: Haven

Date: 8/13/2009 4:00:32 PM
Author: dragonfly411
Haven

This is not meant in offense. More as a confusion. Is that a joke? Or am I missing some magical hand poured meaning?

Ha! I don't know.
Shopaholic called herself a 'coffee connoisseur' and said that she prefers hand poured coffee. That context made it sound like 'hand poured' was some kind of fancy way to brew the coffee. Certainly a connoisseur wouldn't drink regular drip brewed or French press, right?

I was serious, but now I feel stupid for asking.

I know some people who create their own elaborate brewing systems for coffee, I thought she was talking about something like that.

Hehe! I just went back and read all the posts...you guys are so funny, but no, I am not one of those coffee fanatics that dream up contraptions. I simply enjoy fine coffees (meaning the grind and the roast of a particular coffee) and one of the best ways to taste a coffee's full flavor I learned was just to brew it as simply and naturally as possible. It's almost short of just stirring the coffee in water (Turkish coffee) which is too strong and gritty for me, too thick a texture to my liking....

The other pot I use at times looks like a french press, but without the press. It renders just about the same results as the method above, essentially the same - put coffee in the pot and pour water directly into it, let the coffee infuse the water and then pour the coffee out through the filter built into the pot. Ah, now I am craving some coffee - off to go make some!

My fave brands for at home are Royal Kona, and Lavazza.

 

[Haven]

Very cool, Shopaholic. Thanks for coming back and explaining! That sounds like a great way to make coffee, I''ll have to try it.

I spent a bit of time with a Bedouin tribe in the Middle East, and they make coffee by stirring it in with water, and then drink it grinds and all. It was way too strong for me, too. I like my coffee nice and diluted.

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/13/2009 8:10:27 PM
Author: Haven
Very cool, Shopaholic. Thanks for coming back and explaining! That sounds like a great way to make coffee, I''ll have to try it.

I spent a bit of time with a Bedouin tribe in the Middle East, and they make coffee by stirring it in with water, and then drink it grinds and all. It was way too strong for me, too. I like my coffee nice and diluted.

Anytime Haven! Though not your fault for not understanding what I meant, my statement was pretty vague....*hand poured * can denote so many methods...

I LOVE coffee, I travel the world and my must do everywhere is to have coffee the exact way that is popular with the natives of each country.....

 

[Sharon101]

For me the new type of dream kitchen (that I can only dream about having one day!) is totally a 6 star experience. First there is lots of space, lots of purpose built storage both in the soft closing drawers and in the cupboards. Two dishwashers, top of the range built in fridges (want 2 of those as well), 2 pac finishes on cupboards, stone counter tops, glass splashbacks, industrial size exhaust fan, bbq hot plate (japanese style), ceramic hot plates as well as gas hotplates,matching oven and microwave in ss, plus a station work area for my computer so I can watch the kids while `working`, a huge kitchen table so I can seat 20 and kids can do homework etc on table, plus a mini kitchen hidden so this can be the mess area!!!!!!

Did you get all that!!!!!

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Wine fridge is a NECESSITY and one that a self refilling would be a dream!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Haven]

Shopaholic--I think it is very cool to taste the coffee everywhere you travel. I imagine it has brought you many interesting experiences, as having coffee is often a social experience as well.

I may have to take your lead on our next trip and try some foreign coffee, myself. I hope you don''t mind.

 

[Shopaholic]

Date: 8/13/2009 10:03:03 PM
Author: Haven
Shopaholic--I think it is very cool to taste the coffee everywhere you travel. I imagine it has brought you many interesting experiences, as having coffee is often a social experience as well.

I may have to take your lead on our next trip and try some foreign coffee, myself. I hope you don't mind.

oh yes Haven, definitely try it. It is so interesting to experience all the different ways people have their coffee! In Taiwan - coffee is very heavily creamed and sweetened, in Spain - regular coffee is drunk in little cups - not quite as small as espresso cups and they don't call their coffee espresso - it's just their 'regular' coffee, yet it sure tastes as strong as espresso! and they drink it black or with just a touch of sugar, in Vietnam - the favorite is espresso mixed with sweetened condensed milk and most popular is having it on ice, in Morrocco - I had spiced coffees, all different types, even with pepper, in Argentina - I had some of the best tasting coffee ever, many there just drink it with a bit of milk, and the coffee culture that surprised me was in Japan - many coffee and burger places - they love having coffee with their burgers there! That's just to name a few! Each one was absolutely delicious too! (except for the burger thing, I didn't eat one with my coffee, I opted for the sweet apple tart instead! hehe!)