August 13, 2010

Mini Slim Mill & Gaggia Classic – Tips & Tricks

The Gaggia Classic I own is an older model (the IEC power plug doesn’t have a ground) that I bought for less than half price used.  And so far so good, it’s been a good appliance.  I find I can make a couple of espressos a day with it and I’m happy.  The problems come [...]

August 11, 2010

Brooks B.17 Narrow – Unboxing & Initial Review

Feels pretty good. Initially a little firm but seems to have broken in a bit already (less than 100 miles riding).  I had ridden a B.17 Standard in Portland for a while but never really loved it, so far the Narrow seems to fit better.  I purchased an Aardvark waterproof saddle cover from [...]

August 10, 2010

Stabilizing Spheres & Unflappable Flappers

Sometimes you need to isolate your holographic lasers from vibration or perhaps just your AC transformers and tubes on your home audio equipment.  In either case, these Norborene (“Norsorex“) Stabilizing Spheres, also known as the “Happy Unhappy  Balls“, are a fantastic deal.  For $35 you get a package of 15 and if you cut them [...]

July 6, 2010

Mainer

Some photos of our trip up North to Maine & even more on my Flickr.

June 23, 2010

DIY Scavenged Butcher Block Tabletop on Cast Iron Pipe Base

We found a used 70″ x 30″ butcher block tabletop for free on Craigslist and figured that the industrial black cast iron pipe aesthetic might just work for a table base.
We traveled to our local (giant) hardware store and bought:
1 x 48″ long 3/4″ black pipe
4 x 18″ long 3/4″ black pipe
8 x 8″ [...]

June 23, 2010

Unboxing & mini review of the Hario Ceramic Slim Coffee Mill

Unboxing the Hario Ceramic Slim Mill I received from Seattle Coffee Gear:

And as it turns out it works pretty darn well. It’s mostly plastic with a stainless steel shaft and a small ceramic burr set. My only gripe would be that with the plastic lid/cover off the handle seems to fit a little [...]

June 17, 2010

Automated Ripping Potential & that Vintage USB Typewriter

Went to Hive 76 for their open house night on Wednesday to check out the space.  While I was there Jack Zylkin demoed his very cool Arduino based vintage typewriter > USB Keyboard hack, and it’s actually quite ingenious and cool.  There are contact relays underneath the main typewriter carriage and he uses magnets for other registers and [...]

June 12, 2010

Temperature surfing the Gaggia Classic & the Hario Mini Mill Slim

Bought some Gimme! Leftist Espresso blend recently when we were visiting friends in NYC dropping off a nuptial related coffee making apparatus type gift. & Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been enjoying the Chestnut Hill Coffee Company’s espresso offerings of late & we actually rode bicyclettes all the way up that gosh darn Chestnut Hill [...]