Posts with tag coffee

Cabaret Brewed Chocolate isn't what you think- assuming you think it's some sort of hot cocoa. If you think it's an alternative to coffee, tea, or, gasp, wine, then it is what you think and you're a genius. Congratulations.

Lovers of chocolate swear by the uplifting qualities that it carries. This school of thought is enriched deep in history. In the days of yore ancient Mexican cultures regarded chocolate as something more than a snack, it was an experience. Cabaret wanted to bring cocoa back. So they brewed it.

This has got to be one of the juiciest pieces of gossip we've ever heard -- and no, it's not about someone getting pregnant by her best friends husband, or another starlet on her way to rehab. This is about a common barista at Starbucks trying to do something for the greater good.

Men and women alike can be sustainably stylish. Here are the must-haves:

1. The reusable bag. It doesn't have to be Anya Hindmarch's bag you see at right (which we've all seen about enough of, frankly), but re-usable bags are eco-friendly and can say a lot about you. You read? Get one at a bookstore. In fact, you probably already have one. They're called tote bags. Use them when you go to the farmer's market (or the drug store) and feel good about yourself.

Somehow, each Christmas I end up getting at least 3 coffee drinking devices, but I've yet to get one this cool. Finally, a coffee mug that's looking out for you -- and your sophisticated palate. Consisting of two temperature control chambers, this monument to caffeine addiction has a patented "Temperature Control Chamber" that cools your beverage down sip by sip. Yep, it's pretty complicated -- I've already run across two videos explaining how this mug works.

Burning your tongue on hot coffee is never cool. As much coffee as I drink in a day, I know how annoying it can be to lose your sense of taste just because you were a little hasty taking your first sip. Even so, it's hard to imagine how much research and development went into producing this glorified thermos.

[via Core77]

Yeah, you thought that you didn't need a mint after that pumpkin spice latte. You thought the 7 pumps of peppermint syrup would cover it up -- guess what -- it didn't. Coffee breath is a killer, and like most killers it's hard to kill. It's most certainly a mark of sophistication to think about the comfort of others in your personal style choices -- and bad breath is very uncomfortable. It's also pretty inappropriate to doze off when someone is boring the hell out of you, but it happens.

Now you can kill two birds with one spray. Primer Caffeinated Breath Spray not only gives you minty fresh breath, but it pack the punch of 33mg of caffeine. How awesome is that? The only criticism I can find with the genius idea is Primer, what's with that dorky package design? It's almost as tasteless as a tallboy of Paris Hilton's canned champagne. Contraband like this should always be disguised in a discreet and stylish container -- like those flasks that look like binoculars.

[via GearCrave]

Espresso machines are fascinating pieces of engineering powered by a simple formula: water + heat + ground beans = espresso.

That having been said, the Nespresso "Fashion" Espresso maker adds a little something extra to the mix. As you can see from the photograph, the Fashion maker exterior is covered with hundreds of sparkling Swarvorski crystals. The limited-edition model sells for $1,000 and comes in two colors: black and pink.

Obviously, it's absurd to drop $1,000 on an espresso maker that doesn't make $1,000-quality coffee, but if a crystal espresso machine matches your kitchen's crystal-encrusted sub-zero, stand up mixer and toaster oven, I could see the appeal.

[via Luxist]

Single cup coffeemakers aren't a new concept, but this French press and mug set available at Rare Device is the first one I've ever actually wanted to own. It looks grown up and fresh, not like some "my first coffeepot" geared towards college freshman shopping for their dorm rooms.

Bring it to the office so you can drink expensive coffee without having to bring enough for the whole floor. Or, put it in your small kitchen in place of that bulky Mr. Coffee and his cords taking up your precious counter space. The set comes in red, blue, aqua, and orange (the aqua is going on my Christmas list).


Via: CoolHunting

I was tired of Starbucks and other chain coffees -- tired of the taste and the price. So, I searched. I drank. I burned my tongue. I caffeinated. I cringed at some of the bitter blends of coffee that many shops in Athens serve up. I thought I would never find a decent way to satisfy my love for the coffee bean (and caffeine).

But then my girlfriend informed me of Dancing Goats, a blend of coffee from Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters, that she had tried at a local pub & coffeehouse. I was a little skeptical at first. I was accustomed to names like "Breakfast Blend" or "Arabian Mocha," nothing that sounded anything close to this.

I gave it a try and was thoroughly impressed. According to the website, Dancing Goats was named in reference to a legend that claims an Ethiopian shepherd's goats started "dancing" after eating a bush of red berries.

The coffee is dark, smooth, and full of flavor. And you can't get much cooler than the name. You'll sound like a coffee aficionado when you tell your friends.

The company also sells quite a few different blends, one of which is sure to suit your caffeine addiction. Buy Dancing Goats for your home or suggest it to your local barista.

Win a designer handbag! Enter the StyleDash giveaway.

Coffee has soared in popularity over the past few years, which is obvious with the increase in coffee shops around the world.

Apparently Atlanta-based Coca-Cola wanted in on this caffeine-fused phenomenon. A few months ago, they introduced Coca-Cola BlaK -- "Coke effervescence with coffee essence."

Coke is clearly pushing for this to be the new trendy drink. Take a quick look at the website and you see an artsy/modern color theme of oranges, browns, and black. There's even a video of a Coke BlaK bottle being photographed by paparazzi.

I haven't ventured to the store quite yet for a taste of this soda slash java concoction, but if it really will "enliven my senses" as the website proclaims -- then maybe I need to give it a try.

I hemmed, and I hawed. I peered at the little laminated cards typed in a retro font. Hmm... "milk chocolate, allspice, and dried fruit"? Or maybe "complex ... notes of lemon peel ... orchid aroma." Do I want a sweet finish? Or would I rather something full of body, and herbal? And what the heck do orchids taste like?

Turns out, I love the way orchids taste. And the Ethiopia Yirgacheffe is now tops on my list. No longer do I roll my eyes when a customer quibbles between Latin American and Indonesian beans: I know that anything from the Sidamo region is sweet, light, complex, a delightful drink for summer, and the coffee from Guatemala has a cinnamony richness that's perfect for a rainy fall day.

Pooh-poohing chardonnay and preferring zinfandel over syrah is so late 90s. Today's hip imbibers are tasting coffee, not wine, and discovering a whole new palate. Tropical fruits. Jasmine. Apricot. Dark cherries. Lemongrass. Chocolate, toffee, spice of every sort. Coffee that tastes like strawberries? Until you've discovered the many notes of a truly great café, please put your "Gourmet" badge back on the rack. Coffee is the new tasting ... what's in your cup?