[WDYB] Things are still being bought!

[Joe Molotov]

[Rman]

My RX100 arrived

(Image removed from quote.)

I really want this camera but at 650.  Hard to make the plunge.

[chronovore]

What if they said "I loves me some well balanced diet and regular fitness routines"

I'd feel a little conflicted about punching them

OK, I will be careful never to say, "I loves me some gluten-based baked goods," because I'd probably never walk again after that beating.

YOU SAY THAT WITH PICTURES EVERY DAY, USUALLY AT 3PM, YOU BASTARD

Let me see what I can post to mah feed today...

[chronovore]

Bought these 2 games for my friend for his birthday:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

GameStop cashier was making fun of me for one of those purchases...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

it wasn't Neptunia...

[close]

I don't think I've ever stooped to insulting a GameStop clerk, though I might reconsider the policy if they made fun of me buying a legitimately good game. "Seriously, all you've got to do is know what's good and what's not, in a field you're so interested in that you're willing to work at this crappy place... but you can't even get that right?"

By the way, best feature of a good game unfortunately featuring Fiddy Cent? You can turn off his music in options, and the game runs an orchestral soundtrack instead.

[MrAngryFace]

I really don't know what argument you could construct around hyper dimension- and im a veteran NIS gamer

[Joe Molotov]

I really don't know what argument you could construct around hyper dimension- and im a veteran NIS gamer

You're a pedophile and playing Neptunia is your outlet so that you don't abuse children?

[MrAngryFace]

[Mr. Gundam]

I'm cool with the Atelier games, but the Neptunia series is FUCKING CREEPY AS FUCK CREEPY ASS CREEPER.

[Don Flamenco]

THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER BOUGHT!!!  (it's not a bong or a penis enlarger)



http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359741238&sr=8-1&keywords=aerobie+coffee+press

[chronovore]

THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER BOUGHT!!!  (it's not a bong or a penis enlarger)

(Image removed from quote.)

http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359741238&sr=8-1&keywords=aerobie+coffee+press

:MEGADAP

Yeah, I bought one in the USA last year, brought it to work. Showed a few people how it works, let them use it whenever they wanted -- about 75% of the people I showed it to bought their own for home use.

When I moved back to Japan, it was literally the first thing that went into my baggage. Use it everyday.

[Don Flamenco]

i'm drinking a latte I made with it right now.  I have a dark costa rican blend from trader joe's that is incredible.   I never knew coffee could be so thick and tasty.  I guess this is real coffee and shit from a drip is the thin acidic stuff. 

[Groogrux]

I've never used an Aeropress, but I've always wanted to.  I've got a french press and a standard brewer at home, and I only use the french press every once in a while.  For me, the cleanup is the biggest issue.

[Don Flamenco]

You wash it in literally one minute.  Just pop out the grounds, run hot water to get the rest off, wipe it down with paper towel, done.  Hard to explain without showing, but there's basically no clean up.  The longest part of the whole process of making espresso with it is heating the water.

[T-Short]

My RX100 arrived

(Image removed from quote.)

I really want this camera but at 650.  Hard to make the plunge.

Well, it's $800 over here. hehe

[tiesto]

Bought these 2 games for my friend for his birthday:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

GameStop cashier was making fun of me for one of those purchases...

spoiler (click to show/hide)

it wasn't Neptunia...

[close]

I don't think I've ever stooped to insulting a GameStop clerk, though I might reconsider the policy if they made fun of me buying a legitimately good game. "Seriously, all you've got to do is know what's good and what's not, in a field you're so interested in that you're willing to work at this crappy place... but you can't even get that right?"

By the way, best feature of a good game unfortunately featuring Fiddy Cent? You can turn off his music in options, and the game runs an orchestral soundtrack instead.

Yeah, my friend and I played a bit of the 50 Cent game last nite... I am very surprised that it's actually a quality game (considering the subject matter), it's got a high framerate and an actual scoring system, I'd much much rather play this than Gears or Uncharted.

Neptunia 2 looks to be a step up from the first one, which was pure crap.

[Don Flamenco]

Gamestop clerks always make some comment on my purchases.  I don't mind when they just say something interesting or relevant (like telling me if there's a sequel coming for the game or something), but occasionally they get excited and want to have a whole conversation.  It's weird when they're aspie or ADHD or just losers. 

[Robo]

THIS IS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER BOUGHT!!!  (it's not a bong or a penis enlarger)

But can it be? 

[Don Flamenco]

bong? yes, but not easily and it wouldn't worth destroying it.

penis enlarger?  I don't know, my bulbous and extremely long (and veiny) cock does not fit.

[chronovore]

I've never used an Aeropress, but I've always wanted to.  I've got a french press and a standard brewer at home, and I only use the french press every once in a while.  For me, the cleanup is the biggest issue.

As mentioned, there is basically no cleanup.  The design differs from a syringe in that the tip can be removed, and the grounds are pressed out through it; you pop the mostly dry "puck" into the trash. A French Press, you have to drag the plunger back out through the wet grounds, and then figure out how to get them into the trash and not rinse them down your sink. Here's a how-to, including clean up:

Gamestop clerks always make some comment on my purchases.  I don't mind when they just say something interesting or relevant (like telling me if there's a sequel coming for the game or something), but occasionally they get excited and want to have a whole conversation.  It's weird when they're aspie or ADHD or just losers.

I don't mind conversation, and I don't mind a little critical commentary, as long as it's polite. I get pissed off if there's a line but the clerks are still being chatty, and it really bothers me when they actively dissuade me from buying a new copy instead of used.

[Cormacaroni]

ugh, alright, buying an AeroPress

Tim Ferriss says it's the best too, and he usually has the best info. Another friend swears the plastic used in these things is some food-grade that is certified safe so let's live dangerously

[chronovore]

FWIW, that barista is using his own technique, and I can confirm it is superior to the instructions on the box.

His "create a vacuum" technique would not have ever dawned on me. Suh-weet.

[Cormacaroni]

the upside-down thing? Yeah, that's detailed in Ferriss' book. There is also apparently an AeroPress World championships or something where baristas compete...somewhat mind-boggling considering the seemingly limited variables. But that's the insane-o world of coffee

[Groogrux]

Gamestop clerks always make some comment on my purchases.  I don't mind when they just say something interesting or relevant (like telling me if there's a sequel coming for the game or something), but occasionally they get excited and want to have a whole conversation.  It's weird when they're aspie or ADHD or just losers.

I don't mind conversation, and I don't mind a little critical commentary, as long as it's polite. I get pissed off if there's a line but the clerks are still being chatty, and it really bothers me when they actively dissuade me from buying a new copy instead of used.

Unfortunately, that's what the company makes us do.  We're supposed to offer used copies instead of new ones if we have it.  I'm not pushy about it though, because some people just like having new games.

When it comes to actually selling the games at the counter, I'm very anti-chit chat.  I sell what I have to sell, I offer what I have to offer, and I get the people out the door. 

[Don Flamenco]

FWIW, that barista is using his own technique, and I can confirm it is superior to the instructions on the box.

His "create a vacuum" technique would not have ever dawned on me. Suh-weet.

what's this secret technique? 


also, after seeing the pics of gross aeropress' after 6 months of daily use, I've decided to just buy a new one every 6 months, if it gets all damaged looking. 

I'm sure the plastic is food grade.  Aerobie is not a tiny, sketchy company.  They make those rubber rings that flew forever with a light throw.  As long as you don't keep the thing in the sunlight and you make sure to wipe it down after each use, I doubt the plastic will break down.


I'm gonna go get some grounds from a local roaster today.  They have a ton of varieties, so I'm gonna try a whole bunch.

[chronovore]

Gamestop clerks always make some comment on my purchases.  I don't mind when they just say something interesting or relevant (like telling me if there's a sequel coming for the game or something), but occasionally they get excited and want to have a whole conversation.  It's weird when they're aspie or ADHD or just losers.

I don't mind conversation, and I don't mind a little critical commentary, as long as it's polite. I get pissed off if there's a line but the clerks are still being chatty, and it really bothers me when they actively dissuade me from buying a new copy instead of used.

Unfortunately, that's what the company makes us do.  We're supposed to offer used copies instead of new ones if we have it.  I'm not pushy about it though, because some people just like having new games.

When it comes to actually selling the games at the counter, I'm very anti-chit chat.  I sell what I have to sell, I offer what I have to offer, and I get the people out the door.

I'm not talking about a simple offer, I mean when the clerk asks me more than once if I'd rather get something used, points out that it's $5 cheaper (no, thank you), points out that it's guaranteed (no, thank you), and then says "it's essentially the same." 

No, it is not the same. The publisher and developer theoretically get some money when I buy a new copy.

So I appreciate that you're not pushy about it.

FWIW, that barista is using his own technique, and I can confirm it is superior to the instructions on the box.

His "create a vacuum" technique would not have ever dawned on me. Suh-weet.

what's this secret technique? 


also, after seeing the pics of gross aeropress' after 6 months of daily use, I've decided to just buy a new one every 6 months, if it gets all damaged looking. 

I'm sure the plastic is food grade.  Aerobie is not a tiny, sketchy company.  They make those rubber rings that flew forever with a light throw.  As long as you don't keep the thing in the sunlight and you make sure to wipe it down after each use, I doubt the plastic will break down.


I'm gonna go get some grounds from a local roaster today.  They have a ton of varieties, so I'm gonna try a whole bunch.

IIRC, the box instructions say 10 seconds of stirring, followed by a 20 seconds push. The barista in the vid does a small splash to wet the grounds, a 30 second pre-soak, and then fills the tank, capping it with the plunger to create a vacuum, so the water can't easily fall prey to gravity. 30 seconds more, then the plunger is pushed.

I did this yesterday, it was faboo.

[Positive Touch]

today im getting a papa johns pizza FOR FREE thanks to their superbowl promotion. THREE CHEESE MOTHERFUCKERS

gonna treat myself after going on damn near a week now being sick.

[Cormacaroni]

Chrono - you are also heating the Aeropress and cups, right? And getting the water to 92 degrees C?  It is startling how much difference this will make to the coffee (and your coffee will stay warmer longer too...). A thermometer and kitchen timer may seem fussy for a freakin' cup of coffee but once you can taste the difference you can't go back

[Positive Touch]

make that TWO free pizzas! thanks for fuckin up my order papa johns

[Robo]

It's free, bitch.  There's no obligation to get it right!

[Positive Touch]

yes but theres an obligation to take advantage of a beautiful situation

[chronovore]

Chrono - you are also heating the Aeropress and cups, right? And getting the water to 92 degrees C?  It is startling how much difference this will make to the coffee (and your coffee will stay warmer longer too...). A thermometer and kitchen timer may seem fussy for a freakin' cup of coffee but once you can taste the difference you can't go back

Yes, I preheat the cup. I don't have a thermometer, may buy one. If you say it makes a big difference, I believe you.

[Cormacaroni]

Polder digital thermometer - $15 on amazon. If you do any roasting, it is a must. I use it for every cup of coffee too. I guess you are right about the Aeropress needing lower temps though, so using 80. It is fine at first but goes cold quickly unless the cup is molten. So i'm switching to heavy ceramic mugs rather than glass-walled vacuum mugs (which keep the coffee warm but are difficult to warm themselves, so do not ADD heat...).

Haven't tried the upside-down technique yet...will try a few more cups regular-style first. It is good but not yet mind-blowing or an improvement on my regular drip coffee.

YES I TAKE THIS SO SERIOS. IF YOU TASTED MY COFFEE YOU'D UNDERSTAND

[Don Flamenco]

Regular style was already a huge improvement over my drip coffee.  Now i'm drinking coffee all day!  I like the idea of letting it sit longer, i'll try it.

Picked up some 1/4 pounds at a local roaster today.  Some costa rican tarrazu, tanzamanian peaberry, and two specialty blends. 

I don't use a thermometer either.  I either get it before the bubbles start boiling up or I let it boil, then turn the stove down to 3 for a few mins.  I heat up the milk for my lattes in the microwave, which is annoying.  I gotta get a milk steamer. 

I picked up some sweetened condensed milk for my coffee on the way back from the roaster

[Positive Touch]

yeah no offense but you guys sound crazy.


seems like after a certain point youre just tweaking it in unnoticable ways.

[Cormacaroni]

Regular style was already a huge improvement over my drip coffee.  Now i'm drinking coffee all day!  I like the idea of letting it sit longer, i'll try it.

Picked up some 1/4 pounds at a local roaster today.  Some costa rican tarrazu, tanzamanian peaberry, and two specialty blends. 

I don't use a thermometer either.  I either get it before the bubbles start boiling up or I let it boil, then turn the stove down to 3 for a few mins.  I heat up the milk for my lattes in the microwave, which is annoying.  I gotta get a milk steamer. 

I picked up some sweetened condensed milk for my coffee on the way back from the roaster

The first thing you realize when you get a thermometer is that you have NO FUCKING IDEA what temp things are. Until you start measuring it, you'll be wrong, but think you're right. This applies to cooking as well as coffee. You only get consistent results when you start locking down as many of the variables as you can. Until you have the water temp consistent, you can't start figuring out what kind of grind to use or how long to brew.

Postive Touch - yeah, but I will be making coffee at least 3x a day til the day I die. Why not get better at it every time rather than making it the same way ever day? It's fun

[chronovore]

Polder digital thermometer - $15 on amazon. If you do any roasting, it is a must. I use it for every cup of coffee too. I guess you are right about the Aeropress needing lower temps though, so using 80. It is fine at first but goes cold quickly unless the cup is molten. So i'm switching to heavy ceramic mugs rather than glass-walled vacuum mugs (which keep the coffee warm but are difficult to warm themselves, so do not ADD heat...).

Haven't tried the upside-down technique yet...will try a few more cups regular-style first. It is good but not yet mind-blowing or an improvement on my regular drip coffee.

YES I TAKE THIS SO SERIOS. IF YOU TASTED MY COFFEE YOU'D UNDERSTAND

You can make me a cup when I visit Tokyo in the next month or two.

[Cormacaroni]

it's the least i can do after all the buttsex i plan on you giving me

[chronovore]

Cormacaroni: POWER BOTTOM

[Cormacaroni]

bring yer Aeropress, don't want to have to clean mine

[Madrun Badrun]

[Positive Touch]

Postive Touch - yeah, but I will be making coffee at least 3x a day til the day I die. Why not get better at it every time rather than making it the same way ever day? It's fun
[/quote]

ah, makes sense!

[Cormacaroni]

I mean you want to see people fuss about hot drinks, do the tea ceremony sometime    I am just a baby fucking around in a sandpit by comparison

[Robo]

I don't understand that analogy one bit.

edit: oh, a sandbox.  you crazy euros.

[MrAngryFace]

-- im a moron and bought this, but its still better than the onslaught arc which was BALLLLLLLLLLLSlame plus ending the whole hope stuff is nice cause tired of hope really- giving her kung fu power is fine.

[Don Flamenco]

its fun to be ritualistic and weird about coffee.

Making the switch from drip to some kind of press or percolator or espresso maker makes the biggest impact on the flavor, then water temp, brewing time, and amount of grounds can affect it majorly if you majorly screw those up. but otherwise, the switch from using boiling water to perfect 175 degree water is more about feeling like you're doing it perfectly. 

I'd never become snobby about it though...even Folger's is "good coffee" with enough cream and sugar.  And a black cup of crap they serve while you're waiting for your oil change is better than nothing in a pinch.

If I have grounds here, I can take my time and geek out on how I make it.  If I run out and don't get more, it's more about getting caffeine before the headaches hit in the morning. 

[Cormacaroni]

uh, no

Drip can be peerless, press coffee is often shit, and temp is a key determinant for flavor extraction. Try the same beans, the same grind, the same machine and vary the brew temp by 10 degrees each time and you should notice a diff. It's exactly the same thing as using a bunsen burner in the lab - you give it the amount of heat the professor tells you to if you want it to work properly. Boiling water is way too hot, and most people can't tell the diff between water at 100 degrees C and the water in the kettle when it is making weird noises and giving off steam (that happens at a WIDE range of temps).

[chronovore]

Just made a great aeropress cup, but forgot to pre-warm my glass; add ice-- it's an iced coffee now.

 

[Don Flamenco]

uh, no

Drip can be peerless, press coffee is often shit, and temp is a key determinant for flavor extraction. Try the same beans, the same grind, the same machine and vary the brew temp by 10 degrees each time and you should notice a diff. It's exactly the same thing as using a bunsen burner in the lab - you give it the amount of heat the professor tells you to if you want it to work properly. Boiling water is way too hot, and most people can't tell the diff between water at 100 degrees C and the water in the kettle when it is making weird noises and giving off steam (that happens at a WIDE range of temps).

I said it's different depending on the device you use, not better or worse.  Depends on the quality of what you're using-- my cuisinart has always been weird and the aeropress instantly beat it.  I'm sure there's some bad ass twenty grand drip machine that runs the coffee over the tits of a virgin before dripping it into the cup.

I'll see if I notice any difference between a perfect temperature cup and one I guesstimate.  They recommend 175 F for the aeropress, so it's a 36 degree difference from boiling.  I don't see how boiling it, then letting it sit off the range for a minute would make the coffee taste like pudding trumpets.

[Cormacaroni]

oh, there was no qualitative judgement there? pardonnez moi

use a simple ceramic filter for drip coffee and i guarantee you can get coffee as good as Aeropress, and way better than any drip machine i've tried. If you don't understand how the temp makes a difference, you don't understand chemistry, or any branch of cooking (which is 99% about the application of heat).

[MrAngryFace]

I drink coffee to wake up

[Don Flamenco]

oh, there was no qualitative judgement there? pardonnez moi

use a simple ceramic filter for drip coffee and i guarantee you can get coffee as good as Aeropress, and way better than any drip machine i've tried. If you don't understand how the temp makes a difference, you don't understand chemistry, or any branch of cooking (which is 99% about the application of heat).

i said temp is important already...sure if the coffee is at a rolling boil or brewed in luke warm water, it's gonna suck. like i said, I'm gonna get a thermometer and see the difference b/t my guesstimate (boil it, then let it sit for a bit to cool off) and perfect temp.  I said the difference from drip machine to some other kind of press or flask will be more apparent to people than other aspects of the brew, since most people go from a drip machine.

[Cormacaroni]

I think you will. The biggest difference I achieved with drip coffee was heating the whole thing first - the ceramic dripper and the paper filter - as well as the cups. Same for espresso - heat everything that will come into contact with the water and you will get much better results, 'cause those things are not leeching away the heat. If that stuff is all cold, it won't matter that the thermometer is recording the right temp for the water while it's still in the kettle.

What can I say, I worked with a crazy Frenchman who taught me some shit

[chronovore]

oh, there was no qualitative judgement there? pardonnez moi

use a simple ceramic filter for drip coffee and i guarantee you can get coffee as good as Aeropress, and way better than any drip machine i've tried. If you don't understand how the temp makes a difference, you don't understand chemistry, or any branch of cooking (which is 99% about the application of heat).

Oh, yeah, I've made some insane cups in a regular ceramic cone, paper filter, both washed with hot water prior to grounds-insertion.

spoiler (click to show/hide)

 

[close]

I like the aeropress better for cleanup, and a little for speed, and some for consistency -- those great filtered cups were not as common as they are when I'm using the aeropress. I am not Mr. Science, but I suppose I could be. Not like I'm doing a fuck-tonne of anything else right now.

Oh, um, how about something OT?

I found a large bottle of Duvel Golden Ale for ¥1080 in Kyoto; about the same as it goes for in California, I think.

[Rman]

I drink coffee to wake up

Same.  Never got all this coffee geekery.

[Groogrux]

I worked at a Starbucks for nearly a year.  It's stuck with me for forever.  I keep some Maxwell House in a container for "emergencies", but my go-to is usually one of the African coffees from the 'Bux.  When I'm able to visit my friends in Louisville, I like to treat myself to couple of pounds from a local roaster up there that has some amazing stuff.

[Don Flamenco]

I think you will. The biggest difference I achieved with drip coffee was heating the whole thing first - the ceramic dripper and the paper filter - as well as the cups. Same for espresso - heat everything that will come into contact with the water and you will get much better results, 'cause those things are not leeching away the heat. If that stuff is all cold, it won't matter that the thermometer is recording the right temp for the water while it's still in the kettle.

What can I say, I worked with a crazy Frenchman who taught me some shit

That's interesting.  I don't have too many options, but I'm guessing I could microwave the mug and keep the press next to the stove or something.   Get everything just perfect dammit 

[Don Flamenco]

IIRC, the box instructions say 10 seconds of stirring, followed by a 20 seconds push. The barista in the vid does a small splash to wet the grounds, a 30 second pre-soak, and then fills the tank, capping it with the plunger to create a vacuum, so the water can't easily fall prey to gravity. 30 seconds more, then the plunger is pushed.

I did this yesterday, it was faboo.

ah, that's close to how I do it.  I pre-soak the grounds a bit and pour slowly so they get soaked and I leave it in about 30 seconds, rather than the 10 seconds the instructions say.   The grind is in the water probably close to 40-50 seconds total, now that I think about it...

I also like to drip some water on the filter after I set it, to make sure it stays in place and covers the bottom fully.  This helped me save all but about half an inch of water when I brew it.

[Positive Touch]

I drink coffee to wake up

i eat cereal to wake up

[Cormacaroni]

Yeah, the default instructions for the Aeropress result in very underbrewed coffee. It's nice and clean-tasting (largely free of oils and sediment) and my wife likes it. But I require a headier, darker brew. I like my coffee like I like my men, dark, strong and rich. Gonna try the inverted technique with a 1 minute brew and hotter water today (the 80 deg. C temp makes no sense to me, no other coffee is brewed at this temp AFAIK).

The easiest way to heat mugs etc is just to boil more water and fill the cups for a while (before adding the coffee! - yes i have done this ). You should heat up the Aeropress too (which is why I was leery about it in the first place, heat and plastic don't mix well with food)

[Cormacaroni]

Just did the above - pretty good! It's still only half a mug of coffee though