Drinking

Kitchen faucet thinks different

Gadgets and devices of all shapes and sizes have become quite adept at giving us what we want when we want it (and more than a little of what we don't want). But whatever "it" may be, it is something that is easy to take for granted. This on-demand access and availability for whatever our hearts desire may be baked into all of our mobile devices, but for stationary objects, the concept is still spreading. Like to the kitchen faucet.

Way back when running water was somehow magically introduced through a series of pipes into our abodes, … Read more

Steeped tea takes a step sideways

Coffee drinkers have all the fun. That is not necessarily a bad thing as so many people drink coffee, but tea drinkers need their say, too. When it comes to gadgetry, there seems to be a disproportionate amount of coffee tools as there are tea-making tools. But with so many varieties of tea available both loose and bagged, tea drinkers deserve to have their teacake and eat it, too.

The Nesco TM-1 Tea Maker provides an easy method for brewing both loose and bagged tea. All that is required to make up to 1 liter of freshly brewed tea is … Read more

Classic coffee goes from stovetop to countertop

The perpetual interest surrounding the humble coffee bean can in part be attributed to its ability to be served in so many different ways. But whether imbibers enjoy their beverage hot or cold, sweet or bitter, there always needs to be a way to get from bean to cup. And as strong as preferences tend to color cups of coffee, so too is that opinion found in brewing method.

The Aroma AEM-621SS Hot Moka X-Press Electric Moka Maker offers a tried-and-true brewing method updated for the modern home. Modeled after a popular stovetop coffeemaker, the device is geared for countertop … Read more

Wine gadget goes full circle

Kitchen gadgets are often designed to do one thing and do it well (hopefully). Sometimes, however, that is simply not enough. Rather than use one gadget to do one thing and another gadget to do another, sometimes it's nice if all you need can be found in one place. Especially when the good times are waiting.

Standing by at the ready, the Waring WC400 Professional Wine Center comes in handy at the beginning of the night, the end, or both. Consolidated into one convenient unit are a wine opener and a wine preserver. Included along with the base display … Read more

Wine fridge stands bottles on end

Opening a second bottle of wine takes careful consideration. Not surprisingly, these considerations can be somewhat clouded. We are talking about another bottle of wine, after all. Yet, despite these hesitations that commonly vex oenophiles, the real question isn't whether to open the bottle, but what to do with it after.

The Summit Appliance STC1 Thermoelectric 8-Bottle Wine Cooler stores either open or closed bottles of wine. The impressive display is wider than it is tall, with the tops of bottles exposed, allowing room for corks or other wine sealing solutions. A large front-viewing window and LED lighting add … Read more

With space, vacuum sealer makes some noise

Cluttered kitchen countertops don't exactly scream out for new gadgetry. Even when the learning curve is small, space may simply be an issue. So when an interesting appliance comes along, sometimes it can fall upon deaf ears. Change it up and make it into a form factor that can be held in the hand and suddenly people might start to listen.

For many, the concept of a vacuum sealer is sound, but the space the large, blocky appliance normally requires makes it a no-go. The Caso Hand Held Vacuum Sealer features a rechargeable battery and cordless operation. Docking into … Read more

Margaritaville Mixed Drink Maker knows what you want

Out of all the adult beverages that are available to make, purchase or order, most people have a favorite. Ah, but people also like to try new things. Considering the abundance of beverages that are out there, it can become a never-ending quest to find an alternative to a favorite. Best to leave these things up to the pros.

Like a well-seasoned bartender that understands people and their drinks, the Margaritaville Mixed Drink Maker looks to give drinkers what they want -- whether they know it or not. The automatic drink maker consists of four separate vessels that dispense booze … Read more

Spray gets you drunk instantly... but not for long

If you're in the United States and under 21 years of age, you really need to stop reading right now. In fact, I'm not sure I want anyone under 25 to know about this thing. Seriously, go look at some phone or video game reviews for a few minutes instead.

You're all still here aren't you?

Fine, then -- I tried. No, the headline doesn't lie. A French-American scientist named David Edwards has teamed up with French designer Philippe Starck -- who may or may not be behind some epic Apple product -- to create an aerosol spray that purports to make you "feel drunk" for a few seconds. … Read more

Wine fridge makes it four times as easy to choose

There are seemingly endless varieties of wine. Before one even considers the distinctions between red and white, the maze of choices that are available in just one branch can be dizzying. (In a good way.) But when it comes time to choose what to open, sometimes that can be the easiest part. The answer is yes.

The Vinotemp VT-100WINEDISP4 Dual-Zone Wine Dispenser and Cooler supplies room for up to four bottles to be dispensed at a time. After opening, wine is kept drinkable through the use of argon or nitrogen and a refillable gas system. The stopper and dispenser parts … Read more

Building a better beer tap with Android and Arduino

Drinking beer requires a certain amount of supervision. Regardless if the experience is self-monitored or kept in check by our peers, keeping a close eye on the proceedings is usually a good idea. While a free-flowing fount of beer may seem like a good idea (because it is), sometimes it's probably best to be kept under lock and key. Or in this case, under an NFC reader.

Google employee and home-brewer Paul Carff designed the KegDroid as a novel way to dispense beer. Users gain access into the system by using their own individual NFC tag or badge. Using … Read more