brewing

Great-sounding albums are becoming increasingly rare, so when I find noteworthy efforts I'm happy to share the news. The goal is highlighting new stuff--or at least newly recorded/remastered music--so there's no need to include Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" or Steely Dan's "Aja." I assume you're already hip to the best music from decades past; I'm trying to spread the word about the best new music over a range of styles, with something for every taste.

For more sonicly superior music, check out my "How to make your speakers sound better: Play better-sounding music&… Read more

Miles Davis' music has always been a feast for the ears, but now it can reach all five senses: hearing, seeing, touching, smelling, and tasting.

It's the release of Miles Davis' "Bitches Brew" in a "40th Anniversary Collector's Edition" box set that inspired the album's new sensory explorations. The set comes with a 48-page book; three CDs (two CDs containing the original 94-plus minutes of music with six bonus tracks); a third CD with a previously unreleased concert by Davis' group with Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Airto Moreira, and … Read more

I am always onboard when it comes to a different way to brew coffee. If whatever method I choose lets me make a pot without plugging into the wall, all the better; pre-coffee mornings can be rather hazardous in my household. The Hourglass Coffee Brewer is a cold-brew coffee system that allows for the main benefit of reduced acid content in your joe. For those this may not matter to, well, it's also just kind of neat.

The idea is to set up your morning coffee the night before (something that always appeals to me and my morning motor … Read more

I'm on a coffee kick. Of course, that's not saying much as I am usually on a coffee kick, and have been for a very long time. I, like many others, watched the country as people were introduced to what good coffee was. No longer did we have to suffer the mugs of cheap, flavorless corner store brew. Suddenly, there were half-decent options everywhere. Luckily, not only did coffee improve, but also coffee making. So in addition to being treated to more delicious options, there are also better ways to make coffee--and more specifically, keep it warm.

The … Read more

If you are of the mind to redecorate your kitchen, you may want to think twice about installing the usual boring old cabinets that are simply designed to just hold stuff. Get yourself one of those hanging pan racks, and free up your cupboard space for more important things, like beer-brewing equipment.

The NanoBrewMaster Home Brew Station takes the concept of an all-in-one appliance and brings it into another dimension. Sure, we have combination appliances that can poach an egg while making toast, but I don't see many kitchen items that incorporate the actual kitchen counter.

Housing a complete … Read more

As seasons change, my thoughts are turning not only to winter cooking--mmmm, stews, braises, and roasts--but also to the return of hot tea. In that state of mind, I fell in love with this silicone tea infuser and lid while flipping through the pages of the October Bon Appetit. Available in three cheery colors, its shape taps right into my childhood obsession with Strawberry Shortcake.

Cuteness aside, I like that the nonslip silicone stem will stay put over the edge of your cup so you don't have to fish it out of boiling water. And the matching lid doubles … Read more

If you weren't aware, a war--more like a tug-of-war--is happening in the mobile space. The iPhone is quickly rising as the development platform to beat, despite its paltry share of market versus Nokia (Symbian), Java BREW, Blackberry and Microsoft Mobile. In addition, Google's fledgling open-source Android platform is also a challenger to the incumbents.

At a Mobile Web Wars Roundtable held by TechCrunch more than 20 mobile wonks discussed that state of mobile platforms (see the list of participants below). The purpose of the roundtable was to determine which mobile platform is best for developers. The iPhone has … Read more

It's St. Patrick's Day, of course, and we must pay homage accordingly. So even though this doesn't exactly qualify as a traditional gadget, we're guessing that it will be of some interest on this hallowed occasion.

The lighted beer dispenser is arguably a safety device as well as a practical home appliance, for its illumination can help prevent injurious mishaps. "A beacon for the thirsty," as Ubergizmo calls it, standing more than 21 inches tall.

The dispenser comes in a choice of black or chrome to avoid clashing with the rest of your decor. (… Read more