Useless Conversation

[Lantyssa]

What kind of vaporizer?

Molecular.  Works great on people who bite you.

[Yegolev]

What kind of vaporizer?

Molecular.  Works great on people who bite you.

You're one of the good ones.  Don't ever change.

Oh, and speaking of better for you, that's my take on the HP split.  Hardware isn't really doing better than the services side, is it? I thought the split was happening because the opposite was true and the mothership wanted to protect the services side in the event things got really fucked.

Based on what I know, printers and personal systems are doing very well.  HP personal machines are #1 or #2 in various regions.  That is also a far different business from services.

As for services, enterprise IT is changing at an astounding pace and focus is a good idea.  I'm not really sure what I'm allowed to comment on, but after some thinking I really can't see it being worse.  As for me, I'll be optimistic that separation will create some holes in both structures and the position eliminations will stop.  Also, we (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise) are keeping Meg.

[Merusk]

Starbucks over here is utter, utter, utter bilgewater.  It's truly vile shit.

It is over here, too. It just has better marketing than anything decent and fanatics who refuse to acknowledge what they're drinking isn't actually coffee. It's a very expensive coffee-flavored sugar-based beverage.

I say this as someone who only started drinking coffee in 2011 when I decided my AM soda was too expensive and caloric for me.

[schild]

To which I say, get a Sodastream. Man, they're great.

[WayAbvPar]

To which I say, get a Sodastream. Man, they're great.

I love mine. I mostly just drink carbonated water, but I bought some syrups to give it a bit of flavor when I am in the mood.

Love me some coffee, and also tea. My problem is I am getting more and more sensitive to caffeine in my frail dotage, so I try to opt for decaf as often as I can.

I started trying different chais a couple of years ago and haven't found one I don't like yet. I wish I had the time and energy to create my own perfect blend.

My latest beverage love is called a Morning Mist where I buy it, but have seen it called a London Fog and other things. It is Earl Grey tea mixed with some cream and a bit of vanilla syrup. It is AMAZING.

Beverages are my favorite 

[croaker69]

In addition to their crap espresso drinks Starbucks also have the Clover vacuum press machines. They also usually have a least three varieties of single-origin beans on the chalkboard. Combine the two and you can get a good cup of coffee that's cheaper than the espresso-based stuff.

[WayAbvPar]

A cup of coffee from a Clover is about as good as coffee gets. I love all the crazy varietals they get for it.

[Merusk]

When I was training to do Starbucks build-outs last year the corporate people couldn't stop hyping the clover machine. I have yet to hunt one down to try it because they don't put them in every store. The closest to me is 7 miles away, which is forever in Starbucks unit measurement.   That's like 30 stores!  ed: Ok I checked on their site, it's only 6 stores I'd have to actually pass to get there.

[WayAbvPar]

When I was training to do Starbucks build-outs last year the corporate people couldn't stop hyping the clover machine. I have yet to hunt one down to try it because they don't put them in every store. The closest to me is 7 miles away, which is forever in Starbucks unit measurement.   That's like 30 stores!  ed: Ok I checked on their site, it's only 6 stores I'd have to actually pass to get there.

I don't think they put them in any stores with a drive-thru, so you can cross those off your list immediately. They take longer than normal drinks to make, so it would slow the line down too much. At least I assume that is the logic.

[Merusk]

Possibly. The one here doesn't have a DT for the store using it.

It's only the stores they put the "Reserve" coffee line in. Which, according to what I was trained, has a profit & visibility threshold for the stores to meet. Which explains why Cincinnati has all of one store with it, and that store is located in the high/ bio-tech corridor.

I miss doing retail design sometimes. You learned so much about the thought processes of other businesses.

[HaemishM]

Except that coffee is disgusting swill.

DEAD TO ME!!!!!!

[Maven]

It is over here, too. It just has better marketing than anything decent and fanatics who refuse to acknowledge what they're drinking isn't actually coffee. It's a very expensive coffee-flavored sugar-based beverage.

Wait, what? Starbucks *coffee*?

I have access to some Single Origins, but lately I've been wanting my coffee Iced, which kills some of the flavor but expedites delivery. I enjoy a hot coffee when I'm going to be sitting down for awhile.

[Yegolev]

I make coffee at home.  Ask me how!

[Merusk]

Damnit, Yeg, we keep telling you forcing your cat to eat cherries and then grinding up the result is NOT, "homebrewed Kopi Luwak."

[Bunk]

To which I say, get a Sodastream. Man, they're great.

I love mine. I mostly just drink carbonated water, but I bought some syrups to give it a bit of flavor when I am in the mood.

Whats the bubble level like from one of those? More Pepsi level crazy bubbles, or Perrier subtle bubbles?

I hate drinking just water, but I like the various expensive mineral waters - if I could make my own fake bubbly mineral water at a fair price it would be worth it to me.

[Bunk]

I make coffee at home.  Ask me how!

I just discovered McDonalds is now offering their coffee in KCups. Yes, I actually like McDonalds coffee.

[HaemishM]

Kcups have got to be the biggest fucking scam on the planet. Let's take Starbucks "exclusivity" shit and put it in the home! Then, let's make you pay out the ass for 1 cup of coffee. I buy a bag of ground for $6 that lasts me 3-4 months. K-cups cost me about $10 for 18 cups of coffee. What... the... fuck?

And I've had K-cups coffee. I cannot taste the difference one bit. Most of the versions I have taste slightly better than the Community Coffee shit that's in most offices these days.

[Trippy]

To which I say, get a Sodastream. Man, they're great.

I love mine. I mostly just drink carbonated water, but I bought some syrups to give it a bit of flavor when I am in the mood.

Whats the bubble level like from one of those? More Pepsi level crazy bubbles, or Perrier subtle bubbles?

I hate drinking just water, but I like the various expensive mineral waters - if I could make my own fake bubbly mineral water at a fair price it would be worth it to me.

You can control how much carbonation is added though I'm not sure the lowest amount would be as low as Perrier.

[Miasma]

Perrier is still too bubbly, go Pelligrino.

[schild]

To which I say, get a Sodastream. Man, they're great.

I love mine. I mostly just drink carbonated water, but I bought some syrups to give it a bit of flavor when I am in the mood.

Whats the bubble level like from one of those? More Pepsi level crazy bubbles, or Perrier subtle bubbles?

I hate drinking just water, but I like the various expensive mineral waters - if I could make my own fake bubbly mineral water at a fair price it would be worth it to me.

You can control how much carbonation is added though I'm not sure the lowest amount would be as low as Perrier.

You can only control the carbonation on certain ones. The lowest setting is most certainly lower than Perrier or Pelligrino. That said, both of those are microbubbles. I'm sure there's a way to modify the sodastream, but the larger straw pushing the CO2 into the water results in larger bubbles. At no level are any of these things as carbonated as Topo Chico: El Agua de Dios.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Except that coffee is disgusting swill.

DEAD TO ME!!!!!!

Yadda yadda yadda whatever.  Enjoy your swill, heathen. 

Kcups have got to be the biggest fucking scam on the planet. Let's take Starbucks "exclusivity" shit and put it in the home! Then, let's make you pay out the ass for 1 cup of coffee. I buy a bag of ground for $6 that lasts me 3-4 months. K-cups cost me about $10 for 18 cups of coffee. What... the... fuck?

And I've had K-cups coffee. I cannot taste the difference one bit. Most of the versions I have taste slightly better than the Community Coffee shit that's in most offices these days.

I like our Keurig machine but only because it's nice and quick and can make me one cup of tea in a flash.  I also use  basket and put my own tea in it rather than buying the K-cups for insane amounts of money.  Maybe try that if you want to use a Keurig? 

[Nebu]

You can only control the carbonation on certain ones. The lowest setting is most certainly lower than Perrier or Pelligrino. That said, both of those are microbubbles. I'm sure there's a way to modify the sodastream, but the larger straw pushing the CO2 into the water results in larger bubbles. At no level are any of these things as carbonated as Topo Chico: El Agua de Dios.

The size of the bubbles won't control carbonation level.  The temperature at which you carbonate will.  Colder temp, better CO2 solubility.

Just saying.

[schild]

IANAS

bubble hole

[Lantyssa]

I like that phrase.

"Shut your bubble hole!"

[WayAbvPar]

You can only control the carbonation on certain ones. The lowest setting is most certainly lower than Perrier or Pelligrino. That said, both of those are microbubbles. I'm sure there's a way to modify the sodastream, but the larger straw pushing the CO2 into the water results in larger bubbles. At no level are any of these things as carbonated as Topo Chico: El Agua de Dios.

The size of the bubbles won't control carbonation level.  The temperature at which you carbonate will.  Colder temp, better CO2 solubility.

Just saying.

Good to know. I instinctively refrigerate my water before I carbonate it  

And McDonald's coffee is decent now that they are serving Seattle's Best Coffee (even though Starbucks absorbed them, it is still a brand). It is about the best thing about their breakfasts. Or the thing least likely to kill you dead.

[Signe]

What kind of vaporizer?

Molecular.  Works great on people who bite you.

You're one of the good ones.  Don't ever change.

HA!  I agree!

Soda Stream - I like the bubbles to be light, too.  Last xmas my sister bought one for her hubby.  It makes the bubbles just perfect.  I have a hard time drinking other fizzy waters because of that!

[Bunk]

I like our Keurig machine but only because it's nice and quick and can make me one cup of tea in a flash.  I also use  basket and put my own tea in it rather than buying the K-cups for insane amounts of money.  Maybe try that if you want to use a Keurig? 

Exactly, for me it's about convenience. I can stagger in to the kitchen in the morning and have a hot cup of coffee inside of three minutes. I have one of the filter baskets - it works really well, but I rarely bother - the kcups are just too convenient.

Other issue is freshness. I usually only make coffee on the weekends, since I get all I can drink at work during the week. Buying a bag of beans, they start going stale long before I use it all.

[HaemishM]

Up until last this last week, my company used Community Coffee to make their coffee. Tastes like a chicory-filled colostomy bag. Needless to say, I made coffee at home. I can get a cup done in less than 5 minutes.

[Paelos]

My condo just brews the coffee downstairs and I grab it on the way to work.

[Hawkbit]

We have an Aeropress which we enjoy using.  It's a bit fiddly because we use the inverted method, but it makes a damn good cup of coffee. 

I think I'm going to buy my lady a Chemex and electric kettle for the holidays this year, too.  We love coffee gadgets, even though we prefer normal coffees.  One of my favorites for palatability and is easy to get is the Starbucks middle of the road Pike roast.  We go through a bag or two a week, grind it each morning and all that.  I think I like making coffee more than I do making food. 

If anyone has some ideas on roasts you've tried and would recommend, I'd appreciate the share.  Maybe we need a coffee thread?

[Bunk]

Aeropress makes great coffee, but I watch my boss using his each morning, takes him 15 minutes to make a cup. I'll just go in the lunch room and grab my free Starbucks thanks.

I'm not a great source for coffee opinions info obviously, I like Starbucks Pike and McDonalds. I also haven't put sugar in my coffee in 25 years. I can tell if you stirred my coffee with a spoon that stirred coffee with sugar previously.

[Merusk]

McDonalds and Dunkin I can't hate anyone for drinking.  I've had both and while I find Dunkin a little bitter they're both worlds ahead of Starbucks to my tastebuds. Starbucks just tastes really dirty.  They call it "Earthy" and say coffee's supposed to taste like that but my nose says otherwise.  I've always liked the smell, even when I wasn't a drinker, but the bitterness and earth tones of some of the coffees I tried just killed me.

I also really enjoy Maxwell House. Pretty good coffee, imo, and not $12 a bag like the Kona I also enjoy.

[Maven]

Welp, I'll go get a hot dunkin' next time I'm in Santa Monica. And maybe drop by the donut shop.

[Paelos]

Starbucks roasts the everloving hell out of their coffee. That's why it tastes "earthy" which is just their euphemism for burned.

I like both McDonalds and Dunkin. Dunkin is better though.

[rattran]

I use a keurig for weekend coffee when working, during the week I make a regular pot and drink it all day. Hard to beat the convenience of the keurig, and if you go with San Francisco Bay coffee from Rogers is only about $0.31 per cup. Plus their things have less plastic that regular kcups.