Eiron
01-22-2010, 01:52 AM
I thought I was happy. 20 years ago I had my automatic drip coffee maker, my little blade grinder, my moka pot, my bought-on-sale Teflon-coated aluminum pans, my hand-me-down knives...
Then it started. Oh, sure, it was slow. Very, very slow. The raw aluminum Bialetti got replaced with a stainless Alpha moka pot. That was 13 years ago.
Then it started to pick up a little steam. The Braun blade got replaced with a Solis burr grinder. That was 5 years ago. About that same time the Braun drip maker died. The "free" Krups (from Gevalia) got put into service.
A little faster now. My wife tells me the Krups is an unacceptable color. It has to go. It was Kelly Green. She had picked it out. She doesn't drink coffee. "Wouldn't you like one of those nice stainless ones?" she asked. "With all the timers & stuff?" she continued.
"Nah," I said, "the Krups works just fine for me. Besides, all those bells & whistles are just more things to break, & I don't need 'em. Why pay $100 for a $30 coffee maker with unnecessary gadgets?"
That didn't fly. "Fine," she said, "then pick out one you like, 'cuz I can't have that Green Thing sitting on the counter any more." She had picked it out.
"Fine," I said, & started The Search. I found TechniVorm. Environmentally concious, no aluminum contact, built like a tank, no bells nor whistles, not made in China.
"Too expensive!!" she said.
"Fine with me," I said, "the Krups works great." She doesn't drink coffee.
"OK, fine. Get the stupid coffee maker you want." That was 3 years ago.
Things are now speeding up a little more. A co-worker tells me his espresso machine has died. I haven't owned an espresso machine for more than 25 years. Just my little moka pot. Oh, & my new TechniVorm. I thought I was happy. He's spending $1,000 on a new machine & grinder. "What??!!" I start looking at espresso eqpt & find a decent machine & grinder that's both capable and affordable. No aluminum contact, no bells nor whistles, not made in China. I start buying coffee that was roasted X days ago, rather than X months ago. I can no longer buy coffee drinks at cafes, 'cuz I now realize how poor the coffee tastes compared to what I can make at home. That was 2 years ago.
Then, only 1 year ago, I got laid off. It's been a long year. I become re-acquainted with cooking for enjoyment. At least the recession has reminded me of how to enjoy my life a little more. 5 months ago my wife gets a bonus from her job & gives me a little.
"Go buy something nice for yourself," she tells me. I stumble across an All-Clad Copper Core stainless steel frying pan, discounted 'cuz it's "irregular." No aluminum contact, built like two tanks, made in the USA. I've never felt better buying an insanely expensive anything, much less an insanely expensive frying pan. And I get that same, stupid-happy feeling every time I use it.
Three months ago our daughter's friend gives us a Cutco knife demo. My wife & I both like the handles. They're pretty knives. They're sharp knives. They're made in the USA. They're really freakin' expensive. No sale.
Or so I thought. A Cutco box arrives in the mail. It's my wife's xmas gift to me. I start researching knives. I learn The Truth About Cutco. Not that it matters. It's my wife's xmas gift to me, remember? I foolishly suggest we return it, give the salesgirl what she would've earned in commission, & we'd still have enough remaining money to buy a better knife. Hey, I said "foolishly," didn't I? I find a discounted Henckels Four-Star chef's knife & buy it. I decide to hide it until after xmas.
I continue to research knives. $100 knives are no longer too expensive. I start asking our friends if I can look at their cutlery. I freely rummage thru my in-laws' kitchen drawers. I continue my research. $350 knives are now my upper limit. I start noticing how weight, balance & handle shape all affect my impression of a knife. I get some xmas cash. I get some store coupons. I find one good deal. I now have four Japanese knives from two different companies: a 90mm parer/petty, a 150mm utility/petty, & two 210mm gyutos. And I still haven't bought The One yet....
Glad to be here. Thanks for listening.
Then it started. Oh, sure, it was slow. Very, very slow. The raw aluminum Bialetti got replaced with a stainless Alpha moka pot. That was 13 years ago.
Then it started to pick up a little steam. The Braun blade got replaced with a Solis burr grinder. That was 5 years ago. About that same time the Braun drip maker died. The "free" Krups (from Gevalia) got put into service.
A little faster now. My wife tells me the Krups is an unacceptable color. It has to go. It was Kelly Green. She had picked it out. She doesn't drink coffee. "Wouldn't you like one of those nice stainless ones?" she asked. "With all the timers & stuff?" she continued.
"Nah," I said, "the Krups works just fine for me. Besides, all those bells & whistles are just more things to break, & I don't need 'em. Why pay $100 for a $30 coffee maker with unnecessary gadgets?"
That didn't fly. "Fine," she said, "then pick out one you like, 'cuz I can't have that Green Thing sitting on the counter any more." She had picked it out.
"Fine," I said, & started The Search. I found TechniVorm. Environmentally concious, no aluminum contact, built like a tank, no bells nor whistles, not made in China.
"Too expensive!!" she said.
"Fine with me," I said, "the Krups works great." She doesn't drink coffee.
"OK, fine. Get the stupid coffee maker you want." That was 3 years ago.
Things are now speeding up a little more. A co-worker tells me his espresso machine has died. I haven't owned an espresso machine for more than 25 years. Just my little moka pot. Oh, & my new TechniVorm. I thought I was happy. He's spending $1,000 on a new machine & grinder. "What??!!" I start looking at espresso eqpt & find a decent machine & grinder that's both capable and affordable. No aluminum contact, no bells nor whistles, not made in China. I start buying coffee that was roasted X days ago, rather than X months ago. I can no longer buy coffee drinks at cafes, 'cuz I now realize how poor the coffee tastes compared to what I can make at home. That was 2 years ago.
Then, only 1 year ago, I got laid off. It's been a long year. I become re-acquainted with cooking for enjoyment. At least the recession has reminded me of how to enjoy my life a little more. 5 months ago my wife gets a bonus from her job & gives me a little.
"Go buy something nice for yourself," she tells me. I stumble across an All-Clad Copper Core stainless steel frying pan, discounted 'cuz it's "irregular." No aluminum contact, built like two tanks, made in the USA. I've never felt better buying an insanely expensive anything, much less an insanely expensive frying pan. And I get that same, stupid-happy feeling every time I use it.
Three months ago our daughter's friend gives us a Cutco knife demo. My wife & I both like the handles. They're pretty knives. They're sharp knives. They're made in the USA. They're really freakin' expensive. No sale.
Or so I thought. A Cutco box arrives in the mail. It's my wife's xmas gift to me. I start researching knives. I learn The Truth About Cutco. Not that it matters. It's my wife's xmas gift to me, remember? I foolishly suggest we return it, give the salesgirl what she would've earned in commission, & we'd still have enough remaining money to buy a better knife. Hey, I said "foolishly," didn't I? I find a discounted Henckels Four-Star chef's knife & buy it. I decide to hide it until after xmas.
I continue to research knives. $100 knives are no longer too expensive. I start asking our friends if I can look at their cutlery. I freely rummage thru my in-laws' kitchen drawers. I continue my research. $350 knives are now my upper limit. I start noticing how weight, balance & handle shape all affect my impression of a knife. I get some xmas cash. I get some store coupons. I find one good deal. I now have four Japanese knives from two different companies: a 90mm parer/petty, a 150mm utility/petty, & two 210mm gyutos. And I still haven't bought The One yet....
Glad to be here. Thanks for listening.