Making your home a plastic-free zone
01.01.70
Ev en “BPA-free” plastics can disrupt our hormones
Even nutritionists can have dietary blind spots; mine was plastics.
Oh, don’t worry – having written about them extensively here http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/nourish/201104/kick-the-can-and-eat-fresh-food , I’ve been very careful to avoid food containers, bottles and cans that contain bisphenol-a (BPA). BPA has come under heavy scrutiny amid suspicions that estrogen-like molecules in this material can leach into foods and drinks and, once consumed, disrupt our natural hormone balance.
But despite years of nagging by my husband to make our kitchen a “plastic-free-zone,” I had been hesitant to throw out faithful companions that I believed to be BPA-free, like my mixing bowls, plastic food storage boxes, chopping boards and gaily colored drinking cups. A combination of frugality and laziness prevented me from throwing out what seemed like perfectly good kitchen equipment and spending many hours and dollars replacing it all.
Source: Food Consumer
Krups 882 Novo Compact Latte Espresso Machine review
01.01.70
While killing some time at my local thrift a while back I noticed what I thought was a steam espresso maker. After all there was a tell tale glass carafe taped to the machine under the portafilter. Something made me look a little closer and I am glad I did. When I couldn't find the boiler cap I knew this was not a steam power espresso machine - this one was at worst a pump driven thermoblock so I took home with me what I later discovered to be a Krups 882.
The Krups Type 882 Novo Compact Latte espresso machine is an impressive piece of German engineering that cost every bit of $200 back in the day. This compact espresso machine sports a 110 mL stainless steel boiler, nickel plated brass group head, removable water tank,and a heavy chrome plated brass non-pressurized 52mm portafilter. Also included is a glass carafe (for frothing?), both single and double shot filter baskets, and a huge filter basket similar to what you see with a steam espresso maker.
The Krups Compact Type 882 uses the same 41 watt Ukla pump used by Ascaso, the older Rancillo Silvia (a $650 machine), and other popular vibe pump espresso machines - not bad specs for a 10 year old throw away. Admittedly the Krups has a warm place in my heart. It takes longer to get hot than my Krups Type 964, but the results are worth the wait. The pump is probably stronger on this machine because it did not have many signs of use.
Source: ROASTe (blog)
Last year, Alessi — which produces a slews of stovetop espresso pots in stainless steel by designers like Richard Sapper, Aldo Rossi and Piero Lissoni — brought out an aluminum pot, the Moka Alessi, designed by Alessandro Mendini as a offering to
The removable carafe automatically froths up to 20 oz. of bleed and dispenses it into the coffee while dual stainless steel boilers keep shower at the refine temperature for brewing several consecutive drinks. Is that obedient? I have no notion.
