I am NOT BUYING More

The other day I went into the FOX Home in Hadar Mall, Talpiyot to see if there was anything worth buying at the big 50% off summer sale. Of course, I really don't need anything other than a new kitchen, which they don't do.

I found myself, as usual, by the coffee and tea accessory shelves.

I'm happy to say that I didn't buy anything, but maybe I'll return...

PS They still have some of those gevaldik 1.5 liter French Presses for sale. Tempting, but the glass carafe never lasts long with me, sigh. So, as you may remember, I bought myself a stainless steel French Press.

Review of my Bargain French Press

A couple of weeks ago, I had proudly blogged here about my bargain French Press. But now after using it, I must say that it isn't worth more than I paid.

• Although it claims to be an 8 cup size, I don't know what size cups they used for measuring, since it's just a bit larger than my giant mug, and my former one which I think was a standard 8 cup made me two nice mugfulls. I don't even get two half mugs from it. The only advantage of that is drinking a bit less coffee, though I don't have blood pressure trouble.
• The filter, which is the key to the French Press process is a bit leaky. It's not the end of the world, but it's not perfect. 
• Many of the better French Presses have an extra small filter that you put by the "spout" to catch rebellious coffee "pieces." This one certainly doesn't have one of those.

But of course I'll use it as long as it stays whole, unchipped and uncracked. 

Of course, pure Murphey's Law, it will last a very long time...

New Coffee!

When I was in New York in March, I stocked up on American coffee. I prepare it with a French Press and now sometimes with my new "cup filter," which I saw and used at my friend's and bought for myself in Zabar's. The amazing thing about that is that I bought the sample from the shelf, because there weren't any more in stock. And now almost two months later I can't find that simple cup filter on their site. I may have bought the very last one!  Did you know that alte cockes (old folks) like myself get a discount in Zabar's? I don't remember how much, but every penny counts.

I did my "big" (a couple of bags) coffee shopping one evening in the Food Emporium on Second Avenue around 50th Street. They had a special, but only at the cash register did I discover that it was only for their "members," which I'm not. So I only got three instead of four. I just finished one of them, French Roast, and today I opened Caramel Macchiato.

I drink it, as is my custom, with milk and sugar. It has a fun flavor. Probably if I had cream, I wouldn't need the sugar. That's something that many people don't realize when they buy low-fat or "lite" manufactured foods, like mayonnaise or yogurts. Reducing the fat demands that the food get added sweeteners and flavorings. So, it may also be better for weight-watchers to eat the more natural higher fat foods. When it comes to dairy, there are important vitamins and minerals in the milk fats, and if you think you're eating more healthily by cutting out cholesterol, you may be reducing it too much. In those cases, the body overproduces it.

And another thing about coffee is that the caffeine isn't considered all that dangerous either, as long as you don't drink it all day long. A certain amount is healthy for most people.

Enjoy!!

My New Low-Tech One Cup Coffeemaker Filter

Honestly, I don't know what it is called. I used it at my friend's home in New York and asked her where to buy one.

It just has three simple parts. The lower one has a very fine filter, finer than a French Press, so I can use it with my inexpensive Israeli Elite Turkish Coffee.

Then there's a cup that fits in which has a few small holes.

• The filter piece goes over the cup. 
• The coffee goes over the filter, and 
• the cup with holes over that.
• Pour in the water which drips slowly picking up the flavor of the coffee and lands in the cup. 
• You can use the cover to keep in the heat.
• And then when it's finished, meaning all the water has filtered through, you can rest the filter and cup on the cover.

I bought it at Zabar's on Broadway, but I can't find it on their site. It was the last one they had, and I bought the display smaple.