STeaP - Latest Comments

Re: Shopping: Krups TeaTime

rjsplace — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:55:24 -0000

I still have my Krups Tea time .This one is no Teatime. It is an inferior Chinese made copy. Contains polycarbonate (not good0 As well as a nonstick coated rather then aluminum boiling compartment. Also not good.) Considering the questionable materials I doubt the solenoids will hold up anywhere as well as the Krups. I had high hopes also for this machine but I consider this one not worth buying.

Re: Some Good and Some Bad News

Francisco Rodriguez — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:26:39 -0000

I am from Puerto Rico and got my Handpresso through Coffee World Puerto Rico: www.coffeeworldpuertorico.ecrater.com I received my Handpresso about a week ago. The first expression is that this Handpresso is just nicely built, as well as the case. Making espresso is very easy, and it takes a minute or so to make a cup. I was impressed with the coffee. Believe me for a portable machine, coffee was great. Now my Handpresso substituted my Krups machine. I use Island Joe's ESE pods and Lavazza Grand Crema. A good hint is: to make sure the espresso has an ok temperature, I heat up my cup as well as the water container adding the boiling water and then adding the water to make the coffee. I always fill a bit more water (a few drops more) so the ESE pods gets soaked before extraction. And it really takes about 30-38 pumps, no big deal. With this I get a great espresso and crema too. I recommend buying ESE pods buy bulks of 100 or 150, it gets cheaper. The unit works best with the standard 7g E.S.E pod.

Re: Shopping: Krups TeaTime

Rose — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:57:35 -0000

Buy the German Version Of Krups Teatime and use a converter. I brought a Teatiome with me when I moved to the US from Europe 20 years ago. It finally died this morning. It was a 220 V model, but a step down converter bought in the US) made it run here for 10 years.

Re: STeaP Live : Going on Hiatus

Zeto — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 18:01:34 -0000

After Joe left I didn't feel like this was a good direction to go. I was a huge fan of the video reviews, and will continue to be. I think a strong personality like Joe's to compliment yours makes for a fun show, and you should attempt to go back to something akin to that. There have to be people willing to donate their face time for some free tea :)

After dealing with online communities for a long time, you need potentially thousands of users to get a few dozen participants at any given time. It's just a hard thing to do. A better method would be a more versatile way for fans to interact after/during watching videos.

Re: Why I will never purchase from Felicitea again

brandice — Sat, 23 May 2009 01:46:09 -0000

I noticed that too... very fishy.

Re: STeaP Live : Going on Hiatus

Griffin Kelton — Fri, 22 May 2009 23:49:21 -0000

Sorry to see the show go. I will definitely keep an eye on the site though. Shows are definitely a hard thing to get going. I for one am still in the midst of that. Best of luck with where your future pursuits take you!

Re: Why I will never purchase from Felicitea again

msolomon — Thu, 07 May 2009 12:21:54 -0000

I just visited Felicitea.com, and found it interesting that she seems to have completely pulled all tea and teaware from her site.

Re: links for 2009-03-31

brandice — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 07:12:10 -0000

Oh no! They aren't updating in iTunes? :(

Re: links for 2009-03-31

Jenifer — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:12:45 -0000

You need to update the MP4 feed Brandice, I'm not getting any of these new live podcasts to download.

Re: STeaP Live #6 - Kalahari Chocolatte Raspberry Truffle

Mark — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:53:16 -0000

I've tried their tea as well and the Chocolate teas are tricky because of the added cacao - more so than other teas, you really have to make sure you squeeze the bag well to get the cacao out.

Re: STeaP #67 - Dog Interrupted

jess — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:43:45 -0000

This is a great episode; it's very cool to meet your mother-in-law (hi Cathy!) and a great moment to capture -- her first white tea! I loved watching her reactions to the appearances and the smells. :)

The only thing that I disagree with about what you said was the steeping per the package comment. I always steep to the package recommendations the first time, but oftentimes it's a little too strong for me. I think a lot of people get turned off to tea because they steep it to the package recommendations and it's too strong for them, and they don't realize that the recommendations are not set in stone. So I think it's important to note that everyone's mileage varies a little... I personally usually steep most of my unflavored whites for 3-4 minutes, rather than 5, at 175F, and think that at 5 minutes they're actually too strong for most of them!

I haven't tried Teavana's Silver Needle yet, though, so it could be one that is much lighter. From the sound of your review, though, I'm thinking I may want to try the Ocean of Tea one instead!

Also, the Silver Needle is indeed organic... Don't know if you got that response or not! :P

I can't recommend a brand or anything, but you may want to try a Mutan White tea... Another variety, you might like it... Although it's a little light as well...

I'm new to STeaP, but I'm liking this so far! :)

Re: STeaP Live #5 - Dragonwater Pineapple

brandice — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 19:48:45 -0000

Thanks for the show love! I love the Teaviews blog. :)

Re: STeaP Live #5 - Dragonwater Pineapple

Stephen — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 14:47:47 -0000

Thanks for the Teaviews mention - love the show!

Re: Tea Company Spotlight - Tea Frog

white tea — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 13:23:39 -0000

Quite interesting...Of all the tea's available im beginning to love white tea more than anything...

Re: Video: TriniTEA Capacity

brandice — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:46:10 -0000

Yeah, I'm sure that's the case. I'd like to get a second one, and I'm betting it would have a different look to it and a better reservoir.

Re: Video: TriniTEA Capacity

Brian S — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 16:33:18 -0000

There could be different revisions of the triniTEA, actually. My water reservoir has a black interior, not bare metal as in the video, and has no trouble at all working with 4 full cups of water. I bought it earlier this month.

Re: STeaP #64 - A Rejected Christmas

Brandice — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:53:37 -0000

You know, I think we only made it with one tsp per cup, and that might be why there was a difference. I think I would very much enjoy it was 2 tsp/cup, and I'm going to have to try that with the portion I have left. :)

Re: STeaP #64 - A Rejected Christmas

Michelle — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:07:20 -0000

I'm glad you enjoyed the Earl Grey Premium, since (since I tried it) this particular tea is now one of my all time favorites, and my absolute favorite Earl Grey. I feel vindicated that another Earl Grey tea lover likes it also.

I had a different experience with my Ocean of Tea Earl Grey Premium tea - the bag I got I found was on the strong side (which I was delighted about; I love my tea strong, and as much as I love Earl Grey, it's always brewed a bit weak for my tastes). Their web site says 2 tsps. for 6 oz. cup, but I think that could be scaled back, although I think I would stick with a 3-4 minute brew time.

Re: STeaP #61 - Cloves on the New Couch

zzJenny — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 20:57:07 -0000

All-spice is an actual spice, named because it tastes like a blend. ;)

Great show, I like the chattiness and *need* to try that Vanilla Spice now. :)

Re: Tea Company Spotlight: Felicitea

Brandice — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:45:11 -0000

Glad you enjoyed the read, and I'm always happy to spread the word about Felicitea. :0

Re: STeaP is going on Thanksgiving Break

Brandice — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:37:11 -0000

Sorry!! ;) lol

Re: Tea Company Spotlight: Felicitea

Andy Ciordia — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 12:15:04 -0000

Hey great to read more on Summer! We worked next to her at the markets and have really enjoyed her spirit and gift in blending. I hope more people can enjoy it as well locally or beyond! :D

Re: STeaP is going on Thanksgiving Break

summerplum — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:49:21 -0000

Cruel taunting. The review kept creeping forward... now, now it's the 15th? *Sigh*

Oh well. *hunkers down to wait*

Re: STeaP #47: Finger Lickin’ Good STeaP #47: Finger Lickin’ Good

Brandice — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:59:04 -0000

I agree on the delicious part, but I really liked the tea at 3 minutes. I've been drinking it at 2 minutes fairly regularly and liking that as well. By far one of the best senchas I've had! :)

Re: STeaP #47: Finger Lickin’ Good STeaP #47: Finger Lickin’ Good

Brandice — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:57:58 -0000

Thanks for the input, Kevin! :) Also, I've had the tea several times since and have been enjoying it at the 2 minute steep, although I still really like it at 3 minutes. I appreciate the tea, and I've recommended your company several times since this particular episode. :)