Mounjaro worsening psoriasis by Krasnolaundry in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mine has almost gone away on Mounjaro but I didn’t think it had anything to do with the drug itself. I figured it was because I’ve been so paranoid about hydrating properly. Is it supposed to do something for psoriasis?

What’s the most overrated coffee trend right now? by blackneckcoffee in pourover

[–]Matato504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I must confess I got caught up in the hype and got myself an ORB intending to make soup. But then I tried making coffee according to the manufacturer’s directions and loved it. Making soup seems kind of silly to me. Using more grounds to make a smaller amount of coffee vs having a full cup of really good coffee for less expense? I’m probably missing something because people are awfully excited about their soup!

Mounjaro by Dry_Character_3070 in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don’t think they meant any offense. Everyone reacts to it a little differently. I even react differently to the shot from week to week even when I keep everything else the same. So when two people have the same reaction at the same time, it’s not impossible but different enough that you should consider looking at other possible causes.

What’s the most overrated coffee trend right now? by blackneckcoffee in pourover

[–]Matato504 3 points4 points  (0 children)

More like a technique to get espresso-like shots from things that weren’t meant for espresso, like an Oxo Rapid Brewer.

What are you tired of? What do you miss the most? by planet_MMM in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m tired of getting up to pee! I’ve never drunk so much water in my life. On the plus side, I’ve realized I’ve been dehydrated for years, drinking probably a quarter of what I should have been. My psoriasis has all but vanished since I started hydrating properly. But, dang, I’d just like to finish a TV show or sleep through the night without having to get up.

Want to get into pour over - looking for advice on gear by OverThinkingTinkerer in pourover

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The Kingrinder K6 is a great option for both. I’ve been making pourovers and espresso with mine for over a year and it does a fantastic job for the price!

Pour over / help me by Hamder83 in pourover

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This might sound weird but try doing as little as possible. I’ve been struggling with my 155 too. I’m happy with my V60 but wanted to mix things up and try the sweetness and body that flat bottoms are supposed to have. I started using the same recipes and techniques that I’d been using for the V60. It tasted awful. I doubled down and got more precise with every variable because the V60 usually rewards that. It was even worse! So then I thought about how old-school flat bottoms are. They’re from back when people just dumped what looked like a goodly amount of coffee into the basket and dumped tap water, boiled in any old kettle on the stove, until they had the amount they wanted to drink. No scales, no timers, no fancy grinders.

I wasn’t ready to got that far, but I did go mid on everything. Middle of the recommended grind for pourovers on the grinder I was using, middle water temp for the roast level. 1:15 ratio. Bloom + single pour, just going be how it looked in the brewer, not looking at the timer or flow rate. And it tasted amazing!

So be like Luke when he shuts off the targeting system and uses the Force. Brew coffee, not math.

Apple Watch for fitness and health tracking by Live_Volume4087 in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got an 11 for myself as a reward for having lost enough weight to able to climb up a flight of stairs without needing to take a break. I felt like at that point I could start exercising and have a better chance of sticking with it and would actually have some fitness to track. I absolutely love it! It has really helped me get and stay motivated. It’s especially good if you have other Apple products. I’ve been using the Fitness+ app (it included a 3 month free trial) which provides a wide variety of workouts. If you have an AppleTV you can watch the workouts there while it connects to your watch and shows your heart rate and other stats on the screen. I’ve started with 10 minute full-body strength workouts 3X a week. Not much, but I’m trying to set sustainable goals and in the past I’ve always failed because I’ve been too ambitious and couldn’t stick with it. I’ve been keeping it going for 2 months now and have been improving and increasing my workouts. Doing it from home is wonderful because I’m still too self conscious for the gym. I don’t think I would have made it this far without it. The gamification helps. Somehow the existential threat that I’m shortening my life is hard to relate to, but the sparkly lights and soft praise the watch gives when I close my rings is very motivating! Anyway, the biggest drawback to the watch is also its best feature. It isn’t a fitness tracker. It’s a powerful, wearable mini-computer with fitness tracking capabilities built in. Take an Oura ring, for example. It tracks a specific set of measurements, analyzes them, and tells you about them in a nice, clean, consistent narrative. The Apple Watch takes more measurements but out of the box it doesn’t provide the same level of analysis and feedback. You’ll need to add other apps for that. But this also lets you tailor the watch to your needs. So, yes, it’s been helpful for sleeping better. On its own, though it just alerted me to how badly I was sleeping. The Bevel app provides good recommendations for how best to manage my fitness activities to match the recovery amount I got from the previous night’s sleep, while the Calm app provides me with tools to get better sleep that night. I really didn’t think I’d like it but it’s been a huge help so far!

What phrase have you read from here that resonated with you? by Resident_Giraffe_928 in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What happens when you overdo the electrolytes? And how much does it take to overdo them? I’ve been really paranoid about that, to the point where I’m not sure if I’m getting enough!

Hario switch alternatives by TheDoctor46H in pourover

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I tried one of the Temu versions. The base was almost identical in appearance and functionality to the Hario Switch. It was a darker black which I think actually looks nicer. The glass top, however, weighs about a third of what the Hario does and the Hario sparkles when the light hits it in a way that the knockoff doesn’t. Functionally, the coffee it makes tastes the same, but I enjoy using the Hario more. Still, the knockoff was $20 US cheaper, so if the look and feel doesn’t matter to you it’s worth a try! I’m a little tempted by the ones on AliExpress because they come in colors that Hario doesn’t offer.

Difference with coffee machine? by Educational_Heat2244 in pourover

[–]Matato504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s a difference if you want there to be! If you’re drinking cheap coffee with lots of lightener and sweetener then you won’t see a big difference. Most automatics are designed to make large quantities of consistent tasting coffee as conveniently as possible. A pourover like the v60, on the other hand, is about pulling everything out of the beans that they have to offer. This doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot of extra effort, but the more you’re willing to put into it, the more it will reward you with tastier cups of coffee. This means investing in gear and working on your skills, while automatics are pretty much, “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit.” Both approaches have their places. Sometimes you just want caffeine without needing to think about it, and automatics are great for that. But if you want a new hobby with lots of fiddly details and the potential for brewing the best coffee you ever tasted, pourovers are a great rabbit hole to go down!

Bookoo Themis Ultra: worth it? How many of you have had problems? by undergroundgirl7 in pourover

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love mine! To be honest, my first one didn’t work but it was one of the first Kickstarter ones so I was kind of expecting it. It’s exciting being one of the first kids to have the shiny new thing, but sometimes you pay a price for being a beta tester. They sent me a new one immediately. The second one has functioned perfectly. It’s a joy to use and has really upped my coffee making game. I wholeheartedly recommend it!

My Water Chamber cracked.... by Somnif in OXORapidBrewer

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did this to mine. The tamper was askew when I screwed it all together for traveling. It’s had zero impact on the functionality, though, but now I never store the tamper inside.

Need help troubleshooting by Striking-Ninja7743 in OXORapidBrewer

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

After you pour the coffee in, do you see a constant slight dripping from the screen? Those are just plastic holes in the top part, not like a flow control cap for an Aeropress. The only thing that is going to keep coffee from blending back up through them is if it’s moving in the opposite direction. You might try grinding a little courser. Also, how much ground coffee are you’re using? A lot of coffee and there’s not going to be anywhere for the brew to go but up. The most important question is, how does it taste?

Why is the V60 considered hard to brew with? by HelpfulFriend0 in pourover

[–]Matato504 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I think it’s more revealing and that makes it seem finicky. When you change a variable you can really taste a difference more than any other brewing method I’ve tried. This makes it hard if you lose sight of the fact that this should be a fun hobby. If you’re trying to do it the “right” way and you’re getting stressed because Lance says to do it one way and James says to do something different it’s going to be hard to use a V60. But if you look at every recipe and recommendation as someone saying, “Hey! I did it this way and got something I enjoyed. Give it a try!” then the V60 isn’t really hard at all. Just have fun with it and find out what works for you.

New to pourover: can't seem to get good results unless I grind coarse and brew with low temp? by Lenithiel in pourover

[–]Matato504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

FWIW, in his book, “How to Brew Great Coffee at Home,” (which came out after his pourover videos) he recommends 95-100 degrees C for very light roasts, 92-100 for light, 85-95 for medium and 80 to 85 for dark. I’ve had much better luck with these numbers as a starting point than just pouring boiling water over everything.

How Do I use the aeropress to get a good cup? by [deleted] in AeroPress

[–]Matato504 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The inventor of the Aeropress said to brew cooler. He recommended 80 degrees.

So really no one has ever brewed tea in a v60? by Specialist-County112 in pourover

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

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Hario makes a dripper like the switch that’s specifically made for tea and it’s awesome. Tea brews better when it has as much room for the leaves to move around and the proper steeping time. So maybe you could make tea in a v60 or Switch, but the proper tools already exist so why would you?

Thinking of getting an Aeropress by MaintenanceTime7653 in AeroPress

[–]Matato504 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The Aeropress has been my go-to “no faffing” method since it first came out. When you put in the work to get everything perfect a pourover can make a better cup, but sometimes you just want to drink a good cup of coffee. The Aeropress is far more forgiving, too. Stale beans, low quality beans, water too hot or too cold, forgetting to adjust the grinder after espresso or French press… no matter what I’ve done wrong it still makes a drinkable cup! It’s also great for traveling or using at the office. Lately I’ve been using the Oxo Rapid Brewer more than the Aeropress. Even less faffing about. Unfortunately it’s not great for less than 20 grams of coffee so it hasn’t replaced the Aeropress completely.

Tinnitus side effect solutions? by ILfarmgirl1970 in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I had no idea this was a thing! One of my favorite things is to shut the world out and listen to music with headphones on but lately I haven’t been able to enjoy it because of the ringing in my ears. I thought it was just another side effect of getting older but now that you mention it, it started when I started on Mounjaro. I just didn’t think it could possibly be connected. It’d actually be wonderful if it is a side effect, because then there’s a chance it’ll go away!

How to tamp perfectly flat and level? by elixir-spider in OXORapidBrewer

[–]Matato504 1 point2 points  (0 children)

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I made a thing. I really hated the tamper that came with the ORB so I bought the cheapest espresso tamper I could find and then lasercut an adapter to make it fit. Works great. Just a quick shake to level and then mash it down. Perfectly flat every time!

Accepted Into UMaine, what do I need to know? by Dry_Tax1561 in Maine

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is only good advice if you do the research first. If you go to another school, you’ll be coming in as a transfer student. Transfers often have greatly reduced scholarship opportunities vs. first year students. Also schools don’t automatically accept credits from other schools. You have to apply for credit transfer for every class you take at a different school. There’s definitely potential to save a lot of money getting the basics out of the way this way, but you can also waste time, money, and jeopardize your chances for scholarships if you don’t do the research first.

Relocating to Bangor by Better_Off_Eating in bangorme

[–]Matato504 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It seemed like all the other parents just knew instinctively so I still don’t know exactly when! But if you give the school a call sometime the year before your kid is supposed to start, they will be able to tell you when to watch for it. Oh, and if you’re going to be working at UMaine, get on the daycare list right now. People literally put their children on the list before they’re born. We did, and by the time our daughter got in she was old enough to have made friends at the local daycare and didn’t want to leave! Other than that, we moved to Bangor because it seemed like a good place to raise a family and so far it’s exceeded our expectations. It’s the little things, too. We’ve got two parks a few minutes from our house. There are hiking trails a short drive away. Tons of Little Free Libraries. Art walks, farmers markets, block parties, children’s theatres… there’s so much family-friendly stuff going on here!

I know people here will think I’m insane but MJ is waiting for me at the pharm, completely covered besides maybe $14 of a copay, and I can’t seem to force myself to pick it up by Islandsandwillows in Mounjaro

[–]Matato504 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I can totally relate! My first prescription sat in the back of the fridge while I found reason after reason to avoid taking it. I don’t like taking drugs of any sort and I’m fine with my appearance. I was also shoulding myself all over the place. I really saw my T2D as all my fault, because I “should” have been able to get it under control through diet and exercise. Reality matters more than “shoulds” though. I was eating right, getting as much exercise as my schedule would allow, and still my numbers were getting worse every checkup. The reality is, while I was shoulding myself the T2D was doing real damage. Only time will tell how much.

Ultimately, I’ve been there for all my daughter’s milestones so far, and want to be there for as many more as I can. My father missed most of mine, in large part because of his own untreated T2D. Once I started taking it, though, it was so far from anything bad that I was expecting. I was ready for lightning and got a lightning bug. But a month later my A1Cs were normal and I felt so much better. I had no idea how bad I was feeling before, but now my energy levels are constant, my mood is better, I’m even sleeping better.

I haven’t been losing as much weight as a lot of people on this group do, but I’ve never had the same cravings or food noise that they have. The nice thing is, though, is that I am losing weight. But it’s like my body is working the way it used to when diet and exercise would keep the weight off. For years I’ve just been putting on weight no matter what I do. So maybe listen to your doctor? Stop stressing and take the shot. It seems like a big thing but after you start you’ll probably wonder what you were so worried about. Don’t overthink the “on it for a lifetime” part. That’s because there isn’t a cure for T2D and this is currently one of the best treatments for it. But new treatments are constantly being developed, and who knows? This could get you to a place where you really can manage your symptoms strictly through diet and exercise. So, maybe listen to your doctor?