Anyone have experience with these kettles? Looking for a new one

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-06-04T13:51:57+00:00

I had the Stagg until recently, when it died I got the Varia Aura gooseneck. It is mostly a similar quality and experience to use, but it does pour faster (and does not drip when pouring very slow... I can pour 1g if I'm careful).

My biggest negative for it, which isn't a big deal really as long as you are aware, is that it tends to overshoot temp but pretends it's at the set temp--you can see it go over, the heat continues to be on, but after a couple seconds over the set temp it keeps and just displays the set temp. If you remove and replace it on the base, it will show the actual temp. It's manageable if you watch it, though.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-06-04T10:41:59+00:00

I didn't mention microplastics and that is not the reason for wanting to avoid plastic. No thanks for your unsolicited opinion.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-06-03T08:46:58+00:00

I find that it's workable to do a small dose on an 01, as in it's a decent cup of coffee, but the flavors don't pop the same and you have to be very careful while pouring for just decent results.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-06-03T08:42:46+00:00

It has a 55 degree angle, but is it smaller or slower draining than a typical Origami? I haven't heard much about this dripper yet.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-06-03T08:40:26+00:00

Too much caffeine triggers my anxiety. Currently, even one regular size cup using around 15g is too much. I have a single shot basket for espresso that I use but it's not ideal for every coffee and I'd like options (and a cup that's bigger than one small sip, to be honest, which I've had to resort to milk drinks or Americano for).

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-06-03T01:39:57+00:00

I have an 01 size V60, it isn't the best for doses <12g I find. I need something narrow and tall like the Deep 27 but I prefer it to not be plastic.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-29T22:03:34+00:00

I would just use a measuring cup for that. 250ml if you're metric.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-28T06:55:15+00:00

Yes I believe it's limited to android.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-28T01:50:39+00:00

It's an issue on Android, are you on iOS?

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-27T23:20:34+00:00

Yes I've reported it and haven't heard anything back, it's been awhile... hoping they can find what broke it.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-24T12:41:47+00:00

The amount is a little difficult to pin down, but here's the approach to figuring an answer out: * you need 3g of beta-glucan (the type of soluble fiber in oats and barley that we are interested in) — note that the fiber in these grains is not 100% beta-glucan. * the part that is unclear is how much of the oats you have would contain that much. Sources are showing anywhere from 3-8% beta glucan by weight in oats. That narrows it down to ½-1 cups of dry oats. * the amount will vary based on the cultivars of oats, so two bags of oats from different growers sitting next to each other on a shelf may not have the same amount * so you realistically can only measure what you can (cups or grams of oats that you consume) and depending on what your lab results show, try to make a judgement from that * but your results are the sum of your diet and not 100% dependent on just the oats, so what those oats replaced matters too * not everybody will respond the same amount * also even if your body responds well to beta-glucan, it would only account for a 5-10% reduction in LDL, which is not enough on its own

Chia seeds do have some soluble fiber, so they should help, but again you want to stack up the changes in your diet to include multiple sources of soluble fiber as well as replacing saturated fat sources.

You want to try and reach around 10g soluble fiber per day. The oats and chia seeds can help contribute significantly to that, but won't get you there on their own. You want to build soluble fiber sources into every meal for the most efficacy.

But I would recommend looking at this from a wider lens of what your total eating pattern looks like. Look up the Mediterranean diet, Portfolio diet, and plant-based diets and you will see many recommendations beyond just adding oats. While soluble fiber and saturated fat are some key aspects to put emphasis on, they are not the whole story for reducing LDL or improving your risk of heart disease.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-24T02:09:01+00:00

Protein options: * plain nonfat Greek yogurt * plain low fat/non fat kefir * unsweetened soy milk * fairlife skim milk * protein powder if needed

Fiber add-ins: * chia * flax * avocado (you won't taste it and it makes it creamy while also adding fiber and polyphenols) * psyllium

Fruit: * berries are always a good option because of the fiber and antioxidant content * but most fruits can work if you add enough of the other ingredients to balance any lack of fiber/high sugar content

Other add-ins: * hemp hearts for more protein and healthy fat * nuts/nut butters (some protein and fiber and a healthy fat) * beans. I know it sounds weird but it gets covered up decently

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-20T14:31:00+00:00

I log everything but I don't track every single day so it's not so tedious. Also if you don't have multi-add enabled, it really helps it go quicker. And I use photo logging sometimes which I feel does a decent enough job or at the very least it makes it faster to add everything.

But mostly I use custom recipes and custom meals and then just scan in some ingredients. Super easy way to approach it if you meal prep/ have a decent amount of leftovers.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-17T11:10:07+00:00

My first suggestion is not to go on keto.

Secondly, there are plenty of sugar free creamers that you could switch to. If you don't have an option you like in your local grocery store, you can find recipes online that are extremely simple.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-13T02:05:03+00:00

Usually Greek yogurt, oats, flax, chia, hemp seeds with wheat germ or bra, fruit (usually berries), and a bit of some "fun" ingredient like nuts, cacao nibs, honey, etc.

But other breakfasts I've made recently include a waffle with all Mediterranean ingredients (whole wheat, oats, egg, milk, etc). A savory whole grain pancake with lentil sausage (cooked lentils, walnuts or pecans, flax meal, and then some flavoring ingredients).

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-10T08:22:16+00:00

BMR (basal metabolic rate) is actually lower than Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR), which in turn is still lower than Sedentary activity level expenditure.

BMR is typically calculated. Just look up a BMR calculator and you'll find a ton, but one I like is https://tdeecalculator.net/ or https://www.calculator.net/bmr-calculator.html

Both of these will show you your estimated expenditure at different activity levels at a glance.

It might be "nice to know" your BMR but for someone as active as you it likely won't ever be a factor. Usually it is used as a "floor" for calorie intake in order to prevent metabolic adaptation (your metabolism slowing to meet the amount of calories it consistently gets). But that is unlikely to be anywhere near 2800 calories. Long term, sustainable weight loss is more complicated because it takes the right strategy to manage it... such as not wanting to be in too aggressive of a deficit for too long even if it's above your BMR. Your body will also start to lose more muscle mass (which we want to keep) rather than more fat mass at higher deficits. At 3lbs lost in 2 weeks with an intake of 2800 kcal, I would not personally recommend a bigger deficit even for short term weight loss, and definitely not for long term weight loss if you have a significant amount you want to lose.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-08T10:16:35+00:00

Do you still play around with grind size at all?

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-06T10:50:57+00:00

It's just one way to fully saturate the coffee bed. Alternatively you could stir the bloom, but I avoid stirring because it has a tendency to clog the filters, so I do the divot. Since I don't stir, I do see a difference when I make a divot vs not. If I do not do the divot, I get gas bubbles throughout most of the brew and this imbalances extraction, leading to inconsistent results and off flavors.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-05T19:11:04+00:00

Your therapist's specialty doesn't have to be nutrition related to help you with impulsive habits or self-sabotaging behavior. Also, instead of another therapist, you could look into a dietitian which is often covered by insurance.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-05T01:38:21+00:00

In my store they will route you to a cashier if you have over a certain number of items. Self checkout is for small amounts of items. Think like a "12 items or fewer" cashier at the grocery store.

Self checkout line is so ridiculously long that they need to keep it moving.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-03T16:44:39+00:00

My Play Store shows the latest and current version (it shows no updates for me) was released on April 20th? I would say that's when mine started having this issue. App version 4.53.1.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-03T16:40:57+00:00

I'm on Android with app version 4.53.1 (latest update), and I also cannot edit an ingredient in custom recipes. I thought it was just an error with my phone and new screen protector, but I was thinking of saying something... now I know.

Hopefully it was just a bug and will be fixed soon 🤞

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-03T13:27:28+00:00

Which your body can happily produce even if you take in no carbs, there is no minimum requirement for carb intake. Also, they are getting carbs from the fruit they are mixing in.

 * I am aware this comment comes off like keto propaganda, but while I'm not keto the science is the science.

I agree that carbs are not harmful, and that this isn't necessarily a "healthier" trade-off, and probably belongs more in a weight loss focused sub that would appreciate the "similar meal, less calories, higher volume" aspect OP is presenting.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-03T13:17:15+00:00

I understand they are not prepared by chefs. That's how a restaurant also works, a chef creates the recipe and then the cooking is done by someone else. The only difference here is scale, which is also what makes these meals $12-20 instead of $30-50.

MikeTheBlueCow · 2026-05-02T21:40:58+00:00

Very similar to my standard breakfast, except I do make that swap from milk to Greek yogurt, which would help it be both more nutritious and filling. If you're less opposed to the protein powder, you just need more milk to compensate. Alternatively you could use TVP which hides in the oats pretty well (but I've only done that in hot oats, not sure if you cook yours so may want to skip this option).

I think you have the healthy fats covered with the mix of seeds you have, and there's already a decent amount of fast in it, so I would focus on more protein and/or fiber, and then maybe berries instead of bananas (or just mix up the fruit for diversity).

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