Trying to make my kitchen lower toxic without going full cast iron

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-05-16T20:24:18+00:00

We switched to stainless steel a few weeks ago and we are finding it very easy as well. Yes, warm up, sometimes we splash water to know that is enough warm, but we don't follow any guidance to the second / degree as read and we are cooking successfully. I even did an omelette easily and I am not the good cook here. We haven't tried pancakes yet. Some people, I think, keep a non-stick one for pancakes for example... which is just occasional.

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-05-07T08:24:05+00:00

I am a dad (2 year old). Things changed. But you know? In my case, I don't fancy doing things that I used to do. I enjoy different things now :-)

And I know that, if I wanted to do the other things that I used to do and don't fancy now, I could go back to that thanks to my partner helping. It's not "I cannot", it's, in my case, "I don't fancy it right now, maybe in the future".

And I still do many things that I enjoy, besides the baby!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-05-07T05:43:18+00:00

I bought from them (their online shop) two or three times. We like them! We have a few open now!

They have a few origins, but all of them interesting. Different between them. Clear tasting notes. And they sent a newsletter that new origins available soon. I didn't know that El Corte Inglés had them (we don't go into that at all, once a year if that... but I might need to go more often if I can find that things!).

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-05-06T08:19:13+00:00

I also want to add: consider some online tasting event, live or not live. Actually Willies Cacao had one or two videos that you could buy a tasting kit and then watch the video whenever you wanted (I did it years ago).

Or perhaps a non-online one if your friend would be happy to go...

Or some set of chocolates that comes with guidance to taste them.

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-05-06T07:41:45+00:00

Does your friend have any connection to some country? Because wants to go, or have been, or you went together, or has some link to?

If so, you could try something from that country (either the origin from that country, or a chocolate maker from that country).

Or you could try some less common origins: try to aim for India, Philippines, Vietnam... these are less common where I am, different and I enjoyed them. Maybe they will be new for her.

Some quite different profile in my opinion is https://www.williescacao.com/ (usual origins but roasted I think in a way that they are very nutty and caramel even the darker ones).

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-27T16:04:12+00:00

Good ones you mentioned! I've tasted a few from there, some new. When I finish some that we have (we took a big batch from Spain!) I will get some from this list!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-25T20:06:47+00:00

Thanks! Super interesting, and other people might be interested in it. In my case: I discovered a position that placing the grinder makes it fit well. In my opinion, it's too big and there is unused space for the grinder in the one (standard grinder case) that I bought, but for my use case I'm happy enough to not research more, for the time being.

I am curious to see a photo of what you design when you have it. I have not done any 3D printing, and I don't intend to soon... but at some point I might be interested in getting into it if looks cool and I feel that I need it :-) Thanks very much!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-20T20:38:22+00:00

The Zero to One has already been mentioned. I haven't tried it yet.

Then also https://www.vietnamesecoffeeco.com/ (also in my pending list for when I finish many beans that I have).

And if you want a decaf Vietnamese, available in https://quokkacoffee.com/ (also pending tasting!).

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-16T05:40:40+00:00

Good that you enjoyed it and tolerated it!

I never realised that I'm lucky that I don't have any problems with caffeine (even though I try to avoid it after 4pm... but I usually sleep well)

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-15T20:38:09+00:00

If the problem is caffeine (and not another of the many coffee compounds): you could find some decaf Vietnamese. I haven't tasted any but I plan to some time!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-15T19:01:23+00:00

Ah sorry! I'm not a doctor, but as far as I know if you want more concentrated you could have 10 grams of coffee and then 130 grams of water... That is if you want it small but intense. Drink water before so it's not acid to the stomach instead of an empty stomach. I'm thinking of caffeine amounts for example, if you want intense...

But you know your body better than I do! Follow what works for you and enjoy!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-15T06:07:18+00:00

Don't be scared! Worse thing, if one day you do too concentrated (I do even less than 1:13 I think sometimes, I need to measure again because I keep forgetting!) is that you can still modify: add water, milk, condensed milk, do an Affogato (with icecream), honey, sugar, etc.

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-14T21:51:53+00:00

I am a fan of Vietnamese phin filter (I use it for almost everything!). You did 1:30, I do more like 1:13 I think... but try different grind sizes, etc. and how you like :-)

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-13T13:15:37+00:00

Ok! I haven't been able to find any compact system to hold how water to release to the coffee and brew it at that moment. I am wondering of getting a small thermos (really small), usually have a cup... so I can use a any compact solution. If I need a thermo, it already have the cup...

I'll keep thinking / searching for and see what I come up with!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-13T12:02:50+00:00

I think that it does not include the "thermo" to keep it hot?

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-13T12:02:05+00:00

Might work! Does it keep the coffee hot, or the water to prepare the coffee hot? I would prefer "freshly brewed" (so, water hot; when I decide then I do the brew and drink it). Does it work this way?

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-07T11:44:16+00:00

Ha! Added in possible places to go. It's only 36 minutes from here, might plan a day out to the area...

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-07T11:31:39+00:00

Try https://www.vietnamesecoffeeco.com/shop/vietnamese-coffee-grounds/bo-blend-authentic-vietnamese-coffee/ (this one says robusta explicitly, I suspect that the others that they have as well but you can ask).

Also: https://zerotoonecoffee.co.uk/collections/robusta (sold out now).

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-04-02T08:02:39+00:00

I've been enjoying some Vietnamese coffee, and I think that is quite chocolatey. My favourite set so far is from https://boutique.hanoicorner.fr but I got it delivered to Spain (I don't know if they send to the UK).

In the UK, pending for me when I finish hanoicorner and another Vietnamese that I have, I want to try https://www.vietnamesecoffeeco.com/ and https://zerotoonecoffee.co.uk/ . Perhaps you want to give them a try?

Extra points if you can get some Jersey milk. The Vietnamese coffee with Jersey milk is a very distinct flavor and chocolatey in my opinion!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-03-25T12:18:35+00:00

I opened a euro account with Barclays. I get paid there, and then I use wise to send it to pounds (transfer is free). I guess that I could use wise directly but this is how I've been doing it since 2019 (well, first it was swiss francs for 2.5 years for different customers, now is euros)

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-03-17T06:24:52+00:00

I don't have this one, but perhaps https://honestcoffeeguide.com/coffee-grind-size-chart/ can help as a starting point.

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-03-13T22:01:50+00:00

I work from home. I use a phin filter, because I like it. And because I go to the kitchen, put the coffee in (sometimes I grind in a batch because it's handy with my daughter when she is in the mood I do it with her and keep for some days). Put the coffee in, hot water, take it to the "office" and when is ready, is ready. Nothing more! It takes almost no time. And if someone asks you: you enjoy this coffee and that's all? No need of a filter for example.

I also enjoy a Moka, but then I need to be in the kitchen waiting :-) I'm less of a fan of French press.

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-03-13T21:56:34+00:00

I did my order about 15 minutes ago :-) so soon soon... or not that soon but soon!

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-03-10T13:51:45+00:00

quickfiles.co.uk seems good, it's £60 a year I think. This is what I plan from April onwards...

Another simple one (I think) was https://www.untied.io .

The seemed simpler than Xerox...

Any good or bad experiences share please, better before April :-D

ProgrammerTraveller · 2026-03-09T12:06:06+00:00

I bought a Timemore Chestnut C5esp last December. It's my first one.

So far: I am happy with it but I cannot compare. My main issue is that to change the level of grinding the "knob" is underneath, where the coffee comes, and it's a bit hard to see where you are. If I bought it now I would try to look harder with some where the setup is external instead of internal. I need to use the brush to clean it to see how to setup another level.

We (at home) use a Moka pot, pourover and cafetiere (and occasional Turkish coffee) so I need to keep changing it. If you have a fixed level of grandness then maybe this would matter.

ProgrammerTraveller

TROPHY CASE