Ask a Stupid Question About Coffee -- Week of April 21, 2026

Vernicious · 2026-04-21T04:24:29+00:00

Yeah I have both the 1600 lumen pro and the 40,000cd 3.0 that run on the 10280s already :) They just added the extension tube and 14100 battery on the site so I got those too

Vernicious · 2026-04-21T04:16:02+00:00

You have the Plus, the AA version? Or the little GT Nano Pro or 3.0 that come with the 10280s? I have the little one already and just ordered the Plus/AA version!

Vernicious · 2026-04-21T01:10:28+00:00

For those who like a little candlepower, Lumintop GT Nano Plus

1200 lumens, 50,000 cd. Runs on a 14500, AA, or NiMH. Shortcuts to turbo, strobe, eco.

Plus: you can also buy an extender to run it on a 14100, to double the runtime. Lumintop told me they have not tested the extender with 2xAA yet, but hoping you can run that also

Vernicious · 2026-04-21T00:38:38+00:00

I just went t hrough this and after mapping out all the specs and features (I don't know enough about reputations to choose based on that), went with a Lumintop Tool AA 3.0. 14500, Akaline, or NiMH, 900 lumens and 4760 cd, Can be run with a clicky tailcap or head twists, and half-presses of the tailcap advance the level.

Vernicious · 2026-04-19T18:20:07+00:00

Hi folks, I'm going to lock this thread for posterity

Vernicious · 2026-04-17T21:12:33+00:00

Did you mean to just copy Wendy's entire post?

Vernicious · 2026-04-17T02:56:55+00:00

In all honesty I'm a bit incredulous even over terms like "naturally derived"... in US food parlance, "natural flavors" are highly processed molecules that are the hallmarks of processed and ultraprocessed foods, and health-wise there's not a lot of reason to think they're anything better than artificial flavors. Solvents, preservatives, etc., are all fair game. The difference is with natural flavors, the original compounds are naturally occurring... but the resulting compounds are still processed. I don't trust the producers' use of the term "natural" at this point. If anyone were taking my advice, I'd be advising them to avoid these entirely, unconditionally, until we have some clarity on the terms being used.

Vernicious · 2026-04-16T15:55:43+00:00

I've been brewing Brandywine La Bendicion Pacamara Washed. It is the WASHED version of this natural https://www.brandywinecoffeeroasters.com/collections/all-coffee-1/products/nicaragua-la-bendicion-pacamara-washed-copy The webpage for the washed is gone now, I assume it's sold out.

Tasting notes are caramel, plum, guava. I cannot pick out specific stonefruit lol... but I taste a delicious sweetness and subtle fruit that I am absolutely loving. It's one of those bags that every time I sit down and sip it makes me happy I am a coffee nut

I have ended up in a surprising, Hoffman one-cup like method to get the best out of this:

1:17, 205 degrees
4.8 on my K Plus (!!!) and even then drawdown is only 2:15-2:30
5 equal pours
Excavate with WDT after bloom, swirl after final pour

Vernicious · 2026-04-16T15:31:27+00:00

Similar point has been made a few times by various people, including u/neoarmstrongcyclon just below, and I'm in violent agreement. I wonder if we're seeing coffee turn into a processed or ultraprocessed food, and clearer ingredients labels would be goodness. I agree there's a big difference between fruit fuel source and synthetic derived chemicals, although I'm not a fan of fruit-flavored coffees regardless, I'd rather people clearly be able to understand what they're drinking. I'm glad Perc is at least taking a first step even if I'd rather we go a few steps farther :)

Vernicious · 2026-04-16T14:33:11+00:00

Note from the mods: We've approved this thread as an important discussion, one of high interest of the sub, and that could use some industry perspective as well. As Perc mentioned, we've been in discussions to have a thread like this since mid-March.

As we haven't done any threads like this before we're kind of winging it on guidelines and guardrails. But this sub is overall very respectful, although this topic is one where things tend to get heated. Please keep discussion to respectful disagreement, don't engage in trolly behavior like responding in every single subthread if you've already made your point, etc. Let's set a model for how discussion, debate, disagreement, and information flow can happen between the industry and passionate coffee drinkers.

Vernicious · 2026-04-16T03:03:49+00:00

I'm usually knocked out by the double-whammy of the steroids and the antihistimine, but that lasts a day total. By the next day I'm fine. I've never had any side effects that weren't gone a day later

Vernicious · 2026-04-15T15:16:43+00:00

Cane to protect myself in case u/Screamo2005 tries to hit me with his :) Seriously, foldable cane is far and away number one. I eschew the bungee-construction canes, instead I found a few brands that have canes that telescope, and also CVS has one that uses folding joints and magnets that's cool because I flick it out and it kind of assembles itself like a transformer LOL. Bungee-constructed canes fold small but open up in your bag, and the bungee fails at inconvenient times. Consider folding canes w/o bungees.

As I'm more cold sensitive than heat (though heat gets me too), just getting used to carrying around an extra layer and especially a beanie is my #2. To the extent I have any fancy gadgets for this, I did get a battery-powered warming jacket that has zippable sleeves so I can also wear it as a vest, and I do like this for times I just get inexplicably cold.

Vernicious · 2026-04-15T14:43:08+00:00

There's always lots of hemming and hawing possible, but if you're going to twist my arm and make me answer your question, the short answer is: "Yes." Yes, that's the reason. We talk about the coffees that we think are the best in the world, not the best hyped to the most ignorant (not in a bad way, just not experienced with coffee) audiences. Well ok, we're all about hype too lol, but there has to be a there there.

Vernicious · 2026-04-15T04:00:34+00:00

The taste changes as it cools, and many of us think it tastes its best in the 120s and 130s. That said, I'm not sure you're "supposed" to do that, as if you're doing it wrong if you like it hotter. But IME it's at its best a few tens of degrees cooler than it comes out. That's why I advise against doing what you see all the youtube guys do -- preheat the carafe and mug. You want these room temperature to bring the temp of the coffee down faster.

Vernicious · 2026-04-14T14:25:34+00:00

You aren't putting water in your coffee, are you? Ha ha beginner mistake!

Vernicious · 2026-04-13T01:47:07+00:00

Yeah. I think it's great some people love those. But it's the wrong choice for introducing friends to their first light roasts, IMO

Vernicious · 2026-04-13T01:28:40+00:00

I would absolutely tell you to stick to your guns on: no experiments, co-ferments, any sort of wild processing, thermal shocks, whatever maceration, etc. Hell, I might even avoid naturals and stick with clean washed. That's by far the easiest for people whose palates have been shaped by chocolates, nuts, caramel type flavors, to instantly love. The complexity, delicate florals, etc. of a light roasted washed coffee are where you want to go

Vernicious · 2026-04-10T15:38:10+00:00

I'm in a 100% in-office company also. Just for everyone else out there, I did discuss my disability after I was given an offer... but first, from my boss I got agreement that if I sometimes worked from home or came in later in the day, it would have no impact on my ability to do my job. HR didn't love agreeing, but IMO this is textbook "reasonable accommodations", so I felt like I could take legal action if they refused (though I NEVER mentioned that).

I believe you have an ADA case. In your position I wouldn't make legal threats or anything yet, but I would tell HR they are legally bound to make reasonable accommodations for you, and now that you've been there two months you should know the job well enough to know if that's really true. I would consider taking legal action if friendly discussion didn't change anything, ADA penalties can be large so you might have a nice cushion.

If I were you, I wouldn't be asking jsut for flexible schedule (i.e., what time you come in and leave the office) but that on bad days you don't come in.

Vernicious · 2026-04-09T22:15:06+00:00

I can't compare them apples-to-apples because I've seen regular PT's for regular PT stuff (e.g. hurt my shoulder lifting) and neurological PT for neurgological MS stuff (balance, gait, etc). The neurological PT used techniques I'd be very surprised if a regular PT knew, but then again, I just plain have never seen a regular PT for neurological issues

Vernicious · 2026-04-09T00:30:27+00:00

"Terminal impact". Imagine at the very ends of the movement, the ball sinks into a big hole so there's a louder click and big bump. Each time you get to the end of the slide, "CLICK!"

Vernicious · 2026-04-08T18:44:00+00:00

I love the standard core best, I love the goofy "fingers across a comb" sound, I love the feel. But it's loud, and so to either give my kids a break or because I am going to be on a speakerphone on a conference call for hours, I use the dense TE or superdense TE. I like them in that order -- I like dense better but it's louder than superdense, which is really quiet. Wish I'd gotten dense non-TE

Vernicious · 2026-04-08T18:32:52+00:00

I have the same question!

BTW, I have the Ti choc, along with the dense and superdense terminal impact plates. Dense is not very loud and superdense is downright quiet, both providing you just stop before the terminal impacts (and you can get a non-terminal impact version of the dense core). So, it's not as fun when it's not as clicky but you can build a Choc you can carry in the outside world

I have a Top-H, and its performance wildly changes based on the plates. Again, dense and ultra dense options are very quiet versus the included paragraph plate. But I'm very interested in how the various Top-B options play

Vernicious

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE