Forget taking 12+ hours to cold brew coffee with Cuisinart

Most of the cold brewers for coffee that I’ve seen lately take 12-24 hours to brew a pot.  With the Cuisinart DCB-10 cold coffee brewer, you can brew a pot in as little as 25 minutes.  Like other cold brewers where the coffee sits in the water and slowly extracts, the Cuisinart machine starts with cold or room temperature water.  But Cuisinart’s “unique spin technology circulates coffee through water for total flavor extraction in a fraction of the time manual brewers require.”

The coffee grounds are never exposed to the high temperatures that extract the oils that cause bitterness, so your brew is smoother.  There are three flavor strength settings, so you can brew the coffee the way you like it.  The three brewing cycles are mild (25 min), medium (35 min) and bold (45 min).   The coffee can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

The DCB-10 comes with a 7-cup carafe and a steel filter.  All removable parts are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.  The Cuisinart DCB-10 is available for $81.84 at Amazon.  Other retailers offer it for $99.99; check the Cuisinart site to locate a brick-and-mortar store.

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Forget taking 12+ hours to cold brew coffee with Cuisinart originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 15, 2018 at 8:00 am.

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totallee thin Pixel 2 XL case review

When it comes to using a case on my smartphone, I normally only use them for one reason and that’s to add some extra grip to an otherwise slippery phone. I don’t use a case to protect it from scratches because I really don’t care THAT much if my phone shows a bit of wear and tear. That said, I don’t want to drop it on a hard surface and bust the display. So I usually seek out a thin case that doesn’t add bulk but does add grip. My current everyday phone is the Pixel 2 XL and the latest case that I’m testing on it is the totallee thin Pixel 2 XL clear case. Let’s take a look.

What is it?

The totallee thin clear case for the Pixel 2 XL is a soft clear case that’s only 0.02-inches thick and only ads 0.1 oz to the overall weight of the phone. Not bad!

Design and features

The case is made of a glossy clear soft flexible material that feels like silicone but isn’t sticky like some silicone cases and doesn’t attract lint.

It has cutouts for the camera and flash as well as the fingerprint reader on the back of the phone.

There’s a circular cutout on the top for the microphone.

And on the bottom, you’ll find a cutout for the USB-C port.

There aren’t cutouts for the power button and volume button though. The buttons are molded into the case. I’m not a fan of this as I feel like it ruins that tactility of the buttons. I’m not saying that it makes the buttons impossible to press, but it does take slightly more effort. In the end, I wish there were cutouts…

Because the case is soft and flexible, you don’t have to worry about breaking a fingernail or your phone when you try to put the case on or remove it. One word about that: Yay!

Once it’s on, you really don’t really notice it because it doesn’t add much bulk. But it does add a nice level of grip that is missing with a naked Pixel 2 XL.

Note that this case is not going to protect your phone from drops to a hard surface. It’s only going to help protect it from everyday wear and tear and scratches.

What I like

  • Easy to put on and remove
  • Adds grip without unnecessary bulk

What needs to be improved

  • Molded buttons for power and volume make interacting with the phone slightly more difficult
  • Expensive

Final thoughts

There really isn’t a lot more to say about the totallee thin Pixel 2 XL case. It does what it’s been designed to do which is to add a minimum level of protection and grip without adding bulk. The only complaint that I have is that it’s kind of expensive at $25 although you can get it for a few cents short of $20 on Amazon. Even at that price, it feels too pricey when you can find other thin cases for the Pixel 2 XL for significantly less. I don’t hate the totallee, but I’m sticking with my current favorite (check my favorite gear page to see what that is)… unfortunately, it’s even more expensive than the totallee, but I like the look and feel better so…

Price: $25
Where to buy: totallee and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by totallee.

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totallee thin Pixel 2 XL case review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2018 at 1:00 pm.

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James Brand announces their Titanium Collection of EDC knives

James Brand has recently announced a new Titanium Collection featuring three of their classic EDC designs: the Elko, the Chapter, and the County. All three of the new knives have their high quality stainless steel blade and build quality. But J.B. has replaced their usual aluminum or wooden handles with lightweight, strong, and corrosion resistant titanium, making for a lighter and tougher travel companion. I reviewed the aluminum version of the Chapter years ago and still carry it with me in my EDC bag…definitely one of my favorite pocket knives.

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James Brand announces their Titanium Collection of EDC knives originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2018 at 12:00 pm.

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Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack review

We all love our gadget and gear hauling bags, but sometimes we don’t want or need to lug around that full-sized backpack or messenger bag.  I’ve seen several smaller alternative options pop up over the years, but many of them either looked like a strange purse, a European man-bag, or just plain weird.  The Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack is none of those things.  In fact, I very quickly got past the fact that the Axis resembles a “fanny pack.”   The Axis is low-profile in both design and styling, build from high-quality, durable materials and it is compatible with Mission Workshop’s modular Arkiv® system.  Let’s check it out!  Gadget on!

What is it?

The Mission Workshop Axis is a lightweight Arkiv-compatible waist pack built with rugged materials and a weatherproof design that is intended to carry essential gear close to the body.

Hardware specs

  • Model number = HT500
  • Color options = Black (reviewed here), Gray, Black Camo
  • Materials =
    • High Tenacity 500D nylon
    • TPU coated nylon liner
    • YKK urethane coated zipper
    • Laser cut back panel
  • Dimensions = Height: 5” x Width: 10.25” x Depth: 3.4”
  • Total maximum circumference = 50″
  • Internal volume = 2.5L
  • Weight = 8 ounces
  • Country of manufacture = Built by hand in small batches in the USA
  • Lifetime guarantee

What’s in the package?

  • Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack

Design and features

OK, let’s get this out of way early: Yes, the Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack does resemble the “fanny pack” that was so very popular in my formative years, the Decade of Excess, the 1980s.  But I was totally willing to overlook that for a few reasons.  First, I’ve never owned or tried anything from Mission Workshop, but their products look very much my style, very functional, and I’ve read that their products are extremely well-made and very durable.  Second, the online photos of the Axis made it look a lot more like a tactical/”tacti-cool” pouch than one of the gaudy, dorky fanny packs from the 80s.  And once I slid the Axis from its shipping pouch, I knew that I had made a good decision to volunteer to try it out.  Immediately the Axis felt like it had been built from super high-quality materials and with the highest attention to detail and quality in the build process.  The main material and the one used to build all of the exterior parts of the Axis is High Tenacity 500D nylon.  This is a great material for a small pack like this because it is very strong yet flexible and lightweight, quite abrasion resistant, has a fairly high degree of moisture resistance and is weave is relatively tight, so it will not tend to abrade your clothing light higher-denier nylon fabrics.

I’m going to start from the rear of the Axis first, beginning with the photo above.  The first of many features worth pointing out is something you can’t see from the outside but adds greatly to the overall product durability and performance, and that is a laser-cut panel made of semi-rigid plastic that is enclosed in the back of the Axis.  This panel serves a few functions.  First, it gives the Axis a bit of rigidity, preventing it from being completely floppy and unstructured.  Second, this panel helps when wearing the Axis, because it provides a flat, solid shape up against your body (it will curve slightly to help confirm, however, which is also helpful for comfort).

The back of the Axis also has a short length of webbing that at first I thought was some type of handle, but the placement seemed odd to me.  Then I realized that this strip of webbing is actually a holder for a mini bike U-lock.  Just slip the mini U-lock down through the webbing and it will be held securely while you ride, then pull it back out when you need to lock up your bike.  My apologies that I don’t own a mini U-lock or I’d show a pic to demonstrate this functionality.

The final feature on the back of the Axis is a series of four pairs of laser-cut slots that are specifically designed and built to allow the Axis to be compatible with Mission Workshop’s Arkiv modular system.  The Arkiv system utilizes webbing straps and small metal clips, which are available separately in a set of 4 for $10, to attach all sorts of modular accessories to the Arkiv line of backpacks.  Alas, as this is my first Mission Workshop item, I do not have any of their Arkiv-compatible products to evaluate with the Axis, but the principle and method they employ for achieving modularity does seem very sound and functional.

Working our way towards the front of the Axis, let’s check out the belt itself.  The belt is actually a strip of heavy-duty, laser-cut nylon webbing material.  Additionally, on either side of the Axis are two triangular “wings” (seen above) under the belt that help give it extra support when the Axis is in contact with your body, and the belt is stitched to the wings in such a way that a length of the belt (seen above) can be used as an attachment point for other items using carabiners or other, similar types of fasteners.

I just wanted to briefly touch on the Mission Workshop external branding, which is a subdued label stitched to the side of the Axis, as seen in the image above.  I really like that Mission Workshop does not feel the need to include overly visible (i.e. obnoxious large or eye-catching) branding on the Axis.  This very much add to the clean and low-profile look of the Axis, which I think is one of its selling points.  Good job on this.

Now back to the belt.  The belt is stitched to the Axis, so it can’t be separated from the main Axis body.  However, what Mission Workshop has done is, I think, actually more clever and useful than simply a removable belt.  As shown above and below, the belt ends can be slid back inside the main body of the Axis, effectively hiding them and getting them out of the way.  This does two things: prevents you from ever losing the belt, and makes it easier when using the Axis with the modular Arkiv system, because the belt would typically not be needed when attaching the Axis to an Arkiv-compatible pack.  Nice feature!

Next, let’s start moving toward the front and inside features of the Axis.  Its compartment is accessed via a YKK urethane coated zipper with a slim top and bottom flaps “kissing flaps” that have been perfectly cut and sewn to join together, helping to prevent moisture ingress into the compartment.  The zipper pulls on the Axis are made from tied loops of 550 Paracord material.  I think this is a great feature because 550 Paracord pulls are ninja silent, unlikely to wear out, and can be easily swapped out for a multitude of 550 Paracord colors if they do happen to actually wear out, or if you would like to do a bit of customization to your Axis.  The knots also make them easier to grip than a standard zipper pull.

Opening the Axis reveals an interesting lining and some organizer features.  Let’s start with the lining.  While the front of the Axis, as detailed above, is made from High Tenacity 500D nylon material, which is fairly water-resistant itself, the Axis also has a “floating liner” made from TPU coated nylon, which is the gray, grid-pattern material seen in the photos above and below.  This floating liner is intended to provide an addition layer and higher level of moisture and water protection for any sensitive items you may want to carry inside the Axis, like your phone, earbuds or a camera.  Additionally, there is an organizer along the flat back of the compartment that consists of a long mesh zipper pocket plus two pockets behind the mesh zipper pocket, all of which are very handy for stowing smallish items.  And, with a 2.5L capacity, the main compartment will hold quite a few larger items as well.

The final organizational feature is a spring hook that is attached to the inside of the Axis by a loop of 550 Paracord.  This spring hook is not a cheap, fragile plastic hook, no sir.  It is a metal hook with a black finish.  This could be used to secure your keys or other similar items.

Next let’s take a look at various carry options for the Axis, starting with the most obvious, wearing it in the lower back/lumbar region (yes, the classic “fanny pack” position).  I’ll be honest, once I cinched it down, it was very comfortable, more than I even thought it would be, and its easy to spin around to the front to retrieve items, then spin it back.  It only weighs 8 oz while empty, which helps.  Plus, I think it actually looks pretty cool.  The materials and design certainly contribute to this.

I think the plastic back plate combined with the wide belt strap and the “wings” all contribute to the Axis feeling quite comfortable when worn in this position.  I barely noticed that I had it on.

Next, I wanted to try the sling bag style carry position, with the Axis slung over my left shoulder.  Looking at these photos as I type this, I think I probably could have tightened the Axis’ belt strap a bit, because it seems to be hanging a bit low on my back, but honestly it felt fine like this to me.  

With the Axis in this sling bag style carry position, it made it easy to tighten or loosen the belt strap so that I could adjust how high or low the Axis would sit.

Additionally, this sling bag carry style allowed me quick access to the Axis’ contents; all I had to do was rotate it around up under my right arm and the Axis was right in front of my chest in just the right position to get inside and retrieve or store an item, which was convenient.

What I like

  • Well-designed, sturdy build, smart + durable
  • Weatherproof materials keep contents dry
  • Stowable belt straps
  • Compatible with Mission Workshop’s modular Arkiv system

What needs to be improved

  • Pricey.  Way pricey.  While I fully understand and appreciate that Mission Workshop’s products are made in small batch size in the USA, $120 is still pretty expensive for a bag of this size and type.  Though it does have a lifetime guarantee.

Final thoughts

The Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack defies the socially-stigmatized reputation of its 1980s “fanny pack” ancestor.  It is a versatile, sleek, low-profile, well-designed and even more well-built mini waist pack that is actually quite comfortable to wear. The only drawback I see is that it is a bit pricey for what it is, but I can somewhat understand its pricing considering its quality of materials and construction, its USA manufacturing and its lifetime guarantee. For further evaluation, I plan to bring the Axis on a 2-week family vacation to Europe in a few weeks and I will report my findings here.

Price: $120.00
Where to buy: Mission Workshop
Source: The product sample for this review was provided by Mission Workshop.

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Mission Workshop Axis Modular Waist Pack review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2018 at 11:00 am.

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Organized travel with the Everyday Dopp kit

Traveling is always better when you have all your gear with you and have it organized so you can always find what you need.  It doesn’t matter if you’re commuting to work with your EDC kit or if you’re traveling with your grooming kit, things are easier when you are organized.  The folks at Supply have a beautiful leather Everyday Dopp bag that can organize what you need to carry.

The Dopp bag has pockets for pens, razors, toothbrush, or the like.  The larger tray area holds bigger things, like bottles of toiletries, or headphones.  The removable zipper pouch holds cables, chargers, or even some glasses.  If you need more room in the tray area, you can remove the zipper pouch and carry it separately.

Supply says the kit is made from “nothing but 100% premium, extra-thick full grain leather from a premier tanner in Leon, Mexico. We never use bonded, genuine, or any other lesser quality leather.”  The leather is “tanned all the way through the hide“, which means the “leather lasts longer and looks better as it ages“.  Both the Dopp and the removable magnetic pouch use custom, quality YKK zippers.  The  flat clam shell profile makes the kit easy to throw in your everyday gear bag or into your suitcase.

The Everyday Dopp is available in midnight black, bourbon, or dark brown.  Supply is accepting pre-orders now for $189.00 (normal price is $219.00).  All orders containing the Everyday Dopp will ship in 6-8 weeks.  Learn more and place a pre-order at Supply.

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Organized travel with the Everyday Dopp kit originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on June 14, 2018 at 10:00 am.

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