There are some things that just don’t mix. Oil and water. Pizza and seafood. Cellphones and bathrooms. As for stuff that does mix, coffee and technology is the ultimate combo. Whether you’re jonesing for your next cup of Joe at home or on the road, consider how these tech tools can help.
Coffee Locator
Although Tim Hortons is now available at a store in Manhattan, the coffee chain will always be a Canadian favourite. With the TimmyMe app, which uses geo-location technology, you can easily find a Timmy’s near you. Every time we land in a new Canadian city, my fiance fires up this tool. Needless to say, TimmyMe has never let him down. This iPhone download is available for free in the iTunes App Store. There's also a Starbucks finder too, if expensive lattes are more your style.
Portable Gadgets
A few months ago I wrote about the Mypressi Twist, a portable espresso machine. This gadget requires nothing more than hot water, coffee, and CO2 cartridges. If espresso is a little too fancy for your morning fix, but you still want some tasty brew, the Traveler Handheld Coffee Mill might be the perfect gadget for you. This portable grinder, which is available for US$27.99, grinds enough beans for up to nine cups of coffee. Better yet, batteries or electricity are not required to power this palm-sized device. Whether you’re packing the Mypressi Twist or Coffee Mill at home or on the road, you’ll always be minutes away from quality java.
Wired Websites
Yes, geeks have taken over the coffee world. On the CoffeeGeeks website, you can connect with up to 40,000 members to profess your coffee love. You can also listen to an audio podcast to stay up to date on everything from freezing coffee to growing coffee. For coffee recipes, head on over to JavaQueen to find out how to make everything from latte cheesecake to cappuccino brownies. Now let’s face it, even with coffee, you can have too much of a good thing. That’s where the EnergyFiend website can keep you sipping in moderation. On this site you can find out how much caffeine it would take to put you over the edge. For example, I’d have to drink almost 100 bottles of Starbucks Frappucino Coffee to experience death by caffeine. Yikes! Happy sipping.