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CT scans of coffee-making equipment

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121–130 of 178 posts

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Otherwise, we should all prioritize making our products flimsier and more expensive. It's the view of many that this is indeed what most companies prioritize — I'm not saying it's true, but it doesn't seem to be a particularly fringe opinion. It's in the vein of enshittification. Also, might I ask how you inserted that em-dash? A keyboard shortcut? It's interesting to see fancy typography online.

In macOS you can also use: option+minus for en-dash – and shift+option+minus for em-dash —

This can be reproduced on Linux using the "mac" layout. "option" is "level 3 shift" on Linux.

This works on X11, I haven't tried on Wayland.

On Windows it works, too, by grabbing the "us - mac" layout and using the alt-gr for the mac's option. I think this is the layout I use: https://github.com/adunning/Mac-Keyboard-Layouts-for-Windows

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#122
post #91

CT is the wrong imaging tech for Moka pots at least - they're much cooler looking if you're doing neutron imaging and can see the water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VESMU7JfVHU

Comment from the author on that video:

>The aluminum is easily activated and directly after the experiment it often has something in the order of 300-400uSv/h. This decays to 4-5uSv/h in about 15-20min, some hours are needed to reach inactive status Yow, toasty.

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#124
> There’s also a hidden game in the Stagg EKG and Corvo EKG kettles. If you remove your kettle from the base and toggle the F/C switch back and forth, you’ll unlock a snake-like game called Wormy that you can play using the dial.

Funny, how I’m finding out about that from a CT scan of my kettle :)

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#125
post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is there a reason why European kettles are typically 2200W and UK kettles are 3000W? European plug sockets are typically rated for 16A, secured with a matching breaker and allowing for about 3500W of power. Appliances that use the full 3500W are rare but they exist, so it is not like it is illegal. So why don't Europeans get the 3000W kettles too? Maybe some people have 10A circuits, maybe this is a margin so that ot…

> European plug sockets are typically rated for 16A, secured with a matching breaker and allowing for about 3500W of power. Appliances that use the full 3500W are rare but they exist, so it is not like it is illegal. So why don't Europeans get the 3000W kettles too? The British plug (and ring wiring scheme) was designed for two 13A electric heaters on a single ring, so continuous load. Meanwhile, German Schuko and th…

I think - I am an electrical engineer working in the offshore industry, so I have only superficial knowledge of shore-based installations - anyway, I seem to recall that the Norwegian electrical code calls for Schuko not being used to carry more than 10A continously, 16A intermittent.

However, until relatively recently, the average residential circuit was 10A, though you could get 16A if you asked for it - typically for tumble driers, washing machines and the like - so the market for appliances requiring more than 10A was quite slim.

I am sure the appliance stores didn't want to have to explain to each and every customer that the beefy kettle they had just put on the counter might not work at their house - hence, 10A appliances for all.

(Incidentally, I have a 3kW kettle I bought in the UK and a couple of 16A outlets on my kitchen counter.)

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#128

Is anyone here worried about pouring hot water into Aeropress plastic? I know it's polypropylene, which is BPA-Free but could there be things that we haven't properly researched yet?

If you want to avoid plastic, Hario Switch is a great alternative. It allows you to steep and release, kinda similar to AeroPress (pressure only comes from gravity though).

Cone is made of glass, stopper is from stainless steel, but the base is made of silicone. I imagine the hot water contact with the silicone will be a lot less compared to AeroPress.

If you get the size 03, you can more easily brew enough coffee for 2 people.

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#129
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Any insights into what went wrong?

I'm not sure about the details. IMHO a contributing factor is that they're a company historically centered around manufacturing nearly indestructible appliances (even the newer mokas, however flimsier, don't break easily); once the market was saturated with the flagship product, there's only so much profit they could squeeze out of selling accessories and the like.

But even if the market is saturated... is it really? I'm just an armchair expert in this case, but as far as I'm aware, there's not a coffee maker yet in every house; they will eventually break if overheated for example (I broke mine's rubber seal by putting it on the stove without water); and there's plenty of untapped markets out there yet.

That said, one person may buy one coffee maker and never need another one for the next decade or two, or pass it on to their children if it's really good. So what another comment said, them expanding into selling coffee as well for example, sounds like an idea.

Re: CT scans of coffee-making equipment

#130
Are there any advantages to the aluminium version of a moka pot aside from tradition/aesthetics?

I switched to one of the (Bialetti-made) stainless steel ones ("Venus" shape) because at one point I lived somewhere with an induction hob. I immaculately saw that the stainless version was considerably easier to clean. Cleaning, afterall, is half the job of using one of these.

Visually, I prefer the aluminium shape of course, but they are a real nightmare to keep clean and presumably you're drinking a lot of that aluminium oxide.

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