9 Best French Press Coffee Maker Models on the Market

Best French Press Coffee Maker

The following article is a complete breakdown of the best french press coffee maker models on the market that I have researched and tested. This article explains what makes a great french press and should help you narrow down your search for finding the best coffee maker that fits your needs. 

Best French Press Coffee Maker

I would classify myself as a heavy coffee drinker, but not a pretentious one. I don’t go to Starbucks very often, but when I do, my order is straightforward; a medium cup of black coffee to which I add a little cream and sugar and I’m good to go. I work from home mostly, so I make coffee at least twice throughout the day for myself. Over the years, the evolution of the coffee makers I have purchased got bigger and more complex. I liked coffee makers that would grind the beans for me, measure the right amount of water to add, and even give me digital options to how refined the grind was. However, that all changed after having my first cup of coffee from a French Press.

Best French Press Coffee MakerI remember it well, my wife and I took the kids to visit friends who lived out of town for the weekend. The first morning I woke up I was greeted with a nice cup of coffee, but I never saw it being brewed. I assumed it was some fancy new expensive coffee maker as the coffee was vibrant with flavor. At the time, I was currently looking for a new coffee maker after my $349 Breville maker had broke, so I was very curious to learn about what had made this great cup of joe. When I discovered the coffee was made from a French Press, I was amazed. I was in disbelief that something so simple could whip together such a great cup of coffee.

When we returned home a few days later, I went out to pick up my own French Press with the intention of it being a temporary replacement until I could find the next best thing as far as pro-style coffee makers go. But, it’s been over six months now, and I’m still using a French Press. I love the taste and my wife, and I love how much extra counter space we have in our kitchen now.

However, I should point out that I have tested out a few different French Press maker models. In fact, I met this guy working for a local department store that seemed to be a coffee fanatic. He was Barista that worked at this local hipster coffee shop part-time and also worked at the department store where I was shopping to buy the best french press coffee maker I could get my hands on. He was the perfect person to bounce questions off.

I was interested in learning that despite the fact that a French Press coffee maker was such a simple tool for brewing coffee, it has a few different versions. Some are cheaper than others while some seem to charge more for a more professional but don’t, in fact, brew better coffee.

The following are the six Best French Press Coffee Maker Models on the Market.

Read More

19 Road Trip Essentials For The Perfect Trip

Road Trip Essentials

Road Trip Essentials

A road trip can be a fun and exciting way to explore new places and see the sights. But in order to make the most of your road trip, it’s important to be prepared and have all the essential items you need. In this article, we will discuss some of the essential items you should bring on your road trip.

First and foremost, it’s important to have a reliable vehicle that is in good working condition. This means making sure your vehicle is properly serviced and all necessary maintenance is up to date. It’s also a good idea to bring along some basic tools and supplies, such as jumper cables, a spare tire, and a jack, in case you encounter any problems on the road.

Next, you’ll need to have all the necessary documents and identification. This includes your driver’s license, registration, and proof of insurance. It’s also a good idea to bring along any maps or navigation tools you might need, as well as a list of emergency contact numbers in case of an accident or other emergency.

In terms of supplies, you’ll need to have enough food and water to last the duration of your trip. This means packing non-perishable snacks, drinks, and meals, as well as a cooler to keep them fresh. You’ll also need to bring along any necessary medications, as well as first aid supplies in case of any injuries or illnesses.

Other essential items to bring on a road trip include a phone charger, a portable charger, and a car charger, in case you need to charge your phone on the go. You’ll also need to have some entertainment for the road, such as books, music, or games. And finally, don’t forget to bring along some basic personal care items, such as sunscreen, insect repellent, and hand sanitizer.

In conclusion, a road trip can be a fun and exciting way to explore new places. But in order to make the most of your trip, it’s important to be prepared and have all the essential items you need. This includes a reliable vehicle, necessary documents and identification, food and water, and other essential supplies.

When planning for a cross country road trip, you must pack well. Failing to plan is planning to fail. The last thing anyone needs is to be thousands of miles away from home and discover that you are missing something that would make life on the road much more comfortable. Whether a child’s favorite toy, a favorite article of clothing, or something else essential, we are here to help you pack for the ultimate road trip essentials adventure list.

So, what do you need for a successful road trip? Whether you are going fifty miles or fifteen hundred miles, it’s all about the essentials. Let’s answer a few questions first as we assemble the ultimate packing list of road trip essentials for you:

  • How far are you going?
  • How do you plan to travel?
  • Where will you stay?
  • Who is going with you?
  • How long will you be on the road?

Knowing a bit more about your trip will help you to plan everything you need for your exciting adventure. Here are our travel tips for your road trip.

Road Trip Essentials

Travel bags

It doesn’t make much sense to lug around huge suitcases with you when the goal of a road trip is “out of the vehicle” adventure. If you know that you will be visiting the Grand Canyon on a particular day, for instance, pack a travel bag with things that you might need for exploration–sunscreen, water bottles, camera, hat, sunglasses, etc. When in doubt, bring it with you, or if you think you’ll need it at some point, bring it along, rather than trying to find it en route.

Read More

5 Tips For Booking Flights or Vacation Online

Tips For Booking Flights or Vacation Online

Online Vacation Booking Tips

Nowadays, booking a flight or vacation online couldn’t be easier. There are dozens of apps and websites promising to find you the best deals possible. Google Flights which has become an extremely popular go-to for booking flights has taken out a lot of the guesswork. There is also, of course, friendly tips and family advice on where to go and when to book a vacation or flight online. That being said, there are still some solid booking tips that you may not have heard of that could also help you save big when it comes time to booking a flight or vacation. Check out the following tips, I’m sure you haven’t heard of at least of these tricks.

Use Rate Calendars To Figure Out Pricing Drops

Most travel websites start by asking you to enter the destination and number of people on the trip, followed by the dates you’d like to go. Nearly all websites will also show you a rate calendar for the cost of flights to and from your desired location. If you plan your trip in advance, you may begin to spot pricing drops of flights closer to a specific date. As a good test, watch the prices of the same day of the week you wish to leave but a few weeks earlier. As seats begin to fill there can be a flux in price based on the number of seats filled and days remaining to departure. Read More

Rockland Luggage Review: Quality Meets Affordability

Rockland Melbourne Luggage 3 Piece Set

Have you ever had your luggage stolen or lost before? Well, my 67-year-old Mother has. My mom took a two-week vacation to Hawaii and when she returned home, her luggage didn’t come with her. It was misplaced. Weeks later the airlines found her lost bag, but when it was delivered to her, the suitcase looked like it had gone through a wood chipper. Most of her belongings were fine, a few things broke, but one thing was for sure, she was going to need new luggage

My mother is a sweet old lady that doesn’t like to spend much on things. Most of the prices of the luggage sets she looked at seemed too expensive for her, despite being a regular traveler now retired. I helped her look for a quality luggage set and what we decided on was the Rockland Melbourne Luggage 3 Piece Set.

After much research on what is the best luggage set for traveling, we liked the features and price point for this Luggage 3 piece set. It was this combination of value and features that made her choose the Rockland Melbourne Luggage set. Since then, it’s made its way through several airports and she is happy with my selection.

Here’s a closer look at the Rockland Melbourne Luggage set and why it’s a great option for travelers.

Rockland Luggage Review

Rockland Melbourne Luggage Set Review

     – 1047 Amazon Reviews

Initially, a luggage set wasn’t something she considered when we first started looking, but I convinced her on buying the three-piece as it gave options for each trip she would take.

The three bags are 28” (71cm), 24” (61cm) and 20” (51cm) tall respectively, with two larger bags suitable for checked baggage and one cabin bag. As an individual traveler, I appreciate having the choice between the two sizes depending on the length of my trip, and using the three also works very well for holidays with my husband as well. In fact, we’ve found that for shorter trips, just one bag can fit both of our belongings.

Read More

Hauptstadtkoffer Luggage Review

Hauptstadtkoffer Luggage Review

Hauptstadtkoffer Review

Having carried around my plain old soft-case suitcase for years, I finally had to admit defeat on a recent multi-week trip to New York. Not only was my suitcase starting to look a little rough around the edges, but the frustration of trying to drag it with its faulty wheels and hold it upright to stop it from tipping over became too much. Clearly, suitcases had come a long way since I’d purchased my first bag several years ago, and my outdated option no longer did the trick.

I accepted it was time to upgrade my luggage and set about doing some research to find the best suitcase for traveling. I wanted to invest in something that was good quality but wasn’t going to require a small personal loan to pay for. It soon became apparent that a luggage set was going to be the best value option – plus, there’s a certain appeal of having a cohesive, stylish luggage set as you make your way to your destination.

When I finally decided to trade in my old bag and upgrade, it left me wondering why I hadn’t done it so much earlier. It certainly made navigating the airport much more pleasant and I love the look of my new case! I also decided to opt for a hard-shell case, which has given me a lot of peace of mind about carrying my beloved camera equipment through the airport and leaving it in the care of the airline staff.

Gone are the days of just throwing all my belongings into my case and hoping for the best. My new suitcase is much better organized, which means everything is easier to find, and I can fit more in (perfect for when I can’t choose between two pairs of shoes). Finally, it’s great to have a suitcase that’s up to date with modern TSA standards so I no longer have to choose between leaving my bag unsecured, or risking damage if it is opened by baggage handlers or security.

So, what bag did I settle on?

Read More