The bird table blew over in the wind this morning & this little squirrel made the most of the spilt peanuts.
I am busy researching coffee machines at the moment...what a minefield that is, there are hundreds of different sorts!
Bean grinding ones, pod ones, ones with frothing wands etc, etc. You almost need a degree to understand them all.
I want one to replace my old filter machine so the B&B's can help them selves to a cup of coffee or two at the breakfast table. One that keeps the coffee hot, no fancy bits just good flavoured ordinary coffee....I don't mind paying a decent price for a good machine.
Any recommendations?
Three good things:
1. Most of the snow seems to have missed our little patch again!!
2. We have been given some rather nice special sausages so guess what's for tea tonight?
3. I have bought the paint for the kitchen so that's a start in the right direction!
Brilliant Pat......got to love a long lens!! he must have had a ball this morning!! Can't help with the coffee machine, I make cafetiere coffee for my guests..as its my personal favourite way of making coffee, you can get jackets for cafetieres to keep them warm!!!We stayed somewhere once and you put a pod into the machine for each cup but the machine and coffee works out quite expensive.......so no help I'm afraid :(
@fannyb I use cafetieres when there is only one or a couple but have a big party in next w/e so do like to leave them just to get a hot cup when they want. Thanks so much for your input, might just go on Lakeland website in a minute.
That is a good photo of a wild squirrel. We have one that feeds on our bird feeder but he is very flighty, or I'm a clumsy elephant when it comes to my stealthy approach.
I find when coffee is kept hot for any length of time, it loses its flavour!
After years of all sorts of machines ( people used to laugh at my collection) I have come home to the best - its the pod machine. You do have to put a pod in for each cup but it is so easy (even John can do i!) but the smell and the result is absolutely tops - as good as any coffee in a coffee shop! My one is Italian. I order pods on the net from Auckland one day and they arrive the next! One end of NZ to the other!
He's lovely! Monty would love to chase him though. I spent ages before Christmas researching coffee machines. I think it depends whether you want to offer milk pods as well. I went for a Kenco Tassimo for mum and dad because I know they like cappuccino and to make it easy you use a coffee pod and then a milk pod (about 50p a cup I think for the Costa cappuccino pods or 25p for a normal Americano). I think they like - only complaint is could be a bit hotter. You can also get Dulce Gusto which have milk pods and are a bit more economical/cup I think but i would like to have tried a coffee before buying. If you just want to offer a filter coffee and separate real milk then Nespresso seem to be the gold standard and we've quite often had them in hotel rooms. The machines are a bit more expensive and the pods are not cheap either (65p/cup?) but they are easy and clean to use. They don't do milk pods so you have to get a separate thing for frothed milk or just a jug of the normal stuff. I agree - complicated!
@maggiemae@judithg Thank you both so much for your input to this debate, I appreciate your input so much. My friend had a Krupps machine given her for mothers day & I sampled it the other day...very simple pod system & lovely coffee. Not sure if it would work in a B&B situation though. I usually switch on the machine just before the guests come down & all they have to do is take out the jug , pour & then replace on the hot plate. They would have to re brew every time for each cup & if six people might be a longish wait?
Have been looking at a Dualitt percolator from Amazon too...will check out your recommendations girls, thank you.
After years of all sorts of machines ( people used to laugh at my collection) I have come home to the best - its the pod machine. You do have to put a pod in for each cup but it is so easy (even John can do i!) but the smell and the result is absolutely tops - as good as any coffee in a coffee shop! My one is Italian. I order pods on the net from Auckland one day and they arrive the next! One end of NZ to the other!
Have been looking at a Dualitt percolator from Amazon too...will check out your recommendations girls, thank you.