Question for Americans - what is the PROPER toaster ? :)

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

So we have this budget toasters in our apartments, I have one at my home, my daughter has it, my mother has it and we have the same one in our holiday home. We use it all the time for sandwiches and for toasting the bread  🙂

Our American guests said we should get a PROPER toaster !

I would like to know what the hell is it? Is it something like Mercedes among toasters? Does it bake the bread, make sandwitches and bring them to you in the bed? Does it babysit too ...?  :)))

[Susan151]

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@Branka-and-Silvia0 wrote:

@Huma0

....American guests will travel around the world and will expect the same things  everywhere they go -

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Can we change that sentence to "some Americans? This is a huge and diverse country. In 2017, we had 325.7 million living here [Wikipedia.] Not ALL Americans do any one thing. 

I do get tired of the endless American bashing that happens on this forum. I have never, in my life, made even one of these comments. It has never occurred to me to make these type of blanket statements about people from other countries, regardless of their histories or the stereotypes that cling to that country.

[Lizzie]

This discussion is amazing! I am seriously learning a lot about toasters here. I wonder how many other appliances there are that mean lots of different things to us around the world...

[Beth90]

I hate to change the subject, but I will and its somewhat related being in the breakfast category.  What kind of Nespresso should I get??

I provided a typical Mr Coffee electric drip maker but its old school and for next season I want to upgrade. I looked on Amazon and there are too many choices!  I want the option for an "American" size cup of coffee like 8 oz.

Can anyone help recommend one they like?

[Lizzie]

Aw good question, @Beth90. @Branka-and-Silvia0, actually created another good discussion last year on coffee makers, which you might find helpful. 

If it doesn't quite cover what you are specifically looking for, to make it easier for both conversations to continue, perhaps you might like to create a new topic? 

Thanks,

Lizzie

[Ben551]

@Beth just remember not to get a coffee capsule machine...The inventor (John Sylvan) regrets ever having invented them because they are kiling the environment with disposable waste products.  He says he wishes he had never done it.

[Lizzie]

Hey @Ben551,

I saw, I think, an article recently that suggested this coffee capsule that you refill/reuse and then place a card-like circular topper to seal it. I wonder if this might help this problem?

[Ben551]

Hi @Lizzie it’s funny you say that because I did a bunch of research last year for my wife, who was trying to figure out a way to use the capsule machines at her work without participating in the daily “plastic mountain” they created. We started looking at a metal one that you assemble in layers... then a few resealable options to reuse capsules.... then we bought one to try.

But, nobody else followed her example. There was still a plastic mountain every day. She even got rolled eyes as she assembled her reusable capsule, and comments like “I don’t have time for all that fuss”. One person even insisted that what she was doing might “ruin the machine if you don’t use a proper plastic one”.

So we decided in the end that the mere existence of these pollution contraptions is something to... not support. At all. Not even with a workaround. The longer they sell disposable capsules for them, the more the mountain of plastic will grow.

[Donna240]

Obviously these people were not used to traveling outside of their hometown. A proper toaster is the one the host provides for the guest to use. Sometimes one has to wonder why people even travel if they expect to find exactly what they have at home. I think your guests probably missed a wonderful trip by being inflexible. I like your toaster, it's cute! 🙂

[Cathie19]

Well @Ben551, @Branka-and-Silvia0, @Huma0, @Gordon0 & @Donna240 & @Jessica & Henry.. and everyone else chatting here:  I’m a glutton for small appliances.

I have a 2 slice (wide spacing for thicker breads) pop up toaster and also a sandwich maker in my homestay space. I have an electric kettle for boiling water for that cup of tea or two minute noodles, and a coffee maker that is basic with a group to hold ground coffee. If this is too complicated for a guest, the instructions are in the folder for guest’s; or there are two coffee plungers they can use! Yes there is a teapot as well.... 🍞☕️🥪

🙈😁😁😁

[Huma0]

@Cathie19

That sounds pretty standard to me and is what I would expect when staying somewhere with a kitchen, although I wouldn't necessarily expect more than one way to make coffee or a teapot. I find the latter is rarely used.

I have the luxury of a big kitchen, so I have most appliances and more than enough crockery, cutlery, pots, pans and utensils. Still, some guests will find something lacking, e.g. the lady who wanted a stove top espresso maker and waste disposal unit. Her husband was also super annoyed that you couldn't put stuff caked in food into the recycling bin. Those guests were sooooo high maintenance and gave me the only 3 star review I have.

I also had a very nice American guest, who is coming back for a third visit soon, who was surprised I didn't have a pizza cutter. I have never thought of buying one. Surely one could just use a knife??!

[Branka-and-Silvia0]

@Huma0

I had to google what is "stove top espresso maker" and it seems it's what we call "Moka" . Don't ever buy it for your guests! It is dangerous if someone is not familiar with it... even if it is. We have it and gave it to our Italian guests ( I thought they know how to use it) but they used too fine coffee and as a result, the metal filter in it twisted. Never again.

[Huma0]

@Branka-and-Silvia0

I have never had one of these myself as it seems like a lot of faff compared to other coffee makers. I did think though that it was weird the guest would say my caffetiere/French press was 'dangerous' when the Moka is clearly more so.

To be honest though, I think she was on medication. If I asked her where they got dinner that evening, she would respond, "I don't remember."

[Sandra126]

@Branka-and-Silvia0, both are dangerous. I have both. I think some guests use one, some the other. A french press if pressed quickly and hard can cover your hands with too hot coffee (I had an exchange student burn her hands at my home on one).

@Ben551, and Beth (couldn't tag sorry), the EU is moving towards NO once-only plastics by 2021. Exciting stuff. However, they do say you can get compostable coffee capsules but I wonder what they are made of and why the coffee still tastes of plastic in consumer reviews? I am with Ben, don't even think about getting one.

[Sarah977]

@Sandra126@Branka-and-Silvia0   Life is dangerous. Best not to make coffee at all, anyway, anyhow 🙂 

[Sandra126]

Cold drip?