6 Buyers Guides
In my spare time I was contracted to write some quickie buyer guides, I share them here with you.
A buyer’s guide to Coffee Machines
What are coffee machines?
A coffee machine is a device that process’ fresh or ground coffee beans into a delicious cup of hot steaming coffee.
What kinds of machines are there?
There are two types of coffee machine, Pods and Capsules, automatic espresson and manual or semi-automatic espresso machines.
Pod Coffee Machines
A pod is a small disc of coffee compressed in thin paper which is placed in the machine, the water is passed through the filter paper and coffee down into the cup. Pods are short lived and should be used quickly. These small machines are a major part of the home buyers’ market. They are usually found in homes, offices and small bars or chops that want to add a quick coffee for their customers. Capsules are usually sold by a local supplier and you usually buy them in bulk, choosing the flavor you prefer but making sure you don’t buy too many since they don’t keep their freshness as much as capsules do.
Price: These machines come in a range of $80 to $500
Capsule Coffee Machines
A capsule of coffee in a vacuum sealed capsule is inserted in the machine, this capsule is pierced by the machine and water is passed through the capsule to collect the water and then flowed down into the cup. Pods are long lasting and can even last as long as 9 months before being used. These small machines are a major part of the home buyers’ market. They are usually found in homes, offices and small bars or chops that want to add a quick coffee for their customers. Pods are usually sold by a local supplier and you usually buy them in bulk, choosing the flavor you prefer.
Price: These machines come in a range of $80 to $500
Automatic Espresso Machines
Espresso machines use freshly ground coffee, you can experiment with different flavors and blends creating the perfect mix for every palate. These machines are easy to operate and maintain. If your machine is not connected to a water source you must make sure you fill the water reservoir before usage. You put the ground coffee in its place, put your cup under the spout and press the start button. Some models come with a milk frother, this is basically a spout that pushes at high speed hot air into the milk causing it to froth up. You might also want to add an adjustable grinder if you prefer to control the grind, giving that extra aroma of freshly ground beans.
These machines can be found in homes and offices where the owner prefers a more personal flavor and control.
Price: These machines come in a range of $500 to $3,500
Manual Espresso Machines (Semi Automatic)
These machines can come in varying sizes, styles and options. They are found in restaurants, bars and coffee shops aimed at giving their customers a full coffee experience. They allow the operator to grind and mix, dose and tamp the coffee in a professional manner. The semi-automatic machines have pre-set amounts set in so the machine will stop poring when the pre-set amount is met. Manual machines are fully manual, you have to stop the flow of coffee.
Take into account space, these machines are usually big.
Price: These machines come in a range of $200 to $1,500
Special considerations
You might want to add a cup warmer, this keeps the coffee warm whilst it stands near the machine before serving. Add a double shot addition, this means that the machine will use fresh coffee for each shot rather than pass water through the same coffee twice. Another feature that is useful is for machines with a water reservoir, you might want an alarm to sound notifying you the water is low.
A buyer’s guide to indoor soccer shoes
What are indoor soccer shoes?
There are three kinds of soccer shoes (football in Europe) hey include outdoor cleats, outdoor turf and indoor. The indoor shoes are used for hard dry surfaces, so their soles are designed for that purpose. The most used shoes are futsal shoes.
What is futsal?
Futsal shoes are shoes dedicated to playing futsal. Futsal is an abridged version of soccer, it’s an indoor 5 player game, its fast and furious and is a high impact sport.
How to choose the correct shoe
When choosing a futsal or indoor soccer shoe, you have to take into consideration a number of factors.
Grip: dependent on the surface, you will need a solid grip. The worst-case scenario is constant slippage, it’s dangerous and can lead to injuries. So always chose a shoe with strong hard surface grip. Gum rubber is your best material here.
Weight: you want a light shoe, minimal weight increase on your ankles and knees, so picking a lightweight shoe is imperative for minimal strain.
Shock absorption: The shoe must have enough shock absorption technology in the heel and sides, as well as in the top (for kicking the ball) to ensure your skeletomuscular frame is not damaged over time. EVA foam is a good solution for padding and comfort.
Durability: The materials used and how they are fitted together is imperative for a shoe that will last a whole season. It’s not expected that shoes will last more than one season, and with kids it’s obvious that shoes are changed every year or sooner due to growth and over use wear and tear.
Aesthetics: well here you decide what suits your personal taste, there are so many brands and designs to choose from that only you know what is appealing in your eyes. Take into account trends set up famous soccer stars, they tend to set the design for kids.
Brands: All soccer shoe manufacturers produce futsal shoes, so you have Nike, Puma, Adidas that lead the pack with Kelme and Joma coming in right next to them. You can also buy cheap ones from China, but you won’t get the same quality and especially with shoes it’s never good to trade quality for price.
Price: Futsal shoes tend to sell around $60 for sales to $110 full price for adults and $36 to $90 for kids and youth.
A buyer’s guide to pellet heating stove
What is a Pellet Heating Stove?
A pellet heating stove is a stove that burns wood pellets rather than wood or coal. Pellets are small, dense and heat very well. Pellets come from a number of sources including sawmills and corn produce. Since they burn pellets, the stoves are smaller in size and as such lighter and easier to install. This saves you time and energy in either cutting your own logs or buying, transporting and storing them
Pellet Stove Designs
Pellet stoves come in a number of designs, the basic classic models and the more modern styles, usually using Nordic simplicity. In both cases, it is advised to make sure you have a big glass viewing screen and add to it some ceramic logs so that you get the full flame effect.
There are also two types of feeders, top and bottom. The top feeder type requires feeding the pellets from the top. You should use high grade low ash pellets since the ash can clog up the combustion chamber. The bottom feeder can use lower grade pellets but they are less burn efficient than the top loader. So, choosing a type is really all about budget, not just purchasing but monthly costs.
How does it work?
Pellet stoves are powered by electricity, they have an internal fan that blows the hot air from inside the stove into the room. So, it is advisable to place your stove near an electricity outlet and have it positioned to blow air in the most efficient way into your room.
Maintenance
Pellet stoves are high maintenance since they are complex in design with lots of moving parts. Proper care and treatment should be maintained in order to ensure a long breakdown fee cycle and you must make sure that you have easy access to the various openings of the unit.
Automatic vs Hand
If you prefer a cheaper model you might consider a manually adjustable unit, on the other hand, if you just want to witch on and enjoy then getting a fully automated one with electronic control, self-adjustment and even air wash systems can provide you with a more hands-off approach. Remember, you will still have to perform a once a week maintenance check.
Where to buy?
A freestanding stove can range between $2,000 and above depending on the brand and size of the unit. Installations fees depend from whom you buy but they can be around $300 up to $500. Another factor to gauge is where do you get your pellets from and how much do they cost. Sometimes the incentives and promotions for buying a pellet heater will overshadow the price of the pellets, so make sure you know exactly how much they will cost and how easy it will be to buy them.
A buyer’s guide to memory foam mattresses
What is a memory foam mattress?
Memory foam is a visco-elastic polymer based mattress that conforms to your body curvature. Originally created for pilots and passengers to act as impact buffers in cases of a crash. The civilian industries soon realized the potential and now we have memory foam mattresses.
What kinds of Memory foam are there?
There are basically three types of memory foam on the market; traditional memory foam that came onto the markets in the 90’s, which designed to increase your bodies circulation, it’s a slow acting foam so you get that sinking feeling when you settle down into it, it also maintains heat, so if you prefer a cooler sleep you shouldn’t pick this one. The second material is open cell memory foam which works faster than the traditional so you don’t get that sinking feeling, it also regulates your body heat dispersal so you get a cooler sleep on this mattress. The final type is gel memory foam which uses different gels imbedded into the mattress. This acts as a perfect body conforming material and as a heat diffuser leaving you with a really cool and comfortable sleep.
Is memory foam for you?
Not everyone can enjoy a memory foam experience, so first of all consider if you really need one. They are amazing shock absorbers, so if you sleep with an active partner this would be perfect for you. It also flows only away from pressure points, so whenever you move your body will encounter a higher perspective, and that will flow around you as your bodies weight moves into place too.
Also, due to its semi-viscous nature, memory foam (hence the name) remembers your body, or in reality, it takes longer for a pressured area to flow back to its original state. This is great news for slid sleepers that have a particular position in bed.
Do not buy a memory foam mattress if you have lumbar problems, the mattress is not a medical device and might not place the correct pressure. Also, if you are a hot sleeper, you will need a mattress that retains heat rather than diffuses it.
Stomach sleepers will not enjoy memory foam, and movers (active sleepers) will also find it unsettling.
Benefit for money
Unlike traditional mattresses, memory foam mattresses are a good run for your money, they last longer and need less maintenance. You don’t need to consider material density, the denser the mattress the longer it will last but the more expensive it will be. Densities range in groups of 3.5lbs/ft, 4lbs/ft and 6lbs/ft. A 4lb/ft mattress will last between 10 to 12 years.
Sources
When buying a memory foam mattress, you must check for country of manufacture, China is known for making low quality products but labeling them high quality, so prefer to buy American or European, whilst it is more expensive, it is the real deal. Always check for certification, and not foreign, make sure your certification is domestic.
Prices
Pries rage from $100 to $4,000 depending on the density, the source and the brand. We suggest you only buy around the $600-$1,800 mark since here you will find the largest range of good quality mattresses.
A buyer’s guide to double strollers
What is a double stroller?
A double stroller is basically a single stroller with two seats. They come in various shapes and styles but they are used to carry two infants at the same time. Another name for stroller is pram and carriage, so if you ask for any of these you will get the same product.
Double stroller types
There are two types of double stroller, either tandem or inline style which is when the seats are one behind the other and the side by side style, which is self-explanatory, the seats are side by side.
Side by side Strollers
Side by side stroller seats are identical in shape and size, they are equally adjustable and the carriage itself will come with various storage facilities, shading and rain proofing. One of the important things to remember with side by side is the width of the carriage, when trying to move it in tight spaces it can be a problem, on the other hand they are easier to maneuver that inline carriages when in open spaces.
Tandem/Inline Strollers
Tandem or Inline strollers have one seat in front of the other so there are differences between the seats. Incline of one seat or adjustable leg rest can differ between seats. In some instances, one seat will come with multiple functions and additions whilst the other one is just a seat. Whilst they can move in tighter places than the side by side modes, they are harder to maneuver in general due to their length.
Wheels and Framework
When buying any kind of stroller, it is imperative you look at two important factors; the wheels of your stroller should not be too small nor made of some cheap material. The best wheels come with ball bearings and are made of a durable metal and rubber combination. The same about frames, the frame should not be some weak thin metal but a solid steel frame or high-grade plastic that won’t break after a month of use.
Suitability
Make sure your stroller is suitable for the age group of the child you want. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have twins, just make sure that the stroller suits the larger of the two and that the larger user has room to grow into the seat.
Frequency of use
When choosing a stroller make sure you buy the one that suits your frequency of use, if you go out a lot then you want one with more features and weight bearing capability.
Prices
Like with everything, there are brands that cost more and cheap imports that cost less, it’s all a matter of your budget, but expect to spend around $200 for a standard model and around $600 and above for the branded names.
A buyer’s guide to cheap headphones
What is a cheap headphone?
A cheap headphone is a headphone that meets your budget! Other than that, they are headphones like any others. The main difference is that the more expensive the headphone the more quality of sound, noise cancellation and listening experience. Although the really high end of the range is mainly used for professionals that use their ears as tools of their trade, for most of us cheap headphones are a quick solution in a tight budget.
What kinds of cheap headphones are there?
There are two types of headphones on the market and they are broken down into sub models; over ear and in ear (earbuds), which can be either wireless or wired. Cheap headphones will invariably be wired earbuds since they are the smallest and easiest to manufacture.
Over Ear headphones
These headphones have three components to consider, the frame and the pads. The frame has to be solid enough not to break, the pads have to be full enough to conform to your ear and the line should be thick enough not to tangle. A cheap headphone frame can sometimes be bothersome since its mechanisms can be loose or stuck making it hard to adjust them on your head. The pads can be too thin so they don’t cancel any noise or just not fitted on properly and fall off.
Earbud headphone
These headphones have two components to consider, the buds which should be comfortable to insert into your ear and the line which should be thick enough not to over tangle. One issue with really cheap earbuds are how they feel in the ear. They can fall out regularly or just hurt.
Brands
There are many brands offering comfortable prices, Panasonic and Samsung are but two popular names with earbuds sold below $10 and wicked audio going below $4.
Quality
Whilst trying to be good for your pocket you must consider quality of sound and sound diffusion as well as noise cancelling. Nosie cancellation comes in either passive or active, the passive is basically a pad that ensures sound doesn’t pass into your ear. Active is when the phones emit a tone that cancels out the background noises. There is no noise cancellation in cheap brands, so if you see one selling under $10 with noise cancellation, know that’s an outright lie.
Another issue with quality is quality of sound, the frequency, fidelity and loudness. The cheaper you go the less quality you will have and the sound is affected accordingly. So, you should always ask about the quality of these three issues. Frequency is important when choosing your phone, the wider the frequency range the more sounds you will hear, the cheap headphones have a very limited range with certain sub ranges cut out completely, so don’t expect to hear your music as it was played, cheap phones won’t give you that experience.
Prices
Since there are literally hundreds of names out there, we won’t go into actual naming of types, just to state that cheap earbuds can come as low as $1 but don’t expect much quality below the $4 mark. As for over headphones, they can come as low as $8, but anything lower than $10 would be a waste of money, they usually average out at $13 for good cheap ones.