Category: Information

Looking to Brew Coffee at Home?

Which Coffee Equipment should you invest in? 

Pour Over /V60: Looking to brew a cup of coffee that’s clean & light? 

Brew Time: 2-4 Minutes 

Type of Coffee: Medium Dark Roast 

Grind Size: Medium 

Method: 

Step 1. Heat the water for a minute or two. 

While the water is boiling/Heating 

Step 2 Place the V60 on a Carafare and place the filter it should be wet first so that any paper taste will be diluted or removed. 

Now Add about 15 gm’s of coffee 

Step 3: Slowly swirl the water (Water should be around 200-300 Ml)  from the kettle over the coffee and around the filter, Let it bloom and repeat this process in between 30 seconds of interval.

Step4:  The coffee would be now brewed and flow into the carafe. For Iced Coffee just add the Ice in the carafe and follow the same process as earlier. 

Equipment Required: Kettle, Water, V60, Coffee, Stirrer and Cups. 

Difficulty level: Expert or a lot of practice to perfect the pour-over. 

French Press: Looking to brew an Americano? 

Brew Time : 3- 4 Minutes 

Type of Coffee: Medium Dark Roast 

Grind size: Medium/Coarse 

Method: 

Step 1. Heat the water for a minute or two. 

While the water is boiling/Heating 

First, remove the plunger and add coffee to the French press base. 

Step 2: Add hot water   ( Water should be about 200-400 Ml) into the French press and stir the coffee from the top, insert the plunger until the brim.

After about 3-4 minutes plunge the plunger and serve the coffee 

Equipment Required: Kettle, Water, French Press, Coffee, Stirrer and Cups. 

Difficulty level: Easy, a perfect way to start learning and brewing coffee. 

Moka Pot:Looking to Brew an Espresso Style coffee? 

Brew Time : 3- 4 Minutes 

Type of Coffee: Medium-light/Dark Roast 

Grind size: Medium/Coarse 

Method: 

Step 1. : Add water  ( Water should be around 100 to 200 Ml) at the bottom base and insert the middle base and add coffee now tighten the Pot.

Step 2: keep the coffee on the gas stove for a couple of minutes, until the hissing sound starts coming and as and when the coffee starts flowing up reduce the speed and switch off the gas. 

Equipment Required: Water, Coffee,  and Cups. 

Difficulty level: Medium 

AeroPress: Looking for a coffee that would be brewed in less than 2 minutes? 

Brew Time: 1-2 Minutes 

Type of Coffee: Medium Dark Roast 

Grind Size: Medium Fine 

Method: 

Step 1. Heat the water for a minute or two. 

While the water is boiling/Heating set up the Aeropress maker. The coffee cup measure should be upside down. The rubber plunger should be pressed inverted from the bottom. 

Step 2: Add about 15 gm’s of coffee by placing the funnel on top first so that the coffee doesn’t spill out. 

Step 3: Now add the heated water ( About 150-200 Ml) and stir the coffee for about  30 seconds to 60 seconds. Now place the filter on the cap and lock the Aeropress ( Note the filter should be rinsed, wet before inserting it, for a better brew experience ) 

Step 4: Now slowly invert the Aeropress on to the mug and press the Aeropress. (Note if the coffee flows without the plunge, you need a finer grind) 

Equipment Required: Kettle, Water, Aeropress, Coffee, Stirrer, Funnel and Cups. 

Difficulty level: Medium to slightly difficult 

Verdict: choose the coffee equipment, By knowing how much time! You are willing to spend to make a cup of coffee each day

To watch videos on how to make the coffee using the equipment and to know more about coffee follow my Instagram account -Link is mentioned below.

https://www.instagram.com/akhilnanda/?hl=en

A Year Made In India -Chocolates #1


The Indian Chocolate and coffee experience this year has been a good surprise especially when you don’t have the options of going out at all. 
Amul chocolates :
Dark chocolates, it wasn’t easy to find good dark chocolates as such in India. 
And when you have run out of your Lindt dark chocolate stock, And aren’t going to be travelling until things settle,  imports to aren’t coming by easily. You have to look out for options. And Amul dark chocolate was the only option I had in my city. Yes, I have had mason & Co and Fidler & Frank in the past. two of the finest dark chocolates I have eaten. But unfortunately, they aren’t available in my city, and I am a little hesitant to order them online. Amul chocolate became my saviour. It’s got the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. And if you haven’t tried it yet. 
You are underestimating one of the best Indian Brands that have flavours like Mocha, Orange, Hazelnut and single-origin flavours from Venezuela, Peru, India 
₹100 onwards for each bar of chocolate 
All Things Chocolate:  I am not sure! How many of you have even heard about this? These chocolates were divine! The combination and the feel of the packaging make you wonder are these truly from & Made in India, Jaipur These chocolates were so good! That we made a special visit to the Clove store in Mumbai to pick them up. 
₹180 onwards for each bar of chocolate 
La folie: One of my favourite cafe in Mumbai, Bandra and when you hear they also have chocolate you want to try the dark chocolate. But with jaggery replaced instead of white sugar, this chocolate wasn’t tasting like chocolate though… ₹250 for each bar of chocolate 
Soklet Chocolates:   Hadn’t known about this brand at all until I visited foodhall in Mumbai last year and discovered and tried it recently  The mint Nibs with dark chocolate and was slightly disappointed with the taste as it was more like honey after taste. ₹200 onwards for each bar of chocolates 
Dider & Frank:   If there is one of gourmet make in India Chocolate who’s whole range I have tried is this one right from the coffee, Orange and Mint chocolate all are very very good!! ₹300 for each bar of chocolate 
Mason & Co:  Bassed in Auroville, Tamil Nadu.A Chocolate that’s I first noticed at a cafe in Mumbai, The Pantry and a few later noticed it again Blue Tokai it was a few months later did I finally try the 70% Dark Chocolate and it was good! This was the first time I tried a gourmet Indian dark chocolate that has flavours like Mint in Dark Chocolate, Espresso dark chocolate and Coconut Dark Chocolate. ₹295 for each bar of chocolate. 
Fabelle: ITC ( Indian Tobacco Company) It is difficult to associate a Cigarette brand and hotel chain with Chocolates especially when you think of chocolate it’s always Cadbury. But, if you haven’t tried the range of Fabelle chocolates from ITC you certainly have missed trying out one of the most underrated chocolates that just melt in your mouth. There are chocolate bars as well tin gift boxes available from Fabelle. ₹450 for each bar of chocolate. 
Smoor Chocolate: A Cafe Brand from Bangalore that is known not only for their cafe but their chocolates too. I tried the cranberry Dark Chocolate and instantly loved the taste of the chocolate. Smoor since the last time I tried has a range of things to offers. Dark thins, Brittles and a whole new range of dark chocolate additions. 
₹300 onwards for each bar of chocolate. 

How many have you tried? And which one is your favourite?

The Subtle Art of not giving a F***K & Think like a Monk – Book Review !!

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**K
A book, That I had heard a lot about. But, never did I find out what it was about. Maybe because it had become such a big sensation and had hit the best-selling charts. That I was slightly sceptical to read at that time, So this year… In The Bookclub we decided to read “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**K” And literally within two days, I was done reading this book. 
Let’s start with what I liked about this book. 
The tone is very conversational, with examples for explanations, so that it becomes very relatable, unlike other self-help books the language is easy to understand. 
The authors refer to his situations in his life, this makes the book trustworthy and gives the confidence to be the change. 
the chapters too are captioned with the doubts or questions we always come across or have come across that makes it a fun read. 
Yes! Happiness is a problem, We always do have a choice, Why we must say “No” and We are always wrong about everything.
This book is like you have always heard someone say those same things, but this time you are not listening, but you have understood his argument. 
CHAPTER 1: Don’t Try
CHAPTER 2: Happiness Is a Problem
CHAPTER 3: You Are Not Special
CHAPTER 4: The Value of Suffering 
CHAPTER 5: You Are Always Choosing 
CHAPTER 6: You’re Wrong About Everything (But So Am I) 
CHAPTER 7: Failure Is the Way Forward 
CHAPTER 8: The Importance of Saying No 
CHAPTER 9: . . . And Then You Die 

 

Think Like Monk – Jay Shetty.

You might think, If you have read a book on spirituality, Zen, Buddhism all are the same. Yes, Most of them are very similar to a great extent. But giving relevant examples that one can connect to the current generation, can install the belief and practice of enlightenment yet again.

Whether it was Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse to finding out the secret by Rhonda Byrne or To know about the Monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma to Learning The Art of not giving a F**K Mark Manson to Thinking like a Monk by Jay Shetty.

All have their way of telling you the same thing, But they use the relevant examples to keep the practice going- If Think as a monk spoke about Brain Acton’s rejection to not giving up and come up with WhatsApp to giving each of us simple practices to practices to live a life of detachment.

Jay Shetty’s this  book, one should read today if they want to connect and change their way of living.

The book is written in three parts – Let Go the first part, Grow second and Give the last part…With some practical applications.

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa 

The Memory Police by Yoko Ogawa 
A book that I first wanted to read, When I had visited a bookstore and found the copy on New arrival and since I had a couple of books that I was reading or wanted to read. I hadn’t picked it up and after a month when I was looking to read something new. I thought about reading The Memory Police. Originally written in 1994, but has been adapted to suit 2019-2020. This book is a science dystopian novel like the ones of 1984 George Orwell, But has more similarities with Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand as who is the Memory Police?  can easily be compared to Who is John Galt?  
The book was also nominated for shortlisting Booker Prize 2020. And relates to issues like loneliness and being expressive the issues like the lives been controlled by a particular organisation. 
This is the first book, I have read of Yoko Ogawa and it is a book, no matter how many years later you read it. You could relate to quite a few of the issues.
This Book written by yet another Japanese writer that I have read this year Should be on your reading list.

Keigo Higashino’s Thrillers Books!!

Journey Under The Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino

It’s very difficult to find thriller books, that keep you engrossed till the last page. And if you have  found it by the same author twice, it couldn’t be better. 

Keigo Higashino a Japanese Author! Ah! Yes another Japanese author. 

Journey under the midnight sun is about A group of children playing inside the building have found the body of a pawnshop owner, 

Detective Sasagaki’s investigation unearths more questions, but never reaches any conclusions. One of his chief suspects, the partner of a woman who the pawnshop owner visited on the day of his death, dies in a car crash soon afterwards. 

Though Sasagaki’s suspects there is more to the deaths, the case is abandoned.But, Twenty years later there are some leads that hints sasagaski that he could finally solve the mystery. 

This is one Book, I came across after enjoying reading “Midsummer Equation by Keigo Higanshino” 

  and what surprises me most about the author and his books is that when you are searching for “Best Thriller Books” You only come across American authors & British Authors, but none of  the  Japanese authors, in the first few links and in the first few reviews. And I wonder why ? “Japanese authors” are really underrated. This whole curiosity for “Japan” For me grew after I visited the country, it was a place I wanted to know more about? 

Keigo Higanshio is best known for his book “The Devotion of Suspect X” 

Yasuko Hanaoka accidentally kills her ex-husband, when circumstances rose to an unendurable level of ghastly behaviour from him. What follows is an elongated and witty brain-game between the investigator and her accomplice, Ishigami, who aided Yasuko in covering up the murder. The Devotion Of Suspect X is the story about an ingenious plotter, and clever Dr Manabu Yukawa, who helps in solving the case.

Incase you are looking to read a nice page turner and are finding it difficult which one to start with you could surely start with “Journey Under The Midnight Sun by Keigo Higashino” 

Salivation Of A Saint By Keigo Higanshino. 

My 3rd Book from Keigo Higanshino, 2nd one of the year and two and half days of another page tuner from Keigo Higanshino.The Writing is so engrossing. Murder has already being committed in the first thirty pages and You might have the hint of who the murderer might me. But How it actually happens remains a mystery…Until Detective Galileo works around the theory with the Police officers and comes to the conclusion. A Book & author you wouldn’t want to miss reading, Who surprises you with a perfect Murder Crime that you wouldn’t in your wildest thought, imagined to take place like the one mentioned in the books and with logical backstory and supporting evidence, This book is all  the more enjoyable where you just want to read  more stories like these from Keigo Higanshino one of  my new favourite Crime/Thriller who doesn’t disappoint. Now the next one I want to read is his bestseller “The Devotion of Suspect X”

Newcomer by Keigo Keigo Higashino. 

Yes! I am enjoying reading thriller. Yes! Haven’t be able to stop reading Keigo Higanshino at all. Newcomer is the 3rd one I have read this year so far from the same author . And If you have even read a single Keigo Higanshino You will know why his books are so good. First of all they involve – Murder,Mystery and crime which would interest anyone who is looking and enjoy’s a thriller.written in such a way that you can not stop reading them… The conclusion, the way an investigator looks Into the crime and the probably reasons and how they come into conclusion are so logically and something so surprising. You wonder how!!!! Newcomer is about a murder that’s happened in Tokyo and this time unlike the other two books salivation of Saint & Journey under the midnight sun where Detective Sasagaki’s & Detective Galileo have solved the cases here we have Detective Kaga who is pretty new to handling a region of Nihonbashi in Tokyo and how he uses his past experience in handling a case that’s pretty clearly an murder.. But the motive behind isn’t unusual yet an interesting read from the one of the best thriller writers today. 
Detective Kyochiro Kaga of the Tokyo Police Department has just been transferred to a new precinct in the Nihonbashi area of Tokyo. Newly arrived, but with a great deal of experience, Kaga is promptly assigned to the team investigating the murder of a woman. But the more he investigates, the greater number of potential suspects emerges. It isn’t long before it seems nearly all the people living and working in the business district of Nihonbashi have a motive for murder. To prevent the murderer from eluding justice, Kaga must unravel all the secrets surrounding a complicated life. Buried somewhere in the woman’s past, in her family history, and the last few days of her life is the clue that will lead to the murderer

Malice By Keigo Higashino 
Ok! This has been my 4th Consecutive read from Keigo Higanshino this year. And though I knew Malice & Devotion of suspect X were his bestsellers and best works, I intentionally decided to keep them last rather than reading them first. Malice! Yes has all the elements of a Keigo Higashino story. Right from The murder taking place in the first in the first chapter and then revealing the murderer and his motive behind the activity. 
This book had clear chapters – Murder,Suspicion, Resolution ,Pursuit Confession, Past and Truth behind all the stories doing the round. Which you realise are the truest elements when solving or planning to do a Murder. 
And Malice was first book, Where Keigo Higashino introduces Detective Kyochiro Kaga in his thriller. 
If You are looking to read thrillers with twist, Turns and an amazing resolution this is the one or rather Keigo Higashino is the one you should be reading now!!
A Story about about an established novelist Kuniko Hidaka who is found murder in his own home, a night before he is planning to leave Japan and move to Vancouver and his body is found in his office, in a locked room within the house. By his Wife and his friend. Both of whom have alibis. 
And the story continues how Detective Kaga investigates and comes to the conclusion who the murder of Kuniko Hidaka the novelist who was found murdered. 

Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino 

Devotion of suspect X has been the last book that I have read from Keigo Higashino books that are available in English translation in india 
Right from the “ A Midsummer equation” to “Journey in the midnight sun” to A Salivation of a  saint” to being a “Newcomer” and a “Malice” occasionally before it became a “devotion of Suspect X” and  towards Keigo Higashino after reading all the books. 
The elements of a Keigo Higashino are usually a Murder and obviously an extra marital affairs is a common subject and a story that supports not only the motive behind the murder, but also coming to the conclusion of not just suspecting the murderer , but also having evidence and logical explanation in getting hold of the murderer. Also having read most of his works. Their  are three detectives that have been characterised in a way where Yukuwa who is also known as “detective Galileo” turns out to be your most favourite because of him having a physicist background that makes it interesting to know about his conclusions.
He is part of “A salivation of a saint, “A Mid-summer equation” and “Devotion of suspect X” 
Then there is  Detective Kaga that was the second detective character who is a typical Detective in the first book “Malice” and “Newcomer” how he solves the mystery by connecting dots that need to be keenly observed by someone who observes details. Detective Sasagaki’s who is part of the “Journey under the midnight sun” is a detective who isn’t satisfied until he gets a closure from a murder, even though time has passed by…The case still haunts him and years later he does get a closure ,a persistent detective, who wouldn’t get peace until he has concluded the case 
Keigo Higashino is author you should be reading, If you still haven’t read any of his works.