Saeco GranBaristo Automatic Coffee Machine - Review

After using this coffee maker for two weeks, I am just beginning to start liking it.
Why did it take me so long? The reason is simple. I was using the Primea Touch plus coffeemaker before the GranBaristo.. It was the bomb. Fantastic machine. Fully programmable, with color LCD touchscreen, able to make 2 units milk beverage at a single touch and not forgetting, auto wake up with different timings. I can program the machine to wake up automatically each morning so that the machine is ready to make my cappuccino before going to work.

Unfortunately, the Primea Touch Plus (looks bad doesn't it) is dying...I held off long enough before buying a new machine. Saeco, after being bought by Philips, was was not a desirable brand to me. Service went downhill, they do not even stock some of the Prime Touch plus cleaning powders. Oh well.. I was looking at other brands... But somehow, all roads lead back to Saeco. I got a Saeco Exprelia as my personal coffee maker in the office (lol, but that is another story) and now the GranBaristo for home.

It is a beautiful machine. Touch buttons, with nice lights (but no touch LCD panel though, a pity) and with a very slim profile, the new unit leaves me with more space on my kitchen counter top. Unit is made up of a combination of chrome and plastic, It has a nice chrome panel in front and white plastic materials on the side as well as the top. Some people like it (my friends do), but I don't. I would prefer the whole machine to be chrome (lol)...but that is wishful thinking.

 

Unit has a very interesting feature. It has a removable bean hopper. I can just take out the whole container and replace it with another (containers are optional). What this means is that, if I am in the mood for other types (and blends) of coffee beans, I can just swipe one for another. No need to empty the container for another variety of coffee beans. Very suitable if U have guests who prefers decaffeinated coffee.

Maintenance is a lot easier than the Primea Touch plus. All one has to do is to press the button on the front, right-side panel to open the service door (service door - official name as stated by the user manual.. lol). To clean the unit and to remove used coffee grounds, just slide out the drip tray with the coffee grounds container on top. Cleaning the brewer unit is also easy. Just pull it out with one finger (ha ha ha ha ha) as mentioned on the label (on the pict). I like it.

I really like the milk carafe. It is so easy to use and maintain as compared to the Primea Touch plus machine as well as the Saeco Exprelia. All one has to do is to insert the carafe to the machine, slide the milk spout out (make sure U hear a click sound). and that is it. No fuss,  no mess. Once a week, take apart the black plastic parts and clean them in water. So easy.

Would love to have an auto wake-up function on this unit, but unfortunately, no. But I think the rest of the features makes this machine a very good buy. As for the taste, I like it that I can program everything, from temperature of the drinks, all the way to the type of beans that I put in. Love, love love.  On the whole, the beverages taste a lot better than the Primea Touch Plus... lol


Cheers!

Louis Vuitton Monogram Revelation - Blast from the past

This bag is my first expensive, exclusive Louis Vuitton. I saw it on the Runway, Fall/winter 2009/2010 to be exact.

The bag is distinctive with its raised Monogram pattern on soft black, grained veal leather which is inspired by scarification. Its is a permanent body modification which involves scratching, etching, or some sort of superficial cutting or incision to the skin. The practice is usually carried out as a rite of passage, common to African tribes. This eye-catching bag is a must-have for short breaks or for just toting around the city thanks to its practical size. I fell in love with it. So much so that I fall sick. U can say, I was love sick.

The problem with Louis Vuitton Runway bags is that they are all limited. Stores are usually supplied with 1 or 2 bags, which is usually snapped up by Louis Vuitton VICs (aka Very Important Customers). So what is a guy like me is supposed to do. Go bid for a bag from EBAY of course. Unfortunately for me, there are unscrupulous people who makes tons of money selling exclusive bags like the Monogram Revelation. These people are usually VIC or just plain lucky. The asking price of these bags are usually a lot more expensive than the retail price.

Somehow, I managed to get the bag. I was in lvoe. and still is.

It is beautiful. I have yet to see anyone wearing this particular piece. I was so in LVOE... UNTIL ONE DAY, BONO came along.

Look at what Bono, and especially, his wife Ali Hewson is wearing. Another Monogram Revelation. A brown one. And look at the bag charm. Wow! I just have got to have it. As luck would have it, no one at the boutique knows what I was blabbering about when I asked for the Bono bag. The store supervisor had to check with the regional office (I was very one of the first to know about the bag. I promised myself that I would not get anything from EBAY ever again). I was lucky, the bag was about to be shipped and I managed to secure me 1 piece.

Here is the Monogram Revelation brown. (every journey begins in Africa).

The bag comes with Masai bagcharm. There is a small metal plate on the charm "Every Journey Begins in Africa" embossed on it.

Internally both bags are lined with leather, the black bag with red and the brown, with a dark brown calf leather,very soft. The brown bag features a leather patch in the lining embossed with "Every journey began in Africa".

I was so lucky to acquire both bags. Here are picts of both.

Until next time...

Louis Vuitton under Nicolas Ghesquière

After watching 2 runway shows from LV's new creative director, I cannot help but miss Marc Jacobs terribly. It is not that Nicolas Ghesquière's collection is terrible. In fact, far from it. But, I cannot help but thinking that LV's new direction is so different, the brand might alienate its many loyal customers.

The fall/winter 2014/2015, Nicolas Ghesquière's debut collection for LV, to me looks like something that is usually reserved for its pre-collection. It is boring and safe... mundane. I do not see anything to rave about. No oomph,. Classy, yes. Luxe, yes.. but boring, somehow.  But, then again.. I am not a girl. lol

The whole thing looks to me, very Balenciaga...but more lux. Technically superb... I like some of the designs, like the 2nd dress from the right. Looks like feathers.. but it is not. And the soundtrack from the runway, is apt... Copy Cat from Kelis. Many of Nicolas Ghesquière's creation has been copied by other designers... But somehow... the sum of its parts does not make a whole.

Also, the new logo on many of the invite. What's up with that. (Oh.. I was invited to the fall/winter women's event)

And the bags... don't even get me started.  If the clothes looked like Balenciaga, the bags are even worse. Some of them looked like rejects from Tods... I was told that the inspiration of that particular bags was from its archives.. I think some things are meant to be in the past and not dug up. The Petit Malle though is not part of that list. I like it. A very nice clutch, beautiful to look at. and classy.

Me thinks that change is good, inevitable, every new designer wants to put his stamp, his trademark on a brand. And LV does not have a RTW heritage, unlike Dior, Chanel.. but somehow, I grow up with Marc Jacobs and LV. It seems that the past 17 years never happened, Marc Jacobs and LV never happened. I love his collaboration and fascination with the art world, and the many artists that collaborated with him and LV. Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Kanye West and Yayoi Kusama are some of the artists involved. The stuff that came out of that collection is fantastic. I just love them.. Unfortunately, I only have 1 piece.. Oh well..

Anyways, I do not know if this particular change is good, or bad. Only time will tell.

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Saeco GranBaristo Automatic Coffee Machine

My Saeco Gran Baristo Automatic Coffee Machine just got delivered today. Wow, this coffee machine is compact, and simply oozes with sex appeal.. Slim, svelte, and packed to the rafters with  features, I hope the Gran Baristo is the perfect replacement for my aging Saeco Primea Touch Plus coffee machine. Will try to put up a review later.

Louis Vuitton fall/winter 2014 shoes collection

Just got news that there new shoes available at Louis Vuitton. The kind SA whatsapp some picts. Looks interesting.

Louis Vuitton Sky Tour

Just saw this at Louis Vuitton the other day. The SKY TOUR collection, an accompanyment of the fall/winter 2014 men's precollection, consists of a few items. The biggest, the Sky Tour key holder, looks like a Concorde, made of palladium-plated brass. There is a small "L.V" signature on one of the wings.  The smaller plane is part of a 2 piece set of brooches, aptly named, Sky Tour set of brooches (so original). The bigger piece is a palladium plated concorde brooch and the smaller, a black ruthenium-plated brass Victory sign. The last piece, a neck chain set, with small pendants, a propeller, something that looks like a hot air balloon and a propeller.

I have mixed feeling about the collection. The key holder and brooches are ok.. but bordering on meh. The chain on the other hand, is bad. The propeller pokes your skin. Masculine, definitely. Fashionable... maybe.. Lux, nope. Some how, the L.V engraving on the plane "wings" does not give them the "pop" the collection needs.
 

My first post. Pardon the mess

"I don't know what to say!" I remembered this line from a political figure some time back. I was laughing hysterically. How can a politician utter that line. Don't know what to say? hmm...

Looking back, and today, starting a blog. I am suddenly tongue-tied. Why? Cause, at a ripe middle-age of 47, I am starting a blog.  Why am I doing this? I honestly don't know. I was told by a friend that I should. I ask him, who would read my blog, and he said that he woould. I am like, huh, what????

What do I write about? Who do I write about? Why should I write? Honestly, I don't know. I guess I have to start at the very beginning.

Oh well... Here I am. Here I'll stay. Here I blog... and this is a beginning.