Tools
Showing the best equipment to get your cooking jobs done.
From small to big, basic to specialist, and budget to prosumer.
We love doing this work, so that we keep on top of what’s out there for us all, and so you don’t waste time doing the research yourself. We’ll give you the honest information so you don’t get misled by too many biassed or incorrect posts out there so you won’t end up building a cupboard full of useless tools that stress you out just to look at them !
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What’s different about our in-depth equipment reviews.
We’re out to conquer all that mis-information online, and cut through the luring sales chat that keeps you going round in circles. You’ll find a lot of genuine and complete detail here, and we’ll show you the simple and expert tools that will take you a long way on your cooking journey. We only recommend tools we fully believe in, or use, or wish to have ourselves. All of them are our own purchases.
Elderflower cordial recipe
It´s that time of year again ! Sun is coming out. Barbecue cover is off. And those elderflowers are just begging to be picked for this really simple Elderflower cordial recipe.
AeroPress coffee maker – in depth review
Free your mind with this unconventional coffee maker. So versatile that I´m still uncovering more coffee recipes and flavours with it. No wonder baristas love it, what a clever invention !
15 Best hand blenders to buy – 2021 update
From budget to keen cook to professional. Revealing the best, most tested, and awarded hand blenders in the last 5 years. Which ones did we buy, and why ?
In-depth review of Bamix SwissLine hand blender
Small, power-packed, and in a league of its own. The Bamix SwissLine gets our ´best commercial hand blender’ award.
Need help choosing the best Bamix to buy today ?
The complete low down on the Bamix range. Product overview and key features explained. We’ll tell you the important criteria to consider… which model would we would buy today, and why !
Choosing a cordless hand blender
Discover what makes cordless hand blenders so great. Get advice from the experts on the best (USB, basic, value, all-round, prof. ) PLUS a new cordless mixer. There´s a reason we also want to show you a great new cordless mixer too.
20 reasons why we’re obsessed with Sous Vide
Sous Vide simplifies professional cooking… levelling the playing field between cooks and chefs. It goes even further than that. It can simplify your kitchen, your life… and more !
In-depth review of our favourite outdoor oven, the best home pizza oven, by Ooni of course
Super powerful. Super portable. Super clean. Koda or Koda16 – you choose. Best design, best results, best value for money. Read everything you need to know here.
Which Braun MultiQuick hand blender should you buy ?
Explaining the Braun MultiQuick hand blender range, and the LATEST NEWS – which pleases us no end ! The research has taken forever- we’ve started writing so we can share the secrets with you !
Free coffee masterclass… top service
A brilliant masterclass on how to make a perfect cappuccino. It’s free, so I checked it out for you… the pleasure was all mine ! I’ll pass on a few tips on which milks to use to get the perfect results… and link you to your own free class too.
In-depth review of Kenwood Triblade HDP406WH hand blender
Voted the best value mid range hand blender, for home cooks. The Kenwood Triblade Blender – the HDP406WH. In depth review.
Is it a Spanish Percolator, Mokapot, Cafeteria, or Greca !
It’s a challenge. From manual espresso makers, to best Nespresso takers. Now we’re out of capsules. Time to get creative. Digging deep, we find an old vintage
In-depth review of the best semi-automatic espresso machine
The best home espresso machine for busy coffee lovers and wanna be baristas. That’s the beauty of it – perfect for both Paul… and Aoibheann.
Coffee is always better in a good coffee cup.
Take advantage when the sun shines, even if you have loads of work to do.
In-depth review of Bamix Gastro 350 hand blender
UK Chefs Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver love Bamix. The Bamix Gastro 350 is a winner for our ´best commercial hand blender´ award 2021.
In-depth review of Braun MultiQuick 9 series (MQ9087X / MQ9097) hand blender
AWARD WINNER 2020 best all-in-one home blender. More than a hand blender – more like a hand held food processor. Built with families in mind.
Why everyone should own a hand blender
Tell the people…you heard it here!!! Instant, healthy, easy, no waste food AND save money at the same time. So many beautiful reasons why you should have one of these magic wands!
In-depth review of Sage Control Grip ( Breville All In One ) hand blender
Designed by Heston Blumengthal for foodies, to produce restaurant quality food. Could this hand blender really be a Jack AND Master of all trades! N.B. Same product as Breville All in One (Sage is the UK wing of Breville.)
Cuisinart vs KitchenAid
Which brand, and which hand blender will win, and why? Discover the best models from entry level, mid level, to professional, and the latest bargain to buy today.
Bamix accessories and attachments
The tiny Bamix blades with the power of a jet engine ! Amazing Bamix quality – lasts a lifetime. The choice of the professionals.
Top 10 best bean-to-cup espresso coffee machines to buy.
We all need this café quality coffee at home – now, more than ever, in lockdown times, when we can’t get to our favourite coffee shops for a top up.
Which espresso coffee capsules or pods are best for recycling ?
How to still have the best espresso from a pod or capsule machine and not feel guilty about the environment! We´ll show you the most eco friendly methods, materials and brands.
The best espresso coffee machines that use ground coffee and ESE pads
Fed up with coffee pods and want better coffee and easier recycling ? Discover the best ESE coffee PAD and ground coffee machines that brew excellent espresso. From basic to stylish, but what do they all have in common ?
What exactly is a hand blender anyway ?
START HERE: Hand blender, Immersion Blender, Stick Blender, Handheld blender. A short definition, the history, how it works, and how do they all differ from one another.
The best POD espresso coffee machines to buy now
A review of the top POD and CAPSULE espresso coffee machines. From best budget level, to best barista quality. Also pointing out best PAD machines. – what’s the difference?
How to use a hand blender
10 tips on how to use a hand blender… all the jobs a hand blender can do… and over 20 yummy foods it can make for you.
Best manual espresso machines to buy now
La Pavoni, Sage, Breville, Rocket, Rancilio… which ones did WE buy?
Our TOP Filter coffee machine buys
Get the best filter coffee solution for you here. Whether you’re a busy commuter needing a pick-me-up on the go, need to feed the crowd all day with the black stuff or want the best new wave craft coffee made for you at home.
Celebrity hand blenders
Celebrities and top chefs love their kitchen gadgets. They are happy to blend along with the rest of us. So which hand blender brands do they like?
The best hand blender for seniors, arthritic hands, and easy baby food making.
In depth review of the Masha hand blender by Dash. All the reasons why it’s our no. 1 choice for mashing vegetables and blending baby food, best for seniors, or those with little hands or arthritis. We love a specialist, and simplicity equally. This product is a winner on both counts.
Hand blender FAQs
Enough of the hand blender tests and trials. Here are all the silly, (and frequently asked), questions about hand blenders. Answered here by our in house expert !
In-depth review of Russell Hobbs 22241 hand blender
Our ´best basic hand blender´ award goes to the Russell Hobbs 22241 hand blender. A perfect, affordable gift for university students, pensioners, start-up cooks.
Best Coffee Machine Brands
The top 20 coffee machine brands you should know… and they aren’t all Italian !
Coloured hand blenders – red, white, black, or pink ?
or a mint green, a baby blue, an anthracite grey… or how about a gold plated one. The choices are endless. Cuisinart and Bamix have the best colour ranges.
Detailed hand blender buying guide
Which one should you choose when they all look the same ! This detailed guide shows you how to find the hand blender to suit you. It gives a checklist of the main criteria to look at – including power, speeds, quality, design, use, price, functionality.
The 10 things you need to make your perfect espresso coffee
All the elements explained. So you can understand what makes a perfect espresso. Good to know before buying any coffee making equipment !
How to clean a hand blender
Which parts can be washed by hand, or dishwasher. Maintenance tips to keep your hand blender as good as new.
La Pavoni Coffee Machine
It’s Italian of course we love it !!!
the beautiful manual lever operation.
the steam is always immediately available.
Sous Vide FAQs
Here are all the silly, (and frequently asked), questions about sous vide. Answered here by our in house expert !
10 reasons why the Joule sous vide blows the competition out of the sous vide water !
In depth review of the ChefSteps Joule sous vide machine. All the reasons why it’s the no. 1 choice, why we bought one. It’s not perfection of course, so read the areas where the competition have a little edge too!
Sous Vide machine buying guide
An answer to all those questions we had when we were choosing our own sous vide machine ! The factors you need to consider and why they matter.
Cooking with Sous Vide, Times and temperatures
A guide to the basics of sous vide cooking times and temperatures for all the most popular sous vide foods, plus top tips from chefs.