Re: Random Japanese Signs

[J.A.F.O]

Can you have a coffee CLIMAX?

Climax-Coffee-sexy.jpg

"The finest cream in their Latte" and they have cute muffins too.

Climax-muffs.jpg

That "Climax" is in Okinawa, but the original Aussie CLIMAX took more than 50 years to truly master the engrish...

FOR OVER 50 YEAR "CLIMAX ENGINEERING"...
This machine designed & Build to grind coffee consistently & reliably, from ‘TURKISH’ to ‘PLUNGER’.
Can also be used for grinding such substances as spices, rise , coal, etc...
...When the Machine is plugged in, the internal long life fluorescent globe lights up, indicating that the power is ‘ON’.
It also allow to watch the hopper as the coffee is being ground.
climaxcoffee.com.au

Huh, learn something new every da... er month? but yea that's cool. Says you can grind spices but I don't think I will be doing that. Last time I ground spice in my cheapo coffee grinder I had some leftover dried naga morich peppers and well now its my permanent chilli grinder.

As far as coffee paraphernalia is concerned been eyeing up this little baby

Technivorm.jpg

Not a French creation but it at least it's not chinese assembled

[Yokohammer]

As far as coffee paraphernalia is concerned been eyeing up this little baby

Not a French creation but it at least it's not chinese assembled

Arrrrgh ... coffe paraphenalia ... cannot resist!!

I like the look of that thing. Looks like it has a vacuum-walled coffee pot, which is a really great idea. Mine is a different brand but the same idea (picture below). There's no heater under the coffee so it doesn't end up tasting like shit after 15 minutes, but the "thermos" type pot keeps it warm for quite a while.

images.jpeg

But that's only for when I have to make multiple cups. If it's just one cup for me I hand drip with a V60.

My grinder is a Melitta Vario (below). Kinda expensive but a great grinder for everything from coarse drip to extra-fine espresso.

melitta_vario.jpg

I'd post a pic of my roaster too, but I've probably already gone too far OT ...

[Coligny]

I had a marvel of mediocrity in Paris that was an automatic 1 cup size filter drip masheen.
Fill mug with water, drop water in the rear tank, put coffee in the perpetual filter box, put cup under, push button, wait for the boiled water to pass through the coffee and reach the mug.
The hardest part was to persuade yourself it was somehow coffee,

Disclaimer, I'm now addicted to Mc Coffee, so, as usual... Certainly not the most reliable taste around...

(Thread split anyone ?)

[matsuki]

Yoko, do you know any good all in one machines? (bean to cup)

[Yokohammer]

Yoko, do you know any good all in one machines? (bean to cup)

I've used 'em to make a cup of latte in family restaurants, but never even considered owning one.
Just seems like overkill for home, and you don't get to control the little subtleties that make a great cup of coffee.
And I'm betting you pay for that convenience somewhere ... like, maybe they're a pain in the arse to clean and maintain. Don't know for sure though.

Having said that, if you have a string of customers/visitors that need to be "omotenashi-ed" with coffee all day I can see the value.

So no, sorry, can't offer any recommendations.

[matsuki]

Yoko, do you know any good all in one machines? (bean to cup)

I've used 'em to make a cup of latte in family restaurants, but never even considered owning one.
Just seems like overkill for home, and you don't get to control the little subtleties that make a great cup of coffee.
And I'm betting you pay for that convenience somewhere ... like, maybe they're a pain in the arse to clean and maintain. Don't know for sure though.

Having said that, if you have a string of customers/visitors that need to be "omotenashi-ed" with coffee all day I can see the value.

So no, sorry, can't offer any recommendations.

Yeah, I have about 500 reasons to own one =)

[Yokohammer]

Yoko, do you know any good all in one machines? (bean to cup)

I've used 'em to make a cup of latte in family restaurants, but never even considered owning one.
Just seems like overkill for home, and you don't get to control the little subtleties that make a great cup of coffee.
And I'm betting you pay for that convenience somewhere ... like, maybe they're a pain in the arse to clean and maintain. Don't know for sure though.

Having said that, if you have a string of customers/visitors that need to be "omotenashi-ed" with coffee all day I can see the value.

So no, sorry, can't offer any recommendations.

Yeah, I have about 500 reasons to own one =)

Figures. Your temple "danka" I assume. Probably a really good idea in that case.

~ Tapatalking ~

[Coligny]

Yoko, do you know any good all in one machines? (bean to cup)

Mominlaw got several, they break every 6 month and cost a fortune. Finally she's now using my 1500y drip pot thing.

[J.A.F.O]

I'd post a pic of my roaster too, but I've probably already gone too far OT ...

roaster.jpg

I wanted to buy a Behmor 1600 but I don't roast enough to justify the cost. Toaster oven works fine. I start hearing the second crack and give another 30 - 60 secs. MMMM nice light roast.

[J.A.F.O]

If you know or recommend a smaller one reasonably priced I would be interested in hearing what you think. Or just stick to the toaster oven ya think?

[Yokohammer]

I wanted to buy a Behmor 1600 but I don't roast enough to justify the cost. Toaster oven works fine. I start hearing the second crack and give another 30 - 60 secs. MMMM nice light roast.

Oh alright ... definitely going to need a thread split, but what the hey ...

I use a Gene Cafe, like this one.

gene_cafe1.jpg

But ... 30 ~ 60 sec. after second crack is a light roast? I'd be into French Roast territory at that stage. Smoke, oil on the beans, the works. I usually roast just up to the point where second crack is about to begin, which gives me about a full city roast (which is pretty much standard).

EDIT: BTW, I've been using that Gene Cafe for about 5 years now, and it has been great so far.

[J.A.F.O]

For me I use a slightly lower heat than the commercial roasters and it takes a bit longer. (because my toaster oven only goes so high, plus its merican 120V with only 100V wall current) I'm also quite fond of the guatemalan elephant beans that sweet marias sells from time to time, which take a little bit longer.

Looks like a sweet little machine you got there. Did you purchase in Japan or bring it over... use a transformer?

(someone who can speak the same language... LOL)

[Yokohammer]

Looks like a sweet little machine you got there. Did you purchase in Japan or bring it over... use a transformer?

I bought that machine at Coffee Tonya in Yokohama. They're made in Korea, I believe.

There's a bit of a story (which I'm sure you'll be delighted to hear): I originally purchased a cheaper Korean-made machine that turned out to be a lemon. Coffee Tonya was having some trouble with the manufacturer, and so offered to take back any machines that had been sold that were giving trouble. At the same time they offered to sell anyone returning a duff machine (I forget the brand) a new Gene Cafe machine, which at the time were selling for around JPY 69,000, for only JPY 30,000. So I jumped on that deal and have been happy ever since!

Coffee Tonya are a great store, and I still buy most of my beans from them. Just call them on the phone and they send up whatever I order with a payment slip that I can use at the Post Office or a Convenience Store. No need for payment up front (of course they know me ... but still). They have a huge selection of beans at reasonable prices. Also plenty of paraphernalia. I think the main store is in Tokyo, but I only ever used the one in Yokohama.

Website at: http://www.tonya.co.jp/shop/c/c0/

[Taro Toporific]

I like the look of that thing. Looks like it has a vacuum-walled coffee pot, which is a really great idea. Mine is a different brand but the same idea (picture below). There's no heater under the coffee so it doesn't end up tasting like shit after 15 minutes, but the "thermos" type pot keeps it warm for quite a while....

I own that Melitta brewer. The stainless steel "thermos" type pot is the feature that sold me.
Sadly, so many of these machines use plastic parts in the brewing path rather than having all stainless steel (or copper or glass). The first thing I did was throw away the nylon mesh strainer and use a stainless steel one (with useless gold plating).

Melitta.jpg

...Coffee Tonya are a great store, and I still buy most of my beans from them...
Website at: http://www.tonya.co.jp/shop/c/c0/

Coffee Tonya appears to have free shipping (?) and their prices are fair compared to rest of the Japanese market.
http://www.tonya.co.jp/shop/e/eFREEDEL/

SIDE NOTE: I split this coffee thread into a separate topic
that I titled "Coffee p0rn" but that split thread
unsplit itself after a few minutes. Weird.

[Taro Toporific]

Back to the topic of "Japanese Signs"...

deer-xing.jpg

asahi.com/articles

[Coligny]

Pretty sure bikers will love this shit on rainy days /not.

[matsuki]

Pretty sure bikers will love this shit on rainy days /not.

Wonder if anyone here has ever sued for shit like that...

[Taro Toporific]

Subaru: Now with limited eyesight(tm)!

limited-eyesight.jpg

jalopnik.com/this-japanese-ad-doesnt-make-subarus-eyesight-look-ve-1522335566

[Mike Oxlong]

Pretty sure bikers will love this shit on rainy days /not.

Wonder if anyone here has ever sued for shit like that...

The way it looks in Taro's photo the paint could be the non-skid type getting more common at major intersections these days.

[matsuki]

Pretty sure bikers will love this shit on rainy days /not.

Wonder if anyone here has ever sued for shit like that...

The way it looks in Taro's photo the paint could be the non-skid type getting more common at major intersections these days.

That would be good, the last thing we need is nirinsha speed bumps on the road.

[Mike Oxlong]

Insensitive!

[Taro Toporific]

"Odakyu has a Japan."

Screen Shot 2014-03-05 at 4.58.26 PM.jpg

odakyu.jp/engrish

In what universe is "Odakyu has a Japan" a good slogan? http://t.co/pMKK0wBYJ8 Are they going after the LOLcat market?
---Mulboyne (@Mulboyne) twitter March 4, 2014

[Yokohammer]

"Odakyu has a Japan."

Screen Shot 2014-03-05 at 4.58.26 PM.jpg

odakyu.jp/engrish

In what universe is "Odakyu has a Japan" a good slogan? http://t.co/pMKK0wBYJ8 Are they going after the LOLcat market?
---Mulboyne (@Mulboyne) twitter March 4, 2014

Couldn't possibly ask a gaijin, I suppose. That would be embarrassing.

[wagyl]

Not all foreigners are native English speakers....

[Yokohammer]

Not all foreigners are native English speakers....

Now that's the forehead-slapper of the day!
Why didn't I think of that?

[Russell]

How does that translate into Japanese?

[Coligny]

Why didn't I think of that?

Alzheimer ?

[Coligny]

How does that translate into Japanese?

As bad as usual...

Screen Shot 2014-03-05 at 8.jpg

[Mike Oxlong]

Jose likes it...

If you are interested in making a day trip out of Tokyo to some great destinations, a great method of doing so is by the private Odakyu railway. With trains mostly running out of Shinjuku station, Odakyu trains serve the hot springs of Hakone and the seaside of Enoshima. Some trains also connect to the city of Gotemba, which is home to a large outlet shopping mall, and trains also go out to a residential and retailing district called “Tama New Town”.

One of the keys to inviting foreigners to utilize the services of Japanese companies – whether it be a hotel, a restaurant, or travel – is to have a good foreign language website. I believe that the Odakyu Railway has done just that with the upgrade of their new multi-language Odakyu web site, which occurred this month. The website for the English version is at www.odakyu.jp/english ; they also have the new website in Korean and two Chinese languages.

The new slogan for the Odakyu Railway is “Odakyu Has A Japan”, and the new website shows this perfectly...

[legion]

"Odakyu has a Japan."

I think they have taken this up to a whole new level

Odakyu has a Japan, which is different to the Japan of JR