From espresso machines and milk frothers to bean-to-cup appliances, the market demand for barista-quality beverages at home is ever-expanding. And with coffee shops shut during multiple lockdowns over the last few years, sales of cult-favourite products such as the Hotel Chocolat velvetiser and the Nespresso vertuoplus have soared. But these coveted products don’t come cheap. Retailing at £99.95...
We all do it: we’ll moan for weeks about our dark, damp winters, only to complain about the sudden blast of heat that marks the onset of summer. Luckily, there’s never been a wider range of fans to choose from, whether you’re a heat-hating homeworker whose office transforms into a microwave during the summer months, or a parent keen to find a way to keep larger rooms such as lounges cool. If...
Who would have thought the world of kettles would become so confusing? These days, kettles aren’t just devices that heat water to boiling point – they’re gadgets that can be tweaked to heat water to the ideal temperature for everything from coffee to green tea, while removing limescale and softening water with built-in filters. This is all well and good, but working out which features are...
Former BBC Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin and her teenage daughter have spoken out about their experience of being stalked. Louise Minchin, who co-hosted the show alongside Dan Walker, said messages she received from her stalker made it obvious he was aware of where she lived. Mia, the presenter’s daughter, said the ordeal left her in “floods of tears”. Carl Davies, a 44-year-old former...
For such a small grain, rice can be surprisingly hard to cook. Those without the knowledge and practice of how the rice and water ratio works will no doubt find that their rice comes out gloopy, burnt or chewy, instead of the fluffy accompaniment they were hoping for. Different rice varieties, such as those ideal for risotto, long grain, jasmine and basmati, mean that the chore of cooking your...
Bread makers can save you huge amount of money – not just because the cost of the ingredients is much less than the shop-bought stuff, but because programmes such as fast-bake settings allow you to whip up a loaf in 60 minutes. That means no dashing to that (very expensive) corner shop for emergency bread when supplies run low. They’re great for your health, too – if you’re familiar with the...
First, we want you to banish your childhood memories of granny’s ornate, chintz-covered rocking chair, because this overlooked piece of furniture has had a serious style update in recent years. Whether you’re looking for a big, plush upholstered number that you can really sink into, one that can be used outdoors as well as in, or a timeless design that could become the next family heirloom, we’ve...
Spring is officially upon us, yet with the cooler weather still lingering, the temptation to turn on your central heating still remains. But with energy bills reaching new heights, it may be time to find some alternative ways of keeping warm. What’s needed is something that can be taken off as quickly as it is put on and doesn’t cost the Earth to use. Enter the electric blanket. The concept isn’t...
No matter how big our home is we can never have enough storage space – it is, after all, a precious commodity. So, when an opportunity comes to combine storage with a stylish new furniture piece, shrewd homemakers grab it. Storage beds generally fall into two groups: those with generous under-bed drawers, and those with nifty lifting mechanisms, which allow the bed to open up, revealing a sizable...
That there is no specific word in the English language for the disappointment suffered on discovering your tea has gone cold before you got to drink it may seem odd to most Britons. The feeling is, can we suggest, brewtal. A quick nuke in the microwave does, of course, bring up the temperature, but the tea or coffee never comes out tasting quite the same, and it certainly loses any freshness. So...