The long hot days of summer may have petered out, but here in Southern California it's always cold coffee season. Sadly many baristas have yet to figure out how to nail the perfect iced joe. That's where Grady's comes in. The Brooklyn-based company makes delicious cold brew coffee concentrate with a New Orleans flair. It's a simple process: ground roasted coffee and chicory (therein lies the......read more
Here's a cool little smartphone battery pack from the gadget makers at Cheero. The charger takes the shape of Danboard, an iconic manga character made of cardboard, but don't be fooled by the cuteness--this thing packs a lot of juice. How much juice, you ask? 6000mAh, we answer. What the hell is mAh, you ask? It's a measure of battery capacity, and in this case it means you can charge your iPhone......read more
Ugly plastic power bars have nothing on the Oom, a thoughtfully designed alternative made using sustainable maple from Connecticut. The Oom is the brainchild of David Okum, an LA-based product designer whose work we've featured before. He describes his latest creation like this: Three electrical sockets designed to flex and rotate conform to different situations, allowing for all connections......read more
The BoostSolar Charger, new in 2013 from Eton, is a handy backup battery that gets powered up by the sun then can be used to charge smartphones and tablets while you're off the grid. On one side, the BoostSolar features a 5" solar charger; on the other, a removable 4,000mAh lithium battery. The solar panel can charge the battery in 10 hours, giving the battery enough juice to charge two iPhones......read more
NudeAudio's Move speakers combine minimal aesthetics, rugged portability and top-notch sound quality. Co-founded by longtime IDEO designer Peter Riering-Czekalla, the brand fills a pricing gap in the premium speaker market. "If you look at the speakers that are successful, like Jambox or the Beats Pill, they are all $170-190 for a small little speaker," he told Cool Hunting. "We don't believe......read more
The Poketo folks traveled from their downtown LA digs to Minnesota to source these boards made from reclaimed Ash trees. Dried, sanded, and finished with a food-grade mineral oil, the boards are a perfect way to add a slice of nature to your dining table. The durable treated wood makes them suitable for use as cutting boards, trivets, or coasters. And with their stunning tree ring patterns,......read more
Berkeley, CA-based ceramicist Rae Dunn operates on both sides of the imaginary line between art and craft. Her work, which ranges from custom-designed housewares to large-scale sculptures, is woven together by common themes like the beauty of simple shapes and natural forms. These square-shaped salt and pepper cellars display both in spades. Made of creamy-glazed porcelain and adorned with......read more
Here in sunny California, there's no excuse for not using solar pwoer to charge up our portable devices. This ingenious unit from XD Design, which sticks to the window to maximize exposure to the sun, makes it simple. With the photovoltaic panels facing placed against a window, you don't have to move it around to follow the sun and avoid the shade. On the base of the device are a full-size USB......read more
Is there a better way to enjoy the holidays than sipping some homemade nog? There is not. This spice rack from Peg & Awl has everything you need to brew up a pot of the winter delight. The complete kit is made of reclaimed wood from old shipping crates, which holds three vials of ingredients: nutmeg, vanilla extract, and cinnamon sticks. It also comes with a recipe book. Grab a......read more
Using technology that was initially designed for the military, PowerFilm's R15-300 Rollable Solar Power Charger is a super-lightweight and flexible charger for your cellphone, GPS, MPS, and other devices. Featuring monolithically integrated solar panels, the 5-watt charger eliminates the damage-prone manual connections of individual solar cells. It's also free of cadmium and other toxic......read more