Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with cup

The tea to water volume ratio divided by temperature minus steeping time

brenton — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 13:19:37 -0800

Tea Brewing question. Help me fill in a few missing details for how to brew the perfect cup of tea. Bonus question: should I trust the instructions printed on the box? So here is what I do know about how to brew tea: Warm the cup. Pour just-boiling water over the teabag. Cover, and let it steep no less than 3 minutes, no more than 5.

Missing Details--How big of a cup? Are we talking tiny teacups? A literal 1-cup measurement? Is this different based on the company? I sometimes suspect that British teabags are designed for British teacups, while 1 American teabag is designed for the standard, larger American coffee mug. Or maybe teabags assume a big mug, while loose leaf instructions assume teacups?

The old "one for each person and one for the pot" logic doesn't help me here... the question is about how much *water*, not how much tea.

Bonus:
So I know you steep Green Tea at a lower temperature, but I assumed you'd steep it for the same amount of time.. yet one package I have advises me to "wait about 30 seconds before you remove the tea bag from your cup." How can this be? Could it be because it's using fine fanning/dust in the teabag? (Which I would think would affect the tea/water ratio, not steeping time.) Furthermore, I have a White Tea box that suggests full boiling water for 3-5 minutes, as if it were black tea. What's going on?

Final question: can white and green tea be re-steeped for different flavors? Does this depend on the quality of tea, or can all white teas be re-steeped?

what to expect in Durban and Port Elizabeth?

nanhey — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:03:30 -0800

What can we expect when we travel to Durban and Port Elizabeth for the World Cup? Looking for info on transport, safety, lodging, etc. i found lots of info on Cape Town on AskMefi, but nothing on Durban and Port Elizabeth -- what are these towns like? are they safe? cheap/expensive? how should we get from one to the other? We (my boyfriend and I -- both 24 yr old white kids, in case that is relevant) are planning to be there during the World Cup.

any info you have would be greatly appreciated!

Looking for unique glass cup

JennyJupiter — Fri, 08 May 2009 14:22:43 -0800

My fiance's favorite water glass is cracked. I want to replace it and possibly buy a whole set. He has had this glass for years. His dad gave it to him, and it was from his grandparents. No one knows where it was purchased.

Here is a picture:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/64344070@N00/

The glass is 7 inches tall. It has no markings indicating a manufacturer.

If you have glasses like these, where did you get them? Any suggestions about where to search will also be greatly appreciated.

Mad Hatters Tea Party

ninazer0 — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 17:14:06 -0800

Fine China Filter: I'm trying to find tea-cups with a very specific shape. It's a very old-fashioned type and while I can find individual examples, I can't find a set. Are there any experts in the house that can give me pointers? The shape is called a pedestal (or, possibly) footed tea cup. Example here. But instead of the floral and gilt extravaganza pictured, I want it in plain white. Or possibly white with a silver trim.

Extra Points: must be available in Australia or via an online shop that will ship to Australia.

What's a good shaker cup?

Melismata — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:26:37 -0800

Can you recommend a good shaker cup? In trying to shake up my protein/diet powder stuff in water, I can shake it in my current cup until the cows come home and there will still be annoying clumps of powder inside. Anyone know a good brand of shaker cup? I use this one and it even has a filter thingy in it which is supposed to help break up the clumps, but it doesn't work too well.

Oh, and with this particular powder, using a spoon to stir it does absolutely nothing. The only thing that really works so far is a blender, but I don't want to take one to work.

Help me find an eco-friendly item that I'm not sure exists

monkeygenius — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:01:14 -0800

I'm looking for reusable coffee mug with a lid like the I'm Not a Paper Cup, but made of a different material. This product has the right idea, but it's too thick/heavy. Does anyone know of a another product like this? I drink coffee and tea all day long, but I loathe those insulated travel mugs. Usually I buy a coffee in the morning and reuse the paper cup all day, maybe even for two days, but longer than that and the structural integrity is non-existent. What I'm imagining is something like a to-go coffee cup but made of plastic, where I can use my own reusable sleeve.

Replace my Samael coffee cup

Wolfdog — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:00:08 -0800

Back in the 90s, Century Media made a lot of 1,000 (if I remember correctly) black Samael coffee cups showing (if I remember correctly) both the moon from the cover of Passage and the yin/yang design from Rebellion. It was my favorite coffee cup ever, and somebody swiped mine. Anyone got any idea where I can find another? There must still be some out there somewhere!

Where to watch Euro Final in DC?

mand0 — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:19:23 -0800

I'd like some suggestions on where to watch the European Cup Final this Sunday in Washington DC. Extra points if the bar is pro-Spanish.

What's the surest way to repair the broken handle of my favorite mug?

Riverine — Mon, 12 May 2008 08:43:12 -0800

What's the surest way to repair the broken handle of my favorite mug? While dishwashing, the handle of my favorite cup broke into three pieces. MeFi, what suggests do you have for glues, gluing techniques, or other things I should keep in mind? Or do you feel that repaired handles will never be trustworthy again?

Where should I watch the Rugby World Cup Final in London?

complience — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 07:47:42 -0800

Where should I watch the Rugby World Cup Final in London? Where would be the best place for me to watch the Rugby world cup final in london, I can travel to anywhere in reasonable distance from west london?

Idealy im looking for big screens, cinemas, rugby clubs, awesome pubs,

btw im an england supporter .. (not that it really matters for rugby supporters)

DIY disposable goblet advice.

Squid Voltaire — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:03:13 -0800

Looking for ideas about how to make a sanitary, waterproof goblet for around ten bucks and an hour or so worth of labor. I'm playing around with ideas for a thank-you ritual, and it seems that it would be really useful to be able to make my own (one-use) drinking cup for it. Does anyone have ideas about an easy way to do so? I'm not incompetent at making things, but I don't have any special equipment. I'd be disposing of the cup afterwards, so I don't want to spends weeks and weeks on this project. However, I do want something nicer than a plastic cup, you know?

I'm looking for suggestions about some kind of food-safe clay that I could fire in my stove, a cheap kind of wood that I could easily carve, a DIY wax-molding instructional video, or a link to a website called "How to make Ceremonial Goblets for Dummies".

Any ideas?

Rugby World Cup in Toronto

gwynp — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 10:57:21 -0800

Are there any bars in Toronto or Niagara Falls showing the Rugby World Cup, apart from Scallywags in Toronto ? Scallywags (St Clair/Yonge) is great, but apparently very difficult to get into on big rugby days, I'm wondering what the alternatives are, if any.

Athletic cup question from the mom

jvilter — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 10:53:08 -0800

Does anyone here have experience wearing the Nutty Buddy cup? My son needs one for martial arts and has hated wearing the conventional style ones we've found. The Nutty Buddy sounds like it would be more comfortable, but it's a pretty expensive investment, involving the cup plus compression shorts plus a supporter, so I'm reluctant to buy without some unbiased input.
He was always one of those sensitive kids - you know, socks, tags in shirts, seams etc, so this has been a pretty big obstacle for him, although he's much more tolerant now of being uncomfortable. I can't imagine wearing a big piece of plastic wedged between my legs, so I have sympathy for him, and don't want to tell him to "just get over it", if there is an alternative. On the other hand, if you know of another more comfortable "system" I'd be glad to hear about it. Even if it does not offer as much protection as the NB, anything would be better than what he is wearing now (nothing).

Can someone really be that ignorant?

blim8183 — Mon, 10 Jul 2006 12:29:33 -0800

"It is absolutely not true, I did not call him a terrorist. I'm ignorant. I don't even know what the word means." Background info: That quote is from Marco Materazzi, the Italian player who was headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the final match of the World Cup. He's accused of called Zidane a "dirty terrorist."

This question is half sarcastic but also slightly serious.

Is this even possible? Assuming they're not mentally disabled in any way, can someone really be that ignorant? Or is this just an example of "playing stupid" taken to the extreme? I only ask this question because I wonder if my hyperawareness of the term "terrorist" is just a result of my living in the United States. As an Italian is it possible to be that unaware of what's going on in the world?

I want to watch the Argentina vs. Germany match this Friday among Argentineans in Los Angeles

redteam — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:22:56 -0800

I want to watch this Friday's (June 30, 2006) Argentina vs. Germany World Cup soccer match with other Argentineans in Los Angeles. Where can I do this? My Mom's out of town, my Dad lives far away and I don't really know any other Argentineans. I don't really have very much money to spend on a special closed circuit viewing of the match. Is there an Argentine sports bar or place in Los Angeles that I can go watch the game at? I want to yell and celebrate with my people.

Where to Watch World Cup in Rome

jgballard — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 11:07:45 -0800

Anyone know a good place to watch World Cup games in Italy -- and not Italy games?

where to get breast/milk cup?

judybxxx — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 10:27:33 -0800

Breast Feeding Filter: 32 years ago, (1974),when I was pregnant, I discovered, in the Whole Earth Catalog, a wonderful device called a 'breast cup' or 'milk cup'. It was plastic, shaped like a hollow ball wth a circular hole on side, with that side pressed in so the space was fairly narrow. I wore it on one side while nursing on the other, especially early on, - I caught the leaked milk, and I could freeze the milk for night time feedings done by my husband, which saved my sanity. Later I expressed, but this was great for early on. Can't find a source, or even the name.

I think La Leche League carried them in those days, but I can't find it on their site. All I found with Google and searching Mefi were cups for breast pumps. This was wonderful for me, and I want to find one for my daughter-in-law. Any information, ideas?

Another soccer/football question

Cochise — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 11:47:11 -0800

I've played soccer my whole life, compared to my European brethren I know very little about the sport (and its stars). Anyone know a good book about soccer/football that will allow me to speak with authority when someone references Michel Platini, Franz Beckenbauer, or even Cisse or Ronaldinho?

Also, if you've been watching the World Cup, you've probably seen this great commercial (different from the question below). Does anyone know what the song is?

Why do soccer players seem to have such low pain tolerance?

b_thinky — Sat, 10 Jun 2006 11:32:10 -0800

Why do soccer players seem to have such low pain tolerance? Not trying to insult the game or players, but it seems they roll around like they've been shot any time they fall. Why is this? Like most Americans, I've never been a soccer fan and I don't really follow the game at all. But I know the rest of the world does, so I watched the game this morning. I understand the strategy of trying to game the ref into calling a foul, but is the flopping around like a fish out of water really necessary? There is a lot of acting in basketball too, but typically players "flop" to the ground and get back up without shedding tears.

Also, what's with the stretchers? Players who twist a knee/ankle seem to be carried off on stretchers. This happened twice in the game I saw, and at least once the guy came back in like 2 minutes later. Each time the injury obviously was not serious. Why is this necessary? Can't the guy just hop or limp off the field under his own power or with the help of his teammates/trainers? Isn't it a little embarassing to need a stretcher?

I love watching and participating in sports of all kinds. Sports is a universal language that says a lot about people and their culture. So is there some kind of culture of coping with pain that is unique to Americans - or just not present amongst soccer players? This isn't the first soccer game I've ever watched but the amount of dramatic injuries I see is always astounding. Help me understand...

Soccer bars in midtown

blim8183 — Thu, 01 Jun 2006 07:53:14 -0800

What are some places to watch World Cup matches in midtown, NYC? I'm planning on watching games during lunch while I'm at work. I work on 43rd street and 6th Avenue. What are some good bars or restaurants that show soccer in the area?

Where to watch the 2006 World Cup in New York ?

doogyrev — Wed, 24 May 2006 18:39:02 -0800

WorldCupSoccer(Football)inNewYorkFilter : A Mate of mine will be in NYC for the most important sporting event of the last 4 years. Where to watch ? He'll be attending a conference at Jacob Javits Convention Center 655 West 34th Street at 11th Avenue, NYC.

As much as it amuses me that'll he potentially miss some of the key games (England & Oz) thought I try and help out with some recommended places to drink and be merry.

Similar Question here. Looking for other options

Are office pools legal?

Mave_80 — Mon, 22 May 2006 12:51:15 -0800

I'm thinking of organizing an office pool on the World Cup. I'm based in VA. I'd probably set up something similar to what gets done with NCAA bracket pools. My question is though: Is this illegal given US gambling laws? Disregarding for a moment whether or not the office might have a problem with it (they have no problem with NCAA brackets), it seems like at least some states don't have problem providing the pool size is small, and whoever runs it doesn't make any money from organizing it. Is this a fair interpretation? Also, if it is illegal, how come ESPN etc can run their fantasy leagues without recourse - do they have licenses to do so?

I've found articles re. other states, but none specifically re. VA. Any help appreciated!!

Can you identify this Japanese tea cup?

user92371 — Tue, 09 May 2006 22:46:28 -0800

Please identify this Japanese tea cup. A friend is looking to find other pieces of the set. She is hoping that someone can identify the brand or provide more information, probable dating, etc. First picture, Second picture. Thank you.

World Cup Scenarios

Mave_80 — Mon, 08 May 2006 08:21:07 -0800

2006 World Cup. Help me come up with some scenarios that show how the different scoring would work in Round 1 of the world cup! I've built a spreadsheet to do a world cup pool at work. I'm now trying to test the darn thing. (Yes - I know there are spreadsheets on the web, but none of them quite do what I want, plus I wanted the challenge of doing it myself). In order to test it I want to come up with a bunch of scenarios that test the various scoring cirteria posted on the FIFA website. These are the criteria (copied from the website)

The ranking of each team in each group will be determined as follows:
a) greatest number of points obtained in all group matches;
b) goal difference in all group matches;
c) greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.
If two or more teams are equal on the basis of the above three criteria, their rankings will be determined as follows:
d) greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned;
e) goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned;
f) greater number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned;
g) drawing of lots by the Organising Committee for the FIFA World Cup.

Basically, I've come up with scenarios where criteria a - e determine the outcomes, but not one for f (obviously g doesn't matter).

[As an example for where (c) determines the outcome:
1)Germany / Costa Rica 4-2
2)Poland / Ecuador 1-2
3)Germany / Poland 0-0
4)Ecuador / Costa Rica 5-1
5)Ecuador / Germany 3-2
6)Costa Rica / Poland 1-3
Winner: Ecuador (Points -a) ; Runner Up: Germany (Goals -c)]

Are there any math / football geniuses that can help me do this?