If you've ever recorded in Nashville, you'll understand that countertop ice machines are ubiquitous here. The first time I walked into Blackbird Studio (years before I moved here), owner John McBride [Tape Op #97] showed me the new ice makers he had just installed. To this day, I smile whenever I set foot in any of Blackbird's lounges and remember that interaction with John. Same with my first visits with Dave Cobb [#122] and F. Reid Shippen [#125] – we started our conversations in their kitchens, and they raved about their ice machines. I'm one of the few Nashville studio owners that doesn't obsess over ice, but I do understand the value of having a kitchen lounge that's comfortable and inviting. It's likely the first space that clients see, and the room in which they spend the most time between takes. Therefore, I designed my personal studio with a large second-floor control room that has an open staircase to a 720 sq ft kitchen lounge on the ground floor. Although I rely on the refrigerator's built-in icemaker, I do have a countertop appliance for something I consider even more important – instant hot water. I don't mean a kettle that takes a couple minutes to reach a seething 212°F, but a Japanese boiler that dispenses water at a selectable temperature that's more appropriate for making coffee and tea. If you've ever stayed in a Japanese or Korean hotel, you've seen this kind of appliance. My Zojirushi VE Hybrid Water Boiler & Warmer <zojirushi.com> holds 4 liters of water, and when I fill it with filtered water the water is first brought to a boil before the temperature is allowed to fall to 195° F (my preferred setpoint), where it's maintained indefinitely. I can drop tea into a mug or pot that I place under the elevated spout of the boiler, then hit a button to dispense the water. No waiting for water to boil; and for green teas, no need to wait for the temperature to drop to a suitable level. For coffee, I have a high-pressure Illy iperEspresso machine <illy.com>, but I also stock cold brew concentrate from Chameleon <chameleoncoffee.com> and French Truck <frenchtruckcoffee.com> in the fridge – they all make a perfect Americano after I add water from my Zojirushi. Plus, true espresso and cold-brew coffees have far less acidity so they're less likely to upset your stomach. As I've gotten older, my gut can no longer handle regular drip coffee, and similarly, many friends in my generation have switched to espresso or cold brew for the same reason. I've even considered purchasing one of those portable espresso machines with a built-in rechargeable battery for travel or early-morning boating. ••• Speaking of recharging, I have many gadgets in the studio, at my desk, or in my home that require AA, AAA, or 9V batteries; and low-self-discharge rechargeable ones are appropriate for many of these uses. Of all the brands and battery chemistries I've tried over the past few decades, the only one that has never failed me is Eneloop <panasonic.com>. Seriously, even the original Sanyo-branded Eneloops that I was gifted 20 years ago still work. (Starting with those Sanyos, I've written the acquisition date on all my rechargeable batteries.) Meanwhile, many other brands of NiMH, Li-ion, and LiPo batteries have failed, leaked, or burst. (I've even had several LiPo batteries for my radio-controlled aircraft explode in flames, so I always charge hobby-grade LiPos inside a fireproof battery safe.) Unfortunately, 9V Eneloops don't exist, but I don't recall ever experiencing a leak with Energizer or Duracell 9V non-rechargeable lithiums, even if I've had plenty of products damaged by the same brands' AA and AAA alkalines.
-AH