Coffee Makers Gone Wild

I’m here today to talk about the many stages of brewing coffee I have gone through in my life. I have liked all of the following methods, but the priority these days goes to convenience. My goal these days is to minimize the time spent making and cleaning up my mug of {decaf} coffee on the breakfast table!

Back in the day, we used a French press. I still believe a French press makes the ultimate cup of coffee. I like my coffee as full bodied as possible, and this is the way to go. A French press is also the most romantic way to brew, so obviously it wins for that reason alone. The problem with the French press is that it takes a good 4 minutes of hands on activity from start to finish. {Heat water, pour, stir, wait, stir, press.} And it requires cleaning at the end. No big deal if you have all morning to do your breakfast dishes, but a huge problem if you have a job to run to or a baby who needs your attention 99.9% of the time. {This is the newer model of the Bodum French press I have.}

Flashback: remember when I used to write about the shapes my French press froth would form? This is Conan O’Brien’s cartoon head!! The froth is another great part of the French press.

MY OTHER RECIPES

I also use my French press to make cold brew coffee.

I outline that process in this post. It requires no prep in the morning to make, but it does require cleaning. Although you can make a big carafe at once and use it up throughout the week, so it does have its benefits!

While I love iced coffee in the heat of the summer, I just can’t drink it when the temperature is below, say, 70 degrees when I get up. So the window for iced coffee is slim.

There was also a time when I put frothed milk in my coffee everyday. I bought a frother from IKEA for about $3 and heated 2% milk in the microwave in a mug for 26 seconds. I’d froth away and pour my coffee on top. I still love the taste, but I just don’t have time for the hands-on in the morning anymore. Maybe I’ll get back into this sometime soon.

Next up is the automatic drip coffeemaker. I bought this guy when we moved from Charlotte to Charlottesville. We spent a month living with Karen in her condo and she always set and prepped the coffeemaker the night before to automatically turn on in the morning. I loved being able to walk in to a fresh pot of coffee, so we left the French press camp and moved to automatic. This is the Cuisinart maker we have, and we have loved it.

We brewed with our Cuisinart for about 3 years. The coffee tasted great, but I also use about 50% more coffee than the average recommendation because I like it strong. I fill the pot with water and grounds the night before and coffee would start wafting into my bedroom at 6:26am. It was great with a baby because it required no hands-on time, but that darn pot needed to be cleaned everyday. And that started driving me nuts.

So this summer I started thinking about the Keurig products out there. The idea of brewing one cup at a time and not having anything to do the night before or the morning of was so appealing. Anything to make my breakfast time more efficient since I now have to make and clean up both my breakfast and Mazen’s. Another big push for a single cup machine was the fact that Matt drinks regular and I drink decaf. Usually on his days off we would compromise and do half caf and he would sometimes make an extra pot of regular.

After having a few really good Keurig cups in hotels and doing some research, I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond with a 20% off coupon and came home with the Keurig Vue 700.

I debated between the traditional K-cup machine and the Vue, which uses a special V-cup. The Vue is supposed to make a stronger, bolder, more full-bodied cup of coffee. That was what I was after. I decided to go for it since the machine was designed for coffee lovers who wanted a single cup. And I liked its look a bit more than the Platinum machine. It’s fully programmable and allows you to brew on a ‘strong’ setting. The cups are a bit larger than the K-cups, but they don’t seem to be more expensive. They are also recyclable, which was appealing as well.

What actually got me to buy a Keurig machine was the reusable cup concept. The Solofill cup fits the Vue machine. This way I can still use the Shenandoah Joe’s coffee that I love and produce less waste.

That said, I’ve tried a few of the V-cups too and found a few that I like. The Decaf Italian Roast is my favorite (and also the favorite on the Keurig site) but sadly it is a direct process decaf, so I’m not sure I want to have it regularly. The Newsman’s Own Special Decaf is organic/fair trade AND Swiss water process (yay!) so while I don’t like it as much as the Italian, it’s my top choice for the V-cups.

The Vue machine also has the capability to brew cappuccinos, but I was disappointed to find that even the plain capps have added sugar. Boo. You can also brew over ice!! But I haven’t done a ton of that either. I like the tea cups though! I put loose leaf in my Solocup and it worked great. What they need to make is more flavors in the V-cups of teas. There aren’t too many options, especially for decaf/nighttime teas.

I’ve been buying some of the V-cups at Bed, Bath and Beyond with 20% off coupons. That gets them to the lowest price I’ve seen, about $.66 a cup.

So how do I like the Keurig? Overall, I LOVE it. I love just pushing a button and having coffee ready in less than 1 minute. I like that I can use my own coffee most days and also have cups to use others. I like that Matt and I each have our own style. I brew most of my cups on the strong setting at 10 ounces and find them of a nice body and strength. The water storage only needs to be filled every few days, and it’s super easy to do. And the programming is working out great – the machine turns on at 6:26 and turns off an hour later. Super easy to use and no mess to clean up (except for rinsing the Solofill, which is really easy).

But what I don’t like (and didn’t know when I bought the machine) is that there is much less diversity in V-cup variety than in the K-cups. There are something like 300 K-cup flavors and only about 60 V-cups. For a decaf drinker that’s bad news. So if Keurig would just match all the options for both cups, then I would be a really happy customer!

Comments

Kath, have you read anything about how environmentally UNfriendly Keurig cups are? I would recommend doing some research. I think it’s irresponsible of you to promote them when they’re one of the least sustainable, most wasteful ways of making a cup of coffee.

Actually, find that they are very economical and environmentally friendly. I also use my own inserts and I can have the coffee I like in just a minute. I throw out MUCH less coffee than I did pre Kuerig and I find that I go out to coffee shops less (because the Keurig is so speedy) which means no gas driving to the shop and no paper cup either. Also, I just have to say (not just Kath) bloggers can promote whatever they want. We have to be responsible consumers and decide what is best for us. You cannot but that on someone else, and if you do that is pretty irresponsible in my opinion. You can over scrutinize everything and everything in life has a potential downside.

She said she uses a refillable plastic cup most of the time. I have a Keurig that I received as a gift and I use a refillable cup with my own grounds as well. Less water wasted, no disposable filters… Maybe you should read the post before you climb up on your soapbox.

I want a coffee maker. The Kerig K-cups one is on my wish list. The kids say no because I don’t drink a lot of coffee which is true. But I’d rather make it at home than spending $5-8 at Starbucks.

Speaking of Pumpkin Spice Latte…. Did you guys know there are 54 grams of sugar in a grande? 54? Who needs 54 grams of sugar in a what 12 ounce drink? I haven’t had one since I found out. But I am allowing myself 1 once a week for 1 month while they are out. So November will be my month and I’m switching to tall. Oh by the way that only has 48 grams of sugar. LOL! Yes can I get a skinny tall PSL. Make sure no whip and non-fat. LOL! Where’s Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan when you need to order coffee?

Starbucks makes a size called “short” that is 8 oz and has even less sugar. It’s not on the menu but you can order it! You can also order it with only one pump (or however many pumps you want) of the pumpkin spice.

That is good to know. My birthday is Sunday and I get my free drink at Starbucks. I was thinking of a pumpkin spice latte, but I haven’t had sugar for a few months so I better get it with less pumps so I can enjoy it without it being too sweet.

My old roommate had a Keurig. I think it was the platinum machine- not sure but it was huge and used regular k-cups. I hated that thing! the coffee was so weak even when I used to 5 oz setting and packed the reusable mesh filter TO THE BRIM with fresh ground coffee from my coffee grinder. I concluded that as someone who abhors weak coffee, the Keurig is just not for me. I cannot understand why people are so crazy about them- I GET that it is convenient, but if it tastes awful then what is the point!?

i love my french press. i’ve been an avid fan for about five years. i started with traditional hot coffee, but i have been obsessed with iced coffee for about 1.5 years now. it is the best way to wake up.

I am obsessed with my Keurig. I use the Kcup version, so there is tons of variety to choose from, but I still usually only use my normal coffee. It was a necessity for me because I can’t even get out of bed without coffee (my husband brings me a cup in bed after his shower or else I literally will fall asleep in the shower!) but my husband hardly ever drinks it, so to make a whole pot would be silly, and to clean a machine every day just to make coffee for one seemed like too much time as well. I don’t use the reusable cups so I know it’s wasteful, but frankly I would never make a pot at home, if I didn’t use my Keurig I’d be going to a coffee shop and using a to-go cup there, so I figure it’s not so bad considering.

I am curious about the actual time savings–how much time does it take to prep the reusable cup? You wouldn’t prep a number of them in advance, I imagine. (I use a French press, and never stir; it turns out just fine.)

Just an FYI, we put our drip coffee pot (and our French press, after a quick rinse) in the dishwasher all the time and it comes out sparkling, so it’s possible to make both of your other coffee-making methods a little less time intensive. In case you ever tire of the Keurig or get nostalgic 🙂

Awesome tip — you can “rig” the vue to use the K-cups with your Solofill! You take the basket out and lid off of your Solofill. Make a small slice at the bottom of your k-cup (I just take scissors and do a small slice) and put it in the solofill. I like to use a small piece of tape to tape it down, otherwise it’s difficult to get the k-cup out of the machine (it gets stuck). I usually don’t brew more than 14 oz because your drink may be a little week, since K-cups are usually made for 10-12 oz.

I like that you can fill your own cup but overall I agree, so wasteful! This trend is one of the worst I have seen in terms of waste production in the kitchen, not to mention steaming hot water that is going through plastic to deliver some nice chemicals with your coffee. Have you tried a drip cone? Tastes even better than French press, you can make a mug at a time and it hardly needs a washing, just a rinse each morning.

I totally agree — and I’m not trying to sound like a snob here, but taking the time to brew your own coffee is kind of like taking the time to prepare your own meals…you’ll make time if it’s important to you, and you’ll know exactly what’s going into what you consume! I also hate this trend because it’s expensive, wasteful, and in the end you’re getting a very poor quality of coffee. My husband and I also drink different coffees (espresso for me, coffeemaker for him) and yet we both find time to rinse everything out and get to work on time every morning!

Excuse me if this comes off as rude — not my intention — but what’s the purpose in buying this expensive coffee maker if you’re never going to use the disposable containers that it’s designed for? Just to save the couple of minutes that it takes to rinse out a carafe or something? There are other coffee makers that are designed to brew a cup at a time.

It takes me about 5 seconds to rinse out the carafe with hot water each day when I’m done. I wash it with soap once or twice a week, taking a total of probably 1 min 30 seconds to wash and rinse it out. I don’t really see how K-Cup machines save time.

She is just talking about the things she finds easier with her busy morning routine. What people choose to spend their money on to make their lives easier isn’t our business. That being said I love having a Keurig. I hardly buy the k cups for it when I can use my own grounds. It is especially helpful for limiting my caffeine intake being pregnant. If I see a whole pot of coffee I want the whole pot of coffee! Also, It is nice because you can make several flavors quickly! Not sure why everyone is getting in a up roar over this, she even states that the vue k cup are recycable!

no uproar here, I’m just saying it literally takes me about 3 minutes a week of total time to clean my coffee carafe and I don’t see how k-cup machines save time, especially if you use the refillable grounds container and have to wash it out each time. I am genuinely baffled by this.

And share experiences we should. I was doing just that: sharing my experience that it takes maybe 3 minutes a week of cumulative time to clean my coffee carafe I use each day. I wish you would share yours on how the Keurig saves you so much time over your drip maker, when you say you use the reusable solicup with it also. Again, I am not in an uproar over this, I am genuinely baffled by this.

Maybe it’s because I have shattered too many coffee pots in my life? I find them to be one of the hardest things to clean because you have to be so careful. Here’s one time when I shattered my french press..https://www.katheats.com/iron-grip

And I did the same to our coffee carafe once but can’t seem to find that post

I forgot to mention to line up the slice on your K-cup with the front of your Vue machine when you put it in (where the picture of a coffee cup is normally at on the V-cup. Otherwise, it might have problems draining.

Costco sells the regular K cups at a really great price and the carry Newmans Organics. You can get them for less than .50 a piece. And, they have a great French Roast for .33 cents each – the best price I’ve seen anywhere. Love my Keurig!

We drink so much coffee that I think a Keurig would be so expensive for us. So I just brew a pot in the morning and we finish that within a few hours! Right now I am in love with Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee….all natural flavors!

We LOVE the ease and uber-convenience of our Keurig and I’ve found so many flavors that I adore. We haven’t tried the Vue yet or know anyone who has one. We also bought the refillable ground cup to help save money and waste but I find it a bit of a pain to clean out each time… and in the Keurig, it seems to waste a lot of the grounds (they look pretty dry right after you brew a cup).

We’re actually looking at buying a regular coffee maker for on the weekends. That’s when we typically drink a lot more coffee and it would be more cost-effective. Then, we’ll just continue using the Keurig when we’re in a hurry or when only one of us wants a cup.

I too had to switch to decaf! I use a mix of 25% half caf and 75% decaf so I am still getting a little caffiene in the morning. Thanks for the info about the chemicals. I had no idea. Once I finish my stash of coffee I will make an effort to buy the better stuff.

We have a drip and a K-cup coffeemaker (merged homes and items). We hardly ever use the K-cup just because I drink a TON of coffee so it is easier just to make a big pot. I usually just rinse our coffee pot out each day instead of doing an intense cleaning. Maybe that’s gross, but I’ve been doing it for years and have been fine! I do really like the convenience of the K-cups and the fun flavors you can make! Chai tea lattes are my fav!

I have the platinum and it has a RINSE button and a HOT WATER button. Great for soups. These are coming out in 2014. I use mine for the blonde Starbucks coffee….dont like it strong therefore I did not get the Vue. Enjoy!!

As the only coffee drinker in my house, boy do I love my Keurig!! Looking back, I’m not sure why I resisted buying one for so long! I wish I would have known about the Vue though! I love bold coffee, too, but can see the issue with the cups. I drink decaf as well and have a harder time finding variety even with the traditional K-cups.

I still LOVE my French press – but on the week days when I wake up at 5:15 AM to get to work by 7AM, I do depend on my automatic (preset!) Cuisinart coffee maker. It saves my life on a daily basis. I’m so glad that Keurig has the reusable cups now. I was sad that I was generating so much trash by using the one we have at work. A fantastic option!

I remember some of these posts from years ago! I remember when you were really into the cold brew/concentrate and then the Ikea frother and like you said, French Presses are great for making a great cup of coffee but time consuming to clean and deal with. I think I’m the only person out there who doesn’t have a Keurig and never really looked into them b/c I was completely in the dark about being able to use your own coffee in that little solofill thingey. I thought you HAD to use their pre-packaged stuff and for me, that would not be a smart$$ move 🙂 Great post Kath!

Thanks for this post– I have an original keurig and I love it but I have some similar issues as you– I love a strong cup and I drink mostly decaf– your review def made me consider putting the vue on my Christmas or birthday list– one question maybe you can answer is it loud when it brews? I find my keurig to be kind of loud and I don’t want to use it in the morning when the kiddies are sleeping or when they are napping — which are the two times I really want to drink coffee!
Also how do you store your ground coffee you use the solocup refill — I find my coffee goes stale since it takes me a while to go through it I put it in a zip lock and that does help. thanks for that review on the solocup too as I have a similar doo hickey that won’t brew well with my keurig)

i think the keurigs have gotten quieter with each new model. my old roommate had the oldest one, my dad had one a little newer, and mine came out a year ago or so. the roommate’s sounds like an airplane taking off compared to mine 🙂

Great post! I’ve always used a french press and don’t have any intentions of switching. However, just wondering how you feel about the enviromental impact of K-cups in general? I guess I’m not clear on how daily rinsing a Solofill is much different than daily rinsing out a french press or drip pot. All of my kids are now grown up, but I suppose I also don’t get how 4 minutes of prep time is a big deal, even with a little one. Maybe kids are more high maintenance these days! 😉

Lol I guess I lucked out with low-maintenance toddlers too! I would always bring their high chairs to the kitchen, sit them down with a cup of milk and some cereal to eat while I brewed my coffee and made breakfast for everyone.

Lots of good info here, Kath! We have a Keurig at work but I didn’t know about the Vue. I’ll have to check it out!

I’m a french press kind of gal 😉 the only problem that I have is the disposal of the grinds once I’m done. I have just been dumping them down the sink, but I’m a bit afraid of clogging up the drain at some point…

Anna, Please please please do not do put them down the drain! I used to do this as well, but I understand that it’s terrible for your pipes. Of course, this may be different if you have a garbage disposal. I am a first floor apartment dweller, and I have definitely had to have the plumbers in to address the collective pipe-clogging habits of my neighbors. Tossing the grounds in the garbage is my least favorite part too, but the collective damage is not worth the few seconds of saved time.

We’ve had a Keurig in our house for about 4-5 years now & love it! We currently have the Platinum, but would love to get a Vue. However, we’ve been holding out until they get a little more variety in the V cups 😉

I definitely agree – I’m absolutely in LOVE with my Keurig, especially since they came out with the “My-K cup”, where you can fill with your own coffee. It really makes it extremely versatile and quick!

I have a question. I always make a lot of coffee (regularly brewed coffee) and use it throughout the week, as I like iced coffee. However, I was told recently that this was bad for your stomach, as it becomes more acidic. I was wondering if you have heard of this before and if so, do you know if it is true?

It’s very bad for your stomach if you drink a lot (multiple pots) of coffee a day. It is the first thing a gastroenterologist will ask you about if you are having stomach pains- excess coffee can cause stomach ulcers due to the high acidity (reference: I used to work for a GI doc).

I just bought a French press for the first time last week! Like you, I love a good strong cuppa Joe, so I increase the number of tablespoons of grounds from what the instructions state. I’m using Trader Joe’s organic decaf French roast, and so far I like it pretty well.

Several Starbucks locations are now offering coffee made in the Clover Press, which is a pretty neat brewing method. It reduces the acidity of the coffee, thereby reducing unwanted GI effects. The Starbucks within walking distance from our home has this machine, and I’ve tried their decaf Sumatra Reserve that is not chemically decaffeinated. I’m pleased that since switching to decaf, I am still able to enjoy coffee. I have yet to master the Solofill cup in our Keurig, though. :-/ Since we don’t have the Vue, I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it work.

As for those who disagree with the Keurig due to concerns about waste, chemicals, etc., all I can say is to each his/her own. I do not consider it the highest quality method for brewing coffee, but it is convenient. Drip coffeemakers use filters and others methods result in waste of some kind. Just do your part to reuse and recycle in ways throughout your day and try not to wag your virtual finger at others for their choices.

I had a free drink reward to redeem at Starbucks the other day, and the barista encouraged me to try their super expensive blend brewed in the Clover press (since it was free!). I’m so glad I listened to her, it was delicious!

Isn’t it funny how our coffee brewing methods change with time! I have been thinking of getting a Keurig for quite a while now. I am a college student and the only one out of my roommates that drinks coffee. I just hate brewing a half pot of coffee for myself when I really only want one cup (I then feel obliged to drink it all!) I am so glad to hear that you love your Keurig because you may have persuaded me to make the switch!

Commenting to agree with Charlotte. French press is the perfect method for college. With a hot water kettle on your dresser, you can have coffee before you even leave your room in the morning (or at night, or whenever). Single serving, and the best quality. Plus, a french press is cheap, so it’s worth trying before investing a Keurig.

We used to use our Keurig all the time…but if you’re having more than 1 cup at a time, price-wise it just doesn’t make sense! So we’re back to the good old Black & Decker drip! It works! 🙂
-Sammy @ http://www.peaceandloveandicecream.com

I am genuinely confused as to how it takes a lot of time to use a french press. Put the water on to boil when you first arrive in the kitchen and do other breakfast prep things in the meantime, pour boiling water over coffee grounds, give it a quick stir and put the top on. Come back a few minutes later, after maybe putting the toast in the toaster, dolloping on some nutbutter on porridge etc., press the plunger, pour into a cup, add your milk, drink. The actual hands on time is only about 1 minute. And clean up only takes another 30 seconds.

It’s not hands on, but it needs attention – stirring and things. I’m not against French presses- they make the best coffee! I just wanted something that required less prep and cleanup. I also use waaay less coffee with the Vue than I do in a French press or drip maker, so that was a hidden bonus.

they also make mini presses, and you can just use less grounds/water as long as it is in ratio and make only a cup at a time in any size one, if you prefer. sorry to be so pro french press but it just makes a difference! it’s like buying whole grain generic bread vs baking your own…I know you would understand this reference…the quality speaks for itself.

I found the same thing after I had a baby. I used a french press prior to giving birth, but grinding coffee, filling a french press, putting a teapot on the stove, waiting for it to boil, then pouring the water over the grounds and putting a timer on for 4 minutes was not a way I wanted to spend each morning after baby. I went to a programmable coffee maker that I could prep the night before and then, when I shuffled to the kitchen exhausted, just pressed on. A Keurig would’ve been a nice option! Thanks for the ideas – I’ve found most of us have coffee experiences that evolve over the years.

If you register your Keurig on the website, you get a coupon for buy two boxes get two boxes free- this comes out to about 44 cents a cup. Also costco has really good prices for their K cups and has starbucks cups. In general if you follow the sales on the keurig website, you can get pretty good prices.

So funny how self-righteous people become when that “submit” button makes it so easy to remain anonymous. Glad you like the Keurig! My brother’s machine broke after 1.5 years and Keurig replaced it for free. Then my parents Keurig broke after 2 years and Bed Bath and Beyond actually replaced It for free! Then to complete the trilogy, mine broke after 3 years. Sadly, Keurig didn’t offer a free replacement, only 20% off my next purchase of one. Husband and I ended up switching to a $19 Coffee mate after that, but only cause we drink an entire pot nowadays. Despite our odd fate with thdm, they are great machines and surpringly both K and BBB offer great customer service where they are concerned.

I don’t think other readers’ concerns about this product are “self-righteous.” Given the audience of this blog, it’s hardly surprising that some people would object to the environmental impact/cost of K-cups and this trend in general.

I think Keurig et al. (Tassimo, Nespresso, any others?) are genius because they have managed to lock in a future revenue stream for an applicance that usually is a one-time purchase (with the exception of those people who choose to use the refillable cups perhaps). When it comes to electric coffee makers, I don’t think that consumers are nearly as loyal to one brand or another as the are with other appliances.

This is not to say that they invented the concept of the single-serving coffee packet–I don’t know who did–since that has been around for a long time. But these companies have found a way to move their product to the very large consuming class on the promise of convenience, variety, and minimal cleanup (not certain how price point has changed over the years). But I’ve been in stores watching customers grouse about how their favorite Keurig (or whatever machine) flavors aren’t available right then and there, or how they have to buy cups online. Convenience means different things to different people, I guess.

They’re neat and all, but the attraction is not there for me. I managed with the older, slower electric drip machine, and then the French press, all these years getting ready for work and through three kids. It’s a little ritual in the hectic mornings, now. I’m not going to start paying for perceived convenience in my own home. Besides, I don’t have enough counter space for another machine, but I do have space for a press!

I bought a Keurig Vue this summer (also from BB&B with a 20%!) and I LOVE it. By far the best coffee maker I’ve ever had and I agree, they need more tea flavors! I also wish they’d have soy versions of the café drinks, but that’s really thinking big (I won’t dare ask for almond milk :)). Still, I love that I can adjust the temperature, strength, and recycle the cartons, though I’ve had a few coffee spills with the grounds so be sure to do it over the trash other readers!

I have a Keurig but it doesn’t hold water which makes it a pain to use still! Half the time I end up drinking the crappy coffee at work because my mornings are too busy. Definitely jealous of the water reserve haha.

I have to agree with others comments on this..I LOVE your blog but when it comes to coffee..I ALWAYS make time for french press. I know having a baby changes time and everything but taking 20 units with school and always rushing everywhere doesn’t stop me from grinding my beans fresh everyday. You can make your routine easy by grinding your beans the night before or using already ground, having your kettle out and ready to go, along with your french press. I often multitask and check email and pack my bag while the water heats and then brews in the carafe. Honestly, if you make it a part of your routine, it is NO more effort or time consuming than other methods. I am not for the pods at all as I agree they are wasteful, more expensive, and not nearly as fresh. For someone who makes AMAZING cuisine you should be french pressing if you can stand to…especially if you enjoy coffee the way you do! You deserve to drink good coffee. You are such an inspiration in the culinary department, I would love to hear you are french pressing more often again but to each their own.

I know this is a bit off topic but I was having a lovely cup of decaf today when my friend mentioned how most companies use the direct process method! I was appalled and I have to say I am a bit of a freak about things like that so I can’t believe I didn’t know. I feel like I am poisoning myself and now I see you mentioning it as well. My question is since you mentioned the direct process being a deterrent for you, have you found some brands that are strong, decaf and not poison in a cup? 😉 if you have discussed this before I can always look for other posts!

Oh kath! I cringed at this post like I did at the Cheerios one. I hate the keurig. I think they’re so wasteful (I know you use your own grounds, but most people don’t. And even if you recycle it requires energy to do so & more packaging for all those little cups.). Plus cleaning that little reusable cup is as much a pain as the bodum.
Still love your blog. Thanks for sharing and giving all us followers a chance to voice our keurig opinions. And, maybe you can still return it 😉

I got myself a cheap drip maker for 9.99 and it uses filters. I buy the unbleached. But I have read that paper filters filter out something harmful in coffee. Something that all coffees have naturally in it, but I can’t remember exactly what it is.

I just looked it up. I found on CoffeeDetective.com that “Cafestol is found in the oily fraction of coffee & is a potent stimulator of LDL cholesterol levels”. I guess it’s true. It makes sense. But that’s why I buy the paper filters. The metal doesn’t filter it out.

I moved to a tassimo for a few years (back when they were carrying starbucks — that changed soon after we bought). It was nice, but it ended up being a pain to clean and if I didn’t clean in, the coffee started to taste weird. And the selection really dried up.

We moved to the same automatic maker you used to use about a year ago, and its been fine (really nice for when we have a house full of people). Five years ago I was die-hard french press. I even used that little metal espresso maker that sits on the stove for awhile. Phases of life, phases of coffee. Right now I’m pregs and have switched to tea 100%.

We’ve had our original K-cup machine for about eight years? We don’t really use it anymore except to heat up water quickly for when my parents or the in-laws are watching my son and need to heat up breast milk quickly! HA We just rinse the pot each night and re-set for the morning. Easy peasy. But to each their own. The k-cup is fast!

I love my french press, but I don’t have kids so I’m not sure how I would feel if I was trying to save time. I guess the 5 minutes of waiting and the little bit of clean up is worth it to me though since I love the taste of coffee from a french press! I know this is only a small step, but you really don’t have to stir the coffee at all once you pour the water in.
However, I know for all the working moms out there, it’s important to make your time efficient so you can spend as much time as possible with your little one(s). I’m certainly not condemning your use of the Keurig, as long as you try not to use too many of those wasteful K- or V-cups :).

I am married to Father Earth. No joke, no lie. I begged him to get me a Keurig for Christmas and he finally agreed on one condition: I needed to dispose of the cups the best I could. I would spend tons of time ripping the foil lids off and putting them in the trash, dumping out the grounds and pulling out the filter for the compost and rinsing out the cups and putting them in the recycling (our recycling people said they’d take them). I agreed to it and had the sliced up finger tips to prove it.

After a few months of that nonsense hubby stopped buying K-cups and only uses a refillable cup every morning. Me, the girl that wanted the keurig so bad, only uses it every few days, and I use the refillable cup as well. We have found that in the long run we actually SAVE money: coffee is so spendy and we’re not brewing pots (or even partial pots) and dumping most of them out because we don’t drink all of the coffee we made. Now a few pound bag of beans seem to last a life time brewing one cup at time. 🙂

I know, this is long already, but we stopped buying the cocoa and cider cups for our son. Now we buy the big containers of the mix, he puts which ever mix he wants in a mug, removes the refillable coffee cup and just ‘brews’ hot water from the Keurig into his mug. Easy peasy for everyone!!

I have absolutely no reason to have a keurig, as I am just a 22 year old with no kids, living at home. I’m perfectly capable of brewing a pot of coffee every morning before work (especially since I wake up so early). But there is something so gratifying about waking up, pressing a button, using the bathroom, and coming back to a fresh cup of coffee. =)

I am OBSESSED with my Keurig – there are just so many great flavors, plus it’s fast, simple, and makes a fantastic cup of coffee. That said, I agree that my French press does make the “best” coffee as far as richness flavor. Love the foam it makes! But it’s such a process that I rarely use it anymore.

Kath, I am genuinely interested if you to expand on what your morning is like. I understand that kids take a lot of time and attention, I have a son weeks apart in age from Mazen but I am a bit baffled by how much emphasis you put in this post about needed to save time (I really have no opinion on how others brew their coffee). You’ve said things like “children change everything” “this is my life now” and “someone who needs 99.9% of my attention” and I find it really interesting. Can you share what makes your mornings so hectic?

It doesn’t have to do with time – clearly I have the time to make any kind of coffee. It came down to routine. I wanted to focus my attention on things other than prepping a coffeemaker every night and washing it day after day and having it sit on my counter for a few hours to dry. It’s a slight change, yes, but it’s been a good one and I’m glad I went for the Vue.

Its too bad you have not tried other methods. I have used a european style stovetop espresso maker for years- it cost me about $20, makes one gorgeous cup, and the “clean up” is simply rinsing out the grinds. No seperate filter to buy. Nothing that will break- its all metal.
The taste is very similar to french press but it is completly hands off and you can use what coffee you like best.

i use an espresso machine, but just wanted to mention to the gals in love with pumpkin spice lattes that I found a scoop of homemade pumpkin butter makes a great latte! thanks for your blog, keep the positive attitude with negative comments. your patience is encouraging!

I’m baffled by the baffled people. I, like you, have enjoyed coffee in all those different forms and the Keurig is hands-down easier. I, like you, prefer the taste of French press and therefore am willing to mess with it everyday but it IS more of a pain.

I love your blog, Kath. Very much a favorite!! Thanks for great content!

After thinking about this posting more, I had to comment again – I am amazed and can’t believe how rude people are. I am not sure if I could do a blog and have to deal with all the rude comments. Apparently, these people have nothing better to do. Kath, is taking the time to talk about different ways for making coffee, but some find fault with this instead of looking the time and expertise it took to put this information together for us. Come on people – go find another blog if you aren’t happy instead of putting nasty comments on this one!

Great post Kath showing options and how they work for you. We’ve had a Keurig for years…love the convenience! I also love to make a pot when more than 1 cup of same brew is needed. I also still love my percolator and use french press in summer to make ice coffee. I don’t have a baby or work anymore but still have different needs based on what my schedule is like on any given day.

Have you come across any research that indicates French Press or Turkish coffee (unfiltered coffee preparation methods) could lead to increased serum LDL-cholesterol? Two compounds in coffee that create an oily residue are said to interfere with and increase our cholesterol if not filtered out, such as via the drip-coffee method. I recently bought myself and my boyfriend each a French Press and am now discouraged to read this evidence. So far, I cannot find an article that describes the exact characteristics of the sample included in these studies. Just curious on your understanding of this, thanks!


President Donald Trump will travel to Utah on Monday to lay out his plans to cut the size of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, according to individuals briefed on the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity because it had not been formally announced.


The catalytic asymmetric Fischer indolization.
The first catalytic asymmetric Fischer indolization is reported. In the presence of a 5 mol % loading of a novel spirocyclic chiral phosphoric acid, 4-substituted cyclohexanone-derived phenylhydrazones undergo a highly enantioselective indolization. Efficient catalyst turnover was achieved by the addition of a weakly acidic cation exchange resin, which removes the generated ammonia. The reaction can be conducted under mild conditions and gives various 3-substituted tetrahydrocarbazoles in generally high yields.


ndrea da Firenze's
fresco, the Via Veritatis, in the Spanish Chapel of
Dominican Santa Maria Novella, gives to the right hand side of
the Pope and Emperor, the kneeling figures of a queen, Queen
Joan of Naples, with golden hair and a golden crown; a
beautiful young woman shabbily dressed as a pilgrim and an
aged widow, these being daughter and mother and recognizably
Catherine and Birgitta of Sweden; and Lapa Buondelmonte
Acciaiuoli, sister to Niccolo` Acciaiuoli, and friend to both
Birgitta's household and to Queen Joan. The fresco was painted
in 1366-67 with funds donated by the Florentine merchant
Buonamico di Lapo Guidalotti, whose wife had died of the
plague. In those years Birgitta and her family were in Naples
and she was present at Niccolo` Acciaiuoli's deathbed 8
September 1366. Birgitta had earlier prophesied this meeting
in Rome of Pope and Emperor, which was to take place, 21
October 1368.

The above text was translated into Middle
English at Syon Abbey in a manuscript now in the Garrett
Collection at Princeton University, then translated into
modern English in Julia Bolton Holloway, Saint Bride and
Her Book: Birgitta of Sweden's Revelations (1992;
republished, Cambridge: Boydell
and Brewer , ISBN 0-941051-18-8). This vision concerns
the Florentine Seneschal of Naples, Nicholas Acciaiuoli, at
whose deathbed Bride was present, 8 September 1366, Johannes
Jørgensen, Saint Bridget of Sweden (London: Longmans
Green, 1954), II.183-188.

{ow
Saint Bride sees in her spiritual sight the judgment of a soul
whom the fiend accused, and at the last was helped by our
Lady;and how she saw all Hell and Purgatory and many other
marvels; and how needful it is to help them who are in
Purgatory. Chapter 17. [IV.7]

{t seemed to a person who was
awake in prayer and not sleeping as though she had seen in
her spiritual sight a palace of incredible greatness, in
which were countless people, clad in white and shining
clothes. And each of them seemed to have a proper seat to
himself. In this palace stood principally a judgment seat,
in which it was as if there were a sun; and the brightness
that went from that sun was more than may otherwise be told
or understood, in length, depth and breadth. There stood
also a Virgin close to that seat, having a precious crown on
her head. And all who were there served the Son sitting on
the throne, praising him with hymns and songs. Then appeared
there an Ethiopian, fearful in sight and bearing, as though
he had been full of envy and greatly enraged. He cried and
said: 'O you rightful Judge, grant me this soul, and hear
his works; for now his life is near the end. Allow me
therefore to punish the body with the soul, until they are
separated'.

When this was said, it seemed to me that one stood
before the throne, like a knight armed excellently, and wise
in words, and sober in hearing, who said: 'You, Judge, see,
here are his good works that he has done up to this hour'.

And then there was heard a voice out of the sun
sitting on the seat: 'Here are vices', he said, 'more than
virtues. And it is not justice that vice be joined to him who
is supreme virtue'.

Then answered the Ethiopian: 'Therefore it is
rightful that this soul be joined to me; because if it has any
vice in it, in me is all wickedness'. The knight answered:
'The mercy of God follows every person until the last moment
of his life, and then comes the Judgment. And in this man that
we speak of are yet both soul and body joined together, and
discretion remains in him'.

The Ethiopian answered: 'The Scriptures say, that
may not be: you shall love God above all things, and your
neighbour as yourself. See you therefore, that all the works
of this man are done out of dread, and not out of love and
charity as they ought to be. And all the sins that he is
cleansed of, you will find him cleansed with little
contrition. And therefore he has deserved Hell; because he has
forfeited the kingdom of Heaven. And therefore his sins are
here opened before the Judgment of God. For he never yet was
contrite in goodly charity for the sins that he has done'.

The knight answered: 'Truly, he hoped and believed
he would become contrite before his death'.

'You', he said, 'have gathered all the deeds that he
had ever done well, and you know all his words and his
thoughts for the salvation of his soul. And all these,
whatever they may be, may not be likened to that grace gained
by contrition for the love of God with holy faith and hope,
and much less they may not cancel out all his sins. For
justice is in God who is without beginning, that no sinner
shall enter Heaven who is not perfectly contrite. And
therefore it is impossible that God should judge against the
disposition ordained from before time. Therefore the soul is
to be judged to Hell and to be joined with me in everlasting
pain'.

When this was said, the knight held his peace and
answered nothing to these words. After this appeared
innumerable fiends, like sparks out a hot fire. And they all
cried out with one voice saying to him who sat in the seat as
a sun: 'We', they say, 'know that you are God in two Persons,
without beginning and end, and there is no other God but you.
You are that charity to which is joined mercy and
righteousness. You were in yourself from before the beginning,
having not lessened nor in any little way changed, as it
seemed God without you is not, and nothing has joy without
you. Therefore your charity made angels of no other matter but
the power of your Godhead. And you did as mercy stirred you.
But after that we were burned within with pride, envy and
greed; your charity, loving righteousness, cast us out of
heaven with the fire of our malice into dark and unseeable
deepness that is now called Hell. So did your charity, then,
which shall not yet be separated from the Judgment of your
justice, whether it be after mercy or after equity. And yet we
say more, if the thing which you love before all things, the
Virgin who bore you, who never sinned, had sinned mortally and
died without goodly contrition, you love justice so that her
soul should never have got to Heaven, but it should have been
with us in Hell. Therefore, Judge, why do you not condemn this
soul to us, that we may punish it after his works'.

After this was heard as it
were the sound of a trumpet, and all who heard it were
still. And then was heard a voice saying: 'Be still and
listen, all angels, souls and fiends, to what the Mother of
God speaks'.

And then, the same Virgin appearing before the seat
of Judgment and having under her mantle as it had been some
great private things, said: 'O, you enemies, you persecute
mercy and without charity you love justice, though here
appears a lack of good works for which this soul ought not to
get Heaven, yet see what I have under my mantle'.

And when the Virgin had opened both the fronts
of her mantle, under the one appeared as like a little church,
in which seemed to be some men of religion /See the medieval paintings, particularly
common in Florence, of Mary in this attitude with people
gathered within her cloak; also the Giotto Arena Chapel Last
Judgment fresco with Ernesto Scrovegni donating that chapel
shown self-referentially within it, Sarel Eimerl, The
World of Giotto: c. 1267-1377 (New York: Time
Incorporated, 1967), p. 129; also Birgitta's
cloak which survives as a relic. Here Bride is speaking
of Nicholas Acciaiuoli's founding of the Carthusian monastery,
La Certosa, in Florence, 1342, from his ill-gotten Neapolitan
gains as that Kingdom's Seneschal, and from similar motives as
had Scrovegni the Arena Chapel. Compare, too, with St Francesca Romana ./; and under the other appeared women and men,
Friends of God , religious and
other/Birgitta frequently uses this term,
associated with the medieval Dominican mystics, the Friends of
God, especially in her material concerning Magister Mathias,
who was buried with the Stockholm Dominicans, and who had
studied at their house in Paris. This can explain Birgitta's
presence in the great Dominican fresco in Santa Maria
Novella's Spanish Chapel./. And
they all cried with one voice saying, 'Have mercy, merciful
Lord'.

Then after there was silence and the Virgin spoke
and said: 'The Scripture said, he who has perfect faith may
thereby move mountains in the world. What then may and ought
the voices of these do, who had faith and also served God with
charity? And what shall those friends of God do, whom this man
asked that they pray for him, that he might be separated from
Hell and obtain Heaven? And he sought no other reward for his
good works but heavenly things, where all their tears and
prayers may not or are not of power to take him and lift him
up so that he get goodly contrition with charity before his
death, and furthermore I shall add to my prayers the prayer of
all the saints that are in Heaven, whom this man specially
worshipped'. Yet then further said the Virgin: 'O, you fiends,
I command you by the power of the Judge to take heed of these
things that you see now in justice'.

Then they all answered as if it had been with one
mouth: 'We see', they said, 'that in the world a little water
and great air balance out the anger of God. And so by your
prayer is God weighed to mercy with charity'.

After this was heard a voice from the Son, saying:
'For the prayers of my friends shall this man now get goodly
contrition before his death, in so much that he shall not come
into Hell; but he shall be purged with them who suffer most
grievous pain in Purgatory. And when the soul is purged, he
shall have reward in Heaven with them who had faith and hope
on earth with right little charity'.

When this was said, the fiends fled away. Then after
that it seemed to the Bride as if there had opened a fearful
and dark place wherein there appeared a furnace all burning
within; and that fire had nothing else to burn but fiends and
living souls. And above that furnace appeared that soul whose
judgment was just completed. The feet of the soul were
fastened to the furnace, and the soul stood up like a person.
It did not stand in the highest place nor in the lowest, but
as if on the side of the furnace. The shape of the soul was
fearful and marvelous. The fire of the furnace seemed to come
up between the feet of the soul, as when water ascends up by
pipes. And that fire ascended upon his head, and violently
thrust him together; so much that the pores stood as veins
running with burning fire. His ears seemed like smiths'
bellows which moved all his brain with continual blowing. His
eyes seemed turned upside down and sunk in as if they were
fastened to the back part of his head. His mouth was open and
his tongue drawn out by his nostrils and hung down to his
lips. His teeth were as iron nails fastened to his palate. His
arms were so long that they stretched down to his feet. Both
his hands seemed to have and to press together a kind of fat
with burning pitch. The skin which seemed to be upon the soul
seemed like the skin upon a body, and it was as a linen cloth
all fouled with filth; which cloth was so cold that each one
could see it tremble and shiver. And there came from it pus
from a sore with corrupt blood, and so wicked a stench that it
could not be compared to the worst stench in the world. When
his tribulations were seen, there was heard a voice of the
soul that said five times, 'Woe, woe, alas, alas', crying with
tears and all his might.

First he said: 'Alas and woe to me, that I
loved God so little for his truly great virtues and grace
given to me'. The second: 'Alas and woe to me, that I did not
fear the Judgment of God as I ought'. The third, 'Alas and woe
to me, that I loved the body and the lust of my sinful flesh'.
The fourth, 'Alas and woe to me, for my worldly riches and
pride'. The fifth, 'Alas and woe to me, that ever I saw you,
Lewes and Joan'./Latin text gives
'Ludovicum et Ioannam'. This is the vision Bride had about
Nicholas Acciaiuoli, Grand Seneschal of Naples, who had been
tutor to Prince Lewes of Taranto and whose marriage he
arranged in 1347, following her murder of her previous husband
and King of Naples, Andrew of Hungary, 1345. Acciaiuoli had
founded Carthusian Certosa in Florence, 1342: ASF Monastero de
Santa Brigida detto del Paradiso 61, fols. 21v-24v; Vatican MS
Ottob. lat, fol. 120; Jorgensen 2:121-122. The Carthusians
continued to inhabit Certosa until the war years when they
fled first to Lucca, then Grenoble. Today Certosa is shared by
Cistercian monks and the University of Florence's medievalists
of S.I.S.M.E.L. For a sepia photograph of Carthusian monks at
the Certosa in Pavia , see 'I
Fratelli Alinari: Florentine Photographers'/

Then the angel said to me: 'I will explain
this vision to you. This palace you have seen is the likeness
of heaven. The multitude of those who were on the thrones,
clad in white and shining clothes, are angels and the souls of
saints. The sun means Christ in his Godhead. The woman means
the Virgin who bore God. The Ethiopian means the fiend who
accuses the soul. The knight means the angel who tells of the
good works of the soul. The furnace means Hell, which is so
burning within, that if all the world burnt with all things
that are within, it would not be like the greatness of that
furnace. In this furnace are heard diverse voices, all
speaking against God, and all beginning their utterances with
"Woe and alas", and ending in the same way. The souls appeared
as people whose members are stretched out without comfort and
who never can rest. Know also the fire that seemed to you in
the furnace, burns in everlasting darkness, and the souls that
burn within it do not all have the same pain. The darkness
that appeared about the furnace is called "limbus" /To be in 'limbo' is to be betwixt and
between, neither in Heaven nor in Hell. See Dante, Inferno
4./,
and it comes from the darkness that is in the furnace and yet
they are both the same place and one Hell. Whoever comes there
shall never dwell with God. Above this darkness is the
greatest pain of Purgatory that souls may suffer. And beyond
this place is another place where there is less pain, that is
none other but the lack of firmness in strength, beauty and
such other: as I tell you by a parable, as if there were a
sick man; and when the sickness and the pain had ended, he was
left so feeble that he had no strength, until he recovered
little by little. The third place is above, where there is no
other pain but the desire of coming to God. And that you
should understand this better in your conscience, I tell you
by a parable, as if other metals were meddled with gold and
burnt in a most hot fire and should so long be purged, that
the other metals were refined away; and the gold stayed pure
and clean though the other metal was strong and thick, so that
it should need the hotter fire, and the gold was like running
water, and all burning. Then the master of the work puts the
gold in another place, where it shall take its true form and
shape by sight and by touch. And after that, he puts it in the
third place, where it is kept until it is presented to the
owner.

'It is the same spiritually. In the first place
above the darkness is the greatest pain of Purgatory, where
you see the said soul being purged. There is tormenting by
fiends. There appear the likeness of venomous worms and the
likeness of savage beasts. There is heat and cold. There is
darkness and confusion that comes from the pain that is in
Hell. Some souls there have less pain and some more, according
to whether their sins were amended or not, during the time
that the soul dwelled in the body. Then the master, that is,
the justice of God, puts the gold, that is the souls, in other
places, where there is less strength, in which the souls abide
until they have refreshing of their friends or of the
continual prayers of holy Church. For a soul, the more help it
has from its friends, the rather will it become strong and be
delivered from that place. After this, the soul is born to the
third place, where there is no pain except the desire to come
into the presence of God and to his blessed sight. In this
place dwelled many and for a very long time, without, those
who had perfect desire while they lived in the world to come
to the presence and sight of God. Know also that many die in
the world so virtuously and innocently, that soon they come to
the sight and presence of God. And some have so amended their
sins with good works, that their souls shall feel no pain. But
there are few who come not to the place where there is desire
to come to God. Therefore all souls abiding in these three
places have a part in the prayers and good works of holy
Church that are done in the world; namely of those that they
did while they lived, and of those which are done by their
friends after their death. Know also that as sins are many and
diverse, so are the pains many and diverse. Therefore as the
hungry one delights in food when it comes to his mouth, and
the thirsty in drink, and as he who is downcast, is gladdened
with joy, and the naked with clothing, and the sick with going
to his bed, so the souls joy in and are partners of the good
deeds that are done for them in the world'.

Then said the angel furthermore: 'Blessed be he who
has in the world helped souls with prayers, good works and the
labour of his body. For the Justice of God may not lie which
says that souls either must be purged after their death with
the pain of Purgatory, or else they must be loosed by the good
works of their friends'.

After this were heard many voices out of Purgatory,
saying: 'O Lord Jesus Christ, just Judge, send your charity to
them who have spiritual power in the world; for then shall we
have more part than we have now, of their song, readings and
offerings'.

Above this space from where this cry was heard, it
seemed as if it were a house in which were heard many voices,
saying, 'Let those be rewarded of God who send us help from
our errors'.

In the same house the sun seemed to go forth as if
it had been the spring of a day. And under that dawn appeared
a cloud that had not the light of the morning time. Out of
which came a great voice, saying: 'O Lord God, give of your
unspeakable power to each of them in the world a hundredfold
reward, that with their good deeds lift us up into the light
of your Godhead and into the sight of your face'.

hen
after that the angel tells of the pains of the said soul and
says [IV.8-9]

'hat soul whose disposition you have seen, and
heard his judgment, is in the most grievous pains of
Purgatory. And that is because it does not understand
whether it shall come to rest after purgation, or else be
damned; and this is the Justice of God, for this one had
conscience and great discretion, which he used bodily to the
world and not spiritually to his soul. For he was too
negligent and forgot God too much, while he lived. Therefore
his soul suffers now from burning in flames, and it trembles
for cold. It is also blind from the darkness and fearful
with the horrible sight of the fiends. It is deafened from
the fiend's cry, hungry and thirsty within, and all wrapped
in confusion without. Nevertheless, God gave it one grace
after death; that is, that it should not be subjected to
torment by the fiends. For he spared and forgave grievous
faults to his chief enemies, only for the praise of God; and
he made friendship and accord with his chief enemy. Know
also that whatever he did of good and whatever he promised
and gave of justly obtained riches, and most of all the
prayers of the friends of God, these lessen and refresh his
pain, after it is determined in God's Justice. But other
goods that he gave, that were not justly obtained, profit
those who had them rightfully in their possession
spiritually or physically, if they are worthy after the
disposition of God'.

After this the angel called, furthermore, for
the Judgment of the afore-mentioned soul, and said: 'You have
heard already that for the prayers of the Friends of God, this man
obtained goodly contrition through charity for his sins, a
little before his death; which contrition separates him from
Hell. Therefore after his death, the Justice of God judges
that he should burn in Purgatory for six times the age that he
has, from that hour that he did first knowingly deadly sin,
until the time when he repented fruitfully of goodly charity,
but he obtained help from God, of the world, and from the
friends of God. The first was that he loved not God for the
death of his noble body, and for his manifold tribulations,
that he suffered for no other cause but for the salvation of
souls. The second age was that he loved not his own soul as a
Christian man ought; nor did he thank God for his baptism, for
being neither Jew nor heathen. The third age was that he knew
well the things that God commanded, and he had very little
desire to fulfill them. The fourth age was that he knew well
the things that God forbade to them who desire to go to
Heaven; and he acted bodily against these, not following the
prickings of his conscience, but his own carnal desire. The
fifth age was that he did not use grace and confession as was
appropriate, while he had the time to do so. The sixth age was
that he cared little for the body of Christ, not willing to
receive it often, for he would not keep himself from sin;
neither had he charity to receive the body of Christ until the
end of his life'.

fter
this there appeared one like a man of great solemnity, whose
clothes were white and shining like a priest's alb/Alba, white, dawn. An alb is a white gown
worn by clergy during church services. He may represent St
Lawrence./; he was girt with a
linen girdle and a red stole about his neck and under his
arms; and he began his words in this way. [IV.9]

'ou who see these things, take heed, mark and
commend to your mind the things that you see and that are
said to you. For you who are living in the world may not
understand the power of God and the everlasting stability of
it, in the same way as we who are with him. For the things
that are with God, done in a moment of time, may not be
understood amongst you, but with words and likeness after
the disposition of the world. I am one of them whom this
man, who is condemned to purgatory worshiped with his gifts
in his life. Therefore God has granted me of his grace that
if any man would do these things that I tell you, then his
soul might be translated to a higher place, where it should
get his true shape, and feel no other pain than as if he had
a great sore, and all the sorrows would be gone, and he
would lie like a man without strength, and yet he should
rejoice, as much as he should know certainly that he should
come to live.

'Therefore, as you heard the soul of this man
had cried five times, "Woe and alas", so I say now to him five
things of comfort. The first woe was that he loved God too
little. Therefore, that he may be delivered from this, there
needs to be given for his soul thirty chalices, in which the
blood of God can be offered, and God himself be more praised.
The second woe was that he did not fear God. Therefore, to
cancel out this, let there be chosen thirty priests devoted to
the man's judgment, and each of them to say thirty masses,
when they may: twelve of the Martyrs, twelve of the
Confessors, twelve of All Saints, twenty-eight Masses of the
Angels, twenty-nine of our Lady, and thirty of the holy
Trinity. And all of them must pray intensely for his soul,
that the anger of God be assuaged, and his justice bowed down
to mercy /Certosa del Galluzzo/. The third woe
was for his pride and greed. Therefore, to do away with these,
let there be received thirty poor men, whose feet are to be
washed with humility, and food and drink and money and clothes
to be given to them, with which they can be comforted; and
each of them, both he who washes, and they who are washed,
should pray to God meekly, that for his meekness and bitter
Passion he forgive this soul the greed and pride that he has
enacted. The fourth woe, for the lechery of his flesh.
Therefore, whoever gives a maiden into a monastery and also a
widow, and a maid into true wedlock, giving with them as much
goods as they might be sufficiently endowed in food, drink and
clothing; then should God forgive the sin of this soul which
he had done in the flesh. For these are three lives that God
commanded and chose to stand in this world. /The three states: Virginity, Marriage,
Widowhood./ The fifth woe was
that he had done many sins to others' tribulation. That is to
say, he did all in his power that the two named before should
come together in wedlock, which were no less of kin together
than if they had both been next of kindred; and this marriage
he procured more for himself than for the realm, and without
permission from the Pope, against the praiseworthy disposition
of holy Church. And for his deed, many were made martyrs, that
such things should not be endured against God and holy Church
and Christian custom./Queen Joan
of Naples' marriage to Prince Lewes of Taranto./

'If any man who would repent of his sin went
to the Pope and said: "A certain man did such a sin" (not
expressing the person), "nevertheless at the end he repented
and obtained absolution, though the sin was not amended. Tell
me therefore what penance you would give, that I may bear; for
I am ready to amend that sin for him". Truly, if he were to
say for him no more than one P ater noster, it
should be worthwhile to that soul to the lessening of his pain
in Purgatory'.

Queen
Joan,
Catherine and Birgitta, Lapa
Buondelmonte Acciaiuoli

Ediz. Giusti di S. Becocci, Firenze

In order not to violate copyright some of these
images are considerably debased. If originals are needed for
scholarly purposes contact Julia Bolton
Holloway who can acquire black and white photographs
from Fratelli Alinari or coloured postcards from Giusti di S.
Becocci in Florence.

From Augustus
J.C. Hare, Florence
(1896):

t 2 1/2 miles from the Porta Romana, by the direct
road beyond the village of Galuzzo, on the hill of Montaguto,
is the Certosa of the Val d'Ema. The position is beautiful,
with lovely views, and the convent crowning a cypress-covered
hill is very picturesque. The cloister, with its beautiful
Luca della Robbia medallions, suffered terribly in the
earthquake of 1895. The Certosa was founded in 1341 by Niccolò
Acciajuolo, Grand Seneschal to Queen Joanna of Naples, and its
fortifications were especially granted by the Republic. In
1896 there were fifteen monks here: the full number was
eight-six. A white-robed brother shows visitors over the
monastery. Sepia.

[Today, Cistercians from Casamaris inhabit the
Certosa, the last Carthusians having fled to Lucca's
Charterhouse in WWII, where monks were killed by the SS. The
monastery's books, also, were first taken to Lucca, then to
the motherhouse at Grenoble.]

The principal Church is excessivly rich;
decorated with frescoes, marbles and pietre-dure. The
pictures relating to the life of S. Bruno are by Poccetti.
To the right, through the chapel of S. John Baptist, which has
a good picture by Benvenuti, we enter a beautiful
gothic church of 1300, of which the architecture is attributed
to Orcagna. It contains some good Florentine stained glass; a
picture of S. Francis receiving the Stigmata by Cigoli;
a Crucifixion by Giotto (?); and a picture by Fra
Angelico.

In the Crypt, before the high-altar, are the
noble tombs of the founder and his family.

Whether Andrea Orcagna built the Certosa
near Florence is uncertain; but the monuments of its founder,
Niccolò Acciajuolo, and his family, which exist in the
subterranean church, belong to his time, and were perhaps
executed by some of his scholars. The tomb of Niccolò (Grand
Seneschal of the kingdom of Naples under Queen Joanna I, ob.
1366) consists of his recumbent statue, clad in armour placed
high against the wall, beneath a gothic canopy. His son,
Lorenzo, upon whose funeral obsequies he spent more that
50,000 gold florins, lies below under a marble slab, upon
which is sculptured the effigy of this 'youth in arms, and
eminent for his graceful manners and his gracious and noble
aspect'. Next him lie his grandfather and his sister Lapa.' -
Perkins' Tuscan Sculptors.

The general design of Niccolò's tomb is very
peculiar, gothic certainly, but almost transitional to the
cinquecento. Niccolò, the Grand Seneschal, founder of the
convent, was a noble character. The family, originally from
Brescia, and named after the trade they rose by, attained
sovereignty in the person of Ranier, nephew of the
Seneschal, styled Duke of Athens and Lord of Thebes and
Argos and Sparta. He was succeeded by his bastard son
Antony, and the latter by two nephews, whom he invited from
Florence, Ranion and Antony Acciajuoli; the son of the
latter, Francesco, finally yielded Athens to Mahomet II, in
1456, and was soon afterwards strangled by his orders at
Thebes. - Lindsay's Christian Art.

In a side chapel of the crypt is the tomb of Angelo
Acciajuolo, Bishop of Ostia, 1550, by Donatello, with
a border of fruit and flowers by Giuliano di San Gallo.
A small cloister has some lovely stained glass by Giovanni da
Udine. The chapter-house contains a Crucifixion by Mariotto
Albertinelli; a Madonna and Child with saints by
Perugino; and in the middle of the pavement, in a perfect
abandonment of repose, the noble figure of Lionardo Bonafede,
Bishop of Cortona, and Superior of this convent (ob. 1545), by
Francesco di San Gallo, son of Giuliano.

It is very carefully modelled; the flesh
parts are well treated, and the drapery is disposed in natural
folds. It has almost the effect of a corpse laid out for
burial before the altar, and produces a striking effect. - Perkins.

The exquisite Della Robbia lunettes of the great
cloister were removed to the Accademia in the time of Napoleon
I. They had scarcely been restored to the monastery when one
side of the beautiful cloister was ruined by the terrible
earthquake of 1895.

The Refectory is shown, in which the monks
dine on Sundays, released on that day for two hours from their
vow of silence, though a reader officiates during dinner from
a pulpit in the corner. The small cloister is by Brunelleschi.
At the Drogheria, the famous Alkermes and other
liqueurs manufactured in the monastery, are sold.

Nineteenth-century photograph of Certosa's cloister
with two Carthusian monks.See Florence in Sepia


Q:

javafx shape3d texturing: Don't strectch the image

I'm working now with javafx to build a maze and I want the walls to be textured with some seamless texture (that can be repeated). The maze is randomly generated so I don't know the size of any walls. I started by using a PhongMaterial with the desired texture, but it expand the image to fill the whole wall (a Box), so my texture is totally stretched. Is there any way to force the Material to replicate the texture as needed ?
The code is like:
Image img = new Image(new FileInputStream("img.jpg"), 400, 400, true, false);
Material mat = new PhongMaterial(Color.WHITE, img, null, null, null);
Box w = new Box(100,10,10);
w.setMaterial(mat);

Something like an ImagePattern seems a good idea, but there is no Material that accept it.
Thanks in advance for any help

A:

As @fabian mentioned, Box is not suitable for customizing the texture. By default the image you set as diffuse map will be applied for each of its six faces, and, as you already discovered, this means that it will stretch the image to accommodate the different sides.
Using the FXyz library, we can easily try the Carbon-Kevlar pattern. But obviously we have to select a size for it. Like 100 x 30.

 @Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
    Box box = new Box(100, 30, 50);
    PhongMaterial material = new PhongMaterial();
    Patterns pattern = new Patterns(100, 30);
    material.setDiffuseMap(pattern.createPattern(Patterns.CarbonPatterns.CARBON_KEVLAR, false));
    box.setMaterial(material);

    Scene scene = new Scene(new Group(box), 500, 400, true, SceneAntialiasing.BALANCED);
    primaryStage.setScene(scene);
    primaryStage.show();
}

While the texture fits perfectly fine the front face with dimensions 100x30, this image is distorted to fit in the same way the other faces 50x50 and 100x50.
Solution 1
We can try to generate our own Box, so we can decide how to apply the diffuse map.
Creating a TriangleMesh for a cuboid is easy in terms of vertices and faces or normals.
The tricky part is setting the texture coordinates. In the following snippet I set them based on one of the different possible 2D net images of the 3D cuboid:
public MeshView createCuboid(float w, float h, float d) {
    float hw = w / 2f;
    float hh = h / 2f;
    float hd = d / 2f;

    float points[] = {
             hw,  hh,  hd,
             hw,  hh, -hd,
             hw, -hh,  hd,
             hw, -hh, -hd,
            -hw,  hh,  hd,
            -hw,  hh, -hd,
            -hw, -hh,  hd,
            -hw, -hh, -hd};

    float L = 2 * w + 2 * d;
    float H = h + 2 * d;

    float tex[] = {
                  d / L,          0f,
            (d + w) / L,          0f,
                     0f,       d / H,
                  d / L,       d / H,
            (d + w) / L,       d / H,
        (2 * d + w) / L,       d / H,
                     1f,       d / H,
                     0f, (d + h) / H,
                  d / L, (d + h) / H,
            (d + w) / L, (d + h) / H,
         (2 *d + w) / L, (d + h) / H,
                     1f, (d + h) / H,
                  d / L,          1f,
            (d + w) / L,          1f};

    float normals[] = {
         1f,  0f,  0f,
        -1f,  0f,  0f,
         0f,  1f,  0f,
         0f, -1f,  0f,
         0f,  0f,  1f,
         0f,  0f, -1f,
    };

    int faces[] = {
            0, 0, 10, 2, 0,  5, 1, 0,  9,
            2, 0,  5, 3, 0,  4, 1, 0,  9,
            4, 1,  7, 5, 1,  8, 6, 1,  2,
            6, 1,  2, 5, 1,  8, 7, 1,  3,
            0, 2, 13, 1, 2,  9, 4, 2, 12,
            4, 2, 12, 1, 2,  9, 5, 2,  8,
            2, 3,  1, 6, 3,  0, 3, 3,  4,
            3, 3,  4, 6, 3,  0, 7, 3,  3,
            0, 4, 10, 4, 4, 11, 2, 4,  5,
            2, 4,  5, 4, 4, 11, 6, 4,  6,
            1, 5,  9, 3, 5,  4, 5, 5,  8,
            5, 5,  8, 3, 5,  4, 7, 5,  3};

    TriangleMesh mesh = new TriangleMesh();
    mesh.setVertexFormat(VertexFormat.POINT_NORMAL_TEXCOORD);
    mesh.getPoints().addAll(points);
    mesh.getTexCoords().addAll(tex);
    mesh.getNormals().addAll(normals);
    mesh.getFaces().addAll(faces);

    return new MeshView(mesh);
}

Now we can generate the image, but using the net dimensions:
    @Override
public void start(Stage primaryStage) {
    MeshView box = createCuboid(100, 30, 50);
    PhongMaterial material = new PhongMaterial();
    Patterns pattern = new Patterns(300, 160);
    material.setDiffuseMap(pattern.createPattern(Patterns.CarbonPatterns.CARBON_KEVLAR, false));
    box.setMaterial(material);
    box.getTransforms().addAll(rotateX, rotateY);
    Scene scene = new Scene(new Group(box), 500, 400, true, SceneAntialiasing.BALANCED);

    primaryStage.setScene(scene);
    primaryStage.show();
}

Note that the image is not distorted anymore.

You can play with its size to get a more fine or dense pattern (with a bigger image pattern).
Note that you can find this Cuboid primitive in the FXyz library, among many other 3D primitives.
Also you can find different texture modes (density maps, images, patterns...)


Background
==========

Intestinal failure is defined by a reduction in the functional gut mass to the level that the patient depends on parenteral supply of nutrients, water and electrolytes to survive \[[@B1]\]. The condition is not an uncommon endpoint for a variety of diseases including Crohn\'s disease, complications following surgery, mesenteric vascular disease and radiation enteritis \[[@B2]-[@B4]\]. Intestinal decompensation may resolve quickly or persist as a chronic condition and the patient may then face long-term nutritional support \[[@B5],[@B6]\]. Most often, patients or relatives are trained to manage procedures and treatment can then be offered in the home as *home parenteral nutrition*(HPN).

The studies of the ESPEN-HAN Working group and others have provided knowledge about the indication, incidence, prevalence and the prognosis of patients managed on home parenteral nutrition \[[@B7],[@B8]\]. However, data on the incidence and prevalence as well as management of patients with intestinal failure, from which the HPN-group generally is recruited, are rather scarce and little is known about the outcome of these patients. Clinically, patients with intestinal failure cannot be fed by enteral route due to intestinal complications or active disease and most patients need parenteral nutritional supply. The indication for referral to specialised centres is specific clinical problems such as assessment of short bowel, management of fistula or sepsis, venous access problems and the need of specialised abdominal surgery.

The aim of the present study was to obtain information about how centres in Europe manage patients with intestinal failure. Using a questionnaire, we gathered information about experience, structure and organisation of the departments involved, about specific aspects of treatment procedures, existing guidelines, referral criteria, and final outcome for patients with intestinal failure.

Methods
=======

The design of the questionnaire
-------------------------------

The ESPEN-HAN Working group designed the questionnaire for the study. The questions covered the following: Experience with treatment of these patients, including number of years with experience on home parenteral nutrition. Also, we asked for information about the number of patients referred during the year 2000 and information about endpoints of treatment, enteral nutrition, parenteral nutrition and length of stay in the hospital. Furthermore, we collected information about the structure of the department with relation to treatment of patients with intestinal failure, the number of beds for management of intestinal failure, the presence of a nutrition team and specialized teams for management of central lines, experience with intestinal transplantation and research within in this specific group of patients. The pattern of referral of these patients was also investigated as well as the level of information available to referring departments. Furthermore, departments were asked about treatment procedures, education of personnel in the management of intestinal failure and we asked for information about written guidelines.

The selection of centres for the study
--------------------------------------

This study was carried out in selected centres, defined as centres with a special interest and experience in the management of these patients, but no specific criteria for the selection of centres were defined. Thus, the questionnaire was circulated to the centres through the individual ESPEN-HAN group members of the European countries. A covering letter describing the purpose of the study was sent to each centre from the ESPEN-HAN group member.

Statistics
----------

All data are givens as median and range unless otherwise indicated.

Results
=======

Centres and patients
--------------------

Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"} shows the number of centres in each country invited to participate in the investigation, the number of responders and the total number of patients referred with intestinal failure during the study period from January 1^st^to December 31^st^2000. A total of 23 centres across Europe were invited to participate and 17 responded. These centres reported that a total of 882 patients were referred during the period of investigation. For the previous year of 1999 centres reported a total number of 564 referred with intestinal failure.

######

Number of centres invited, number of responding centres and the number of patients referred with intestinal failure in 2000.

  **Country**   **Number of centres invited**   **Number of centres that responded**   **Patients referred with intestinal failure from January to December 2000**
  ------------- ------------------------------- -------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  UK            8                               6                                      375
  France        6                               4                                      308
  Italy         1                               1                                      52
  Poland        1                               1                                      53
  Spain         6                               3                                      43
  Denmark       2                               2                                      51
  Total         23                              17                                     882

Structure and experience of centres
-----------------------------------

Centres answered that the total number of beds reserved solely for treatment of intestinal failure were 111, and within each country the number of beds ranged from 0--42. Centres had a mean experience of 16 years (range 12--30) in the management of patients with intestinal failure and currently had 590 patients on HPN due to chronic intestinal failure. Of the centres, 33% were specialised in medical gastroenterology, 33% in surgical gastroenterology and 33% had both disciplines within the same unit. Of the centres 5 (29%) answered that they were engaged in research projects within this field. One centre had experience with intestinal transplantation, 3 centres (17%) answered that they had some experience with this procedure, and the remaining 76% had no experience with intestinal transplantation. Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"} shows the total number of physicians and nurses involved in the treatment of these patients in all centres. Table [3](#T3){ref-type="table"} shows the number of hours spent per week by doctors and nurses on the task of taking care of patients with intestinal failure. The table indicates that there are significant differences in how the treatment of these patients is organized. The number of hours spent per week by doctors for each country ranged from 22 to 375 and was not related to the number of beds assigned for this treatment. When comparing time spent per bed the range was broad for both nurses and physicians.

######

Number of physicians and nurses involved in treatment of intestinal failure in each country.

            **Physicians**   **Nurses**
  --------- ---------------- ------------ ---- ----
  UK        9                24           36   49
  France    8                22           15   20
  Italy     1                3            3    4
  Spain     10               27           12   16
  Poland    4                11           2    3
  Denmark   5                14           6    8
  Total     37                            74

######

Resources used by nurses and physicians reported by centres as hours per week.

                  **Physician**   **Nurse**
  --------- ----- --------------- ----------- ------ ------ ---- ------
  UK        42    22              3           0.52   1325   59   31.5
  France    29    151             21          5.2    169    8    5.8
  Italy     2     24              3           12.0   3      0    1.5
  Spain     0     375             51          \-     469    21   \-
  Poland    0     54              7           \-     48     2    \-
  Denmark   38    105             14          2.7    218    10   5.7
  Total     111   731                                2232

Referral of patients and organization of treatment
--------------------------------------------------

The centres were asked if they believed that all patients diagnosed with intestinal failure were being referred for treatment when required. Two centres (11%) in Spain and Poland reported that all patients were referred. Of the centres n = 8 (47%) were of the opinion that more than 75% of patients were referred for treatment and 2 centres (11%) in France and Spain answered that they believed that no more than 50% of patients were being referred for treatment. Five centres (31%) in the UK and Denmark were not sure what to answer.

Centres were asked about pattern of referral criteria, geographical and speciality. Centres were allowed more than one answer. Of the centres, 11 had patients referred from the region, 7 centres received patients referred more randomly. The departments of abdominal surgery referred the majority of patients for treatment. All centres except one received patients from this speciality and 7 centres received patients from departments of medical gastroenterology. Of the 17 centres, 4 (24%) were reimbursed for their services and 6 (34%) centres had a waiting list.

Centres were asked if they believed that the treatment of intestinal failure was well organized in their country or region. Of the centres, 35% reported that treatment was well organized and 65% answered that organization needed improvement.

Referral criteria
-----------------

Departments were asked if a specific set of referral criteria were used and if so, we asked who had defined these criteria. Of the centres 7 (41%) reported to adhere to guidelines of referral defined by the department or the hospital.

Information about the service provided to referring departments
---------------------------------------------------------------

With regard to the treatment of intestinal failure, centres were asked if the clinical director/head of department initiated activities to inform about the experience and \'know how\' of the department. Specific questions asked for workshops about management of intestinal failure at the institution, if the \'know how\' were accessible on a web site and whether any written information about the unit was available on demand. Of the centres 8 (47%) answered that the head of department took initiatives to inform about the service provided and 5 centres (29%) reported that workshops were being held on intestinal failure management. In 7 (41%) centres written information was available on request.

Guidelines
----------

We asked for information about written guidelines on treatment of intestinal failure in general and guidelines for parenteral and enteral nutrition. Of the responders, 5 centres (29%) had written guidelines on how to manage intestinal failure. All centres except one had guidelines for parenteral nutrition and 13 (76%) had guidelines for enteral nutrition. With regard to management of intestinal failure, we asked more specifically for information about guidelines on some of the most frequent complications and clinical difficulties associated with this clinical condition: sepsis and catheter related sepsis, fistula management, high output stoma, vein thrombosis and liver disease. The results are shown in Table [4](#T4){ref-type="table"}.

######

Number of centres with written guidelines for management of guidelines for complications/clinical issues associated with intestinal failure.

  ***Complication***                   ***n***   ***% of all***
  ------------------------------------ --------- ----------------
  Sepsis                               12        71
  Fistula                              3         18
  Catheter related sepsis              17        100
  Catheter related venous thrombosis   10        59
  High output stoma                    9         53
  Liver disease                        3         18

Length of hospital stays for patients with intestinal failure
-------------------------------------------------------------

Table [5](#T5){ref-type="table"} shows the median and range of the length of the hospital stay. Data are pooled for each of the countries involved in the study.

######

Length of hospital stays.

            ***Median (days)***   ***Range (days)***
  --------- --------------------- --------------------
  UK        79                    2--700
  France    71                    1--210
  Italy     17                    5--93
  Spain     85                    10--150
  Poland    25                    9--86
  Denmark   228                   7--360

The endpoints of treatment of intestinal failure
------------------------------------------------

Centres were asked for data on endpoints of treatment for patients admitted during the period January 1^st^to December 31^st^2000, and discharged before December 31^st^2000. The following endpoints were considered: Discharged from hospital with oral or enteral nutrition or tube feeding and HPN. Also we asked for data on death rate, intestinal transplantation performed and whether patients were lost to follow up. Table [6](#T6){ref-type="table"} shows the main results for all centres with regard to endpoint of treatment. The table was compiled by the inclusion of data from all centres.

######

The endpoints of treatment of intestinal failure for all patients in the study.

                                         ***Median (%)***   ***Range (%)***
  -------------------------------------- ------------------ -----------------
  Oral nutrition                         32                 23--50
  Enteral nutrition/tube feeding         11                 4--23
  HPN                                    36                 15--57
  Died                                   9                  5--18
  Intestinal transplantation performed   0                  0
  Lost to follow up                      10                 0--35

Discussion
==========

Seventeen out of 23 centres responded and a possible bias is that centres with a known expertise may not have been asked to participate or may not have responded and this should be considered when evaluating the data. Data are representative in the sense that information was obtained from across Europe involving 17 centres in 6 countries and the survey includes about 900 patients diagnosed with intestinal failure. The number of centres in each country varied significantly and was not correlated to number of inhabitants, but more likely reflects the organization of treatment of these patients on a national level.

Epidemiological data about the prevalence or incidence of intestinal failure in adults or children are not available. This possibly reflects that the clinical entity has a low prevalence with a multifactorial aetiology. In addition, criteria for this diagnosis have never firmly been agreed upon. The prevalence of home parenteral nutrition has been reported, but these data do not include patients with intestinal failure with a temporary need for parenteral support. Surveys on HPN in Europe indicated an incidence of 2--3 patients per million and the prevalence was reported to about 4 per million with a broad range \[[@B7],[@B8]\]. No studies on prevalence and incidence of HPN in Europe have been published recently since the organisation of this service in many countries has changed from being centralised. In the US larger figures have been reported possibly reflecting that the indication for this treatment differs between continents \[[@B9],[@B10]\]. The organizational structure of HPN in Europe has changed in the last few years but the most recent survey does not provide data that can be used for calculation of prevalence and incidence of HPN on a national level, at least only in some countries (11). This makes it even more difficult to estimate epidemiological data for intestinal failure since a varying number of patients are unaccounted for, as in this study, or may be weaned off parenteral nutrition before entering HPN programs. In keeping with this, Messing *et al*. \[[@B5]\] reported that as many as 27% of patients with short bowel syndrome were off parenteral nutrition one month after the event that caused intestinal failure.

The survey confirms that patients with intestinal failure stay in hospital for significant amount of time, hence, up to 700 days in a UK centre, and the median length of stay ranges between 17 in Italy and 228 in Denmark. This is not surprising; intestinal failure is often associated with a number of additional clinical problems such as high output stoma, fistula, sepsis and liver and kidney failure and patients may need specialized treatment for a long period. We are not aware of previous data on length of stay for this group of patients.

The large variation in mortality rate reported between countries could be related to a greater number of cancer patients being treated in some centres. Surveys in Europe have shown that cancer is a more common indication for HPN in the southern part of Europe \[[@B11]\].

The clinical challenge is to re-establish intestinal function whenever possible so that patients with intestinal failure can be managed on oral or enteral nutrition. In this study we found that about 43% of the patients could be send home on oral or enteral nutrition. About on third of the patients were discharged from hospital with parenteral nutrition. Interestingly, none of the centres had referred patients for intestinal transplantation procedures in accordance with a recent study on the indication for intestinal transplantation showing that European centres have some reluctance to refer patients for this procedure \[[@B12]\].

Experience of the centres participating in this study varies significantly, but all centres had an experience of 12 years or beyond and were handling a considerable amount of patients with chronic intestinal failure maintained on HPN. Management of patients with intestinal failure in many cases requires a close collaboration between surgical and medical gastroenterology and the centres reported that patients were treated either in the individual speciality or in a unit with access to both disciplines. Resources in terms of time spent on these patients by nurses and physicians showed considerable variation with the highest values reported for both nurses and physicians reported in the UK and Denmark. In the UK, intestinal failure units have been established and in Denmark treatment of intestinal failure patients has been assigned to very few centres.

We asked for information about referral of patients with intestinal failure and the answers were diverging. Only 10% of centres were of the opinion that all patients were being referred, but close to 60% of the centres in different countries were quite certain that no more than 50--75% of the intestinal failure patients were being referred for treatment. The results indicate that treatment is not well organized in all countries and that may not even be the case in countries with a set of national guidelines for treatment. This is also reflected in the referral pattern, patients are reported coming from both the region in which the centre is placed and patients are also sent from other departments. Although centres did not believe that all patients were referred for treatment about one third had a waiting list. The majority of centres were of the opinion that treatment could be better organized.

Guidelines for treatment of intestinal failure have not been developed in all centres and only 29% reported that such guidelines were available. With regard to specific treatment with enteral and parenteral nutrition, the majority of centres had guidelines. The management of the most common complications related to intestinal failure was also described in guidelines supporting that centres generally were highly specialised in taking care of these patients.

Conclusion
==========

This study indicates that patients with intestinal failure are being managed across Europe in specialised units in the setting of both surgical and medical gastroenterology; the organizational structure of this service varies significantly between centres. The study reports on about 900 patients diagnosed with this diagnosis and shows that about 43% are discharged with per oral or enteral nutrition and 36% with parenteral nutrition. Mortality rate during a one-year observation period is about 10% and no patients were referred for intestinal transplantation. Not all patients are referred for treatment and not all centres have specific guidelines for management of intestinal failure, although they in general have much experience. More information about epidemiology of intestinal failure can provide a better understanding of disease impact. This study does not provide details about outcome and prognosis in relation to primary disease and complications; this would require a prospective study in selected centres.

Authors\' contributions
=======================

MS conceived of the study, and participated in its design and coordination, and performed the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed collection of data and approved the final manuscript.

Declaration of competing interests
==================================

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Appendix
========

We are indebted to contributors to HPN survey in Europe, (see Table [7](#T7){ref-type="table"}).

######

Appendix

  ---------------- -----------------------------------------
  **Country**      **Principal investigator**
  United Kingdom   Professor CR Pennington (Dundee)
  United Kingdom   SJ Middleton (Cambridge)
  United Kingdom   K. Fearon (Edinburgh)
  United Kingdom   Helen Hamilton (Oxford)
  United Kingdom   K.A Forbes (Harrow)
  France           Dr. Cecile Chambrier (Lyon)
  France           Bernard Messing (Paris)
  France           Jean-Marie Reimund (Strasbourg)
  Spain            Jose M Moreno/MIguel Leon Sanz (Madrid)
  Spain            Dr. Pilar Garcia Peris (Madrid)
  Denmark          Henrik HØjgaard Rasmussen (Aalborg)
  ---------------- -----------------------------------------

Acknowledgements
================

Ms Dorte Christensen is thanked for help with collection of questionnaires and data management.


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A state of emergency has been introduced, banning gatherings of more than 10 people.

While the government has announced an assistance package for businesses and households - many people are already jobless.

Al Jazeera's Robin Forestier Walker has more from Tbilisi.


Nociception-driven decreased induction of Fos protein in ventral hippocampus field CA1 of the rat.
To test the hypothesis that the hippocampus field CA1 is recruited in nociceptive intensity-dependent fashion in the formalin model of inflammatory pain, we determined the effect of injection of formalin (0.625-2.5%) on the induction of Fos protein along the length of the hippocampus. Compared to injection of saline, injection of formalin (0.625-2.5%) evoked a concentration-dependent increase in nociceptive behavior and a significant linear increase in the number of Fos-positive cells in the spinal cord, especially in the deeper laminae. Injection of saline also increased induction of Fos along the length of hippocampus. On the other hand, injection of formalin decreased the number of Fos-positive cells in whole CA1, CA3 and dentate gyrus, with a greater significant effect in the posterior-ventral regions of the hippocampus. Indeed, a formalin concentration-dependent decrease was observed in the ventral CA1. A systematic pattern of change in Fos induction was not observed in the medial septum region. Of the regions examined, only the formalin-induced changes in Fos cell counts in the posterior and ventral CA1 were tightly correlated with the changes observed in the spinal cord. The foregoing findings suggest that nociceptive information is processed in distributed fashion by the hippocampus, and at least the ventral CA1 is implicated in nociceptive intensity-dependent integrative functions.