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Soda Machines for Geeks?
PhaseBurn writes "In all my findings, I've yet to see things like
Bawls
or Jolt
in a soda machine. Even bottled water is hard to come by... Working in a call center for an ISP, we don't have to worry too much about what's popular with the rest of the world, and so, I'm tasked with finding a vending machine replete for geeks. While Jolt can come out of any normal soda machine that
supports plastic bottles, the glass Bawls bottles woultn't fare so well. Do they make a soda machine that would work for this? What's around your office... And what's popular among the geeks today, as I want it to appeal to the vast majority of our staff?" Why use a vending machine when a community cooler would work just as well. With that aside, what kind of beverages would you like to see more of in vending machines?
ann landers is dead :*(
I don't know about you man, but I'd be pissed if everyone got their Bawls for free in a company paid-for fridge. I mean, get some variety at least. Coke. Mt. Dew. Jolt. Beamish Stout. Dr. Slice. Those seem to be other "geek" drinks. That's probably because "geeks" drink the same stuff everyone else does.
Even better, skip the Bawls. It's over-priced. Keep a bunch of lemon-lime soda, grenadine, and freebase caffeine powder [1] on hand, perhaps even mix it for everyone in a pitcher. Throw in a couple sliced oranges for a zesty citrus surprise. Hell, you could have various levels of caffeine per 12-oz glass, 0 mg to 100. Why not?
At work, we have a water fountain and it works great. You know, one of those 5 gallon glug-glug-gluggers of purified water in a bottle, connected upside down to a fountain that dispenses very cool and hot-enough-for-tea water. Can't lose with one of those.
[1] Pure caffeine can be easily isolated from caffeine tablets or ordered from chemical suppliers. Damn cheap.
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad
That's what I did.
One day, someone said, "Gee, let's just buy a coke machine." So, I clicked onto ebay and got one for one hundred dollars. I needed to rent the rack, the pumps, and the carbonator. That came to a whopping 9 dollars a month.
The killer was ice. The machine was cooled by ice, (must be cooled to allow the syrup to "take" the carbonation) and depending on the weather we used quite a bit. It was the greatest expense, probably between 15 and 30 dollars a week.
Coke rents their machines out for 75 dollars a month. The problem is the original install which costs 750 dollars. So, it's cheaper to get your own, assuming you can find one (cheap enough and) that is refrigerated, and not cooled by ice.
We had Coke, Root Beer, Surge, Grape, and others. Beware of the pungant flavors that'll kill the pump for other flavors. You can clean it all you want, but certain flavors never go away.
Assuming to do get it hooked up, make sure to clean it once in a while, or mildew can end up in your drinks.
The BIBs (Bag-In-Box) range from about 40-50 dollars for 5 gallons. Assuming you go with the standard 5/1 ratio (5 parts water for each ounce of syrup) that'll give you 25 gallons of drink.
There are also FCBs (Frozen Carbonated Beverages), they are the same as BIBs except they also have a foaming agent. Unless you like unbelievable amounts of fizz (on top of your drink) do not use FCBs.
If you like non-carbonated drinks, make sure to get a carbonator with a non-carbonated out. Not all of them have it.
If you're interested, I'm looking to sell my coke machine (ice cooled), with a rack.
Have you read my journal today?
Aspartame != Saccharine. The worst you get with Aspartame is headaches and possibly brain tumors.
Additionally, saccharine has only been shown to cause cancer in *lab mice*. Are you a lab mouse? If not, then there are no studies that show that you will get cancer.
I have been pwned because my
Pure caffeine can be easily isolated from caffeine tablets or ordered from chemical suppliers. Damn cheap.
Just by smashing them up? or is there more involved? I'd love a link to instructions, and a link to someone that sells caffine powder suitable for bevrage usage would be nice. I'll finalt be able to start my day with a nice healthy glass of caffinated orange juice.
The Register has an interesting article on how to set up a works drink vending machine.
I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered.....my life is my own.
Heh. I was going to make some of that for my girlfriend, who was starting to drink a SoBe Energy Drink (caffeinated 5-Alive) every morning.
:) It would be a lot better on your teeth and stomache than coffee or even tea.
There are a lot of places that provide "research" chemicals online. A lot typically provide to businesses, but can be kajoled into selling to an individual. Also, there are a handful of companies which sell smaller quantities directly to curious consumers. Caffeine is among various Tryptamines, DXM HBr, and others.
Just make sure to get Food or Technical Grade Caffeine powder, which implies a certain (almost 100%) percentage of purity.
As per the tablets, more than just smashing them up. However, that would work, you would just be drinking 3 grams of cornstarch or binder. If it dissolves and doesn't tastebad, I suppose it's not a big deal. Otherwise, if it doesn't dissolve in water, you could extract via water, perhaps 1 tablet per oz- then strain out the binders. You then could take this liquid and add it to a big 20 oz OJ.
There are much better methods, I've seen plenty of extraction procedures in HS/Intro College chemistry. Google around for "caffeine isolation" or something. Probably find info on isolating it from soda and tea as well.
Working toward a usable PDA environment in the spirit of Newton OS: Dynapad