The Daily Valet. - 9/15/23, Friday
✔️ It's Strong and It's Fast
Friday, September 15th Edition
By Cory Ohlendorf, Valet. Editor
We made it to Friday. Let's make some coffee ... and fast.
Today’s Big Story
Instant Coffee Is Cool Again
Craft coffee roasters are selling their own on-the-go and instant coffee packets
When you need coffee, you want it fast. Which is why instant coffee was invented. Also known as soluble coffee and coffee powder, it was first invented in the 18th century but became popular during the First World War as part of soldiers' rations. From then on, its popularity only grew and in the 1960s, freeze-drying made it even simpler to manufacture, so it really took off.But while it was convenient, it wasn't exactly known for its quality and was never regarded as the best-tasting brew. It was hot and caffeinated and got the job done. As coffeehouse culture took off and people wanted better beans, the idea that you'd rehydrate instant coffee was so gross, it basically killed those rough freeze-dried coffee flakes.But it's now back in a myriad of ways. Trade publication Beverage Industry reports that the global instant coffee market is currently valued at $42.5 billion and is expected to go up to $69.2 billion by 2033. That report cites urbanization, changing lifestyles and modernization as factors driving the demand. There are now over a dozen brands, from Starbucks and Lavazza to Keurig Green Mountain and smaller third-wave roasters making instant powders that only require you to stir into hot water for rich coffee that you might never suspect was instant.According to The Takeout, these new on-the-go coffee options are for people who have discerning tastes in coffee—a far cry from the reputation that instant coffee has developed across the decades. They also mention near-instant options that don't involve powders. These include sachets, which work a lot like a tea bag and take a few minutes to brew, and “single serve pour-over,” in which a small cardboard device anchors actual coffee grounds to a mug so you can make a cup of pour-over coffee wherever you are.Of course, that craft quality doesn't come cheap. These aren't the big jars of crystals your grandmother kept in the back of her pantry. These are consistently much more expensive than regular coffee—the cost of convenience, I guess. Blue Bottle's handsome jar of instant espresso, for example, will set you back $25 for 12 servings. Klatch sachets are $2.50 each when purchased individually, with discounts available if you buy them in multiple quantities. Verve Coffee Roasters sells a pack of seven instant cups for $18. And Partners Coffee Roasters, the instant packet that stirs into hot water like the old school instant crystals, sells six packets for $16. It's not for bargain hunters, that's for sure. But it could sure come in handy when you're short on time.
FYI:
Fresh brewed coffee contains more of everything from caffeine to antioxidants to coffee oils, compared to instant.
Vegas Is Still Reeling From Cyber Attacks
Caesars and MGM grapple with hacks as cybersecurity in Vegas is under scrutiny
You go to Las Vegas knowing full well that you could lose a little bit of money (and maybe some dignity), but you don't think you'll lose your Social Security number and other vital information. But five days after a cyberattack crippled operations of MGM Resorts, including its signature Las Vegas properties the Bellagio and the MGM Grand, the company said Thursday morning that it is still working to resolve issues as another major resort operation, Caesars Entertainment, acknowledged it was hit by hackers too.A group dubbed “Scattered Spider” by cybersecurity researchers paralyzed the MGM systems rendering doors to the chain's casinos and hotels unusable. Slot machines and ATM machines were also inoperable, elevators were out of order and customers had to wait hours to check into rooms. Even the company's website remains down. No amount of free drinks can make up for that.What's worse, Caesars said on Thursday that the attack exposed customers' Social Security numbers and driver's license information from the company's loyalty program database. CNBC reports that the disruption “presents a material risk to the brand, since it highlighted key risks within the company.” Which explains why the casino recently paid millions to the ransomware hackers to stop the attack and delete any stolen data. Of course, they're not alone. In the last few years, several major companies have faced breaches due to similar social-engineering attacks—where hackers rely on their communication skills (often over the phone) to trick employees into sharing passwords and other information.
Dig Deeper:
The white-hat hacker Rachel Tobac wrote on LinkedIn that organizations are less equipped to deal with phone-based attacks than email.
What’s Everyone Watching?
Do you pay attention to those streaming top 10 lists?
I noticed it the other day while scrolling through the Max (formerly HBO Max) app on my Apple TV—a top 10 countdown of the “most popular” shows subscribers are currently streaming. It reminded me of Netflix, which has offered a similar list on its homepage for years now.
Turns out Max just added it a few weeks ago. And on Thursday, it was announced that Hulu is finally getting into the numbers game, too—but on its own terms. Vulture reports that the Disney-owned streamer is launching a variation on the most-watched-titles feature on its homepage. It's new “Top 15 Today” will be based on an algorithmic formula which takes into consideration several factors, including how many people start playing the title (i.e., watch at least two minutes) and its relative popularity on the platform. Hulu is thinking of its top 15 as less a Nielsen-like ratings chart and more of a compilation of titles trending on any given day.And as of this writing, I've now confirmed that Prime Video and Apple TV+ also offer similar indicators of in-app popularity—and have for a while now. So one can only assume it's coming to Paramount+ and Peacock soon. Of course, it's worth remembering that none of these most-popular lists are verified by third parties, and Hulu's top 15 is very much not being offered as a straight-ahead ranking of consumption. That will disappoint anyone hoping for more transparency in streaming data, but hey, at least it'll help us discover new shows and movies, right?
The Kids Are Alright
A closer look at Gen Z’s surprise optimism about the future
Members of Gen Z—despite the pandemic, social strife and widespread mental health struggles—are surprisingly optimistic about their future. Members of the age group (born between 1997 and 2011) overwhelmingly felt positive about their futures, according to new Gallup data released on Thursday.You might say that Gen Z's view of itself couldn't be more different than everyone else's view of young people. At the same time, older generations report less optimism about the future of people in their teens and 20s, Zach Hrynowski, a senior education researcher at Gallup told Axios. Is this just the idealism of youth? Nearly 76% of Gen Z surveyed said “they have a great future ahead of them,” but just 44% reported feeling prepared for it.That uncertainty, combined with a high desire to succeed in the workplace, is why “less than half (47%) of Gen Z Americans feel like they're currently thriving in their lives.” But, keep in mind that this kind of generational research is somewhat controversial, too. Some scholars argue generation labels are harmful and unscientific. And earlier this year, the Pew Research Center pointed out that some trends that appear to be generational shifts may actually be differences based on life stage and age that can change over time.
Meanwhile:
If you think you've mastered hardball tactics? Just wait until you see how the TikTok generation handles salary negotiations.
In Other News
The president’s son is accused of lying about his drug use when he bought a firearm.
Have you heard about ...
A Weekend Pairing
‘The Morning Show’ + a Canned Espresso Martini Cocktail
Have you seen The Morning Show? I feel like for all the star power, there's not enough said about this show, which centers on the tension between creatives and business along with the constant one-upmanship in the cut-throat world of morning television. The Apple TV+ series is back for its third season, adding new challenges and new cast members to keep this unpredictable show even more interesting.The new season kicks off with a bang—literally. Jon Hamm plays an eccentric billionaire who (of course) owns a space company and offers to take the team on a rocket launch as part of his interest in buying the network. This is apparently two years after the second season ended (with Jennifer Aniston's character Alex Levy broadcasting from home with a raging early case of COVID). The fictional network is in trouble, which is good for the real viewers of this show, since the network execs (played by Billy Crudup and Greta Lee) are often the best part of the show. Since the show also centers around news stories (#MeToo and the pandemic, in past seasons), there's always something juicy happening. Season three jumps head-first into a weird and wild post-vaccination America, complete with online hacks and the dismantling of Roe v. Wade.
Pair It With
What to pair with a drama about a morning news show? How about some boozy coffee? TipTop's version is strong yet smooth, with a welcome hint of rich vanilla. And it boasts a delicious complexity from Counter Culture's cult-favorite espresso beans.
Also Worth a Watch:
‘Wilderness’ on Prime Video and ‘The Other Black Girl’ on Hulu
Shopping
What We’re Buying
A denim trucker jacket
A reliable denim jacket is a must-have for everyone's closet. This one from Ralph Lauren has a beautiful distressed wash with repairs and is finished with American-made buttons.
Get It:
Distressed denim trucker jacket, $298 / $179.99 by Polo Ralph Lauren
Morning Motto
Stop and say hello.
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