Gadgets: Ice cream machine

Getting an offer to review a soft-serve ice cream machine is a dream come true, at least for me. Obviously, I'm an ice cream fan, and reviewing the Gourmia Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker has to be one of my favorites in my 25-plus years of reviews.

Spoiler alert: To say the Gourmia Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker was the hit of my recent social gathering is an understatement.

Aside from the end product, the most impressive aspect is how easy this was to set up and use, producing ice cream in about 30 minutes. Cleaning was simple, with most parts are dishwasher-safe. It's not as simple as making a cup of coffee, but it's not far from it. And it's not limited to soft-serve ice cream; it's perfect for slushes, sorbet, milkshakes and even a margarita.

The 2-quart-capacity appliance is countertop-friendly, measuring 15.63 by 16.93 by 10.79 inches and weighing about 25 pounds. It has a built-in cooling system -- all in one, so everything is made in the machine itself. With all it's doing, it does run a little loud, but nothing I'd consider a distraction.

Since it has a built-in compressor and cooling technology, there's no need to pre-freeze anything. After your ice cream recipe is made, there are six one-touch presets (soft serve, slush, spiked, milkshake, frappe, and sorbet) to choose from.

Once it's done, it stays cold and fresh for up to three hours but in my household it didn't last that long. To serve, there's a pull handle, just like an ice cream shop has, to dispense it into a bowl or cone. A favorite topping, such as sprinkles, gets accessed from a side topping dispensing compartment and there's a very popular fudge warmer compartment. There's also an ice cream cone holder.

The Gourmia Soft-Serve Ice Cream Maker is fun and simple from start to finish. The built-in cooling system is such a significant advantage and speeds the process. And once you're done, run the self-clean cycle, disassemble it and load the dishwasher (we cleaned the metal cylinder by hand).

There are other options, such as adjusting the texture to achieve the consistency you like. An instruction manual is included with some basic recipes. It's available exclusively at Costco for $199.99.

https://www.gourmia.com/item.asp?item=10478

Liiton's American Peaks Whiskey Glasses are an attractive set, designed to emulate some of the most iconic mountain peaks. Each glass features a 3D replica of the mountains (Mt. Rainier, Yosemite, the Rockies and the Smokies) embedded in the base, reflecting the grandeur of the great American wilderness.

The premium lead-free crystal glasses are marketed for whiskey, but aren't limited to that. Proprietary technology built into the glasses chills drinks quickly without ice.

Cold is key, and this is what makes the glasses stand out; your beverages will be chilled without ice. Of course, ice can be used, but not needed. The glasses can be stored in a freezer for future use and are dishwasher safe.

Each rounded 10-ounce glass is transparent, insulated, and break-resistant. (I'll take their word, I'm not testing that feature.)

https://liiton.com/collections/whiskey-accessories $54.99 at Amazon

Espro's P7 French Press is a premium coffee maker, featuring a double micro-filter system. This produces as good a cup of coffee as the pinnacle of French press coffee brewing.

The insulated stainless steel body, with a double-wall design, keeps coffee hot for hours. The dual micro-mesh filter system keeps the coffee grit-free while producing a richly flavored beverage every time. A silicone lip lines the dual micro-mesh filters, which, when you press the plunger down, create a tight seal to slow the extraction of coffee, preventing the brew from becoming bitter over time.

Each cup has a consistent taste, produced by the patented AirLockTM, which stops extraction immediately after you put the plunger down for brewing. It's available in 18-ounce ($115.00) and 32-ounce ($144.99) models with a choice of six colored finishes.

https://espro.com/collections/french-press/products/coffee-french-press-p7?variant=40619333025971

TravlFi's XTR Pro 5G Router keeps you connected to Wi-Fi when you're away from home.

The high-performance 5G Wi-Fi router is built for on-the-road situations where Wi-Fi is a must. While it's great for most any need, think of full-time RVers and on-the-go road warrior professionals, whose jobs can't be done without high-speed Internet access. With TravlFi's 5G router ($424), you'll get speeds up to 3.6GBPS with Wi-Fi 6 and automatic fallback to 4G LTE.

It's built with eSIM and dual SIM support for uninterrupted coverage wherever you go. Families or larger work groups working remotely with multiple devices will like that you can connect up to 128 devices simultaneously with secure, private network access across North America.

The 5G Unlimited Max plan is $159 per month, with speeds up to 200 Mbps and no data limits. The 5G Unlimited plan has no data limits and offers speeds up to 100 Mbps. Other lower speed plans are available. All plans are monthly, with no contracts or minimums. They have complete flexibility, allowing you to start or stop at any time.

https://travlfi.com

Antler luggage is a popular brand with a reputation for taking the beating that travel puts on rolling bags. Adding to durability is functionality with diverse sizes, compartments and modern features.

The Soft Stripe 2.0 high-quality luggage line is lightweight and has recently been upgraded for strength, style, durability and softer landings. Some of the Soft Stripe 2.0 bags are the lightest in the industry, weighing as little as 4.19 pounds.

Among the new features of the luggage constructed from 100% recycled polyester are an easier-to-access front pocket, practical interior pockets and a spacious interior. If you have ever had a suitcase with bad rolling wheels, you know how important they are when traveling through airports. The Antler luggage features smooth-rolling 360-degree spinning wheels, an adjustable handle, and TSA-approved locks.

There is a lot to choose from; among them is the lightest large luggage (31.9 by 18.3 by 12.2 inches/5.95 pounds) in a variety of colors for $355. The lightest expandable carry-on luggage is $275 (21.7 by 13.8 by 9.1 inches/4.19 pounds).

https://www.antler.com

When you combine all the features of the Satechi OntheGo 67W wall charger, you have a perfect charger for on-the-go use.

The pocket-sized charger (3.2 by 2.05 by 0.68 inches/3.4 ounces) with rounded edges features dual USB-C ports and a built-in AC wall outlet charging power prongs.

Using a single USB-C port delivers up to 67 watts of power, and using both ports simultaneously provides up to 45 watts of PD and 20 watts of PD. It also features advanced GaN technology to deliver high-speed power, with safety features that prevent overheating.

https://satechi.net/products/onthego-67w-slim-wall-charger $59.99