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Make Café Quality Coffee At Home With One Easy Switch

We’ve got all sorts of problems right now in Australia.One silver lining, though, is that we can shove a fantastic range of high-quality coffee down our gullets.And wouldn’t it be such a waste if we didn’t make the most of it? After all: high-quality coffee is more accessible than it’s ever been.To make sure you’re not spurning this opportunity, DMARGE got in touch with 2019 Australian Barista Champion Matthew Lewin to get his top tips.Matthew gave us a number of surprises (believe it or not, the machine you use to brew your coffee isn’t that important). He also confirmed a couple of rumours we had heard but weren’t sure were true (a good grinder really is essential).Kock yourself up a brew, settle in, then read what you’re doing right (and wrong).

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A post shared by Matthew Lewin (@matthew_lewin)

If you’re not drinking filter coffee, you’re missing out

You may associate it with Fear & Loathing In Las Vegas or American Gas Stations or Terrible 90s Diners or The Hangover or Scummy Dish Liquid… but you’d be wrong.In 2021, filter coffee is so much more.It’s convenient too. As Matthew told DMARGE, even though filter coffee is something “a lot of people don’t talk about” it’s an easy, trending, way to get your morning jitters.“You don’t need an espresso machine to explore a whole new world of coffee. There are filter coffees that have a relatively cheap set up.”“It’s something people don’t talk about enough in cafes and also at home.”

“It’s kind of the go-to I think. If you don’t have a filter coffee set up at home I reckon you’re missing out on a huge world of coffee.”

You don’t need a fancy espresso machine to make professional quality coffee

Whether you have an Aeropress, a French Press, or a Moka Pot, if you buy high-quality ingredients – and one other crucial thing – then you can make professional-quality home coffee.“Think American diners – that idea, that method, hot water poured over coffee that’s ground then it drips out,” Matthew told DMARGE.

“We’ve just modernised it through a current climate of amazing specialty coffee – great beans and great roasting and that all just makes that diner coffee or Moka Pot even better.”

These modern techniques with better equipment are akin to good wine, scotch or tea. Just like all those products, you can get really good offerings or really bad.Regarding the kinds of high-quality coffee currently on the market, Matthew says they lend your cup of Joe a “nuance of flavour” and a bit more “of a journey” in your mouth (compared to the aforementioned diners).

“Grab some paper and stick some water on some ground coffee and you get this nice big cup of coffee compared to a little espresso and you enjoy it over 5 or 10 minutes or whatever and it takes you on a bit of a coffee journey.”

Variety can help, too

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A post shared by Matthew Lewin (@matthew_lewin)

Matthew, who works with @onacoffee, says “we offer about 15 or more every month. We’re one of the roasters that offers the most.”

The single most important thing you can do is buy good coffee

“The most important thing you can do is obviously buy good coffee,” Matthew told DMARGE.

“There’s so much good stuff around, people are roasting better stuff now – from the farm to the cup – just better product.”

The second most important thing is to have a good grinder

“It’s crucial to have a good grinder,” Matthew told DMARGE. “It can be a hand grinder (you can get a really good one for 100 bucks) or an electronic one for 200 bucks.”

“You can get them for 500 but the 100 one is amazing.”

“It’s like a chef having a sharp knife.”If you, like us, rely on buying pre-ground coffee, then perhaps this is the time to reconsider your life choices… and discover a new world in the process.

Making coffee is like baking a cake

Matthew told DMARGE: “When you’re making a filter coffee you’re thinking: ‘how much dry ingredients and flour do I have?’ and ‘how much water or liquid am I adding to my cake.’ Get that ratio right, brew it for a certain amount of time, and your going to get the most delicious damn coffee every time.”

“Buy great ingredients and follow a simple recipe. Thinking about it this way you’re going to make the most delicious cafe quality filter coffee; it’s going to blow your mind.”

“You can do it in your Moka Pot, French Press, an Empty Coke Bottle; doesn’t matter, brew it, keep it warm while it’s brewing and filter it out.”“I’ve made coffees in the weirdest hotels with the weirdest equipment but with me I had a good grinder and I just used my simple ‘cake’ or coffee recipe and you’re just brewing ‘gansta’ juice all the time.”

Don’t be afraid to experiment… though the results will be on you

Matthew is no snob. In fact, he’s been known to leave his filter coffee in the car overnight and have another crack at it in the morning.So when we asked him how many times it was acceptable to reheat your coffee in the microwave, he didn’t fall over with apoplectic rage.“Reheat the shit out of that stuff,” he said. “Drastic times call for drastic measures.”He did warn us though that you shouldn’t expect the same results.

“Making coffee is all about cooking stuff – you’ve kind of cooked that coffee so if you reheat it you’re cooking it again.”

If you reheat anything enough times – could be in a pan on the stove or in the microwave – “you’re going to break it down.”

“Test it and find out.”

“If you’re buying good coffee and investing in that and know how to do it pretty well then if you want to reheat the thing and you like it then go for it.”“I think speciality coffee is awesome; it doesn’t need more wankery around it and, at home, you’ve got a bit more licence to live how you want to.”“If it tastes like shit reheating it for a second time then brew a smaller coffee and drink it more often or just make a fresh one.”Something to mull over as you watch your Soy Flat White rotate in the microwave for the umpteenth time, globules of soy metastasising like hideous goo…

Check out some of Sam Wood’s lockdown workouts in the video below

To begin, Sam wanted to put forward an important message that anyone can benefit from, regardless of whether they’re active or not:

“I think the most important first step is that people acknowledge that it’s a very different circumstance we’re all living at the moment and so don’t try and fit your old structure or your old plan into this new world. It doesn’t really work, it’s like trying to fit a circle in a square hole.”

“I think the greatest success I’m seeing from people is from those who have created a new plan to suit this new situation [any lockdown compared to not being in lockdown].”“I think sometimes it’s sort of done for you because perhaps you’re gym has shut and you need to come up with an alternative, and for a lot of people, I think we’ve particularly lost a lot of structure around food and with exercise, we’ve had to adapt.”Speaking to our mental health, as well as our overall wellbeing, Sam suggested an incredibly simple change to your daily routine.

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A post shared by 28 by Sam Wood (@28bysamwood)

“You need to get your head around to thinking that it’s ok, and it’s better to accept the new situation than continually fight the fact that the old one doesn’t exist. And then you can actually still take really good care of yourself, and then when it gets to the practicalities, I’m a huge advocate of moving in the morning.”“It’s more important than ever now, it gets you up, it gets you going, it gives you energy, it boosts your mood, sets you up for the day. It’s very easy at the moment for a lot us, if we wanted to, to stay in our pyjamas all day, and that doesn’t necessarily do you any favours in terms of productivity or a mental health basis.”

“It’s now warmer and lighter in the mornings, it should be much easier to get up and get moving.”

“Getting some vitamin D and getting some fresh air I think is critically important. In a weird way it’s sort of been a bit of a silver lining, we’ve had so many lockdowns here in Melbourne that when we are in lockdown, you’ve never seen (depending on what the restrictions are) so many people out playing with their kids, kicking a ball around the ovals, bike riding.”

“As sh*t as the time is, there’s definitely some silver linings, you see a lot more dads working from home, they’ve got more time now because they’re not spending two hours on their commute each day. I think these silver linings will actually stay with people once we finally come out the other side of this.”

“I’m encouraging people to move in the morning [those on my 28 by Sam Wood program], I’m still trying to maintain their food structure, even though their life structure may have severely altered.”“Just having breakfast, lunch and dinner locked in to that 8 hour window can really help you consume fewer calories, it can give you a little bit of purpose throughout your day, and it tends to help you not find that habit through boredom when working from home, of just opening the fridge or the pantry 3,000 times a day,” Sam added.Whilst it’s certainly true that in today’s world, our food structure does revolve around three set meals a day, plus some snacks, it’s not a message Australian professor David Sinclair wishes to encourage, instead suggesting we only need to eat one meal a day and adding this can actually help prolong the ageing process.Whether you want to go to that extreme or not (we’d encourage you to consult a health professional and do your own research first), for those who have found their home lives to be particularly busy, either still working full hours or having kids to look after, Sam recommends meal prepping: “I think meal prepping is beneficial at anytime, if you don’t mind a bit of repetition in your diet and you can spare an hour or two at the weekend, then it’s proven to help people.”

“I think when you’ve got kids and home schooling it’s much more challenging compared to living by yourself or in a couple, I can only see the benefit of it.”

So, what about working out? Your gym might be closed so you’ve had to resort to exercising at home. We’ve spoken about various ways you can do this before, but Sam has some extra advice.“Two things, I think try and find a space in your garden or your house that is your home gym space. You don’t have to live in a mansion for that to be the case. A spare bedroom or an office nook, or even next to your own bed where you can consistently lay out your mat and your bands or your dumbbells, and you actually put yourself in a better psychological situation where you say ‘I’m here to do my workout.'”“If you’re a bit haphazard with it, it doesn’t help your success in that space, and the other things is a lot of us our gym obsessed, but resistance training is working your body against any kind of resistance. that could be TRX, bodyweight, yoga, pilates, you will still get a great strength and tone benefit, and it’s a great opportunity to try new things.”

“And for anyone that tells me you can’t get results at home, well my whole 28 program is based on results at home for 6 years and I have tens of thousands of testimonies that will tell you otherwise. So you can absolutely get results, you’ve just got to mix it up and be consistent.”

Naturally, ensuring the meals you do eat during lockdown are as nutritious as possible, whilst juggling stress, work and potentially kids, isn’t always the easiest of tasks. However, it’s still important that you aim for good-sized servings of protein and carbohydrates in each meal.RELATED: Sam Wood Diet & Training – Tips To Get His RigSam adds, “I think it’s just being aware of your output and making sure that your calorie diet is in check. An article I read recently suggests we can have a bit of a selective memory when it comes to calorie intake and expenditure, we tend to underestimate what we eat by 20% and overestimate how much we exercise we do by 20%.”“That’s a pretty big gap. And I think in lockdown in particular, it would be a very easy thing to do, so if you do feel like your exercise or your getting out and about has dropped, and you do feel like you’re eating more, well it doesn’t take much in either direction to start putting on the kilos.”

“It’s just about self-awareness and making sure you’re moving both of the needles in the right direction and then you can use it as a good opportunity to get in shape as we enter the warmer months.”

Likewise, the end of your day is just as important as the beginning and middle, and it can be easy for many of us to overlook the importance of sleep. To this, Sam says, “There’s some real truth in your pre-bed routine: dark place, cold room, no blue light.”RELATED: A Very Honest Review Of Wearing Blue Light Blocking Glasses For A Week“Obviously the fact you’re exercising more regularly will help your quality of sleep, don’t eat a meal too close to the time you go to sleep, your body is digesting that food while you’re trying to rest. There’s a number of factors there, and they’re probably all 2%ers, but when they’re added up together they definitely contribute to a better quality of sleep.”

“With sleep itself, obviously the 7-8 hours is the ideal number, but there’s a lot of research around getting into consistent sleep habits.”

“Waking up early and going to bed a bit earlier and getting your body used to a particular sleep/wake cycle and the benefits of that both from a mental health perspective and metabolism and quality of sleep.”Indeed, it has been proven before – and spruiked by health hacker Dave Asprey – that getting your body into a regular routine, and subjecting yourself to even just 10 minutes of sunlight before 10 a.m., can work wonders on your circadian rhythm – or body clock, if you will. By getting into a repeating pattern, you’ll soon find you’re able to get to sleep quicker at night, and have a greater experience of deep sleep.RELATED: Health Hacker Shares Circadian Rhythm Trick That Could Give You Hours More SleepSam continues, “And I just know during lockdown it’s just kind of a ‘oh stuff it’, you’re bingeing Netflix ’til 1 in the morning and then tool yourself out of bed and find yourself having a nap, and I guess there’s a lot of inconsistency when it comes to our sleep pattern. I just think it’s best if you can to try and maintain some sort of consistency with your sleep pattern.”Plenty of advice to take onboard, then, and we hope much of it will make your lockdown that little bit more bearable.

Watch Rolex explain the Sky-Dweller’s unique setting process below

In short, it’s a unique and classy watch for a rather unique and classy dude. It’s dressy, but not too ostentatious – a real connoisseur’s piece. It’s rather practical for a jet-setting man of the world like Antetokounmpo, too.RELATED: Jeff Bezos’ Astronomical Watch Fail Proves Money Can’t Buy StyleAntetokounmpo picked up his Sky-Dweller to celebrate the Bucks taking home the 2021 NBA Finals, in which he also won the Bill Russell MVP Award for his effort. It’s not just basketball where he’s making an impact, either: Antetokounmpo has also just joined the ownership team of Milwaukee’s baseball team, the Brewers, ESPN reports.

Is Hair Loss Genetic?

David Allen before his hair transplant (left), and following Follicular Unit Extraction hair transplant (right).

Genetic hair loss is most definitely a thing, although it’s not always the cause for all incidents of baldness. Other factors such as stress, nutrition and even medication can play a part in what happens to your luscious locks, according to Healthline. But, with regard to genetics, it causes male pattern baldness or female pattern baldness – the scientific term referring to both is known as Androgenetic alopecia – and studies on twins have concluded that 80% of male pattern baldness does indeed come down to genetics.

It’s often been believed that men will follow in the follicular footsteps of their mother’s father, which can often be the case, but it isn’t necessarily true for all men who suffer from hair loss. As Healthline adds, hair loss can often be explained by our chromosomes – the 23 pairs, comprising ‘X’ and ‘Y’ chromosomes, that determine our biological make up – as baldness is often associated with what is known as the AR gene, which is found on the ‘X’ chromosome, which men inherit from their mother’s.

But, as we said, your mother’s father isn’t always to blame, as a large proportion of balding men have a father who also experiences hair loss.

David Allen adds that we we produce and chemical called DHT – Dihydrotestosterone – and some men produce more than others. He adds, “Some people say ‘I’m not going to go bald, my dad’s got hair’, but it doesn’t work like that.”

“You can inherit DHT from either parent. DHT causes the hair follicles to go through a process called miniaturisation. The hair becomes weaker and weaker and thinner until it can’t push through the skin anymore, so the skin grows over it.” He adds, “For some reason, and nobody really knows why, but DHT doesn’t affect the hair on the sides and back of your head.”

The American Hair Loss Association continues, “The sensitivity of those receptors is a genetic trait. Your levels of DHT may be quite normal for your age and gender but everything depends on the receptors.”

What Are The Different Types Of Hair Transplant?

FUT vs FUE hair transplant comparison. Source: MensHaircuts.com

So, if you’re someone who experiences hair loss and wants to do something about it, the notion of an effective and completely normal looking hair transplant is now a very real possibility. However, as with most cosmetic surgeries, you tend to get what you pay for. If you scrimp on the amount you’re willing to spend, you can’t go expecting miracles.

Hair Plugs

While hair transplants have started to gain momentum among men and women, because they’ve become more socially acceptable thanks to the likes of Lewis Hamilton and co., there was only really one main method used back in the 1980s: hair plugs.

As Paras Hair Transplant says, hair plugs involved “removing a long strip of skin and hair follicles from the back of the scalp, leaving a long scar.” The hair that was obtained from this strip was then manipulated into ‘plugs’, that were then implanted into the skin on top of the head. Whilst this would give you hair where you wanted it most, it would look pretty unsightly: think of how the hair of a Barbie doll looks and you start to get an idea of how your plugs would look.

Follicular Unit Grafting

Follicular Unit Grafting – FUG – works in a similar way to hair plugs, in that a strip of hair is removed from the back of your head which again, leaves a scar, despite the area being stitched together. Rather than morph the donor hair into plugs, however, the hairs are extracted and implanted in much smaller units comprising just a few hairs. An improvement over hair plugs, sure, but you’re still left with a scar on the back of your head.

Follicular Unit Extraction

Follicular Unit Extraction – FUE – is the hair transplant method that is going to give you the best results, and the one that David Allen encourages people to use. FUE sees hairs taken from the back and sides of the head, since they closely match the texture of the hair on their head. They are then individually planted into the follicles on the top of the head, where they will be accepted and have the greatest chance of success.

As David says, “Once you’ve had a hair transplant, it lasts for life. Do it once, do it right.”

The same can be said for beards and even eyebrows, with the latter being given hair from the upper portion of the neck, since it most closely matches the eyebrow hairs.

Who Can Get A Hair Transplant?

Both men and women can get hair transplants, but the legal age is a minimum of 18-years-old, although David says his company only tends to accept customers who are 20 or older.

How Much Does A Hair Transplant Cost?

As like most other cosmetic surgeries, hair transplants don’t come cheap. They also don’t just happen overnight, but instead, you will need to be prepared to sit through multiple sessions lasting between 2 to 4 hours each time. However, it does depend what type of hair transplant you decide to go for. We would imagine, after reading the information above, you’d want to have an FUE hair transplant for the best possible results, and with the least amount of scarring.

According to Healthline, an FUE hair transplant can cost anywhere between $4,000 – $15,000 per session. Multiply that by the 4 or 5 sessions required (sometimes it can be more) and suddenly your children’s chances of going to college start to narrow. Naturally, the more experienced the surgeon, the more you can expect to pay.

David tells us that Turkey is perhaps the best country in the world to offer hair transplants, so if you can find yourself a good surgeon there, and can afford everything else that comes with it: flights, accomodation, holiday time etc, then get yourself booked in.

What Are The Risks With Having A Hair Transplant?

If you go down the Follicular Unit Extraction route, there are actually very few risks to cause concern. If performed by professional surgeons, the procedure is supposedly risk-free. While you will be left with thousands of tiny, one millimetre-wide scars, according to David, these will naturally fall over after a couple of weeks.

Following your surgery, you’ll want to avoid direct sunlight, as they will cause the head to dry out, so all you need to do is wear a loose-fitting cap. It’s also important you avoid any strenuous exercise that will cause you to sweat, as excessive sweating will cause the pores in the skin to open up, which could affect the results of your surgery.

David further explains that “Cheaper places may not have looked after the hair follicle [the one that has had skin grow over it] when they came out of your head, which means the follicle may already be dying by the time it comes to having the hair implanted.”

“This affects your chances of success, and when you do decide to spend extra money, the problem you have is you have limited resources for other companies to work with to try and fix the problem.”

One thing David does say you must remember when having a hair transplant, is to not drink alcohol beforehand, as it causes the blood to thin, which can then cause the repairing process to slow down. You can always celebrate your new look once the procedure has been performed.

It’s also important that you keep your stress levels to a minimum, as David explain, “When you’re relaxed your body rejuvenates much quicker, healing time is much quicker and your success rate of the hairs is much higher.”

What Celebrities Have Had Hair Transplants?

As we mentioned earlier in this piece, hair transplants have been a ‘thing’ for many years, but anyone who has had one has likely felt compelled to keep their cosmetic procedure under wraps as best as possible. It would have often been as socially embarrassing to admit to having a hair transplant performed. However, more and more celebrities are getting them done, and while some won’t necessarily admit to it, others are more than happy to speak about their benefits and the positive influence having one has had on their life.

Actor and comedian Joel McHale, known for his starring role in the sitcom Community, is one such celeb to speak of the benefits of having a hair transplant. According to CheatSheet, he opened up to fellow actor Justin Long during a podcast recording, telling him he’d had three hair transplant surgeries: “three surgeries later, look at my hair! The technology is bananas now. They pluck your hair and stick it there”

Former Manchester United and England footballer Wayne Rooney opened up about having a hair transplant in 2011, posting on his Twitter account “Just to confirm to all my followers I have had a hair transplant. I was going bald at 25 why not. I’m delighted with the result.”

Calum Best, famous for being England footballing legend George Best’s son, has also gone under the knife, admitting in 2015: “There is no doubt the three procedures have changed my life. No man wants to be bald when he is older.”

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is another who is believed to have had a FUE hair transplant, choosing to go to the Alvi Armani centre in Beverly Hills, California.

And of course, Lewis Hamilton. While the man himself hasn’t confirmed he’s had the surgery performed, we fail to believe he went from an almost-skinhead when starting his F1 career with McLaren, to a man who can now comfortably grow a huge afro, without some sort of procedure.

Josh Brolin’s Workout Will Blow Your Mind

We get it. You’ve poured blood, sweat and tears in the gym for the past five days and now it’s time for that well deserved off day.You’re thinking a sneaky glazed donut, perhaps some cheesy pasta and a light jog with the canine companion before polishing off the night with a few bevys with the boys.

A post shared by Josh Brolin (@joshbrolin) on Aug 29, 2017 at 9:42am PDT

And then you flick open Instagram to see what Deadpool actor Josh Brolin’s off day consists of. The 49-year-old’s insane off day fitness regime is enough to put any regular gym-goer’s on day workout to shame.

“My goal is to stay clean. It’s way harder, and knowing it’s one shot away is always tempting but for what? It’s more fun for me knowing I’m doing it this way.”

In his latest Instagram post (above), Brolin also outlined his diet and supplements whilst firing back at sceptics who’ve suggested that he’s taking steroids to get in top form for his role as Cable, a heavily buffed soldier from the future.His only vice on this fitness journey he’s admitted to? Nicotine tablets.“@sutree23 You are a cynic,” Brolin replied to one user in regards to steroid accusations. “I have a problem being honest. I don’t give a fuck. If I was doing shit, I’d say so. There’s no professional consequence. Clean all the way through man (except for my lil nicotine tablets).”That said, if you want to look this good at almost 50 then here’s the discipline you’ll need direct from the man himself.

Off Day Workout

Warm up 10 mins on treadmill 15 incline at 3mph
45 mins boxing
1.25 hrs lifting (warm up essential then heavy for 8 to 12 then two drop sets much lighter and slow) – 4 sets of those
30min cardio (either elliptical back and forth from 15 to 21 in minute and 2 minute intervals)
Abs: 3×10 hanging leg raises all the way to the top and squeeze; 5xone minute planks mixed with 3x 20 (10 each side) slow bicycles with a one second squeeze at the top of each one)
Stretch

Diet

3 hard meals of chicken or salmon (for vegans can sub with mushrooms or quinoa) and a cup of veggies and 48 almonds a day (120g to 220g of either yams or black rice after workout or at night) and three protein shakes of @gardenoflife raw with greens. One cheat meal or even day (depending on your goal or sustainability) a week

Supplements:

@gardenoflife probiotic; and various @hbmaxmuscle natural supplements for fat burning and recovery: BCAAs and Glutamine (I’ll write them down when I get home)

As For The Steroid Curiositors:

“I have nothing against people who use them. My goal is to stay clean. It’s way harder, and knowing it’s one shot away is always tempting but for what? It’s more fun for me knowing I’m doing it this way. For those that think it’s impossible: fuck off. For those that realize that your body type and work put in will dictate your best results: that’s all that matters. We all look differently, thank God. One person might have to put twice the work as someone else. Suck it up, it’s worth it. But remember to have fun. If you drink, don’t forget to get drunk and get a cab home. If you love sweets, have a donut then get back on board without looking back. The problem is when we go off the rails, we tend to give up. Don’t listen to that voice. Forge ahead. As much of an asshole as Deadpool is, he inspires us to want to kick his ass as we laugh at his jokes. Be like Cable: train to thump on Deadpool.”

The post Josh Brolin’s Workout Will Blow Your Mind appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

This Snobbish Trait Instantly Exposes You As A First Class ‘Fraud’

No one likes a snob. But the ergonomically-designed cushion is on the other a** now, with frequent first class flyer Immanuel Debeer taking to Instagram to say if you’re a regular first class flyer, you probably aren’t judging people for their clothes.Immanuel, who is the founder of Flight Hacks, reckons that for those who grace the pointy end of the plane regularly, it would be ridiculous to judge someone else’s jeans (or, as the case may be, “Italian made chinos”).Firing back at a rude Instagram commenter who said, “He should at least dress the part. I hate slobs on planes,” Debeer recently wrote: “Ha! Good thing we don’t have people like you up front.”Prior to this another commenter had written, “But, but, but, jeans?” – to which Immanuel had responded: “not that it matters but those are chinos. Italian made.”See the ‘offending’ trousers here…

“How to tell if someone never flies business/first: they will tell you what to wear or how to dress,” Immanuel said.He followed up a few hours later with another Instagram story, writing, “It’s unfortunate that these commenters blocked me because I could have learned a great deal about fashion from them no doubt.”

Sydney University professor of sociology Robert Van Krieken has previously spoken to DMARGE about Pointy End Style.He said: “When I think about it I don’t regard business class travellers as being all that well-dressed…I’ve seen some pretty shabby types wander though to business, and the very few times I’ve flown business, I haven’t felt at all that other passengers are particularly stuck up – it’s just a plane trip, and mostly everyone just keeps to themselves.”Immanuel is not the only one to slam Pointy End Posturing lately. Founder of Holiday Swap (and frequent first class flyer) James Asquith recently wrote “there’s really no need to flex (especially when 80%+ of it is likely fake on social media)” as well as (on another occasion) explaining what really makes for a great flight (among other things) is the staff not the shiny objects.Many first-class flyers, over the last few years, have rejected the stiff culture that used to permeate the cabin.One example of this is the champagne ‘slammer time’ trend, which Asquith has previously told DMARGE, started when first class flyers like himself felt profiled for how they dressed and acted on first-class flights.“It’s a bit of fun trying to break down classist boundaries which I don’t think should exist,” he told DMARGE.

“The behaviour is light-hearted and fun and brings us everyday people together.”

Food for thought. Now stop browsing Mr Porter for rare Wooly Mammoth hair chinos, and start learning how to play the system and score first class flights for the price of economy…Watch Immanuel explain how he flies first class for the same price you fly economy in the video below…

Watch the Kia EV6 launch trailer below

The Kia EV6 is a compact crossover SUV and the third vehicle to utilise the Hyundai Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), which is shared with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the also recently-unveiled Genesis GV60. Where the Genesis is aimed at luxury buyers and the Hyundai at a more broad audience, the EV6 is a more performance-focused vehicle – a characterisation its muscular, futuristic looks and purposeful stance reinforces.It’s not just looks that differentiate the vehicles. While mechanically, the Ioniq 5 and EV6 are very similar – both featuring a 239kW, dual-motor, all-wheel drive, 77.4 kWh battery setup at their top trim levels – the EV6’s 0-100km/h time is much faster: 3.5 seconds versus the Ioniq 5’s 5.2 seconds (which is still nothing to sniff at; that’s only .3 slower than the Kia Stinger). It also has a greater claimed range (up to 528km) and charges faster (only needing 4.5 minutes to charge 100km of range).3.5 seconds is f*cking fast – faster than the new BMW M3 Competition or a Lamborghini Urus. Crucially, however, it’s faster than a Tesla Model Y, the pioneering EV brand’s compact crossover SUV that’s also yet to hit Australian shores. (It’s also faster than the highest spec of the Tesla Model X SUV that’s currently available Down Under, the Model X Performance, but not as fast as the Model X Plaid, which hasn’t made its way here yet).

You might be forgiven for thinking this was a Lambo’s interior, but nope, it’s a Kia. The EV6 features a similar two-spoke steering wheel design to those being used by Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury marque. Image: Kia

It’s clear that Kia and its parent company Hyundai are aiming squarely at Tesla with the EV6. But it’s a fight that Kia can actually win. Kia’s build quality is lightyears ahead of Tesla’s. The EV6’s straightforward cabin layout (with real buttons and switches, thank God!) and premium look make Tesla’s overly minimal cabin seem austere by comparison. You can also bet that Kia will trump Tesla when it comes to servicing, warranty and customer service, too – especially in Australia.But the EV6 isn’t just aiming at Tesla. Volkswagen, too, has finally joined the EV fray with its modular MEB platform, and even the big American auto makers like Ford are finally getting in on the action with vehicles like the Mustang Mach-E. That’s to say nothing of China’s ever-growing fleet of high-tech EVs, like the MG ZS EV, the cheapest new EV currently on sale in Australia.RELATED: China’s ‘People’s Tesla’ Overtakes Elon’s Model 3 As Best-Selling Electric CarThe EV6 and its E-GMP siblings represent South Korea staking its claim for the future of motoring. And it’s one bold claim.

The EV6 from the front. Kia’s head of design, Luc Donckerwolke (who was previously at Bentley) says the EV6’s design was inspired by rally cars like the Lancia Stratos. We don’t quite see it, but it’s a pretty thing nonetheless. Image: Kia

Drive had the chance to test a “near to production-ready prototype form” earlier this month, and they were impressed. Kia hasn’t announced an exact date for when the EV6 will arrive in Australia next year (or how much it’ll cost) – you can bet it won’t exactly be the cheapest car around – but it will most definitely undercut its European/premium competition… Or at least, be a more than worthy contender.And ultimately, that’s what we think is so special about the EV6. The EV market in Australia (which admittedly is very nascent) is dominated by either luxury marques on one end of the spectrum or rather plain offerings on the other end. The EV6 is neither of those things. It’s a car that we think will finally change the outdated conception of South Korean vehicles whilst also shaking up the EV/performance landscape in one fell swoop. In short, we’re bloody excited.Here’s some other needle-shifting, upcoming EVs we’re excited about:

Rivian R1T

If the Kia EV6 is aimed at the Tesla Model Y, the Rivian R1T is aimed at the Tesla Cybertruck. The American EV startup’s first and flagship vehicle, the R1T is an exceptionally exciting car that’s poised to upend the ute game. Considering that the similarly-sized Toyota Hilux and Ford Ranger are Australia’s top-selling vehicles, the R1T is a significant new release.Not only does it look amazing – more conventional than the Blade Runner-esque Cybertruck but still plenty futuristic – with over 482kms of range, 35cm of ground clearance and a 0-100km/h time of under 3 seconds (depending on your tyre choice), the R1T is a truly exciting prospect, which has already convinced hundreds of buyers to put deposits down for the forthcoming beast.But the really exciting thing about the R1T is its practicality. Aside from the spacious interior cabin and large tray, the ute features a huge ‘gear tunnel’ under the rear seats which can store a number of different modules, including a ‘Camp Kitchen’ module that looks to be a game-changer for off-road camping – or simply be an extra storage location for large, bulky items.RELATED: Tesla Cybertruck Rival Threatens To Make Camping Actually EnjoyableAs alluded to, the R1T is available now for pre-order with prices starting at US$73,000 and deliveries beginning January 2022. It’s only available in North America at this present moment but Rivian have confirmed an Australian launch, as well as registered trademarks for a whole range of EVs – seemingly preparing a full-scale assault on Australia’s ute and SUV market, as CarsGuide relates.

GMC Hummer EV

If we’re talking about vehicles that are designed to completely rehabilitate a car brand’s image, the new GMC Hummer EV 4×4 comes to mind. Yes, you read that right. American auto giant General Motors has revived its controversial Hummer brand as an electric-only endeavour.The biggest criticism of the civilian Hummer was that it had none of the off-road capability of the mil-spec Hummers it was trying to aesthetically imitate, while still having just as poor fuel economy. The Hummer EV, however, not only looks cool but has the off-road capability to back up its chunky looks – oh yeah, and doesn’t burn any fossil fuels while doing so.RELATED: Arnold Schwarzenegger Ditches His Hummer For Ridiculous ‘Supervillain’ CarBilled as “the world’s first zero-emissions, zero limits all-electric supertruck,” the new Hummer ain’t no gimmick. With a claimed 0-100 time of just over 3 seconds, four-wheel steering, over 40cm of ground clearance and even waterproof underbody cameras that can help you pick the best line when navigating a trail, the Hummer EV is sure to revolutionise off-roading.The Hummer EV is currently only available in North America, and hasn’t really hit showroom floors yet even there. Reservations for the US$112,595 USD (~AU$146,000) Edition 1 variant filled up ages ago, with deliveries for that top-flight model scheduled for mid-2021. The base model Hummer EV², which has a US$79,995 (~AU$103,500 AUD) sticker price, won’t be available until 2024, GM relates, and they’re yet to announce any plans to bring the car Down Under. Still, one can only dream…

Renault 5 Electric

From 4x4s to hot hatches: another car we can’t wait for is the Renault 5 Electric. Renault (as well as French cars more broadly) have never really had a stellar reputation in Australia – indeed, their value proposition has never quite weighed up as well as their German or Japanese competitors. But like the EV6, the Renault 5 Electric could do much to rehabilitate Renault’s image in the eyes of Aussies.Named after the Renault 5 supermini produced from 1972 to 1996 – France’s most popular car ever – the Renault 5 Electric features similarly compact dimensions and styling cues… And low price. Indeed, it’s entirely possible it could be Australia’s first sub-$35,000 European electric hatchback, with the CMF-BEV small electric car platform Renault’s invested in poised to drastically amortise production costs.Just as the original Renault 5 changed perceptions on what a small, affordable car could offer drivers, the new Renault 5 Electric is also intended to “democratise the electric car” and provide a practical, affordable yet fun entry point into the world of electric vehicles. Additionally, just as the original Renault 5 had some great ‘hot’ versions, like the bonkers Renault 5 Turbo, there’s plans for a performance Alpine variant of the Renault 5 Electric – as well as even a van version.Will it succeed in Australia? Hard to say. Renault’s current small EV, the Zoe (which the 5 Electric will almost certainly replace) was pulled from the Australian market in 2019 after Renault only sold 63 examples of the thing after three years, with the brand directly citing the lack of Australian government incentives as the main reason for the Zoe’s axing. But in terms of aesthetics, performance and affordability, the Zoe is worlds away from the 5 Electric – and so it might just be what the doctor ordered for EV sales Down Under.

A public electric car charging station in Adelaide, Australia’s fifth-most populous city. Image: Adelaide City Council

RELATED: Australia In The Dark Ages While Germans Get Free Electric CarsAll these vehicles are but one part of a bigger picture. The big takeaway is this: the rise of EVs have let non-traditional players gain a leg up in the ultra-competitive car market. It’s become a game of technology rather than just straight luxury or performance.We’re in the midst of a paradigm shift – and we can’t wait to see what happens next.

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