Hipsta Double Espresso: Issue #2 - Heavy Luxury
Issue number two. The format experiment continues.
Judging by your reactions and feedback, you guys liked this format. To be honest, I’m digging it myself. So, I see no reason to stop. Let’s keep going.
Why "Espresso" anyway? I probably should have explained this in the first issue, but I decided not to bore you with extra philosophy or bloat the text. The point is simple: the reading time for this format perfectly matches a single cup of espresso. Quick, bold, and straight to the point. The ideal morning format.
Young Sherlock (Amazon Prime)
A new series from Guy Ritchie. Guys, this is filmed absolutely brilliantly. The signature drive, the twisted plot, and that specific maestro style felt in every frame. It’s exactly what you expect from Ritchie: fresh, daring, and high-quality.
God-Tier Time-Sinks
Ball × Pit
I don’t know who the developer sold their soul to, but making something this simple and addictive is a talent. The addiction level is somewhere right next to Balatro.
Is This Seat Taken?
A chill logic puzzle where you need to seat characters based on their very specific preferences so everyone feels comfortable. It’s a game without timers, stress, or leaderboards, done in a cute, colorful style with good-natured humor. Currently available at a discount.
Suika Planet Game
A sequel to the famous arcade puzzle Suika Game.
(Suika is Japanese for watermelon), where you merge fruits to eventually get a watermelon and score maximum points.
This Ain't Even Poker, Ya Joker
An incremental 'idle-clicker' with a poker theme, where you move cards, earn money, deploy your deck, and try to escape the Jester-Joker’s trap. Based on the reviews, it looks solid.
You Can Never Have Too Many Planners :D
I’ve been following an app called 'Hour by Hour: Day Planner' for a while. The dev promised a release last year, but 'something went wrong.' Well, we finally made it. It’s like Structured (which I wrote about in the previous issue), but slightly simplified and several times cheaper.
Release date: 31 March.
Make Way for Minimalism
Lemo FM
A minimalistic 'radio' app with white noise and nature sounds to help you relax, focus, or fall asleep. It caught my eye specifically because of the design and sound quality. The interface is styled as a vintage radio receiver with buttons and backlit tubes; pressing them produces a mechanical sound and haptic vibration, just like a real radio.
Zones: Time Zones for Humans
Replaced my 'World Clock Master' with this app. Super minimalism. Instead of boring city names, you can type in people’s names or team titles. You immediately see: the IT colleague is currently at 3 AM, while the designer is at noon. Simplicity wins.
Digital Sincerity: Two Cameras You Can't Ignore
In this issue, I decided to add a couple of camera apps. The ideas behind them were just too tasty to pass up.
Unenhanced - Shoot What You See
The first one hooked me with its philosophy. No AI 'enhancers,' no eye-watering HDR, and no neural re-drawing. The app simply captures the frame exactly as your eyes see it. Maximum honesty. The first 100 shots are free, which is more than enough to see if it’s your vibe. The full version costs a symbolic $2.
Fio Cam - The Analog Moment
This app is more about emulating good old film. It gives that 'analog' feel: soft grain, muted colors, and no computer over-sharpening. It’s about the atmosphere and the 'digital sincerity' of the here and now. For 'Early Birds,' there's a 50% discount on the full version. Grab it while you can.
Bonus: Table of Contents
A Safari extension that automatically builds an interactive table of contents for any long-read. No more endless scrolling to find the right paragraph.
The Geek Corner
When You're Finally Done with Touchscreens
Playdate - the strangest (and perhaps most desirable) handheld with a crank.
This thing is weird. At first glance, it’s just a game console. But look closer: a monochrome screen (in 2026!), unusual games, and... a side crank. Yes, a mechanical handle you use for controls. I only recently found out about it. I’m not a 'slowpoke,' but as it turns out, this platform is already about 4 years old. What’s the point? Honestly, I don’t know. Probably just to feel like that one geek with a unique 'toy' that no one else in your circle has. Although, the 229€ price tag kind of whispers: 'Oh, well, never mind, keep walking.'
The Perfect Time-Killer
A rather unusual e-reader is currently trending online. I’ve seen it several times, and it seems to be a thing. The brand is called Xteink. What’s so unusual? It’s only about 2/3 the size of a smartphone and has a built-in magnetic mount. Basically, you just snap it onto the back of your phone. It turns into a compact sandwich. The screen size is around 4", but at $69, it’s the perfect candidate to finally start reading in lines instead of staring at games.
Final Sip
P.S. Ultimately, heavy luxury today isn't about the price tag, it's about the right to simplicity. Whether it's a planner, a camera without post-processing, or a monochrome console. Sometimes simplification is the true luxury. Less noise, more essence. I hope your morning espresso gave you a good kick today and left a pleasant aftertaste.
Stuff: The things that change us
