Pretty much everyone knows about Lego® and you either love playing with it or…. not.

But those who do can really make it fun (or they’re nuts, depending on which camp you are in).

Whichever camp you are in you really can’t complain about these 3 videos.

This kid is just great! It’s called “my simple working lego vending machine”.

My simple working Lego vending machine

Then there’s this nutty working version from Denmark – with slightly annoying music.

Lego mindstorm vending machine

Finally, our favourite, this really is quite complex and rather cool.

Lego vending machine 1.5

Hilton Vending are proud to announce that we have been awarded 5 star rating from Wiltshire Council Environmental Health Department for hygiene,catering & vending, under their “Scores on Doors” scheme.

The Rainforest Alliance mark on the packaging was a pleasure to see.

A cup of Hot Chocolate was prepared as per the instructions – 18gm chocolate powder to 170ml water.  Being a ‘Fully built drink mix’ containing the milk, sugar, chocolate, etc., nothing else was required.

The solubility is good, and at the end of the taste, no ‘muddy’ rings in the bottom of the drinking vessel.

The taste is ‘immediate and lasting’, but the initial taste was a little weak despite a vigorous cup swirl.  The recommended 18gm of chocolate powder is unconvincing in this case and therefore, to the same 170mk of water, a further 2gm of chocolate powder was added, i.e. 20gm of powder to 170ml of water.

Better, much better – although understandably, maybe a hint sweeter.

The memory of the drink 15 minutes later, left a nice taste in the mouth, and I bet another cup will be taken sooner rather than later.  This is a drink to be enjoyed at any time, not just, as tradition dictated, in cold weather.

Maybe this 20gm into 170ml of H2O has no magical properties, but the last ‘test’ at 20.00 hours tasted beautiful, and I slept zonked out until 8.30 a.m. the following morning, that was the first time in the last 10 days!!!

Therefore, a suggestion of 20gm into 170ml or even 20gm into 175ml of water might be appropriate for manual doses of drinking.

Blogger’s Note:  18gm circa 3 teaspoons, 20gm circa 4 teaspoons.

The beans were ground to medium/fine, the aroma was tantalising the nostrils with the taste to come.  The taste buds anticipated a Black Coffee that would eventually ‘grace’ my lips.

I set enough grounds for 4 cups and filtered off 4 tablespoons of the fantastic aromatic grounds.

Within 10 minutes the result of the grind and aroma was being tested, but the result was not what I had anticipated and therefore the first tasting was a disappointment.  The black liqueur was thin and only just had a vague coffee taste almost as forgettable as some of the local hostelries given to victims after a meal!

So back to the main event, the same amount of grounds was used but this time for 2 cups – result, great taste, flavour, character and satisfaction over lips and onto tongue. But, 4 tablespoons of freshly ground beans to produce 2 cups of coffee seems a tad expensive BUT NICE!

Used generously this coffee will revive flagging senses and attention to the job at hand – perhaps.

I look forward to the next cup – black, unsweetened and satisfying to the senses.

It was a mistake to try to make 4 cups of coffee to do this coffee justice and to capture its deep roast and delicious aroma that pervaded the ground floor of my prep area.  As the name suggests Espresso, an amount of 4 into 2 is superb.  For the cream and sugar users, if you like it that way, enjoy.

Were you aware that new coins will be issued by The Royal Mint next year? Don’t worry, you’re by no means alone.

The Treasury has planned the introduction of new 5 and 10 pence coins for January 2012 and we’re working with businesses now to highlight the potential effects. The weight change in these coins will affect their use in vending and other coin-operated machines.

Not much has been made of these pending changes outside of our trade press, but given the potential disruption posed, it’s important that business owners are aware of how they could be affected. ALL coin-operated vending equipment leased or owned bycompanies will require adjustments or upgrades from an engineer, so that they continue to operate as usual.

Hilton Vending Services is an accredited member of the Automatic Vending Association, a trade body which lobbied government successfully earlier this year to delaythe implementation of new coinage.

Businesses now have more time to adapt their vending equipment and we’re helping customers think ahead, to ensure the 2012 changes won’t affect them – but we’re concerned by the lack of knowledge in the market at large.Most are simply unaware of this move by the Treasury.

Currently, 5p and 10p coins are made from cupronickel, a metal alloy. Next year they will be magnetic for the firsttime, 11 per cent thicker and made from steel with a nickel coating.

If you would like any advice on these coin changes and how the vending equipment in your business might be affected, please give me (Martin) a call on 01373 864611.