Single O Sugarplum 'Sleigh Edition' Festive Blend Coffee Beans

Man of Many’s Staff Favourites – 14 December 2024

Nick Hall
By Nick Hall - News

Published: Last Updated: 

Readtime: 10 min

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And with that, we edge ever closer to the holidays. After a solid week spent ticking boxes and prepping our Christmas wishlists, the Man of Many team has finally settled into the weekend, eager to indulge in a little rest and relaxation. We’ve earned it (if we do say so ourselves), but before we do, there is still one last job to finish off. Read on and enjoy another instalment of Man of Many’s Staff Favourites, our penultimate edition for 2024.

Single O Sugarplum 'Sleigh Edition' Festive Blend Coffee Beans
Single O Sugarplum ‘Sleigh Edition’ Festive Blend Coffee Beans | Image: Supplied

Single O Sugarplum ‘Sleigh Edition’ Festive Blend Coffee Beans

Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief

If I have learned one thing in my time in media, it is that every newsroom runs on caffeine, but the best newsrooms run on the best caffeine. That’s precisely why I am a huge fan of Single O. The Sydney-based roastery has been shelling out incredible coffee in various formats since 2003, dabbling in everything from traditional beans and cold brew to canned coffee and even parachute coffee bags.

This week, the legends sent me a bag of the new Sugarplum ‘Sleigh Edition’ Festive Blend Coffee Beans, and while I’m a staunchly traditional black coffee kind of guy, the seasonal approach certainly piqued my interest. Comprising a blend of Kenya Nyeri washed and Sumatra Gayo natural, this festive-inspired coffee blend has subtle notes of cranberry, sweet plum and cherry, arriving like a hot, caffeinated Christmas pud. If you love Christmas and hate mornings, I can’t recommend this one enough.

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UltraGlass Screen Protector & New Phone Case
UltraGlass Screen Protector & New Phone Case | Image: Amazon

UltraGlass Screen Protector & New Phone Case

Scott Purcell – Co-Founder

So last week, I shared how turning my phone greyscale upgraded my life. Well, this week, I thought I’d also upgrade my phone, so I decided to invest in a premium screen protector, and my god, I was blown away by the quality of this thing. They’ve changed significantly from the days of bubbles under the screen. This comes with a plastic casing that perfectly aligns your phone with the screen protector. It also had a microfibre cloth and a sticker to remove dust before you place it down. Once it’s dust-free, simply put it in the holder and slowly peel back the film. Simples. You now have tempered glass to protect your phone from cracks or scratches. It even comes with a replacement film if you break the first one.

Second, is the new Karrint Case I got that has two credit card slots on the back. I’ve now entirely replaced my wallet with my phone, but on the odd occasion my phone runs out of battery, it’s always helpful to have a credit card with you in case. That’s why I’ve got this case, which is perfect. One of the bugbears of my previous case was trying to get the cards out, but this version comes with a handy slide to extract your cards easily.

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Sandqvist Rueben 2.0 Backpack
Sandqvist Rueben 2.0 Backpack | Image: Supplied

Sandqvist Rueben 2.0 Backpack

Frank Arthur – Co-Founder

This week, my Staff Favourite is the Ruben 2.0 Rolltop Backpack, a sleek, durable, and sustainably made bag that combines style with serious practicality. Crafted from recycled polyester with a waterproof coating, it’s built to withstand everything from hiking trails to torrential downpours…but I mostly use it for commuting.

I’ve had my eye on a rolltop bag for a while, so I finally pulled the trigger. The expandable rolltop design offers a capacity of 20 to 25 litres, while the padded laptop compartment easily fits a 16-inch laptop. Functional details like waterproof zippers and reflective accents add durability and visibility (even if my “late-night bike rides” remain hypothetical).

What really stands out is the comfort. Its ergonomic padded straps and ventilated backplate make it a breeze to carry, even when loaded up. The adjustable side straps and multiple compartments keep everything neatly organised.

For me, the Ruben 2.0 nails the balance between form and function. Its minimalist matte design looks just as sharp on city streets as it does on the trail. Whether you’re tackling an adventure or just your daily commute, this backpack is a top pick.

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Crocs Jibbitz
Crocs Jibbitz | Image: Supplied

Crocs Jibbitz

John Guanzon – Head of Social

A few years ago, Crocs were the poster child for “ugly but comfy.” Fast forward to today, and these chunky, hole-riddled marvels are the anti-fashion accessory every cool kid (and me, in my late thirties) can’t live without. But let’s not stop at Crocs themselves—because the real MVP? Jibbitz.

I’m talking sushi Jibbitz, pineapple Jibbitz, gigantic teddy tear Jibbitz, a picture frame Jibbitz so you can wear a framed photo on your feet—who wouldn’t? They pretty much turn your Crocs into a canvas, and call me Picasso when it comes to accessorising. My bright lime green pair is currently dressed for the season with Christmas-themed decorations—think tiny reindeer and jingling bells—while my new brown ones proudly flaunt a foodie flair with sushi, pineapples, and even a massive teddy bear tear. Honestly, they’re a talking point wherever I go.

They’re not just for lounging at home, either—I’ve got big plans to take my Jibbitz collection on holidays next week. It’s peak anti-fashion meets personalisation, and I’m wearing it all the way through December—and probably beyond. Crocs might’ve started as “ugly,” but with Jibbitz like these, they’re officially the coolest thing I own.

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Eureka E10s Robot Vacuum | Image: Eureka
Eureka E10s Robot Vacuum | Image: Eureka

Eureka E10s Robot Vacuum

Harry Parsons – Senior Branded Content Manager

Let me just start by saying I have NEVER seen my floors so consistently clean. That’s despite the fact that I was perhaps a bit lazy about vacuuming—and certainly mopping—on a regular basis before I brought the Eureka E10s into the fold. Affectionately named ‘Dusty’ (it’s compulsory to name a robot vac, right?), the Eureka E10s has been hard at work cleaning my floors daily for the past couple of weeks, and I have to say I’m impressed with its cleaning abilities. Setting up the robot vacuum was incredibly easy. Simply place it on charge at its self-emptying dock for a full charge, then let it map the rooms during its first clean. During this initial run, the robot may appear to move in an unorganised fashion as it learns the room’s layout. However, once everything has been mapped out, Dusty vacuums in a methodical pattern, ensuring every section of the floor is covered.

One of my initial concerns about getting a robot vacuum was whether the suction would be strong enough. Dusty quickly put those doubts to rest, effortlessly tackling messes left by a certain messy chef (me) and even handling larger debris, much to my surprise. During my time with Dusty, I’ve been running it in turbo mode to maximise the full 4000Pa of suction. While the app warns this mode can be noisy, I’ve found it surprisingly quiet—close a door to the lounge room, and you’d hardly know Dusty was at work. Eureka has included an additional sweeper on the E10s, allowing it to reach corners and along wall edges effectively, providing a thorough clean of the room. From my experience, the lidar is fairly reliable, mapping out most of my lounge room and kitchen. However, it does struggle a bit with furniture, which appears as a series of random dots on the app’s map.

The no-go zones and virtual walls have been handy for keeping the robot vacuum away from Christmas presents and tangled cables for the tree lights. However, these features can sometimes cause issues. Unfortunately, Dusty occasionally gets “stuck” in no-go zones and opts to “fall asleep” rather than move away. This can be a frustrating notification to receive when you’re at work and unable to intervene. Since the vacuum uses lidar, the radar increases its height slightly, which has caused some trouble with low-clearance furniture. I’ve had to rescue it from under the entertainment unit a few times and eventually set up a no-go zone to prevent this from happening again.

The mopping feature, while simple, is very effective. Using a removable and washable mop pad, the Eureka E10s drags the mop behind it during its daily clean. Thanks to its multitude of sensors, it can lift the mop by 10mm when going over small bumps or rugs, avoiding the dreaded soggy lounge room rug. The self-emptying hub is another standout feature, efficiently cleaning out the vacuum and storing the dirt in its bagless container. There’s something oddly satisfying about seeing all the dirt that once graced your floors securely stored away.

Overall, I’m extremely impressed with Dusty’s performance day in and day out. I can now comfortably walk around the house barefoot, and that’s all thanks to the Eureka E10s and its stellar cleaning capabilities.

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The Macallan — A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera
The Macallan — A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera | Image: Supplied

The Macallan — A Night on Earth in Jerez de la Frontera

Rob Edwards – Branded Content Editor

The third release from The Macallan’s A Night on Earth series, this limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky draws inspiration from New Year’s Eve spent in Jerez de la Frontera in southern Spain’s Andalusia region. As the home of Sherry wine, any whisky celebrating this special location simply must pay tribute to this unique element of its history and culture. Knowing this, The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team deployed a combination of exceptional European and American sherry-seasoned oak casks to imbue this remarkable expression with a flavour all its own. Featuring tantalising notes of sweet pastry, white grapes, honey-glazed almonds, vanilla, and more, it’s a complex, rich, and perfectly balanced whisky that I can’t recommend highly enough.

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Aura Smart Ring
Aura Smart Ring | Image: Kogan

Aura Smart Ring

Alex Martinez – Media Sales and Brand Partnerships

Health and fitness continue to be a big priority for me so any new piece of tech that can provide legitimate help is always welcome. However, we were in a full-blown cozzy-livs crisis, so what can be done? Enter the Aura Smart Ring from Kogan.

Although my first impression was it was slightly bulky on the finger, it was very comfortable and felt like a quite stylish accessory. You can see me wearing it as a part of our 12 Days of Christmas Giveaways. Setting up the app was super simple, and data flowed through almost straight away, including sleep length and quality, heart rate, blood oxygen and stress levels.

I was also pleased to find out the ring is waterproof to a degree meaning you don’t need to worry about water hitting it. If you have an interest in tracking these things without breaking the bank or just want a bit of drip, I’d recommend giving this a try. I’ll be wearing mine for years to come.

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Nick Hall

Editor-in-Chief

Nick Hall

Nick Hall is an award-winning journalist and the current Editor-in-Chief of Man of Many. With an extensive background in the media industry, he specialises in feature writing, lifestyle and entertainment content. Nick is a former Mumbrella Publish Awards ‘Editor of ...