Coffee in my cup: Ethiopia Yirga Cheffe Teklu Chele’Lektu from KC Coffee Geek. FABULOUS!
Review Paper: Muji A5 Plantation Notebook
Soundtrack: U2 – Songs of Innocence
Cost: Set of 5 pens – Neighborly: $5; Amazon: $6

I HATE ballpoint pens.

We’ve all accepted a sub-quality writing experience as normal. Why have we all settled for writing with ballpoints? I’D RATHER WRITE WITH A BLUNT COFFEE BEAN!!! (Oh my-be right back…)

Browsing Neighborly for out-of-print Field Notes, I discovered the Kikkerland Retro Pens set. These are so cool. I could only asume that I would become cool if I used them. I could see myself suddenly invited to sit at the cool kids lunch table. I was certain I would be able to brew the perfect cup of coffee–if only I had a set of Kikkerland Retro Pens. I had to have them!

But–Ballpoint! I hate ballpoint pens.
Sigh.
Must have anyway!

These pens are each two-toned bodies with matte silver accents. The results are a 1950s modern style pen.

The materials, weight, and feel of these pens are similar to the cheap advertising pens you can pick up almost anywhere. But they look so good. Kikkerland picked the right colors, and they just work.

The writing experience with these is passable. The black ink is dark. The ball writes smoothly. I can’t imagine ever enjoying writing with a ballpoint pen, but these don’t make me want to pokes my eyes out.

I’m sure someone could hack these pens with a good refill. I’ll get to work on that.

I don’t think of these as cool ballpoint pens, but as a cool homage to 1950s ballpoint pens. That lets me use them with love.

Expect to find: On the set of Mad Men.
Best place to use: Hipster Coffee House, 1950s Themed Diner
Best For: Fans of Mad Men, hipster coffee drinkers
Not for: Biker dudes, Hip-Hop artists
Rating: Looks – 7 cups of coffee         Writing – 3 cups of coffee    

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