Coffee Gear Review: KitchenAid Precision ‘French’ Press
What we in the US call the “French” press is one of the more mainstream gateways to a heightened appreciation for coffee. If you had asked someone whether they were into coffee prior to the renaissance (or fad, depending) in theatrical methods like siphons and pour-overs, they would have likely responded in the affirmative by...
Coffee Variety Family Tree – from Cafe Imports
If you ever wanted to see how all the different coffee varieties are related, this coffee variety family tree by Cafe Imports is pretty great. Most specialty coffee roasters include information about the coffee variety on their labels, but it can be difficult to keep track or make sense of – next time, take a...
A Hazmat Suit for your Coffee Lid: The Clean Coffee Sabar
A solution in search of a problem? Some might think so, but inventor Bill Levey points to grubby customer & barista fingers – and an Arizona State University study showing that 17% of lids may be contaminated with fecal bacteria – to make a case for design innovation. Of course, this doesn’t solve the problem...
Italian astronaut to bring espresso machine into orbit
Naturally. It’s an interesting little article, actually (check out the machine diagram). Brewing science is complicated and finnicky enough on Earth, let alone in the microgravity environment on the International Space Station. Check out the article over on NPR’s blog. Snippet below: Of course, drinking coffee up in space still won’t be the same as...
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Grinder by Robert Welch
Is this the most beautiful hand grinder ever made? I came across this hand mill while doing my usual browse around eBay for good deals on unique coffee gear (keep an eye out for similar things tagged here as “find of the day“). It’s from the 1960’s, created for Victor Cast Ware by British...
Eva Solo Vacuum Coffee Carafe
I’ve been looking for a nice glass-lined thermal carafe for a while now to use at work, so that I can make a batch of coffee in the morning and not have to take time to brew another one later in the day. Or, you know, to consider actually brewing enough to share. I wanted...
Find of the Day: Vintage Kenji Fujita Coffee Carafe
Browsing for interesting coffee makers, I came across this beautiful mid-century modern carafe that looks like it could easily fit modern Kalita wave, V60, or Chemex filters. The ceramic pot with wicker handle was designed in the 1950s by Kenji Fujita for Freeman Lederman, an American ceramic manufacturer. The $385 price is steep, but if...
Toby’s Estate’s new Flat Iron cafe, with Strand Books at Club Monaco
Toby’s Estate has opened its first location in Manhattan in an interesting partnership, together with beloved indie book store, Strand Books, all inside a giant Club Monaco clothing store off 5th avenue that’s lit up brighter than an Apple store. I checked out the cafe on their second day after opening, and was lucky enough...
ROK Espresso Maker Hands-on Review
The ROK Espresso maker is probably better known by its previous name, the Presso. However, this isn’t just a simple re-branding; the new name also reflects a number of improvements and add-ons: The metal alloy has “35% higher tensile strength” (apparently some of the older ones were snapping) The arm links have been beefed up with...
Cold Bruer
Cold Bruer is a new Kickstarter coffee project worth checking out. The transparent design and bold color really pops; I love the look of this brewer! I don’t drink cold brew coffee that often (I’m usually more happy drinking great coffees hot, where more nuanced flavor is extracted), but this is making me reconsider that...
Impress Coffee Brewer Hands-on Review
Impress Coffee Brewer In-Depth Review The Impress ($39) is a new, Kickstarter funded, all-in-one coffee brewer; the sort that lets you brew and drink from the same vessel. It’s made of three parts–a stainless steel double-walled tumbler, a stainless inner press that has a metal filter & silicone seal on the bottom, and a soft silicone...
HG One – Espresso hand grinder
Most hand grinders (like the Hario and Porlex lines) are made for weight conscious travelers or those looking for a low-cost conical burr grinder. The HG One takes the concept in a new, decidedly higher-end direction. Designers Paul and Craig set out to build the grinder they had always wanted, and the result is this...
