Photo: Whitson Gordon
A few years ago I finally gave in to social pressures and bought one Aeropress. It was (and is) all the rage among coffee connoisseurs, and while I definitely don’t fall into that category, I thought to myself, why not brew the best mug I could? But honestly, I kind of hated it.
Look, I love the taste of coffee, but I’m far from an expert (if you are you can stop reading now). My goal is not to make the best possible coffee, but to make a decent cup with as little work as possible and by wasting as little space as possible. I could do things with a “right” grinder and an aero press, or I could do things in the 90s and get a bulky drip machine that wastes counter space and incites the wrath of my millennial coffee snobs. Neither of these options really met my needs – in part because both actually require cleaning – and so after a few years of experimentation, I finally found the combination of low-maintenance coffee equipment that makes a hell of a solid mug.
Photo: Whitson Gordon
First and foremost, I threw the complicated devices overboard and bought one Kalita Wave. The Aeropress was cool and everything, but a bit awkward to use and much more annoying to clean and store. The Kalita Wave, on the other hand, is incredibly simple: insert a filter, scoop up your coffee and pour it. Okay, it’s a little more art than that, but still: it’s incredibly simple, and while coffee experts pour over the love it deserves, it doesn’t seem like it has flowed to the general public. that I see via aeropresses are indications of this.
I still find it a lot easier than the Aeropress, and because it’s ceramic, I can toss it in the dishwasher when I’m done – no fuss, no need to. It’s as easy to use, clean, and store as anything else I’ve tried. And unlike drip machines, it gives you a little more room to experiment without making things difficult.
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G / O Media can receive a commission
There are also Glass and stainless steel Variants, and it comes in two sizes – the smaller 155, which makes one or two cups, and the slightly larger 185 for two to four people. Make sure you get the correct size filter to match your model. If you need to serve an even larger group, this is it Chemex is an often recommended alternative.
Photo: Whitson Gordon
I had another complaint with coffee: it never seems to stay hot long enough. Despite the fact that my office is like an oven, my coffee seems too cold to be drunk before I’m even halfway through – and it’s not like I’m breastfeeding it here in the course of an hour. So I went looking for something to keep it hot longer while tempted by the techie in me Embers heated cupI went with something less futuristic: this vacuum-insulated Yeti Rambler. While it’s not perfect, it is much better at keeping my coffee steamy long enough for me to finish drinking. Plus, it comes in 19 colors, although they can vary slightly in price. After using it, I don’t drink any hot beverage from anything else.
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This simple duo made coffee so effortless that I actually drink it instead of thinking, “Oh, too much work.” The rest of my gear is pretty normal: I use a regular old kettle (which Amazon is littered with affordable price points), although experts recommend a gooseneck model like this one For more control over your watering – I haven’t quite got there yet as I’ve already bought a kettle from my wife who drinks tea. I also use filtered water – my fridge has a built-in pitcher, however a standard Brita mug would work too.
However, I don’t grind my own beans because a) I’m not interested in adding more steps to the process, b) I don’t need any additional equipment, and c) I usually make my coffee while my kids are still sleeping and I’m not about to to disturb the peace with the cacophony of the spinning blades. But my coffee snob friends tell me this burr grinder is the way to go if you want to grind the beans yourself (although you could join in a cheaper model when $ 150 is a bit too rich). I don’t use a scale either, because what am I, a scientist? ON long handled shovel works well because I’m a busy man, damn it.
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G / O Media can receive a commission
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To round off the kind of “Please, God, make it easy” combo, I subscribe to monthly coffee deliveries from in the evenings intelligence– I’m going with that House mix (usually without coffee), although it might be a bit easy for some people. In that case, you might like it one of their tastier roastsor something another Beanery. Check out what local roasters might be available in your area. You can either use a subscription service or buy it in-store. Amazon has a few options, but I would only buy it if it was from Whole Foods. If reviews are any indication, Amazon itself tends to ship older bags and you want something freshly toasted.
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G / O Media can receive a commission
You may make fun of my choices, but remember: I’m far from being a coffee connoisseur. My goal is to make coffee as easily as possible, without a few large appliances and a can Folgers sit in my closet. I still have a lot to learn, but the biggest struggle was making the process so easy that I actually wanted to do it every morning – and eventually I made it happen.