Experts pick their favorite at-home coffee gear:
Kalita Wave
“Yes, you have to order the Kalita filters. Good coffee doesn’t come cheap.” –Tim Carman, food writer and the $20 Diner (and coffee hobbyist), The Washington Post ($39.95)
Stagg Double Wall Carafe
“It’s doubled walled. You want to retain the heat of your brewed coffee as much as possible. Glass conducts heat, which means it will transfer heat away from coffee, if it has the chance.” –TC ($39)
Stagg Pour Over Kettle
“It’s beautiful and also has a thermometer on top so you know you have the right temperature.” –TC ($79)
Brew: Better Coffee At Home
A combination design firm and publishing house (Dovetail Press), W&P Design manufactures food and beverage products in conjunction with its titles, like the mini-encyclopedic Brew from Northern Virginia native Brian W. Jones and its accompanying pour over press. It’s a three-in-one brewing method: press, pour over and cold-brewer. –SG (book $25 + pour over press $75)
Goat Mug
In a nod to the discoverer of coffee—goats in 13th century Ethiopia—this goat horn-shaped mug is the traveler’s companion because of its attachable strap. The company also launched a Kickstarter for a combination device called Gina, with a built-in smart scale (connected to an app) made for pour over, immersion and cold-drip coffee-making, due to ship in April. –SG ($29.50)
Chemex
“The slow brew process produces a beautiful, delicious-smelling, clean cup that highlights the coffee’s complex tasting notes. The taste is indulgent, but the process is simple.” –Willona Sloan, coffee and culture writer (starts at $38.90)
Baratza Vario
“A burr grinder is going to give you a consistent grind, and the flat burrs are going to give you an even particle distribution, which will give you more clarity in the cup. Grinding is primarily how you adjust flavor in coffee: If your grind is not consistent, your coffee won’t be consistent.” –Bryan Becker, owner and roaster, Rare Bird Coffee Roasters ($499)
Porlex Tall Hand Grinder
“You can hold the grinder with one hand and the turning mechanism with the other hand, using both arms instead of one. It makes it quicker and gives you more power.” –BB ($68)
Escali Bamboo Arti Food Scale
“Making a good cup of pour over coffee at home is dependent on a scale. It’s a scientific process, and you need just the right ratio. This bamboo scale is affordable and beautiful, so I don’t mind that it lives on my kitchen counter. You can also use it for baking!” –Rebecca Gallop, Purcellville-based blogger, prop stylist and creative director, A Daily Something ($26.99)
White Hearth Mug of the Month Subscription
“Talia Olmstead is a local (Boyce) 18-year-old who taught herself pottery. She offers a monthly mug subscription, which I think is simply brilliant!” –RG (starts at $72 for 4-month subscription)
