The pour-over coffee brewing method affords precise control over each aspect of brewing. Those who practice and perfect their pouring can make excellent cups of coffee — if they have a high-quality pour over. Here are some of the best pour-over coffee makers depending on your needs.
Coffee Makers & Gear
Pour Over Coffee
Pour-Over Coffee: Coffee Brewed By Hand
The manual pour over was once the most common coffee maker, but it fell out of favor as more convenient brew methods emerged. The pour over is seeing a resurgence among specialty coffee drinkers, however, as aficionados look for a brew method that allows for lots of control over brewing variables. With experienced hands, the brew method makes great-tasting coffee.
The Best Gifts for Coffee Snobs
Anyone who is passionate and knowledgeable about any topic can be intimidating to buy for. This guide will help you navigate the pitfalls of buying for a self-described coffee snob. These products are of the highest quality and come recommended, not only by us, but by other coffee experts as well. Organized by budget, you will find a variety of gifts that you can be proud to present to the coffee snob in your life!
Moka Pot Coffee
The Moka Pot brews espresso-like coffee, but is less expensive and easier to use than a full-fledged espresso machine. While common throughout Southern Europe, Latin America and Australia, the coffee maker isn’t as widely used in the United States (see below for why). If you’re less familiar with the Moka Pot, here’s a guide to what it is, what it brews and how to use one.
Bonavita Variable Temperature Kettle
The Bonavita 1.0L Variable Temperature Electric Kettle affords some of the greatest control over heating water, but it’s debatable whether such control is needed for brewing coffee. I’d purchase the kettle again based on my 2 years of ownership — but for tea and not coffee.
Uniterra Nomad Manual Espresso Maker
The Uniterra Nomad is an unorthodox espresso machine in almost every aspect. Some may be put off by the design and shot- pulling process, but I’ve come to deeply appreciate the machine’s innovations.
An Espresso Machine Built by a Medical Device Manufacturer
The Uniterra Nomad ($295) is unlike any other espresso machine largely because it’s not designed by a coffee industry insider. Uniterra is actually a medical device manufacturer, and the company was able to approach the project without preconceived notions of how an espresso machine should look and operate. The result is a machine that has an obviously different form factor, and several unique innovations on the inside.
Olympia Cremina Manual Lever Espresso Machine
Owning an Olympia Cremina is to have a true relationship with your espresso machine. Cultivating love for her requires time, but Cremina will reward you with a lifelong relationship if you get to know her well. My own relationship continues to evolve.
Guide to Kyoto-Style Slow Drip Coffee
Kyoto-style slow drip is one of the most artistic ways to brew coffee, and it produces one of the best brews when executed properly. If you’d like to begin making coffee this way at home, here’s a complete guide to Kyoto-style slow drip coffee — including how you can make it.
How to Roast Coffee Beans at Home
Roasting coffee adds another dimension to your understanding of and enjoyment of the beloved beverage. It’s easy to get started, and you don’t need to invest in a lot of expensive equipment. With some green coffee beans and a basic setup, you can begin roasting coffee at home.
As soon as you brew your first batch of roasted coffee, you’ll immediately notice the difference that fresh roasting makes. Beans that were roasted just a few days ago are much more aromatic, flavorful and lively than those that were roasted months or years ago (like those that you might buy at the store). Even if you don’t get the first batch absolutely perfect, you’ll pick up on finer notes that aren’t present in stale coffee and you won’t want to go back to the old stuff.
From sourcing green coffee beans and selecting a roaster to actually roasting that first batch, here’s how to roast coffee beans at home.
The Best Way to Make Coffee While Traveling
When I sold off most of my things and moved abroad, there was one collection of things that I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of: my coffee set up.
Over the years, I had built a small arsenal of different coffee equipment in my kitchen (much to my girlfriend’s dismay). As I was getting ready to fit my life into 2 backpacks and move abroad for the foreseeable future, I knew good coffee wasn’t something I could leave behind completely. I had to put together a travel set up that was consistent, reliable, and didn’t take up too much space in my bag.
