We love a good kettle here at Tools & Toys—particularly the gooseneck variety—and this stainless steel Fino Pour Over Kettle fits the bill nicely. Nothing fancy about it really, just quality Japanese design and craftsmanship. I like that it's so compact compared to other kettles. My only quibble is that it doesn't whistle when the water's boiling, but the lid does bobble…
After a highly successful Kickstarter campaign for their Neat Ice Kit, the boys at Studio Neat are back with a new Kickstarter project: the Simple Syrup Kit. Simple syrup—a concoction of sugar and water—is great for sweetening both iced coffee and cocktails. We almost always have a jar of the stuff in our fridge. To use Tom and Dan's words, the Simple…
When it comes to kettles, you'll have to pry the Bonavita variable temp gooseneck out of my cold, dead hands—but I must admit, this Japanese-imported Takahiro kettle has a certain classic appeal to it. While the Bonavita is the more convenient option to be sure, the Takahiro's simpler design aesthetic is far more pleasing to the eye. The Takahiro kettle is $92…
As this print's store page says, “Great espresso is both an art form and a science” Crafted with custom inks on beautiful Italian paper, this 20" x 27.5" print celebrates espresso by describing its theory and preparation in great detail, accompanied by illustrations. Get one from stellavie design for an introductory price of 59,95 EUR (~$81 USD) + 10,55 EUR shipping (~$14).
The Bonavita variable-temp gooseneck kettle is one of our favorite coffee tools here at T&T, and one of the more popular items we've ever written about. If you still haven't made the jump though, you should know that it's now more affordable than ever, currently (as of 7/7/14) priced at $63 on Amazon, down from $90. We don't know if this is…
If drinking cold brew coffee out of a mason jar is your thing, you'll appreciate having a Cuppow around. It's a BPA-free plastic lid that essentially converts the jar into a travel mug. You can sip straight from the lid or use a straw, whichever you prefer. There are a variety of Cuppow colors and sizes to choose from, whether you're drinking…
I have mixed feelings about Keurig brewers. There's no denying their sheer convenience—I mean, you literally just push a button to brew—but those disposable K-Cup pods are wasteful and tend to produce a subpar cup of coffee besides. The Ekobrew Stainless Steel Elite might be the best workaround for this problem. Rather than tossing out K-cup after K-cup, you simply fill the…
Add a little sci-fi to your morning cup o' joe.
This 12oz coffee mug perfectly describes my ability to think or speak in the morning, before I've finished my first cup. In case you can't read them in the photo above, here are the three fill lines hand-painted and heat-cured onto the side of the mug: "unable to communicate in full sentences" under first line "slightly more coherent but still unable to…
If your main method of making coffee is with a pour-over brewer like the Hario V60, it should have a special home of its own on your countertop. The Pour-Over Stand by JM&Sons fits the bill. It's a simple-but-stylish metal stand with a base made from salvaged barn wood, and fits any pour-over dripper up to 2.5" in diameter. The stand by…
Maybe you like to wear your love of coffee on your sleeve, but have you ever thought about wearing it on your feet? These espresso socks—which the company Espresso Parts is trying to have crowdfunded, Kickstarter-style—will let you do just that. If the campaign is funded by mid-May 2014, these socks will be made available in 3-packs at Betabrand's online store. They…
(Photo credit: Alex Bernson, Sprudge.com) While we're on the subject of coffee, we should talk about an awesome vessel for consuming the stuff. The KeepCup Brew—a brand-new glass version of the plastic KeepCup Original—is a reusable coffee cup that aims to do away with wasteful, disposable paper cups and look great doing it. If you frequently stop in for a quick cup…
Perfect Coffee at Home, written by former U.S. Marines Michael Haft and Harrison Suarez and available only on the iBookstore for iPad, is all about the joys and methods of brewing an awesome cup—you guessed it—at home. They explain all the factors that go into every cup, and how you can tweak them step-by-step to get the best results. Haft and Suarez…
For serious coffee fanatics, having an espresso machine at home can certainly be an expensive affair. Most of us aren't world champion baristas though, and prefer not to break the bank to get our fix. The Rancilio Silvia V3 is a commerical-grade machine that, in the right hands, will brew espresso on par with what you'd get at your favorite local coffee…
Coffee Slingers is one of the best coffee shops and roasters in my home town of Oklahoma City. If you're ever in town you should really check the place out and get some delicious coffee, but a trip to OKC isn't required to get one of their awesome t-shirts. The design of the roasting machine and the iconography are all great, plus…
I recently happened across an article in The Atlantic that piqued my interest in the Sowden SoftBrew coffee maker. (Because, I don't already have enough coffee makers in my life, right? Please send help.) It's essentially a ceramic kettle with a large, easily-removable, stainless steel mesh filter inside. In fact, it looks a lot like a tea brewer. The filter has been…
The same people who designed our favorite cheese grater are also the makers of a great coffee maker. Similar to a French press, the Eva Solo coffee maker uses a full-immersion brewing method. Just dump some coarsely-ground coffee and hot water directly into the glass carafe, seal off the top with the conical filter/stopper (also, make sure the outer neoprene sleeve is…
(Pictured on right. Aeropress not included.) Let's say you've organized your suitcase, but in your rush to get out the door you totally forgot to get your morning caffeine fix. As long as you remembered to pack your travel coffee gear the night before, you're in good shape. Along with an Aeropress and a bag of fresh beans, you're going to want…
Like it says on the tin, this is a rack that lets you store and display a week's worth of coffee. Each day of coffee is represented by a test tube, which seems fitting. $46 at Meriwether of Montana.
Okay, so maybe this trend of craz- er, inventive new coffee brewers is starting to get a little out of hand. It seems that we're getting ever closer to some sort of Coffee Maker Singularity, and the Canadiano Coffee Maker is perhaps the next step in that process. Fashioned from a single block of wood (cherry, walnut, or maple), the Canadiano is…