(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…
Coffee and camping are two things that go together very well, but I feel like a lot of brewing equipment is too delicate for the outdoors. As much as I like my Hario V60, I'm not sure the ceramic would hold up well in my bag. The Snow Peak Coffee Dripper, another pour-over brewer, may be a solution to this problem. It…
Before the coffee geeks cry out with indignation: yes, I realize I am linking to a Nespresso product and Nespresso is a blight on the coffee-making world, but this is not one of their wasteful coffee pod contraptions. No, the Aeroccino 3 – no relation to the AeroPress – is merely a milk frothing machine, and a good one at that. It…
The 2013 Tools & Toys Christmas gift guide. For the Gadget Geek, the Coffee Drinker, the Music Listener, the Apple aficionado, the Hard Worker, or just The Guy Who's Hard To Shop For. As always, only the finest gifts suggested. The New Kindle Paperwhite Every year a new Kindle comes out, and this year the new Kindle Paperwhite is the best Kindle…
The Impress Coffee Brewer is a combination coffee press and travel mug that aims to make the brewing process a breeze. Put some freshly ground coffee in the press, pour in some hot water and let it brew for a few minutes, then insert the "cup" piece and push down all the way. It's a lot like brewing with an AeroPress, except…
The kitchens of many coffee nerds are practically overflowing with coffee paraphernalia, but a lot of that stuff isn't very well-suited for traveling. Electric burr grinders are no exception to this, which is why hand grinders are so great. They can be tossed into a bag alongside your AeroPress for easy traveling. And if you're willing to put in a little elbow…
We've mentioned the standard Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle ($42) before, but the kinds of coffee nerds who experiment with AeroPress recipes are likely to want very precise temperature control. And that's exactly what the Bonavita Variable Temperature model ($90) brings to the mix. It rocks the same 1-liter stainless steel design and distinct spout that allows for greater pour control, with the addition…
This is the 2011 Tools and Toys gift guide for the holidays. Forty-seven gift ideas for those who can be the most difficult shop for: picky gadget geeks, music lovers, coffee nuts, movie buffs, and men. As always, only the finest gifts suggested. New Amazon Kindles Kindle Touch: The first E Ink Amazon Kindle to have a touch-screen; the Kindle Touch is…
Coffee is always an adventure. Here at the Tools & Toys headquarters we prefer a coarsely-ground cup of Guatemalan coffee brewed in our trusty AeroPress. And every now and then we bust out the Espro Press. But even that just the tip of the proverbial coffee iceberg. From coffee grinders and the various coarseness of a bean grind, to coffee brewing methods…
My thanks to Igloo Software for sponsoring the RSS feed this week. Work isn't a place — it's what you do. And you might work on a lot of devices — a Mac, an iPhone, an iPad — in a lot of places. You might work on the road or maybe from home (with your AeroPress and clickity keyboard). And that makes…
If you had won the 2012 AeroPress World Championship then this is the grinder you would have received as part of your loot. The Vario-W grinder from Baratza weighs 9 pounds, has 230 steps of grind coarseness adjustment, and uses a 54mm ceramic flat burr that is manufactured in Switzerland. The bean hopper holds up to 227g of whole coffee beans, and…
Here is the gear I use on a regular basis to brew and enjoy my daily cup(s) of delicious coffee. Some of the items in my kitchen aren't available to buy any longer, so the exact product I use isn't listed here but rather the item I plan to get once mine finally bites the dust. Bodum Bistro Electric Conical Burr Grinder…
When I brew coffee each morning, the items I pull out onto the kitchen counter consist of a conical burr grinder, and electric water kettle, a bamboo stir stick, my coffee brewing device (such as the AeroPress or French Press), my coffee beans, and a digital scale. It may sound like a lot but it isn't really that bad. For years I…
The 2012 Tools & Toys Christmas gift guide. For the gadget geek, the coffee connoisseur, the writer, the nerd, or just the guy who's hard to shop for. As always, only the finest gifts suggested. Kool New Kindles Kindle Paperwhite: The best Kindle out there, and the best gadget there is for reading long-form books. The new Paperwhite Kindle is very affordable,…
Regardless of whether you make coffee in a french press, an AeroPress, or a Siphon Vacuum Pot, you're going to need to stir those grounds. Those who know better will tell you that a metal spoon or knife is rubbish for such a task — it steals heat from the brewing liquid and it's just not wise to go around banging a…