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The Star
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Star
Does keeping coffee in the fridge preserve its flavour?
Coffee's aroma is a bit like a moody teenager. It's highly sensitive to its environment and quick to react to just anything around it. It also has a habit of disappearing before you can even begin to do anything with it. For this reason, coffee - whether beans and or freshly ground - needs special treatment, just like any pubescent housemates. The worst enemies of coffee are light, moisture, air and heat. For this reason, you may have heard people suggesting to keep coffee in the fridge - about as dark and cool a place as you can get at home. But coffee experts are generally in agreement that this does little to help stop your coffee from going stale. In fact it may even make it taste bad faster. "Coffee absorbs foreign odours very quickly. If you store it near some cheese, leeks or other strongly scented foods, it loses its aroma," says Andrea Danitschek, a food scientist and consumer awareness worker in Germany. The biggest problem occurs when you start taking coffee out every day for your caffeine hit. That's when large temperature differences between warm room air and the refrigerator-cold coffee start to create one of coffee's worst enemies: water (as condensation). Best-case scenario, you're losing flavour. Worst-case, you're even causing mould to develop. So if you're planning to use up your coffee in a week or two, it's best to store it in a cool pantry or cupboard somewhere instead. But while the fridge is a bad idea, the freezer can be helpful in slowing the staling process, as coffee influencer and world barista champion James Hoffmann says. "Most domestic freezers live at about minus 20 degrees Celsius," he says in an advice video to coffee makers. "That's good enough to help slow the process quite dramatically." Again, the same problem occurs if you want to open the freezer container with the coffee in it and, in doing so, let in warm air, causing condensation. That means that freezing coffee is best as a long-term solution, say if you've bought too much coffee, and not as a day-to-day storage place. In any case, coffee should always be kept in an air-tight container that doesn't let any light in and won't shed any smell into the coffee. In an air-tight container in the freezer, beans can hold onto their aroma for months, while at room temperature it tends to go stale after just days, especially if air can get at it. Some coffee drinkers use special air-tight containers said to help the coffee maintain its aroma even longer by pumping the air out and creating a vacuum around the beans. Finally, any barista will tell you the most important step you can take to preserving aroma is to buy whole beans and freshly grind them every time before making your coffee. – dpa
Times
05-07-2025
- General
- Times
What exactly is a flat white? 30 coffee questions answered
Since coffee has overtaken tea in Brits' affections, what was once considered a functional drink is now seen as more fun — but a bit more confusing too. Here, the former world champion barista James Hoffmann cuts through the froth on telling your arabica from your robusta, whether you really need to keep coffee in the fridge — and the truth about flat whites. Coffee beans are the seed of a tropical plant. The ripe fruit — called a cherry but actually about the size of a small grape — is harvested, then the seeds are extracted, fermented, dried and shipped, usually to be roasted in the country where the coffee will be drunk. Those beans are then ground and hot water is used to pull the flavour from them to create the drink we love (need, even). It all depends on what kind you're after. For instance, the strongest cup of coffee is an espresso from a proper machine. If you want to make a longer, less intense drink, you're better off using a filter-coffee maker or a pour-over brewer. These are basically the same thing, except the pour-over is done by hand and typically used to brew one or two cups at a time rather than a whole pot. Coffee made in a moka pot — a stovetop brewer that uses steam pressure to push hot water through reasonably finely ground coffee, a staple of many European homes — sits somewhere in the middle. The filter makes a big difference. Metal filters — in a cafetière, moka pot or espresso machine — produce a richer coffee with more body, because tiny particles of coffee make their way into the cup. But one man's mouthfeel is another man's siltiness. Paper filters, which are used in filter-coffee makers or pour-overs, produce a coffee that might have less body but comes with nice clarity of flavours. A cloth filter, which is reusable but more faff, keeps the particles out but allows more oils through, so you get a good balance of texture and clarity. The AeroPress, invented by Alan Adler (who also created the Frisbee-ish Aerobie Flying Ring), is a brewer with two main plastic parts: a cylindrical brewing chamber with a paper filter and a plunger that presses the water through the grounds. They're hugely popular for good reason: they are relatively inexpensive, portable and robust, easy to clean — and they make great-tasting coffee. You can use one to brew many styles of coffee, from short espresso-strong cups to more classic filter-coffee brews. You might think they're for geeks only but for my money coffee scales are really helpful. They are more precise than kitchen scales (accurate to 0.1g) and many have a built-in timer function to help you follow brewing recipes. You can spend a lot but for most people a cheap set such as those by Maestri or MiiCoffee is just fine. Brewing coffee, especially espresso, is not unlike baking — small changes in ingredients and ratios can have a big impact on the end result. Scales help remove the guesswork if, like me, you're much better at coffee-making after you've actually had a coffee. • A dash of water could give your coffee an extra spark To brew the widest range of coffee, you want a machine that's designed to work well with pods from smaller speciality companies and independent businesses. Nespresso machines can have issues with pods from other brands. Opal is best if you don't need milk-steaming built in (standalone foamers from Nespresso, Dualit and others do a great job). Coffee, particularly the arabica species, first flourished in Ethiopia thousands of years ago. At some point it made its way to Yemen, the first country to cultivate it as a crop. It spread into Europe meaningfully in the 1600s via the Dutch, who had a monopoly on its export from Yemen. London's first coffee house was founded in 1652 and as the city fell in love with the drink, hundreds more sprang up in the Square Mile. Over the next hundred years London would become one of the greatest coffee-drinking cities on the planet, until tea usurped coffee's place. It wasn't until the early 2000s that we really started drinking much more coffee again — now Brits drink it more than tea. • The best coffee machines and kit for chic at-home brewing Any country between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn has a suitable environment, if there's enough altitude. I'm hesitant to generalise about styles, but if you're looking for something interesting and maybe a little fruity, explore the coffees produced in east Africa — Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and so on. Latin American countries are a good place to start for sweet, complex coffees with good body and mouthfeel. Coffee is seasonal and many roasters only have products available for a month or so at a time, but look out for coffees that come from Huila in Colombia, Nyeri (Kenya), Yirgacheffe (Ethiopia), Minas Gerais (Brazil) and Mandailing (Indonesia). Brazil produces the most — it has enough flat land at higher altitudes, so the farms can industrialise and mechanise processes such as harvesting. That makes its coffee a little cheaper than those harvested by hand on steep hillsides. In terms of value, it's always worth remembering there's a human cost to cheap coffee and the premium you pay for excellent coffee is pretty small. Spend two or three times what supermarket coffee costs and you can get something truly exceptional — you can't say the same about wine or whisky. We're still not totally sure! It's a common occurrence — one that many rely on — but what has confused and challenged researchers is the speed with which it happens. For many people it is only a matter of minutes between drinking coffee and needing to go to the lavatory. The coffee is still in the stomach at this point, so it's thought that it must trigger something in your nervous system. The modern-day flat white has become something of a calling card for the speciality coffee movement. It is, in essence, a small, strong latte. Usually it is 6-8oz in volume; a double espresso with a thin layer of microfoamed milk on top. Australia and New Zealand continue to argue about which country invented it and I'm certainly not going to get in the middle! Its history can probably be traced back to the 'sea-foam' cappuccinos that were popular in the 1980s and 1990s. Increasingly frustrated at the dry, milky air on top of their coffee, customers began asking for a 'flat' (ie foamless) white coffee. As Antipodean youngsters travelled to the UK and other places, their coffee culture came with them. Between 2007 and 2010, seeing a flat white on a British coffee shop menu was a pretty good sign. Now that they are more common, their presence has less significance. No! The most important thing about the coffee you drink is that you enjoy it. For a while the speciality coffee industry did a pretty good job of making people feel bad for liking coffee with milk and sugar, even though it's a delicious combination. But with expensive coffee you might want to hold back since milk and sugar can mask the complexity. These are the two most commonly grown varieties of coffee. It is broadly agreed that arabica is superior, with a smoother taste, so it commands higher prices. Robusta can grow in more diverse environments and at lower altitudes — the biggest producers are in Brazil, Vietnam and Indonesia — and is more disease-resistant. It is more bitter-tasting and has about twice the caffeine content as arabica, though for some that is a plus. This is a deeply philosophical question that coffee people argue about a lot. However, I'd have to come down on the side of the roast. The darker you roast coffee, the more you begin to obscure the flavour of the beans and their characteristics. Sometimes coffee roasters take advantage of this to mask lower-quality coffee. However, roasting can't create complexity or flavours that weren't present in the raw beans. Absolutely! The smell of freshly ground coffee is one of life's great pleasures and you can tailor the size of the grounds to the brewer you are using (for a single pour-over brew you want a finer grind than for a pot; an espresso needs the finest grind of all). Coffee beans are also better value: they often cost the same as ground but last longer and bring more delight. Yes, but the reason you don't see them much is the price. Speciality instants such as those from Hard Lines, Colonna or Common Coffee are made with higher-quality beans but lower yields, so one kilogram of coffee beans makes about half as much instant as you'd get from a commercial brand. This means they end up costing about five times as much as your standard Nescafé or Kenco. Which? recently rated M&S Fairtrade Gold top in a taste test of popular 'gold blend' instants. Coffee bags, essentially teabags full of ground coffee, have improved over recent years but technical challenges prevent them producing top-tier brews: the coffee is ready-ground, so won't be as fresh, and the bag prevents the water from extracting the ground coffee fully. The brews are typically good but not great. However, they are very easy. Two speciality roasters that offer them are Extract and Artisan — give them a try. In Italy there are very strongly held opinions about drinking cappuccinos after 11am. This comes from a combination of factors: three quarters of Italians have some degree of lactose intolerance and many also have a healthy interest (or obsession) with digestion. Most adults worldwide are lactose-intolerant, but a single small cappuccino is unlikely to cause harm or discomfort. A second one, though, mighttip you over the edge. However, in the UK we consume more butter in our diet, so may not lose our ability to digest lactose. If you enjoy a cappuccino after lunch — and your digestion agrees — go ahead and enjoy it. First, baristas can only pour 'latte art' with properly steamed milk, so it is a good indicator of quality. Second, it highlights that the drink is being made to order. It's also about job satisfaction — they enjoy it! • Seven of the UK's best coffee shops in unexpected places Oat milk is probably the most popular but seek out products labelled as specifically suited to coffee — something designed to be steamed and foamed like dairy milk. Non-coffee products tend to taste sour or curdle. While the UK's chains do offer different styles of coffee — Starbucks excels at the coffee-based dessert-style drinks; Caffè Nero is a little more traditional; and McCafé and Greggs keep prices more affordable — none of them has really overcome the challenge of scaling up consistently excellent coffee-making. Instead, look for independent speciality businesses. Prices will be a little higher but you get a lot more for your money. This is a tricky question to answer because there is such astonishing variation from one cup of coffee to another. But a good rule of thumb with freshly ground or whole-bean arabica coffee is that you'll get 10mg of caffeine per 1g of coffee. A single 30ml shot of strong, Italian-style espresso might use 7g of coffee, so it will actually contain way less caffeine (about 70mg) than the 150mg in 225ml of filter coffee brewed using 15g of grounds. A cup of instant contains less caffeine than a cup of freshly brewed coffee, because less ground coffee goes into the granules for one cup. So it might taste intense, but it's actually surprisingly weak. The Food Standards Agency guidelines suggest 400mg of caffeine a day for adults. However, there's a huge variance in people's response to caffeine and our ability to metabolise it. If it is impacting your sleep in any way, try dialling back for a week or two to see if you notice any difference. NHS advice is to limit caffeine intake to 200mg a day (it says a mug of filter coffee has 140mg), or risk complications including miscarriage. Not everyone agrees, but you might want to err on the side of caution. Decaf is considered safe during pregnancy. A tiny amount: to be sold as decaf, coffee beans must be 99.9 per cent caffeine-free and instant coffee must be 99.7 per cent caffeine-free. Caffeine is removed before roasting — essentially the beans are first steamed, then soaked in a solvent that pulls out caffeine but not much else. After any solvent is removed, the beans are dried and sent for roasting. All the solvents used now are safe, though some drinkers prefer the use of water or CO2 in place of the solvent (a good decaf will list the process on the bag). There is some impact on the flavour but less than people think. I think ethyl acetate (a by-product of molasses fermentation) is another great solvent, often sold as the 'sugar-cane process' decaf. Black coffee doesn't really contain much in the way of calories — usually less than five in an espresso or cup of filter coffee — but it does contain a surprising amount of fibre. A cup of coffee might contain up to 1.5g of fibre, as well as the phenolic compounds that gut bacteria seem to love. Fairtrade is a certification that relates to the way coffee is grown and by whom, ensuring that a minimum price is guaranteed at or above the market rate and that premiums are paid to the growers to fund community development projects. In the UK the Fairtrade certification can only go to coffee-growing co-operatives from low-income countries, not coffee grown on a single estate, however ethically run. As for whether the coffee trade is currently fair and equitable — that's a much more complex question. I tend to look for traceable coffee, coming from a single farm or particular group of producers. These coffees are often higher quality and the producers will have been paid more for them. If packaged and sealed properly, coffee is safe to drink for a very long time. I've drunk 50-year-old coffee with no ill effects — though it tasted awful. Ground supermarket coffees usually display a best-before date that's 18-24 months from the date it was roasted. I'd avoid the stuff — it's almost guaranteed to be stale. Once you grind coffee you expose a lot of the bean's surface area to the air. Although packaging has improved over the years, once you open that bag of ground coffee the flavour goes downhill very rapidly. Coffee beans last a lot longer but, even so, try to buy beans with a roast date on them. While lighter roasts age a little slower than medium or dark roasts, I'd still say you've got a couple of months to enjoy it if it's properly stored. Keep it dark, dry and air-tight. The freezer is great for long-term storage if the coffee is sealed well (just let it defrost in the cupboard), but I'd avoid keeping your coffee in the fridge — it will go stale just as quickly and you risk contamination with other odours. A container or a bag with a seal strip is fine. Instant coffee lasts a lot longer because there's less to it. Instant starts with ground coffee brewed in massive extraction columns, usually from cheap and low-quality coffee beans. This is then dried and portioned into jars for you to reconstitute later with hot water. It's a technical marvel of convenience, but gives you only a fraction of the delight that fresh coffee can. Yes, broadly speaking. Coffee consumption is associated with slower cognitive decline and reductions in 'all-cause' mortality, cardiovascular disease and incidences of some cancers. It is not fully understood why — it may have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties — but there is good evidence that moderate coffee-drinking is beneficial for many people. • Is coffee good for you? How it works and when to drink it There are some downsides. Culturally we're beginning to understand the importance of good-quality sleep to health and longevity, and allowing caffeine to disrupt your sleep may undo any benefits. For many people caffeine can heighten anxiety too. There is also a concern that coffee may impact blood pressure. If you're worried, consult a medical professional. Some schools in Brazil give pupils coffee in the morning, but I'd be wary of giving it to anyone younger than a teenager. Caffeine works by stopping a hormone called adenosine from lowering your heart rate and making you feel sleepy. But not everyone metabolises caffeine at the same rate. You might metabolise food quickly but caffeine slowly, in which case you'll want to stop drinking coffee earlier in the day so the caffeine levels in your blood don't cause issues at bedtime. The half-life of caffeine is five to eight hours. So if your body is slow to metabolise caffeine, you could drink an espresso at 1pm but still have half the caffeine in your system at Hoffmann is a coffee expert, former world champion barista, author and co-founder of Square Mile Coffee. A revised edition of his book The World Atlas of Coffee is out in October (Mitchell Beazley pp272 £26). To order a copy go to Free UK standard P&P on orders over £25. Special discount available for Times+ members
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Indian Express
Bean there, read that: 7 books every coffee lover should check out
For most of us, the day doesn't truly begin until that first life-giving sip of coffee hits our lips. And let's be honest, one cup is never enough. Whether it's the morning ritual that jumpstarts our brain, the afternoon pick-me-up that powers us through the workday, or the after-dinner espresso that caps the evening, coffee is the fuel that keeps modern life running. But how much do we really know about this magical elixir we can't live without? The journey from bean to cup spans continents, cultures, and centuries of history. Whether you're a casual sipper, an aspiring home barista, or a seasoned coffee professional, the right book can transform the way you understand and appreciate your daily brew. From richly illustrated atlases that trace coffee's global origins to gripping narratives about the people who shape the industry, this curated list brings together the most enlightening, entertaining, and essential reads for anyone passionate about coffee. Each book offers a unique perspective, whether it's mastering brewing techniques, exploring coffee's socio-political impact, or simply indulging in the stories behind the world's favorite drink. So, grab your favorite pour-over, settle into a cozy spot, and dive into these seven exceptional books that every coffee aficionado should read. 1. The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Brewing — Coffees Explored, Explained and Enjoyed by James Hoffmann James Hoffmann, a World Barista Champion and renowned coffee expert, delivers the definitive guide to coffee in The World Atlas of Coffee. This beautifully illustrated book takes readers on a journey through coffee-growing regions worldwide, detailing the history, cultivation, and unique characteristics of beans from different countries. The book is organised by continent and country, offering insights into how geography, climate, and processing methods influence flavor profiles. Hoffmann also covers brewing techniques, equipment, and tasting tips, making this an invaluable resource for both beginners and seasoned coffee professionals. The expanded second edition includes seven new coffee-growing regions (such as China, Thailand, and the Democratic Republic of Congo), updated maps, and the latest industry data. Whether you're a home brewer, barista, or just a curious coffee drinker, this book will enhance your appreciation for every cup. The Monk of Mokha is the real-life story of a Yemeni-American man, Mokhtar Alkhanshali, who works to revive Yemen's historic coffee trade. Yemen, once the birthplace of coffee cultivation, had been overshadowed by other coffee-producing nations. Mokhtar, a former doorman in San Francisco, embarks on a daring journey to reconnect with his roots and bring Yemeni coffee back to the world stage. Eggers' narrative captures Mokhtar's struggles: navigating Yemen's complex political landscape, surviving civil war, and even escaping a Saudi-led bombing campaign, all the while sourcing and exporting high-quality beans. The book blends adventure, history, and coffee culture, offering a rare glimpse into the resilience of Yemeni farmers and the global coffee supply chain. A must-read for those who love inspiring true stories and want to understand coffee's deep cultural significance. While not exclusively about coffee, A History of the World in 6 Glasses is a fascinating exploration of how six beverages—beer, wine, spirits, coffee, tea, and Coca-Cola—shaped human civilisation. Standage argues that coffee played a pivotal role in the Age of Enlightenment, fostering intellectual exchange in European coffeehouses. The book traces coffee's origins in Ethiopia and Yemen, its spread through the Ottoman Empire, and its impact on European society. Standage highlights how coffeehouses became hubs for debate, commerce, and innovation, earning the nickname 'penny universities' for the knowledge shared over a cheap cup. A compelling read for history buffs and coffee lovers alike, this book puts coffee in the broader context of global development. Ulla Heise's Coffee and Coffee Houses dives into the social and cultural history of coffee, from its early days in Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia) to its global spread. The book explores how coffee was initially met with bans and suspicion before becoming a staple of daily life. Heise also examines the evolution of coffeehouses, from 17th-century European intellectual hubs to modern specialty cafés. The book features beautiful illustrations and covers different types of coffeehouses—political salons, artists' cafés, jazz bars, and more. A great choice for those interested in the intersection of coffee, history, and culture. Coffeeland is a deep dive into the history of coffee capitalism, focusing on James Hill, an English entrepreneur who built a coffee empire in El Salvador. Sedgewick reveals how coffee fueled industrialization, labor exploitation, and economic inequality in Central America. The book connects El Salvador's monoculture economy to global coffee demand, showing how modern coffee consumption is tied to colonialism and power dynamics. It's a thought-provoking read for those who want to understand the hidden costs behind their daily brew. Another masterpiece from James Hoffmann, this book is a practical guide to brewing exceptional coffee at home. Hoffmann breaks down different brewing methods (French press, AeroPress, espresso, etc.), debunks myths, and offers expert tips for perfecting each technique. With clear instructions and beautiful visuals, this book is ideal for home baristas who want to elevate their coffee game. This comprehensive guide covers everything from bean origins to brewing methods and includes over 100 recipes. Moldvaer, a coffee expert, provides step-by-step instructions for roasting, grinding, and brewing like a pro. A fantastic resource for anyone who wants to explore coffee's diversity and craft delicious drinks at home.
Geeky Gadgets
29-05-2025
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
$150 AeroPress Premium Review : Worth the Hype or Just Overpriced?
What if your favorite coffee brewer got a luxurious makeover—but at a cost? The AeroPress Premium, a $150 reimagining of the beloved AeroPress, promises to elevate your brewing experience with sleek materials like stainless steel, dual-walled glass, and aluminum. But here's the catch: in its pursuit of elegance, it sacrifices some of the very traits that made the original a cult favorite—affordability, portability, and rugged durability. Is this high-end iteration a bold step forward for coffee enthusiasts, or does it stray too far from the essence of what made the AeroPress iconic? In this analysis, James Hoffmann dives deep into the design, performance, and practicality of the AeroPress Premium to help you decide if it's worth the splurge. Throughout this review, James Hoffmann uncovers how the Premium's refined materials subtly impact brewing performance, why its glass-and-metal construction might not be ideal for travelers, and whether its aesthetic appeal justifies the hefty price tag. You'll also gain insight into the trade-offs between luxury and practicality, as well as the niche audience this brewer seems to target. Whether you're a die-hard AeroPress fan or simply curious about this upscale reinvention, this exploration will leave you questioning what truly matters in your coffee ritual. After all, is brewing coffee about the tool—or the experience it creates? AeroPress Premium Overview Design and Materials: A Blend of Elegance and Compromise The AeroPress Premium distinguishes itself through its use of stainless steel, dual-walled glass, and aluminum, creating a sophisticated and high-end appearance. These materials cater to coffee enthusiasts who value style and craftsmanship in their brewing tools. The glass brewing chamber, which is taller and narrower than the original plastic version, slightly increases brewing capacity, adding a touch of refinement to the brewing process. However, this design comes with notable trade-offs. The glass components, while visually appealing, are inherently more fragile than the durable plastic used in the original AeroPress. This makes the Premium less suitable for travel or heavy use, as it is more prone to breakage. Additionally, the interaction between metal and glass during brewing may feel less seamless compared to the original's all-plastic construction. While the materials elevate the brewer's aesthetic appeal, they detract from its practicality, particularly for users who prioritize durability and ease of use. Brewing Performance: Subtle Refinements, Limited Impact The AeroPress Premium introduces minor changes to the brewing process, largely due to its materials and design. The dual-walled glass chamber retains heat differently, starting cooler but maintaining temperature for longer. This can slightly alter the extraction process, with the narrower chamber potentially producing a marginally higher coffee extraction. However, these differences are subtle and unlikely to result in a noticeable improvement in coffee quality for most users. The coffee brewed with the Premium tastes nearly identical to that of the original AeroPress. While these refinements may appeal to coffee aficionados seeking incremental improvements, they are unlikely to justify the Premium's significantly higher price for the average user. $150 AeroPress Premium Review Watch this video on YouTube. Stay informed about the latest in coffee makers by exploring our other resources and articles. Practicality: Portability and Maintenance Challenges One of the original AeroPress's standout features is its portability, making it a favorite among travelers and outdoor enthusiasts. The AeroPress Premium, with its heavier and more fragile design, compromises this advantage. The glass components are particularly prone to breakage, reducing the brewer's durability and making it less ideal for on-the-go use or rugged environments. On the maintenance front, cleaning remains straightforward, much like the original model. However, the fragility of the materials demands more careful handling, which could be inconvenient for users accustomed to the ruggedness of the original AeroPress. These practical limitations make the Premium less versatile and less suited for users who value ease of use and travel-friendly design. Health Considerations: Addressing Microplastics and BPA For those concerned about plastic in coffee brewing, the AeroPress Premium offers an alternative. Its stainless steel and glass construction eliminate direct contact with plastic, addressing worries about microplastics. While the health effects of microplastics are still under study, some users may find comfort in avoiding plastic altogether. That said, it's worth noting that modern AeroPress models already use BPA-free plastics, which are considered safe for food and beverage use. For most users, the plastic in the original AeroPress poses no significant health risks. As such, the Premium's material upgrade is more about personal preference than necessity, appealing primarily to those who prioritize non-plastic brewing tools for peace of mind. Value Proposition: Who Is the AeroPress Premium For? At $150, the AeroPress Premium caters to a niche audience. It appeals to users who prioritize premium materials and aesthetics over practicality. For those who value affordability, portability, or durability, the original AeroPress remains the better option. The Premium's price also raises questions about its value compared to other coffee-related investments, such as a high-quality grinder or specialty beans, which may have a more noticeable impact on coffee quality. Ultimately, the AeroPress Premium is best suited for coffee enthusiasts who view brewing as an art form and are willing to invest in a luxury brewing tool. However, for the majority of users, the original AeroPress continues to offer a more practical and cost-effective solution. Media Credit: James Hoffmann Filed Under: Gadgets News, Reviews Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Guardian
31-01-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Everything you need to make great coffee – and the kit that's not worth your money
If your belief in nominative determinism has led you to the Filter expecting coffee content, then – on this occasion at least – you're in luck. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. And if you're here because you're not entirely happy with the coffee in your cup now – or wish you could replicate the £4-a-cup magic brewed by your local barista – then you've definitely come to the right place. Let me be clear: brewing good coffee doesn't require magic or outlandishly expensive equipment. OK, fine – expensive equipment can help, in the right hands. But it's by no means a necessity. With a little knowledge, anyone can make a life-changingly (or at least a morning-changingly) good cup of coffee at home. Here's a quick cheat sheet of coffee-brewing essentials and a few tips to help you begin your journey. We'll start with good-quality coffee beans and a decent grinder, move on to a competent and affordable brewer (or coffee machine if you can afford it) and round off the recommendations with a few pretty but non-essential fripperies. Red Brick £13 for 350g at Square Mile This espresso blend from the wonderful Square Mile – a roastery co-founded by James Hoffmann, author of How to Make the Best Coffee at Home – is always on point. The precise blend varies from crop to crop, but it consistently makes a delicious espresso or espresso-based drink in my experience. Ethiopia Werka Wuri £10 for 250g at Clifton Coffee Roasters You'll find a huge range of seasonal specialities flitting in and out of roasters, but you can't go wrong with a good house roast such as the Werka Wuri from Bristol's highly capable Clifton Coffee Roasters. This is a great showcase for the more delicate, floral, tea-like flavours synonymous with lightly roasted Ethiopian coffees, and it makes excellent filter, pour-over and potentially even cafetière brews. It's well worth trying at least once. Colombia Tumbaga Decaf £9 for 250g at Craft House Coffee Craft House Coffee's blend of reliably high-quality roasts, intriguing variety and sensible prices has kept me loyal for many years. Among my recent favourites is this Colombian single-origin decaf. It's bright, subtly fruity, milk-chocolatey joy, perfectly scratching my afternoon itch without the caffeine buzz. The next stage in the process is the grind, the importance of which cannot be overstated. It's usually better to pair a great grinder with a more affordable coffee maker than the other way around. If you can't afford to spend big bucks on a grinder, then the key advice is to buy a burr rather than a blade grinder. Blades simply smash and crack the coffee into pieces, and are terrible at getting a consistent grind, making for a terribly uneven brew. Burr grinders have two spinning, serrated metal surfaces that crush the coffee to a more even consistency, so as long as the burrs are nice and sharp, they're a better bet for a balanced cup of coffee. You can pick up a basic electric burr grinder for about £50, but bear in mind that not all will be a step up on a blade grinder – many cheap models use dull 'false' burrs, which are little better than a blade. If you want to really up your coffee game, though, then pushing your budget to £100 or above will upgrade the evenness of the grind and, consequently, the quality of coffee that ends up in your cup. If you buy wisely, you'll end up with a grinder that you can repair and maintain for many years. Kingrinder K6 £92.99 at eBay£99 at Amazon This hand grinder is a great starting point for smaller single servings of everything from pour-over to espresso, with good-quality 48mm burrs and 60 clicks of adjustment for grind size. You can grind up to 35g of coffee at a time, and while the large handle still gives you a bit of an arm workout, it doesn't take too long. It's brilliant for camping or on-the-go grinding, too. Wilfa Svart £99 at Wilfa£89 at Horsham Coffee Roaster It doesn't grind fine enough for espresso, but the Svart is a regular sub-£100 recommendation for coarser filter, pour-over and cafetière grinds. The design is smart, the burrs are replaceable, and the timer setting delivers a preset amount of coffee with the press of a button. Encore ESP £159.95 at Baratza£146.73 at Amazon The Baratza Encore ESP is a great mains grinder for beginners. The ESP model increases adjustability above the standard Encore, which is crucial for dialling in a perfect espresso grind It's also perfectly capable of coarser grinds for brilliant pour-over and immersion brews. Spare parts are plentiful, too, so repairability is top drawer. Once you've ticked off the first two steps on the journey to coffee nirvana, you'll need something to, you know, make coffee with. While I recently tested some of my favourite coffee machines for the Filter, there's a lot to be said for manual brewers. They're way cheaper than a half-decent machine and they make better than half-decent coffee with the tiniest bit of effort. Often, they can even be slung in a bag and taken on holiday to guarantee good coffee. There's a winsome simplicity to a cafetière – if you can live with the occasional sludgy bits at the bottom, that is – but if you prefer a lighter, less intense cup, you should explore the results from other manual brewers such as a V60, AeroPress or Clever Dripper. And especially so when you only want to brew one or two cups at a time. Bodum Kenya cafetière £26 at CafePod£12.95 at Amazon You can't go wrong with a basic Bodum cafetière. The metal-framed Caffettiera model (£16.49) is prettier, but the plastic-framed Kenya model offers more protection to the glass carafe, making it a tad more accident-proof. Add some coarsely ground beans, pour in freshly boiled water and you have a recipe for delicious coffee with minimal faff. AeroPress £35 at Argos£35 at Amazon The AeroPress is a small, plastic manual brewer that makes a stunning cup of coffee. The results can be mind-blowingly good, but be warned: the quest for the perfect cup may leave you disappearing down a Reddit-fuelled technique rabbit hole from which you may never escape. And if you really fancy your brewing talents? Well, you can always consider entering the 2025 World AeroPress Championship. Let us know how you get on. Hario V60 coffee dripper set (size 02) £11.99 at HR Higgins£12 at Hario Hario's V60 coffee drippers have become synonymous with pour-over coffee. You can spend big money on its ceramic versions or immersion drippers if you like, but the simple, cheap, plastic V60 is a great place to start. Getting the very best results can require a little (or a lot of) honing of technique – aficionados will recommend a specialist pour-over kettle, as recommended further down the page – but the simplicity is winsome. Don't forget to pick a colour that matches your kitchen decor. Clever coffee dripper £20.99 at Clumsy Goat£35 at Amazon This immersion brewer looks like a standard V60 but it's far more forgiving for beginners. Simply stand it on your kitchen surface, add a paper filter, coffee and boiling water, then allow the coffee to brew for a couple of minutes. Pop it on top of a cup and the valve releases perfectly brewed coffee. It's great for slinging in a travel bag or rucksack, too, if you're so inclined. These are hardly essential, but if you're brewing beautiful coffee, there's something even more satisfying about drinking it from an equally beautiful cup. A good coffee cup is about more than just aesthetics, though; the best cups can also keep your coffee hot for longer. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion Halo Brew tea/coffee cup £27 at Harts of Stur£34 for two at Denby Denby's Halo range is a typically charming glint of kiln-fired, hand-crafted loveliness, with a two-tone reactive glaze and a 10-year guarantee against defects in workmanship. Take your pick from handle-free beakers, espresso cups and larger mugs – each adds a tiny spoonful of tactile, aesthetic joy to a fresh, attentively brewed coffee. Pavina double wall glass set £32.95 for four at Bodum£32.95 at Amazon Truth be told, I bought these cups because they look pretty, but they're impressively multi-functional. They may not look it, but they're actually more effective than traditional cups or mugs at keeping coffee warm (or iced coffee cold). The secret is the hollow construction, which creates a thick, insulating layer of air between the two glass walls. Reassuringly, a little rubber-bunged vent on the underside ensures that pressure doesn't crack the glass, and they're dishwasher-, microwave-, freezer- and even oven-safe up to 180C. Carter Move mug From £29.99 at Coffee HitFrom £30 at Amazon What else could a coffee lover need more than this perfectly proportioned and achingly stylish travel mug? The Fellow Carter Move comes in three sizes – 8oz (236ml), 12oz (341ml) and 16oz (455ml) – and uses layers of ceramic, stainless steel and BPA-free plastics to keep your drink hot on your travels. It also comes with a little splash guard to prevent you from slopping frothy cappuccino all over your work clothes. Helpfully, you can brew straight into it with a Hario V60 dripper or Clever Dripper or similar, which cuts down on washing up. Hario heat-resistant server, 750ml £58 at Hario£39.95 at Redber Coffee Roastery I wouldn't be without a thermal jug. This one from Hario has an ample 750ml capacity and a tough aluminium exterior so you can carry it without worrying about smashed glass. Pop a V60 on top and you can brew directly into the jug, which is a nice touch. Coffee then stays hot for a claimed 90 minutes – but I've had drinkably warm black coffee several hours later, even outdoors during camping trips. Among the simultaneous joys and dangers of coffee is how easy it is to slide towards full-blown obsession over every minutiae. Could it be tastier if only I were using an [insert coffee gadget here]? In some cases, yes, of course, it could. But that depends on how much time you have to master said item, and whether your palate can actually taste the difference. These upgrades are by no means necessary for the beginner – they're just nice to have. Minipress coffee scale £31 at MiiCoffee£33.99 at Amazon If any of these gadgets are an essential purchase, then it's a set of scales. If you can measure out a consistent amount of coffee every time, then all else being equal, you should get a consistently lovely brew. These cute scales from MiiCoffee measure up to 2kg with 0.1g precision and have a built-in timer to help keep track of your brews, which is super helpful. You can buy a cheap set at a third of the price on Amazon, but it's something of a lottery – I've had to bin a couple as they stopped giving accurate readings. Nespresso Aeroccino 4 £89 at Nespresso£119 at Amazon I've had an Aeroccino in my kitchen for years now, and it gets regular use for everything from topping up filter coffee to babyccinos for the kids. It can simultaneously heat and froth the milk – with a choice of two froth levels – but you can also opt for plain hot milk or even cold frothed milk if you prefer. It produces a thicker, more meringue-like froth than the silken microfoam you'd get from a carefully wielded steam wand on an espresso machine – or a decent assisted espresso machine for that matter – but for froth without the faff, it's a winner in our household. Fellow Stagg EKG pour-over electric kettle From £139 at Borough Kitchen£165 at Amazon If you're considering buying a kettle designed solely for achieving a perfect, laminar flow of boiling water for coffee, then yes – you've fallen head-first into the coffee-brewing rabbit hole. It works, though. The Fellow Stagg EKG has the gooseneck design typical of the breed, providing a concentrated, precise stream for penetrating and agitating a bed of coffee grounds (or tea leaves) powerfully enough to create an even, balanced brew. With a 0.9l capacity and precise control over temperature (from 57C to 100C), this kettle ticks all the boxes. Rhino flat coffee tamper £29.95 at Redber Coffee Roasters£49.99 at Coffee Hit This may be a revelation for espresso enthusiasts. If you've already got a decent machine but struggle to wield a standard tamper due to limited strength or dexterity, then a flat push tamper is a great call. This cute one from Rhinowares is expensive for what it is, but if your espresso machine has a 58mm portafilter, then its adjustable tamping depth and simple, palm-friendly design may make your brewing life just that bit simpler and more consistent. Flavoured coffee beansWe've all been there, walking around the local market or similar and finding a stall selling alluringly flavoured coffee beans. Beware: it's rubbish coffee with additives. Coffee doesn't need added flavouring. Great coffee well brewed will naturally burst forth with a vivid spectrum of flavour; cast your cup wide enough and you'll discover varieties that taste of chocolate, honey, vanilla, blueberry, booze-soaked fruits and beyond. There's a whole world of coffee out there – go explore. Expensive coffee scalesThink twice before splashing triple figures on pricey coffee scales. Indeed, add the word coffee to any product type and you'll notice a dramatic price mark up. I wouldn't endorse buying the cheapest scales you can find with 0.1g precision – I've had to bin a couple over the past decade or so – but if you can afford something a little nicer, such as the £31 MiiCoffee Minipress I recommended above, then it'll do the job. Don't feel the need to spend megabucks. Barista cosplay accessoriesYou don't need a premium rubber tamping mat or fancy-looking espresso knock box to make great espresso. Ask yourself, do you really want to spend £50 on a 1:10 scale replica of a plastic kitchen bin and a small piece of rubber? That money could pay for a far more meaningful upgrade, such as a new grinder. Or you could just treat yourself to some really great coffee instead. Sasha Muller is a freelance tech and consumer journalist, avid coffee drinker and craft beer enthusiast with more than two decades of experience in testing products and avoiding deadlines. If he's not exploring the local woods with his kids, boring people talking about mountain bike tyres or spending ill-advised amounts on classic drum'n'bass vinyl, he's probably to be found somewhere swearing at an inanimate object
