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CNN
a day ago
- CNN
The best French presses we tested make elite coffee without the usual sludge
The best French presses we tested Best French press: Espro P3 Best French press for multiple cups: Yeti Rambler French Press Adding one of the best French presses to your at-home coffee arsenal is wise, no matter what you're trying to get out of your morning joe. If you're strictly sipping for caffeine, I'd argue brewing with a French press is simpler than using a clunky drip coffee maker. And if you're on the hunt for the best-tasting java you can make, French press coffee is so robust and flavorful that it's what turned me from a coffee skeptic to an all-out obsessive. Further proof: During testing for this guide, a fresh French press coffee convinced one of my colleagues — a lifelong coffee drinker with decades of opting for cream and sugar — that black coffee can actually taste good. What's the trick to delicious results, then? Is it really a good idea to try a French press if you're stuck in your coffee ways? And what constitutes an upgrade if you're a French press vet in need of a new one? I've been drinking French press coffee for about seven years, so I put my favorite presses and a few popular options to the test to see which can pull off this basic brewing method better than the rest. Two in particular came away as clear winners. Espro P3 French Press Espro's French presses feature dual filters that eliminate the sludge synonymous with this style of coffee. As the brand's entry-level model, the P3 delivers a clean, rich cup without extra features that drive up the price. Yeti Rambler French Press Sized at 34 or 64 ounces, Yeti's French press has the capacity to share and the temperature retention to stay hot for your second (and third and fourth) cup of coffee. When one product differs considerably from everything else in the category, it's wise to be suspicious of what makes it stand out. But the basket-style dual-filter system on the Espro P3, which is unlike any of the filters in my testing pool, is not a gimmick; it's a game changer. Even if you grind your coffee beans coarsely, the filters on most French presses are going to allow very fine bits of coffee to pass through into what you'll drink. It's a byproduct of the process, not a defect. And while that sandy finish can ruin your last few sips, it's part of what makes French press coffee taste so good. Espro, though, blocks out that nasty sludge with not one but two filters. The result is better-tasting coffee. It's brighter, more defined and richer than what you'd normally expect from a French press, elevating the tasting notes of that specialty blend you picked up from your favorite shop or coffee subscription. The system allows more flexibility in the grind size of your coffee, letting you skew slightly finer without worrying about clogged filters or an overly muddy drink. The two filters in the system nest within each other, easily snapping into place with a quick twist. Instead of being flat discs, they're plastic baskets outfitted with micro mesh. The upper filter is wrapped by the silicone gasket to create a tight seal when plunging, separating the brew from any excess debris at the bottom of the carafe. That divide means your coffee won't continue to extract after you've plunged. It's a feature that's better suited for pricier Espro models better at retaining heat, but it's still worthwhile. The carafe is made of borosilicate glass, which is far more durable than a standard glass cup. While testing for this guide, my hand slipped as I tried to unplug an appliance from a stubborn outlet. I accidentally knocked the Espro P3 off a countertop and across the room. It didn't suffer even a minor scratch, let alone shatter. Part of the reason is the locking plastic handle that surrounds the carafe, but I attribute most of its toughness to the borosilicate. Like most French presses, the P3 is easy to take apart for cleaning. The plunger screws out of the filters, the filters separate with a simple twist, and the carafe, which has a rounded bottom so there are no pesky corners, slips out of the plastic casing. All parts are dishwasher-safe, though I typically hand-wash to avoid any harsh treatment. Prev Next Espro has several tiers of French presses equipped with the same filter technology that makes the P3 special. The P5 replaces the plastic housing and lid with stainless steel. The P7 has no glass carafe but is instead made of double-walled stainless steel. While the fancier P7 is a great French press (and a wonderful gift idea for the coffee lover in your life), the value of the Espro P3 is unbeaten by anything in my testing pool. The smaller 18-ounce size is $35, while the larger 32-ounce remains just below $40. It's a steal to get a standout brewer for those prices, especially one that has the durability and ingenuity to become a daily fixture of your life for years to come. Related article The best single-serve coffee makers of 2025, tried and tested Whether you're the kind of person who needs a few cups to wake up or you want to make brag-worthy joe for you and your friends, the Yeti Rambler French Press has the size to meet your needs while also being one of the best models I tested for taste and heat retention. The Yeti Rambler French Press is available in 34- and 64-ounce variations. To put that into perspective, the smaller version is bigger than the max size of several of the French presses I tested. None of the other presses I tested was available in something as massive as 64 ounces, which can also double as a heavy-duty pitcher. This French press has more going for it than just its capacity. The double-wall vacuum insulation kept my coffee hot for hours, so it's no big deal if life gets in the way of you drinking it as soon as brewing is done. Like any Yeti product, this press is supremely durable with a stainless steel shell and ceramic interior. Its Twist-to-Lock Lid shifts into place for secure pouring and storage. The Yeti's filtration and resulting flavor were also a favorite during recent testing. Every member of my tasting panel lauded the brew for being rich and flavorful when brewed with both store-bought pre-ground coffee and freshly ground beans. The brand's 'GroundsControl' filter includes a silicone gasket above the metal filter that separates the grounds from the brewed coffee to prevent overextraction, just as the Espro does. If I had any gripes, they'd be that the filter doesn't eliminate sludge and the plunger can require a little extra oomph to get it moving in either direction. The cost of the Yeti Rambler French Press is steep, no doubt. Only two other models I tested waded into triple-digit prices. If you like everything else besides how expensive it is, my recommendation (with all Yeti products) is to keep an eye on discontinued colors. Because the brand often releases new seasonal hues, last year's colors need to go. As of this writing, the Key Lime green was on sale for $88 for the 34-ounce size and $104 for the 64-ounce size at Yeti, Amazon and REI. Even without those 20% discounts, the Yeti Rambler French Press is a durable option backed by a five-year warranty and the expectation it will keep churning out top-tier quality far longer. As I brewed copious amounts of coffee in these French presses, the following criteria guided my evaluations. Brewing performance Plunge: Ah, that oh so satisfying push of the plunger. I graded each French press on how smooth a plunge it produced, docking points for any significant resistance. The plunger should descend with only slight pushback; a fast plunge usually means there isn't a good enough seal between the filter and carafe walls. Filtration and sediment: Some would argue the grit at the bottom of a cup of French press coffee is a trademark quality, while others avoid this method solely to steer clear of that sandy final sip. I assessed the filter on each French press to see what kind of clarity it created in the resulting joe. Flavor: In the end, the coffee from your French press has to taste good. Much of what goes into it depends on the quality of the coffee beans. I used several varieties — some pre-ground from grocery stores and others fresh from specialty roasters — in each press to find out which model brewed the best cup. While this is subjective, I relied on several CNN Underscored writers and editors to also taste the coffee so I could account for varying preferences. Temperature retention: The ability to retain heat is especially important to French presses that brew more than one serving. I measured the temperature of coffee in each French press over time to see how well its insulation and design kept the coffee hot for later. Design Durability: Different materials made up the French presses I tested, including stainless steel, glass, plastic and wood. I looked at how durable these made each model and its parts, such as the plunger and filter. Special features: While most French presses follow the same basic construction — a plunging filter within a round carafe — some of the models I tested included extras that made the process easier during different steps. I took each feature into account when assessing the overall experience with the pool of French presses. Cleaning and parts: Cleaning a French press isn't much more complicated than disassembling the parts and washing them. I evaluated this action with each model to identify any bothersome elements. I also noted which French presses were dishwasher-safe. Aesthetics: Looks matter, especially if your French Press resides on a shelf or counter. Though appearances weren't my primary qualification, I did take them into account. Value Replacement parts: Years of consistent use could wear down the components of your French press, so I checked which manufacturers sell replacement pieces. Price: Does the overall quality match the price? How much should a French press realistically cost? I tested models that were cheaper than a trip to Starbucks and others that were more of a triple-digit splurge to find which presented the best value. Warranty: I looked at the warranty of each French press to see what it covered and for how long. Grind size If you're new to French press coffee (or any type of manual brewing style), you might be unfamiliar with the different grind sizes. Generally speaking, grind sizes can vary from fine to medium to coarse, the last of which is best suited for French presses. Because the water and coffee fully mix for several minutes — a process called immersion brewing — a finer grind would lead to more of the coffee making contact with the water and, in turn, overextracting. A coarse grind allows for the proper extraction and prevents the filter from clogging during the plunge. How much equipment do you want? The greatest part of buying a French press is that it doesn't require as much equipment as other brewing styles. While pour-overs and the beloved Aeropress call for filters, the French press has its filter built in. Once you make that initial purchase, all you'll need to start using it (and continue to use it for years) is the actual coffee. The only accessory I recommend for a French press is a stirring device made of something more delicate than metal. You probably already have one in your kitchen, as a wooden spoon or small rubber spatula will do just fine. This is because you don't want to damage the glass or metal of your carafe with a metal utensil. Case in point: While working on this article, CNN Underscored associate testing writer Carolina Gazal told me she shattered her last French press because she stirred her hot coffee with a metal spoon. Technique Look online for French press advice and you'll probably find several different methods for actually using this brewing device. Popular coffee YouTuber James Hoffman, for example, doesn't plunge the filter to the bottom in his recommended method. That's fine. I enjoy trying different processes, though I typically gravitate back to the standard approach, which is abundantly simple. Start by boiling some water and rinsing both your carafe and your mug with the hot water (205 degrees Fahrenheit is about right if you have a temperature-specific electric kettle). You'll want to coarsely grind your beans fresh for the best flavor, though pre-ground beans work as well. Add those grounds to your pre-heated French press, then pour water at a 1:15 ratio, meaning 15 grams of water for every gram of coffee. If you don't have a kitchen scale or coffee scale, some French presses will come with scoops that approximate measurements for you. I like to start that pour of water with a bloom, a slight moistening of the grounds. This essentially activates them, releasing oils that will produce a more flavorful coffee. Give that about 30 seconds, then pour in the rest of your water. Stir the mixture gently, cap the carafe and wait about five minutes before plunging. The filter will push the grounds to the bottom of the press and leave you with delicious ready-to-pour coffee. Oxo 8-Cup French Press With Grounds Lifter If cleaning up after brewing is your primary concern, Oxo's Grounds Lifter is a singular feature that makes this model stand out. This Oxo French press didn't retain heat as well as the heavily insulated models, and its traditional-style filter didn't brew coffee that tasted as good as my favorite presses I tested. But it still has a feature that is so clever and convenient that it might be the French press you want. Before adding your grounds to the device, a plastic ladle-like 'Grounds Lifter' goes into the bottom of the carafe. It is not used in filtration or plunging, but when your coffee is gone and it's time to toss the used grounds, this nifty scoop scrapes almost all of it out for easy disposal. A true story to illustrate the effect of the Grounds Lifter: When I showed it to CNN Underscored senior video producer Enrique Perez during the video shoot for this guide, he almost put his camera down and bought this French press for himself right then and there. Bodum Brazil French Press Available in sizes as small as 12 ounces and outfitted with a glass carafe, the Bodum Brazil is an ideal entry point for anyone interested in brewing with a French press. When I first started to care about how my coffee tasted about seven years ago, the Bodum Brazil French press was how I made it. There's nothing flashy about this budget brewer, but it's still nothing to sneeze at. Its glass carafe remained intact after years of near-daily use. And while it comes in a 34-ounce model that's right for most people, I've loved my 12-ouncer for a smaller dose of caffeine when I need it. I've since graduated to more refined brewers, but if your budget is too tight for an Espro or Yeti, you'll still get tasty joe from the Bodum Brazil. Stanley Classic Stay Hot French Press This Stanley French press is more affordable than its insulated peers I tested, but I prefer the alternatives in just about every way if you can afford them. The vintage Stanley design on this Classic Stay Hot French press would pair nicely with your viral tumbler. It makes a fine cup of coffee too. Its no-frills filter produces a clean brew with minimal grit and fits into a similar category as the other well-insulated models I tested. Although I preferred options from Yeti, Espro and Fellow to the Stanley, this model has an expansive 48-ounce capacity for a better price. Still, the Yeti lid twists to lock while Stanley's clunky lid feels loose. And more importantly, the Stanley didn't keep my coffee as hot as the competition. Fellow Clara French Press The best-looking French press I tested is no slouch when it comes to performance. It doesn't have great capacity for the price, but it was still a personal favorite. The Fellow Clara was one of the French presses that got great marks from all CNN Underscored staffers during my taste test. it's not a shocker, as Fellow's upscale coffee gear usually delivers (we've tested and love the brand's Aiden brewer, Tally coffee scale and Stagg electric kettle, among other products). With a matte-black stainless steel exterior and optional walnut accents, it was easily the best-looking French press I tested during this round. Fellow also simplifies brewing, with indicators on the inside of the press for grounds and water, showing the way for anyone who doesn't have a scale handy. The included wooden spoon for stirring was another great touch, and this French press was near the top of the rankings for heat retention. The mesh filter is designed to cut out sludge, though I still saw some at the bottom of my mug. Ultimately, the Clara didn't claim a top spot because it was far more expensive than the Espro P3 and lagged behind the Yeti's capacity. It's a 24-ounce container, giving you roughly 71% of the smaller Yeti's output. Espro P7 French Press The P7 is a souped-up version of my top pick. For triple the price, you get that same dual-filter design, plus a glamorous stainless steel finish and elite temperature retention. If you're intrigued by the two filters in my top pick, the Espro P3, the Espro P7 deploys the same concept in a premium way. Before this latest round of testing, it was CNN Underscored's splurge pick. The P7 ditches a glass carafe and plastic shell for a double-walled stainless steel, which was just as good as the Yeti at maintaining a drinkable temperature for hours. And it looks great. I tested the brushed stainless steel finish, which was sharp enough to remain on my kitchen counter as a statement piece. A matte coating is also available in black, white, red or blue. Just as with the P3, you can choose from 18- and 32-ounce sizes. So, why does the P3 rank ahead of the P7 in this test? It all comes down to value. For a third of the price, the P3 delivers delicious, clean coffee. The P7 does just as good of a job — better, if temperature is vital to you — but it lacks the size of our other leading recommendation, the Yeti Rambler French Press. While the P7 maxes out at 32 ounces, Yeti doubles that capacity at 64 ounces. Hydro Flask 32-Ounce Insulated French Press While I liked other insulated French presses more, getting above-average temperature retention for this price is a win. Consider the Hydro Flask if you're on a budget and want your coffee hot for hours. Below $70 at full price and often discounted at other retailers, Hydro Flask's Insulated French Press is a solid value buy because it has good capacity and heat retention. There's nothing fancy about its appearance, though I do love the look of the new Agave green/gold color scheme (I tested an older stainless steel/gray combo). In the end, I like other insulated options more, as long as you're willing to pay. The Yeti had room for more capacity with the 64-ounce size, and the Espro P7 sported the double filter that creates a clearer cup of coffee. The Hydro Flask's filter was more traditional, leading to a decent amount of sludge. What is a French press? What is a French press? A French press is a manual coffee brewer in which coffee grounds steep in water within a carafe before a plunger pushes the grounds to the bottom to filter out the coffee. Is French press coffee better than drip coffee? Is French press coffee better than drip coffee? Personal preference is the prevailing factor in this answer, but French press coffee is generally considered to taste more robust than coffee from a drip machine. Because most French presses don't use paper filters, the oils released by the grounds aren't removed in the brewing process, resulting in a richer, stronger flavor than what you'd get from a typical drip brewer. How much coffee do I weigh out for a French press? How much coffee do I weigh out for a French press? One gram of coffee for every 15 grams of water (a 1:15 ratio) is a good place to start when measuring with your kitchen scale. Of course, the exact amount of grounds you'll use depends on how much coffee you want to brew. You can always adjust that ratio up or down depending on factors like roast type, grind size and water temperature. The fun thing about specialty coffee is that it can be a game of tinkering if you want it to be. What grind size do I use for French press coffee? What grind size do I use for French press coffee? Coarse-ground coffee is the go-to grind size when brewing coffee with a French press, as finer grinds can clog the filter when plunging and cause overextraction. That said, the double-filter system in our favorite presses from Espro gives you the flexibility to try different grind sizes. Two layers of fine metal mesh and a tight silicone seal will still block out the sludgy grit that French presses are known for. How long does it take to steep a French press? How long does it take to steep a French press? While some methods require different timing, the most common French press technique calls for four or five minutes of steeping after you've stirred the contents and before you plunge and pour. How do I clean a French press? How do I clean a French press? Most parts of a French press are safe to be cleaned on the top rack of a dishwasher. However, I prefer to disassemble my French presses and clean with soap and water by hand. This is less aggressive and can prolong the life of delicate parts, such as the filter. Always check your manufacturer's guidance for specific cleaning instructions. Is a French press better than a pour-over coffee maker? Is a French press better than a pour-over coffee maker? It depends on what you value. A French press is easier to brew with than a pour-over coffee maker because it doesn't require a skilled, swirling pour. Both methods produce delicious coffee, though the lack of a paper filter in French press brewing allows more oils to make it into the final cup, leading to a richer-tasting coffee. A pour-over will be cleaner and brighter. Is a French press better than the Aeropress? Is a French press better than the Aeropress? I'm a big fan of both, so it's hard to say. The Aeropress can be deployed in various ways, one of them being immersion brewing similar to that of a French press. The Aeropress gets points for its versatility, portability and room for error, but it's not a direct replacement for a great French press. Just as a pour-over uses different filtration, so too does the Aeropress. You'll likely get more full-bodied results from the French press. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, associate testing writer Joe Bloss brewed hundreds of cups of coffee in this pool of French presses. Bloss is an avid coffee drinker who first took an interest in making his own coffee by purchasing a French press seven years ago. His product testing for CNN Underscored features various coffee products, including pour-over brewers and the best coffee makers, including the Fellow Aiden.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
The drink that could lengthen your lifespan - and is linked to a lower risk of dementia, diabetes and heart disease
Drinking coffee might not only perk you up, it may even help you live longer, scientists suggest. Experts found caffeine—the component of the morning favourite that gives it stimulating powers—influenced how cells grow, repair and respond to stress. This, British researchers said, could provide some major potential benefits to longevity and explain how it wards off major killers like dementia, diabetes and heart failure. In lab tests, the team found caffeine triggered cells to enter an energy restoration system scientists call AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase). AMPK, an enzyme, acts similar to the fuel gauge in a car. When energy levels in a cell get too low, AMPK kicks in, triggering a series of reactions that help protect and repair it. Cells more able to access this system age slower, can repair DNA more effectively and respond better to stress, factors tied to combating ageing and disease. The team, from Queen Mary University, London, said this process could explain why drinking coffee has been linked to a lower risk of serious health conditions and a prolonged lifespan. Dr John-Patrick Alao, an expert in cell biology and lead scientist of the study, explained: 'These findings help explain why caffeine might be beneficial for health and longevity'. He added that the research also opened the door to developing drugs and therapies which could be used activate the same system in the future. In the study, published in the journal Microbial Cell, the team analysed how a type of yeast with similar properties to human cells—responded to caffeine. The research is the latest to highlight the potential health benefits of coffee. Earlier this month, US researchers found coffee lovers tended to have healthier hearts, putting them at lower risk of cardiac death. Experts from Tufts University, Boston, found that people who drank between two and three cups of black coffee a day, saw the most benefits, slashing their risk by almost a fifth. Other research has linked regular coffee consumption to a lower risk of depression, better liver health, improved weight loss and reduced odds of developing conditions like type 2 diabetes and dementia. Scientists are still working to understand exactly how coffee achieves its health boosting effects. While some—like the recent research point to caffeine—others highlight how the drink is rich in polyphenols, natural plant compounds with antioxidant properties that protect cell health, as another potential mechanism. But it's not all good news for coffee lovers. Other studies have linked coffee consumption to vision problems, increased risk of certain cancers, and heart disease. The NHS itself warns Britons that consuming more than four cups a day could lead to a dangerous increase in blood pressure, increasing the risk of serious problems like heart attack, stroke and even dementia. Experts have said part of the problem with unpicking the potential health benefits and risks of coffee consumption is the variety of ways people prepare and drink it. Some studies have found particular risks and boons are linked to if the coffee is instant or freshly brewed or if it is filtered. Another complicating factor is what people have with their coffee, if they add sugar, milk or flavoured syrups as well as how many cups they have per day. Heart disease and dementia, two health conditions coffee may protect against, are some of biggest killers in Britain. Approximately, 170,000 Britons die from heart and circulatory diseases combined per year in the UK, according to the British heart Foundation. This is equivalent to about 480 fatalities per day or roughly a quarter of all deaths. The most recent data suggests 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, making it the biggest killer by single cause of death.
Fast Company
a day ago
- Business
- Fast Company
This pouch could be the Zyn of caffeine
There's a new energy brand on the market, and it's betting that the next frontier in caffeine isn't coffee, soda, or any other drink, for that matter. It's the pouch. Wip is a caffeine pouch, available in 100-milligram and 200-milligram strengths, that's designed to be popped between your lip and gum to provide a quick dose of what it describes as 'natural caffeine.' The pouches come in candy-like flavors, including mint, sour cherry, orange citrus, and strawberry kiwi, all packaged in a brightly colored, hockey-puck-size container. If any of that sounds familiar, that's probably because, at least in form factor, it's pretty similar to the nicotine pouch brand Zyn, which exploded in popularity after gaining traction on TikTok, primarily among young users. Meanwhile, over the past few years, the caffeine market has also been buzzing with a similar demographic. Energy drinks have gone mainstream, appearing on menus at Starbucks, Dunkin', and Dutch Bros. Older brands like Jolt Cola and Rockstar have gotten supercharged facelifts, while the newcomer Alani Nu notched more than a billion dollars in sales in just one year. Wip is betting on the idea that if consumers are gravitating toward a pouch for their nicotine boost, it might be a major new unlock for the caffeine industry, too. The idea for Wip was conceived by David Cynamon, a Canadian entrepreneur who is now the brand's chairman and a major stakeholder. According to Wip CEO Richard Mumby, Cynamon 'understood the ubiquity of pouches in other form factors, mainly in nicotine,' and recognized an opportunity to expand the consumer category into caffeine. The brand debuted last summer under the name LF*GO! (alongside a marketing partnership with Mike Tyson), a move that Mumby describes as more of a market test than an official launch. 'In four months, they got really meaningful traction and realized they needed to bring in the right team to realize the full opportunity of creating an altogether new category for energy and caffeine,' he says. Mumby stepped in as CEO last October. Given the inspiration that Wip is pulling from the nicotine industry, Mumby's previous experience makes sense for this new role: From 2014 to 2017, he served as CMO for Pax Labs, the umbrella company for Juul and Pax vapes. In less than a year, Mumby's team at Wip worked to create an entirely fresh identity for the brand before it hit the market in early June. The new branding takes a page out of Red Bull's iconic playbook, positioning the product as a tool for athletes—and, like Zyn, also a cool accessory. Is the pouch the new energy drink? From an outside perspective, it's easy to see why consumers might choose a nicotine pouch over a cigarette: You can pop one on the go, it has no odor, and, more recently, has become a kind of status-signaling habit among its young male target audience. It's less clear why one might abandon their daily cup of coffee in favor of a caffeine pouch. Mumby's pitch for creating this new consumption category comes down to what he calls 'the three Cs': confidence, convenience, and cost. He argues that consumers want to have confidence in the quality of their caffeine (a need that Wip purports to meet by deriving its caffeine from green coffee beans); they want the convenience of a hands-free caffeine option; and they want a cheaper caffeine fix (a 15-pouch pack costs about $8, or about 60 cents per serving). 'For an emerging brand or category, sometimes you have to go to the periphery to find these unmet needs,' Mumby says. 'But in caffeine, they're really at the heart of the product.' Branding the caffeine pouch To get the public on board with this novel form of caffeine intake, Mumby says he had a few main goals with the new branding. First, he needed to clearly articulate what caffeine pouches actually are, and establish a brand name that consumers could easily remember. He also needed a high-energy look to compete in an already saturated category. In collaboration with the branding agency Studio George, his team checked the first box with 'Wip,' a name designed to be short, zingy, and catchy. 'You can't will consumers to do it, but I wouldn't be disappointed if I heard somebody walk into a bodega and say, 'Do you have any mint Wips,' or refer to having to 'Wip' their way through a workout,' Mumby says. For the wordmark, Studio George opted for a forward-leaning, slanted bold font with jagged edges, meant to convey a sense of momentum. The packaging features flavor-signaling neon colors, metallic silver, and pops of energetic yellow, clearly evoking the world of sports branding. Mumby imagines Wip as a product that could see mass adoption, but it's specifically marketed as a companion for athletes and others whose pastimes involve using their hands. Someone headed to the gym, for example, might prefer a Wip over the 'cumbersome' proposition of packing energy drinks in their bag, Mumby explains. 'Also, a cup of coffee on a construction site is hard to put down and not have dust get into it,' he says. 'If you work with both of your hands, you need dexterity. The form factor just lends itself to some obvious solutions.' On first glance, Wip does look strikingly like a nicotine product, especially given its rounded packaging and hardcore aesthetic. Mumby says the brand's main strategy to ensure consumers don't get confused is to incorporate clear signals at the point of sale, including by labeling the pouches as 'clean caffeine' on display units. Currently, Wip is available online, on Amazon, at convenience stores in Florida and Arizona, and at some smaller athletic stores across the country. I Wip my way through this article Before writing this story, I gave Wip a try for the first time—specifically, the 100-milligram mint flavor. While I've never tried a Zyn, and therefore can't compare the two, this experience was akin to sucking on an abnormally sweet Altoid, or maybe a less-powerful Listerine strip. It wasn't unpleasant (and it did prevent the onset of a morning caffeine headache), but it also wasn't my personal favorite way to consume caffeine. Still, I could see how the form factor might be convenient as a pre-workout boost or a pick-me-up on the job. My main concern with Wip, actually, is how easy it is to consume. One of the 200-milligram pouches is equivalent to about two cups of coffee. A standard 8.4-ounce Red Bull contains just 80 milligrams of caffeine. Pop two max-strength Wips, and you've just hit the maximum amount of caffeine that the Mayo Clinic defines as safe for the average adult, likely in significantly less time than it would require to chug five Red Bulls. When asked about Wip's safety, Mumby says the brand's website and social media sets out clear guidelines on safe caffeine consumption, including the 400-milligram limit. It's worth noting, however, that there's no such information on the package itself. While I didn't experience any adverse effects from my 100-milligram Wip, I'm not sure I want to know what it might feel like to mindlessly have one too many. For now, I'm sticking with coffee. The extended deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is this Friday, June 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
CBC
a day ago
- Business
- CBC
Matcha is having a moment — and it's putting pressure on Japan's tea industry
Social Sharing It's the latest beverage du jour — and for people needing their morning pick-me-up, matcha tea increasingly beats espresso as their caffeine fix of choice. "I worked on the bar a few weeks ago and I think past a certain point, you don't just skim milk, you don't pull shots. Everything you do is matcha," said Nadiia Semenichenko, regional manager at 10 Dean, a café and bar in Toronto. Demand for the finely powdered tea — usually sourced from Japan and unmistakable for its vivid green colour and earthy taste — has gone supernova since the fall, mostly thanks to the legions of influencers swearing by it on social media and viral videos that are racking up millions of views, say experts who spoke to CBC News. But that fervour has shaken up matcha's delicate supply chain, ultimately leading to a global shortage that is putting pressure on Japan's tea industry to ramp up production of the scarce commodity. Semenichenko's cafe has sought out new suppliers to keep up with the demand, noting that one of them has put a cap on how much matcha the café could buy each month. "By the end of this year, we'll feel substantial price increases in matcha, for sure," she said, referring to the café's costs. And those who follow the Japanese tea industry say it's only a matter of time before customers who love the foamy, verdant drink get hit by a serious price hike. WATCH | How a matcha frenzy upended a delicate supply chain: Matcha frenzy upends delicate global supply chain 11 hours ago Duration 2:03 A sudden shortage Matcha is made from ground tencha, a type of green tea leaf that is shade-grown — giving it a more intense flavour and a deeper colour — before being steamed, dried, destemmed and passed through a milling machine to produce a powder. The highest-grade version of matcha, used for Japanese tea ceremonies, is harvested in spring. It's passed through a stone mill, making it a time and resource-consuming process that produces only a small quantity of the final product. Semenichenko says using ceremonial matcha as a baking ingredient or in lattes is like "if you buy really expensive whiskey and put it in whisky and Coke." But when demand for matcha ticked sharply upward last fall, people were suddenly rushing to buy the high-grade version of the product. "Even tea ceremony schools in Japan suddenly couldn't find the matcha they would usually buy," said Anna Poian, a co-founder of the Global Japanese Tea Association. Some of the most popular matcha brands in Japan — including Ippodo Tea, Yamasan and Marukyu Koyamaen — published apology notes to their customers and announced they would have to put limits on how much and what kind of matcha products they would sell to their buyers. At that time, matcha producers "were not really facing a real shortage, but they didn't expect so much demand," explained Poian. But the onslaught of matcha-related viral videos combined with record-high tourism to Japan — induced by a weak yen — had people clamouring for the tea, ultimately leading to a run on existing supply and a production shortage. Now, the craze has spurred major coffee shops and restaurant chains to step up their matcha offerings so they can cash in, too. Most Starbucks locations have served matcha drinks for years, but the coffee giant added a whole suite of specialty matcha drinks last summer. Matcha is on the menu at Booster Juice, Tim Hortons and McDonalds, too, though the companies didn't respond when asked when they added it. Big retailers aren't immune to the shortage, either. Second Cup, which added another matcha latte to its menu in April, has recently dealt with delays in receiving its matcha supply, a spokesperson told CBC News. Changing tides in Japan's tea-farming industry The shortage is also a product of changes in Japan's domestic tea industry over the last two decades. Within the country, both the consumption and production of tea have declined, and its tea-farming population is aging with few successors to take over. "They don't see much of a future because the Japanese tea industry has been in decline for the past 15 to 20 years, due to the decrease in local consumption," explained Poian, whose organization publishes monthly reports on the industry. Conversely, exports of Japanese tea to other countries are on the rise. In April 2025, total exports of Japanese tea were up 85.7 per cent from the same month the previous year, according to data from an industry group. Canada's own intake of green tea from Japan has increased by 118 per cent since 2015, a spokesperson for Global Affairs told CBC News. Compounding the problem is the fact that matcha makes up just six per cent of Japan's total tea production, according to Poian. "More farmers are shifting and focusing their production to matcha, but this unfortunately is not an easy switch," she said. Countries like China and Vietnam produce matcha, too, but the Japanese version is considered premium. The Japanese government's farming ministry, in an effort to ramp up matcha production for the export market, is reportedly recommending that farmers replace their sencha — another type of green tea leaf — with tencha. That shift isn't easy, even for the industry's experienced workforce, says Jason Eng, head of business development and partnerships at Kametani Tea, a tea production company based in Nara, Japan. "Many of these farmers don't have the resources to do that — to upgrade all the machines or just change the machines altogether. So the investment costs a lot," he said. Kametani Tea, which exports about 25 to 30 per cent of its product to international beverage companies, suppliers and wholesalers, will have to raise prices once the next harvest is ready. And those price shocks will eventually trickle down to matcha-loving consumers at cafés. "It's gonna be really hard to digest, I think, for the consumers at the end with this huge surge of demand," he said. 'It just gets sold out' After developing a taste for matcha, Cheena Lerum started posting recipe videos on her TikTok account. But the Toronto content creator noticed earlier this year that she got more views when she offered recommendations for where to buy and source matcha. "You know when bubble tea became really famous a few years ago?" she said, referring to the Taiwanese tea drink that exploded in popularity during the mid-2010s. "Matcha's becoming that now." Lerum, who has almost 30,000 followers on the platform, said she thinks "all the time" about whether she's contributing to the matcha shortage. She posts about the tea less frequently on social media now, partly because she hasn't been able to find her favourite products. "They say don't gate-keep, but sometimes there are brands that you like and then it becomes too popular and it just gets sold out," Lerum explained. She's also noticed prices creeping up: a 30-gram tin of matcha powder that she used to buy online for $35 now costs almost $50, she said. Back at the café, a few customers are sipping on matcha lattes. "I just find that it's a much better alternative to coffee," said Danielle Pineda, who says matcha energizes her without giving her coffee-like jitters. She has her own matcha whisk and often makes the drink at home. Tommy Tanga, another customer at the cafe, said he finds the current price of matcha reasonable — a café order usually costs about $5 to $7, depending on the type of drink. It's been his go-to order ever since he tried it during a trip to Japan. "I'm worried that it's going to get more expensive," he said.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
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