What a Wirecutter Staffer (and Former Barista) Uses to Make Coffee

Coffee makes me really happy. I lived in Portland, Oregon, just as third wave coffee was coming into its own. And I worked as a barista in college and for a couple of years afterward. Those years left me with both a lifelong love of coffee and a brewing setup that feels very personal. No matter what kind of day I’m having, brewing and drinking coffee is always one small, good moment I can count on to be there.

If you’re not sure where to start, Wirecutter has some great guides to kettles, grinders, pour-over equipment, and coffee makers. Once you’ve got the basics down, you can start trying out new techniques and tools to make your coffee setup the best it can be for you. These are just a few of the things I’ve found over the years that make my coffee setup a cherished part of my daily routine.

Tsuki Usagi Jirushi Slim Pot

The Tsuki Usagi Jirushi Slim Pot, from Japanese enamelware maker Tsuki Usagi (which adorably means “Moon Rabbit”), is the first kettle I ever bought, and it remains my favorite to this day. It feels perfectly balanced in my hand, and the pour spout offers excellent control. And because of its slim profile, this kettle fits tidily on a shelf. But it’s not perfect. The lid topples off if you angle it too steeply at the end of the pour, and though I prefer its small size, some may find it limiting.

Carafes for brewing and serving: Hario V60 Range Server + Hario Thermal Carafe + Hand + Fire Carafe

When I’m using a drip cone, it’s easier to see the rate and volume of my coffee if I brew into a glass carafe like the Hario V60 Range Server (360ml). And the V60 also feels quite nice to pour from.

For late mornings or second cups, the Hario Thermal Carafe is great. Most days, my husband makes the first batch of coffee. He always puts my share in this thermal carafe to keep it warm until I’m ready for it—a true act of kindness. I also use this carafe on the rare occasion that I brew myself more than one serving and just want to keep the second cup nice and warm for later.

Finally, I like to have a rustic ceramic number, like the Hand + Fire Carafe. It’s great for those times when you want a lovely, handmade vessel to serve your coffee from, whether it’s just for you or for guests too. (Etsy has a number of options as well.)

Unibene Bamboo Coffee Filter Holder

When you have several different methods for brewing coffee, you also need to have several different types of filters on hand. This little bamboo holder neatly organizes all of the filters for my AeroPress, Chemex, Hario V60, and Moccamaster in one place, so I can easily retrieve the right one without having to dig through drawers.

Chemex Color Rawhides

The Chemex is a pour-over classic, but you can personalize it a bit by swapping out the natural leather tie for one of seven different colors. A caveat: Shipping on one of these ties costs more than the tie itself, so I recommend buying one when you need something else, like a new box of filters.

Moccamaster KBG

Even though I prefer pour-over, it’s not the most convenient brew method for serving guests. So last year, in preparation for a string of overnight visitors, I bought the Moccamaster KBG. Three things make it a perfect fit for my household: For an electric coffee maker, it brews great coffee; it’s stripped of fancy doodads I won’t use, such as settings or timers; and it looks lovely on my counter (it comes in 27 different colors!).

Kikkerland Solar-Powered Rainbow Maker

When the sun hits the solar battery on this rainbow maker, the crystal hanging from it starts rotating and refracting sunlight all around the room. Anytime I walk into my kitchen to make coffee and see this thing going, I feel good. The sun is shining. The rainbows are swooping around the room. And I am making coffee.

GSI Outdoors Glacier Stainless Doppio Mug (6½ ounces)

When I’m not making coffee for myself at home, I’m appreciating an espresso drink from a nearby cafe. I usually opt for a cortado (or gibraltar, or flat white, or whatever this drink is called in your area) or a cappuccino—both of which, at only 5 to 6 ounces, get lost in a standard 12- or 16-ounce travel mug. This 6½-ounce mug is just the right size.

A road-friendly travel kit: Kalita Wave Dripper + Porlex Mini Grinder + Gourmia Collapsible Travel Kettle

A small, unbreakable pour-over cone is key for traveling, and the Kalita Wave Dripper is my favorite. One of Wirecutter’s picks for pour-over gear, it comes in a small, stainless steel version that’s packable and sturdy.

I also prefer fresh grounds, no matter where I’m brewing, and the compact Porlex Mini Grinder (also a Wirecutter pick) holds exactly enough coffee beans for a single cup. The removable handle tucks into a rubber band that encircles the body of the grinder, for easy packing.

And finally, you’ll need the delightful Gourmia Collapsible Travel Kettle, an electric kettle that can hold up to 1½ quarts (there’s also a 20-ounce version that’s still in stock). I bought the Gourmia kettle after seeing it in Wirecutter’s gift guide for coffee lovers, and I can confirm that it makes a great gift.

US Coffee Roaster List

My favorite coffee roasters are always determined by where I’m living. When I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was partial to Ritual, Verve, and Sightglass. When I lived in Tucson, Arizona, I usually went with Presta, Cartel, or Exo. Now that I’m in Portland, I’ve been buying from Coava, Heart, Puff, and Deadstock. You can learn about and support your local roasters too!

The right-size mugs

There are a lot of mugs I like, but the ones I reach for most often are all pretty small, holding a maximum of about 8 ounces of coffee. There’s no logic to this preference—I just enjoy my coffee most when it’s in a small mug. Learn about your own inexplicable mug preferences and run with them. I like to look through Etsy shops for vintage options online or to discover ceramicists who are turning out handmade mugs in interesting shapes and glazes.