Here are Our Favorite Coffee Accessories You Didn’t Know You Needed

One common complaint about French presses is the urgency: if you don’t drink it right away, you risk a cold, overbrewed cup. ESPRO proposes to fix this with its double-walled, double-filtered design and air lock technology, which ensures that once you press the plunger, your grounds stop steeping. The result is coffee that is optimally brewed and stays warm for much longer than a more typical glass design. Health writer Raki Swanson tested this and declared it “a very sexy French press.”

A burr grinder is a valuable tool in a coffee connoisseur’s arsenal. A burr grinder crushes coffee beans between two “burrs” (abrasive surfaces), a process which creates a nice, uniform particle size. This also affects the flavor of your coffee, as an inconsistent grind from a blade grinder can make it taste more bitter. Blade grinders also generate more heat, which also impacts your coffee’s flavor. 

My sister was a barista and originally recommended the BODUM Bistro. It has 12 grind settings, from French press to espresso, and has a pre-set timer so you can choose your grind duration. I also like the borosilicate glass container that catches your ground coffee; it helps reduce the static that can make coffee grounds cling to everything. It’s also fairly reasonably priced; if you’re lucky, you can snag it on sale. If you’re ready to upgrade your grinder, this is my personal favorite. 

A consistent tamp is something you’ll probably struggle with when making espresso. If you’re not, then I congratulate you: you’re more talented than I. A well-tamped puck of coffee allows the water to flow evenly through the grounds, and prevents over- or under-extraction, both of which can affect the flavor of the espresso your espresso machine produces. This tamper from Normcore is spring-loaded and is fitted with a leveling plate to help you compact ground coffee more easily. It also comes in a variety of sizes to fit different brands’ portafilters.

If you want high-quality coffee beans but don’t know where to start, why not subscribe to a service that does the work for you? To start, Atlas asks you questions about your coffee type preference (ground, whole bean, and even Keurig- or Nespresso-compatible pods), your brew method, caffeine preference, and your roast preference. Then you can choose to have a bag (there are 6-ounce, 12-ounce, and 24-ounce options) sent every two or four weeks. 

I’ve been using this service for about two years now, and I’ve never been disappointed. I prefer a whole bean, dark roast, and I’ve received some wonderful varietals, each with a postcard and info card detailing your coffee’s region and characteristics. My only complaint is that if you find a roast you love, you can’t reorder it. That’s not enough to stop me from enjoying a new region every month, however.

Taking your coffee with you is a risky proposition; not only do you have to keep your beverage hot (or cold), you have to worry about lids that leak and containers that just won’t fit in your car’s cup holders. The Fellow Carter Move Mug offers a solution, with its slim design, snap-in splash guard, and an array of vibrant colors.

Raki Swanson said, “I love the design. It is very sleek and doesn't look like a mug or a thermos. I like that when you take off the lid, it has a thin 'lip' that makes it easy to drink out of.” Cold brew fans, fear not: “I also like that you can purchase a cold lid and straw or a carrying handle for an additional cost--this means you have options with this mug,” she added.