There are many modern spins on the classic French press coffee maker, each with interesting and beautiful design choices to stand out from the crowd. Admittedly however, not many of them have poured (get it?) nearly as much intention into filtering out coffee grit as the P7 press from Espro, who you may remember for their awesome travel coffee press.

Available in 18-ounce and 32-ounce sizes, the P7 makes use of a double micro-mesh filter system they developed in-house, with one filter (ultra-fine) nesting inside the other (fine) to ensure no grit can get through, so the coffee that ends up in your cup is consistently smooth and clean.

Moreoever, the top/inner filter has a double-lipped silicone sealing gasket around its edge to create a tight barrier between the upper and lower portions of the carafe, which immediately stops the extraction once you press the plunger down, rather than letting it continue and thus become bitter before pouring.

Combine that seal with the press’ double-walled stainless steel construction that keeps the results hot for hours, and you have a method of coffee brewing that takes only 4 minutes to prepare but can be enjoyed all morning long.

The Espro P7 French press is typically listed at $120 for the 18-ounce size and $140 for the 32-ounce. As I write this on September 4th, 2024 though, most of the color/size combos are marked down to various degrees, so jump on those deals while you can!

(Note: The Polished and Brushed stainless steel options are both top-rack dishwasher safe. The four color-coated options — Matte Black, Matte White, Aegean Blue, and Cranberry — are hand-wash only.)

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You already know and love Fellow’s “Stagg” gooseneck kettles for making pour-over coffee, but did you know they also make a wide-spout kettle for all sorts of other uses where laser-precise pouring and temperature control aren’t the top priority?

Released a couple months ago as an update to their stovetop edition from 2019 ($105) — which you can read about the design of on the company’s blog — the all-electric “Clyde” kettle is more of a workhorse that’s perfect for making tea, hot cocoa, press coffee, ramen, instant oatmeal, and more.

The “Smoke Green” colorway pictured on the right is only available from Fellow’s website and at Crate and Barrel.

It has that signature sleek matte look, sculptural shape, and highly considered build that helped put Fellow’s products on the map back when they hit the scene. It can hold a hefty 1.5 liters of water, which it brings to a boil with a simple flip of its on/off switch:

The heat-resistant silicone handle makes it easy to pour the hot water one-handed, and the wide mesh-covered spout pours quickly without any leaking or unwanted dripping.

Get the electric Clyde kettle for $125 on Amazon.

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Kitchenware company Le Creuset is best known for their iconic French ovens. And while you can argue that the prices for them are perhaps unnecessarily high, you always know you’re buying a quality product that had a lot of care and craftsmanship put into it.

The same can be said for their line of “London” stoneware mugs, which show off the company’s affinity for vibrant-colored, nonporous glaze finishes that are similarly easy to clean and resistant to chipping, scratching, and staining. Their sturdy stoneware construction offers excellent heat retention that keeps drinks warm for a good while after serving.

The mugs are safe for use in the freezer, in the oven or under a broiler (up to 500°F / 260°C), and in the microwave, and they can be cleaned in the dishwasher just fine. They also hold up to having metal utensils used in them. Just don’t set one right atop an open flame and you should be fine.

A set of six London mugs is $80–86 on Amazon depending on color choice. The company also manufactures larger 14-ounce mugs and 3-ounce espresso mugs.

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For travelers who take their tea habit seriously — and would never leave home without a way to brew the stuff — comes this portable tea serving set, which comes with a tea pot and three teacups (one large, two small) that all nest together into a compact zippered travel case.

Each of the nesting components is made from a heavy-duty rough-textured ceramic, and wood accents on the top and sides of the teapot allow you to handle the hot tea without burning yourself. Meanwhile, the lid doubles as a 360° filter that keeps the loose leaves/herbs inside as you pour the tea out.

This is an awesome little way to make sure you always have access to fresh tea everywhere you go — provided you’ve packed a tiny canister of loose leaves and have access to hot water there.

Get the set for $26 on Amazon in your choice of black or green.

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In case it wasn’t enough to have a self-heating mug that keeps your drink at an app-controlled temperature, Ember has released the Travel Mug 2+, a smart tumbler that can be precisely located via the Apple Find My network in the event you accidentally leave it somewhere or it gets taken by someone. (See pairing instructions here.)

As you’d expect, the mug comes equipped with the temperature control technology that made the company so famous to begin with, allowing you to set an exact drinking temperature (120°F–145°F) and keep it there for up to 3 hours.

It also has built-in touch controls that are hidden until you touch the Ember logo to light them up:

• One tap shows the current temperature of your drink (unless it’s empty, in which case it will say EMPTY or COLD).
• Two taps brings up temperature control buttons (‘+’ to raise, ‘-’ to lower), which is nice if you don’t want to use the app every time.
• Three taps shows the mug’s personalized name, which you set in the app.
• Four taps shows the current battery level.

Get the Travel Mug 2+ for $193 on Amazon.

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Despite having a company name that sounds like it was exclaimed by Sean Connery, the Aberdeen teapot + infuser by GROSCHE is a simple and fun way to brew hot or iced loose-leaf tea, or to infuse water with fruit/herbal flavors. Actually, it’s quite similar to the IngenuiTEA bottom-dispensing teapot that now seems to be no longer available on Amazon.

The process is pretty self-explanatory: Add your tea leaves (or whatever you plan to flavor your water with), pour in some hot or cold water, let the mixture steep a few minutes, then place the brewer on top of your drinking vessel of choice to lift the release plate. After your beverage filters through to the cup below, you can clean out the teapot and repeat the process all over again as needed.

It’s made from shatterproof Tritan plastic rather than glass, so it should hold up for many brews. The fine mesh filter is also a removable piece that has a long stem so you can easily grip it when it’s time to clean the thing.

Get the 17.7 fl oz Grosche Aberdeen teapot for $25 on Amazon in your choice of black, red, or clear. They also offer a 34 fl oz version for brewing larger batches.

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From the Unemployed Philosophers Guild — the same people who made these planet plates, amongst many other fantastic novelty products — comes the “How to Tie Knots” coffee mug, which does exactly what it says on the tin.

The mug has a boat-style cleat for a handle, comes with two lengths of rope, and features instructions for a number of knot styles around the outside of the mug, all of which you can use to learn and practice the ancient art of knot-tying as you enjoy your favorite beverage.

It’s pretty fun to fiddle with and the cleat handle is surprisingly comfy to hold. Plus, the mug is both microwave and dishwasher safe. I’m also partial to the blue-and-gold nautical color scheme (including the ropes).

Snag this gift-worthy mug for $20 on Amazon.

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It’s no secret that the Brits drink a lot of tea, and that PG Tips is one of the most popular tea brands there. As it happens, during the 150+ years that Britain ruled over Hong Kong, a special technique of making tea was developed that eventually became beloved by everyday folks there:

The story began with the establishment of British colonial rule in Hong Kong in the 1840s. While the British put milk in their tea, the flavour was too mild for Hong Kong indigenous inhabitants who were used to drinking robust, heavy roast and fermented traditional Chinese black tea and Oolong tea. Thus, the English way had been considered a pretentious luxury that only served in western restaurants and hotels. It was until the 1940s that the owners of some cafés (茶餐廳，“tea restaurant”) started to adjust the recipe and method of making English milk tea to cater for the tastes of local Hong Kongers.

Now known simply as “milk tea” elsewhere, there are many ways of preparing this tasty beverage today, but most adherents will tell you that the best teas for it typically include varieties like Assam and/or Ceylon.

Alongside Kenyan tea, those two blends are exactly what you’ll find in PG Tips’ Premium Black Tea — so in a way, history has come full circle. As far as boxed tea bags go, this stuff makes a surprisingly strong, full-bodied cup of tea that holds up well to a hefty dose of milk, without being overly bitter or astringent for it.

It’s the daily morning choice of tea lovers the world over, and for good reason. Even if all you want to do is throw in a splash of milk and maybe a dash of sugar, you won’t be disappointed.

A pack of six 40-count boxes (240 teabags total) is less than $12 on Amazon, which is a crazy good deal if you ask me.

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If you don’t already know, kintsugi is the old Japanese art of repairing and giving new life to broken pottery by joining the pieces together with gold (or a mixture of gold and lacquer). The result is often arguably more beautiful than when the pottery was new.

These espresso/tea cups from Kina Ceramics aren’t true kintsugi but they do have the look of it, and they’re quite beautiful. Rather than being glued together, these are whole pieces that are decoratively painted with gold, and each cup has a unique pattern so no two are exactly the same.

The cups can be ordered directly from Kina Ceramics and come in glossy black (£29 / ~$35 USD) and glossy white (£25 / ~$30 USD). You can also find them on the UK-based website called “Not on the High Street” but the price seems to be higher there.

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If you’re an avid loose-leaf tea drinker, OXO Brew’s tea infuser basket is one of those purchases that seems minor on the surface but can make your everyday brewing routine more enjoyable in all the right ways.

It fits nicely into just about any mug — provided the rim isn’t wider than 5.5″, which would be enormous — and offers you a generous space to fill with your tea of choice before adding hot water for steeping. This large capacity allows the tea to bloom quite nicely.

Once your brew is done and it’s time to remove the infuser, you’ll be happy to know the lid and undersides of the handles are lined with silicone so you don’t have to worry about burning yourself or having it slip out of your fingers.

The lid also doubles as a drip tray when flipped over, which is yet another nice touch.

Rather than being made of cheap wire mesh like so many other tea strainers out there, this one is made from a durable micro-perforated stainless steel with holes small enough that only the absolute finest particles of tea “dust” will ever make it through them. Only a paper filter could do better really, and you might as well just buy teabags if you’re going to use those.

Get this tea infuser for $15 on Amazon.

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Like any double-walled vacuum-insulated mug you can find these days, the “Admiral’s Mug” from Stanley will keep your drinks hot or cold for hours. No surprises there. Its true differentiating feature comes in the form of a wide, non-skid base that ensures it stays put wherever you set it down, without ever tipping over or sliding away.

The “Admiral” in the name seems appropriate here, because you can take this thing out on a choppy boat ride and never have to fear it getting away from you. There are loads of stories of people forgetting they’ve set it on the roof or bumper of their vehicle before driving somewhere, only to find the mug still sitting comfortably in the same place upon arrival.

Even if the mug does somehow manage to fall over — or, say, your toddler gets their hands on it and starts carrying it around — the flip lid is leak-resistant once locked shut, so you don’t have to worry about scalding hot liquids pouring out or flying around.

Get the Stanley Admiral’s Mug for $25 on Amazon in your choice of Hammertone Green or Matte Black colors.

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We’ve written many times about Fellow’s Stagg EKG electric gooseneck kettle — you know, the one you see all the fancy coffee shops using for pour-overs — and we still think it’s one of the best things to have in your home coffee setup. And now, the Stagg kettle is about to get even better with the release of two new models: the Stagg EKG Pro and the Pro Studio Edition.

Both of these upgraded models bring everything you love about the original EKG and add a bunch of neat new features to totally customize your brew experience, such as:

• A scheduling option that orders the kettle to reach a preset temperature at a specific time so it’s ready to go when you are. (Those few extra minutes of sleep in the morning can make allllll the difference )
• An altitude adjustment setting so the kettle doesn’t boil over just because you live in the mountains or wherever.
• An optional Guide Mode with various preset temperature settings for different coffee brewing styles and types of tea.
• A chime that alerts you when your water’s ready to pour.
• Firmware updates over Wi-Fi, which is done via the Fellow app. (I’m not sure if that will be the same as the Stagg EKG+ app or an as-yet-unreleased one.)
• A high-resolution full-color LCD display on the base for controlling all these things and more, whereas the original had only a black-and-white screen. It looks so great too.

The difference between the Pro and the Pro Studio is that the latter brings some premium materials to its construction, including an aluminum base with a reflective glass top, a zinc frame, and a metal cap on the end of the handle. If ever there was a kitchen countertop statement piece, the Pro Studio kettle is it.

The Stagg EKG Pro (from $195) and Pro Studio (from $225) are set to start shipping on October 14th, 2022. You can pre-order either one from Fellow’s site today.

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As much as we love vacuum insulation technology, it can sometimes feel like scientists have gone too far with its effectiveness. Having your coffee stay hot for hours on end seems great on paper, but what if you want don’t want to wait until deep into the afternoon before it stops scalding your mouth?

A few years ago, the team of aerospace engineers behind the BURNOUT temperature-regulating tumbler set out to fix this problem. They developed a clever technology they call “HeatZorb”, a bio-based phase change material that turns from a waxy substance to a liquid at 140°F.

Since the mug is lined with this substance and has a vacuum chamber outside of that, what this does is quickly take all that excess scalding heat from the beverage and stores it as thermal energy, slowly transferring back to your drink throughout the day.

In short, your coffee cools down to drinking temperature within minutes and stays there for hours and hours. No more burning mouth, no matter the time of day!

On their website, they mention a couple other neat things about HeatZorb:

Remarkably, HeatZorb™ is produced from agricultural sources and is USDA-certified bio-based. It is non-petroleum, non-toxic, readily biodegradable and 100% renewable. Because it is captive inside the stainless-steel chamber, it can never leak. And, it will consistently perform its repeatable melt/solidify heat transfer cycles many thousands of times, essentially for the life of the mug.

Using literal rocket science to solve the little problems of life ☕️

Get the BURNOUT mug for $80 on Amazon in your choice of black or red.

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Fellow Disney World/Disneyland nerds, this one’s for you. This colorful collection of ceramic tumblers, made in collaboration with Starbucks, celebrates each of the Florida and California parks:

• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Hollywood Studios
• Animal Kingdom
• Disneyland
• California Adventure

My wife and I own a couple previous versions of this tumbler — namely, this Magic Kingdom one and this Aladdin-themed one. — and we can attest that they’re very nice.

The thick heavy ceramic and snug-fitting lids keep our morning lattes warm for a decent while, and we just like how they look in general. Whenever our travels take us away from WDW for months at a time, these are nice little reminders of our fun times there that help hold us over until we return later.

Each tumbler is $25 at the ShopDisney site.

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Get your Star Wars nerdom on with these themed coffee mugs, which feature minimalist designs based on Stormtrooper armor, Darth Vader, C-3PO, R2-D2, a Mandalorian, or if you want to be a little less inconspicuous, “Baby Yoda.”

Each 16 oz. handled mug comes with a clear, shatterproof lid that keeps your drinks inside while letting you see how much is left, and has a slider for easy opening/sipping. The mugs also feature silicone bottoms that keep them from slipping around on your desk.

The mugs run for about $40–$43 a pop on Amazon.

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