My wife and I aren’t heavy drinkers. We may only have a glass of wine each on a given night, and sometimes we prefer different wines, so multiple bottles tend to stick around in our fridge several days after opening.

If that sounds like you too, these vacuum-sealing stoppers are handy to have around. They fit over the top of most wine bottles, and a few presses of the top button removes air from within and creates a tight seal, greatly slowing down the oxidation process so your wine stays fresher for longer.

The button also acts as a date marker dial, so you can always remember the exact day you opened that particular bottle

There are a bunch of brands selling these on Amazon at different prices, but it’s hard to beat this $9 two-pack value-wise.

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When you’re out hiking on the trail, adventuring through the wilderness, or even bouncing between sketchy hotels while traveling abroad, having a continual source of clean, safe drinking water is absolutely critical. With Grayl’s titanium UltraPress water purifier bottle, obtaining that water couldn’t be easier.

This portable water filtration/drinking system allows you to scoop water from any freshwater source — stream, lake, sink, tap, etc — and press it into clean, safely drinkable water in just 10 seconds. More specifically, it removes waterborne pathogens (99.99% of viruses, 99.9999% of bacteria, and 99.9% of protozoan cysts) while also filtering out particulates, chemicals, pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals.

It’s comprised of an outer titanium cup — which can be used alone to heat water and cook food when necessary — and an inner press (outfitted with an ultra-powdered activated carbon filter) that holds up to 16.9 fl oz of filtered, purified water.

Here’s what the process looks like:

The filter can clean up to 40 gallons of water — across 300 presses or 3 years, whichever comes first — before needing to be replaced. And, thanks to the one-way silicone valve pre-installed in the filter cartridge, the UltraPress is drink-mix-ready, meaning you can add your favorite sport drink mix to your water and get those extra electrolytes when they’re needed most.

Get the titanium UltraPress for $200 on Amazon in your choice of Coyote Brown, Olive Drab, or Covert Black.

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The next time you’re hosting a summer barbecue or cocktail/dinner party, here’s a pro tip to help keep your guests happy: Always have a supply of cold ice that’s easily accessible, so that every drink served is perfectly chilled from start to finish.

Filling an ice chest is fine for larger events, but for those smaller, more intimate gatherings, I recommend an ice bucket like this one from S’well.

It’s essentially like the ones you’d find in hotel rooms, except it’s constructed from two layers of vacuum-insulated 18/8 stainless steel and a layer of copper, the result being that your ice stays cold for up to 48 hours without condensation getting all over the place.

Not only is it convenient having a bucket full of ice nearby while you’re hanging out with friends, I find it’s a handy way to empty out a countertop ice maker and keep the cubes stable for serving while the machine makes more. You can also use it to chill a single bottle of wine or champagne.

As of July 12th, 2024, you can get a solid-colored S’well ice bucket on sale for $41 on Amazon in your choice of Azurite (dark blue), Onyx (black), or Angel Food (white). If you’re willing to spend the usual full price of $50, they also have more stylish patterned designs like Teakwood, Calcutta Gold, and Dipped Metallic.

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As much as I love those Koriko shaking tins I wrote about a few years ago, I understand that the plain stainless steel look isn’t for everyone. Maybe your home bar setup has a certain style you’re going for, and you need a set of shakers to better mesh with that.

That’s where these cocktail shakers from Bull in China come in. They’re similarly weighted to add that extra bit of stability during mixing, but they come in a range of finishes to suit any bar style/decor. And, the company has opted for exteriors that are either brushed or matte to reduce fingerprints and smudges, with a byproduct of being easier to grip even with wet hands.

Each set comes with a 28oz shaker cup and an 18oz “cheater” tin and can yours for $23–$34 on Amazon in your choice of Antique Brass, Matte White, Gold Plated, Gunmetal Black, or Rainbow Chrome finishes, or in plain Stainless Steel if you still prefer that.

A few other finishes can be had from the company’s own website, such as Matte Black, Solid Copper, and Frosted Teal.

(Availability in both places fluctuates, I’ve found. The offerings linked here are current as of July 6th, 2024.)

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With summer just around the corner, now is a great time to put away that peppermint extract for a while and break out the pure lemon extract in its place. It’s produced by Nielsen-Massey as well, and it’s a great way to add a burst of lemony flavor to all sorts of stuff.

You can use it for baking lemon cookies and cakes (topped with lemon frosting or whipped cream for good measure), concocting tangy marinades and salad dressings, adding a refreshingly tangy punch to yogurt or tea, serving up summery mojitos and other cocktails to your party guests, or any number of other ideas you can dream up.

It’s a heckuva lot easier than zesting/peeling/juicing lemons by hand in any case, and there are only three simple ingredients in it — natural oil of lemon, pure cane alcohol, and water — so you don’t have to worry about strange chemical flavors or preservatives.

You can buy this lemon extract in a few different bottle sizes:

• 2 fl oz ($11)
• 4 fl oz ($14)
• 18 fl oz ($28)

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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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Although I can’t speak for all home espresso nerds everywhere, I’d be willing to bet most of them exclusively buy ceramic cups like the Acme Evo, the Loveramics Egg, or the notNeutral Lino. And while there’s nothing at all wrong with that, I feel it’s my duty to open people’s eyes to the fact that a whole world of espresso-friendly glassware is out there too.

notNeutral themselves produce a line of specialty glassware known as “Vero”, offering a rather stylish alternative to traditional ceramic cups. The collection is specifically designed with espresso enthusiasts in mind, with an emphasis on enhancing the entire experience of pouring and drinking beverages like cortados, cappuccinos, and lattes.

Color pictured: Smoke

The transparent nature of glassware allows it to showcase the rich colors and layers of your beverage, from the beautiful crema on top to the creamy texture of the steamed milk below. With the Vero line in particular, you have access to some absolutely gorgeous color accents that contrast strikingly with the contents inside.

Color pictured: Ocean

“For the VERO Cortado line, we did not look at coffeeware for precedents. Instead we took inspiration from the clarity and sharpness of glass as a material. We wanted to experiment with different ways of manipulating glass, creating hard edges and facets in order to catch light and play with refraction and reflection.”

—Rios Clementi Hale Studios

They didn’t skimp on the quality of the glass either. Made in partnership with a family-run company in Ohio that’s been hand-pressing glass since 1971, these satisfyingly hefty cups have exaggerated beveled edges that make them fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, wide mouths for easy drinking, and a curved interior that is both conducive to pouring latte art and makes your beverage seem as though it’s being displayed on a pedestal.

Color pictured: Clear

The thermal mass is also nothing to scoff at. You can pour straight-up boiling water in there and it will only feel lukewarm when holding the base. As you’d expect from this heavy thickness, the glasses are perfectly dishwasher- and microwave-safe.

Color pictured: Amber

With their sleek design, durable construction, and thoughtful features, the Vero glassware collection will delight any coffee lovers who appreciate both form and function. They come in four sizes — espresso (3 oz), cortado (4.25 oz), cappuccino (6 oz), and latte (12 oz) — and in five different colors:

• Clear — Espresso | Cortado | Cappuccino | Latte
• Smoke — Espresso | Cortado | Cappuccino | Latte
• Ocean — Espresso | Cortado | Cappuccino | Latte
• Amber — Espresso | Cortado | Cappuccino | Latte
• Emerald — Espresso | Cortado | Cappuccino | Latte

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Just about every morning, I kick on my espresso machine, go through the ritual of pulling a timed and weighted double-shot, and steam a pitcher of milk to pour over it and make a cortado.

In fact, here’s this morning’s result in my “Night Sky” Loveramics cup:

As much as I enjoy this process for myself, I know not everyone is into the idea of buying and learning an espresso machine. Some people just want to brew coffee in their preferred way and maybe add some frothed milk to it once in a while.

I’ve recommended a handheld frother in such cases before, but we can get even ~fancier~ with it by using an electric one like the Breville Milk Cafe.

This versatile 25-ounce (3-cup) frothing machine uses induction heating and a spinning whisk to create small bubbles in whatever milk you add, resulting in a velvety smooth and satisfyingly rich drinking experience. In addition to frothing milk alone, you can also try adding in some high-quality drinking chocolate — in powder, flake, or syrup form — to prepare the creamiest and most decadent hot chocolate.

The custom temperature dial is responsible for a lot of the magic here, giving you the ability to select any temperature between 100°F and 180°F, or to simply cold-stir the milk if you want to make your iced coffees a bit more luxurious.

You also get two different whisk attachments for making different styles of foam. The latte whisk excels at frothing alternative milks thanks to its subtle introduction of air, and the cappuccino whisk delivers thick and creamy foam for indulgent beverages.

The frother’s dishwasher-safe pitcher ensures easy cleanup, while handy features like cord storage and a magnetic spot for whisk storage add to its convenience.

Elevate your home coffee game by picking up the Breville Milk Cafe for $160 on Amazon.

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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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The holiday season may be over and we’re already a week into the new year, but winter is definitely in full swing — I’m looking at a weather map right now that shows sub-freezing temps across the majority of the US — and that means peppermint is still a perfectly acceptable flavor choice for your baking and coffee flavoring needs.

(Not that this wouldn’t also be true the rest of the year of course, but for me, winter is the ideal peppermint time.)

For my money, Nielsen-Massey’s pure peppermint extract is the weapon of choice. Instead of buying bottles of peppermint syrup to add to my homemade mocha drinks or cocktail beverages, I can throw a teaspoon or two of this stuff into a simple syrup of my own making, whenever I want. It also goes great in brownie batters and ice creams and the like — always adding a refreshing, cooling flavor.

You can also try adding a few drops of the peppermint extract to some hot water or tea to soothe an upset stomach or aid digestion. People have been doing stuff like that for ages.

You can get a 4 fl oz bottle for $15 or a 2 fl oz bottle for $11.

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The hallmark of a true espresso aficionado is an ever-growing collection of espresso cups, with all sorts of shapes, colors, and materials represented across the bunch. I’ve actually been going down a rabbit hole of espresso cup research lately, and while it’s a deep hole I haven’t found the bottom of yet, one brand name that comes up over and over is Loveramics.

Their ‘Egg’ collection in particular has been the official competition cup of the World Latte Art Championships since 2015, and it’s easy to see why. They have thick walls to maintain beverage temperature and a gently sloped shape that feels great in the hand, and they come in a bunch of great colors to warmly accent the style of any kitchen or café.

While the colors of the standard collection are great on their own, my preference goes to the Potters Colors series, which bring some more intriguing patterns to the table.

In a 2021 blog post, they explain how these colors are achieved:

Potters Colours are basically made out of 2 types of glazes together, or in ceramics terms, we call them reactive glaze. They react in our kiln at 1300c vigorously, forming different types of crystals, glaze runs, and vary a lot from the original colours.

Because glazes have different properties, such as flow rate, melting temperature and colours, mixing 2 of them would create unexpected results, and bring extra excitement to the ceramics. 

Since all of our products are hand dipped, they are all slightly varied. From every crystal growth, speckling spots, layering and flow separation, we are proud of the artisanal look we offer. These are effects we highly prized.

Man, that Night Sky variant is something else

The Berry is also lovely:

Depending on what size you’re after, you can get a single cup + saucer combo for $15–$17 a pop. They also offer sets of 6 cups (without saucers) for $29–$51.

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Looking for a new addition to your collection of coffee books (not to be necessarily confused with coffee table books)? Or have you been needing some fun ways to spice up your coffee-making routine? Then you should check out The New Art of Coffee: From Morning Cup to Caffeine Cocktail.

Written by Ryan Castelaz, owner and creative director of Discourse Coffee Workshop — and with fantastic photography by Kevin J. Miyazaki — The New Art of Coffee offers dozens of imaginative recipes for coffee concoctions that would make Willy Wonka proud if he were into mixology instead of candy.

From the book description:

While the popularity of craft cocktails and home bartending have helped people create their own drink-driven memories, the possibilities for coffee have remained rather tame. Much more than a guide to beans or brewing, The New Art of Coffee shares how to create inspiring concoctions and flavor profiles from comforting and rejuvenating to celebratory and adventurous.

Nearly fifty recipes paired with beautiful photography will inspire and offer something for every taste and time of day—hot, iced, carbonated, post-workout, decaffeinated, alcoholic, and deconstructed. Organized by mood, the recipes range in complexity from a quick quaff to a showstopping slow build, allowing readers to match the drink with the moment.

Enjoy a Moonwater with breakfast, a Throw Em’ A Haymaker after a hard workout, or an Amuse as a happy-hour delight. The Don is the ideal after-dinner companion, and there’s nothing quite like powering down with a Windmill Cookie Steamer after a long day.

You’ll come away from this coffee cocktail book with an entirely different view on what coffee can be. WIth this and The Food Lab on your shelf, you will have all the tools needed to make your kitchen a place of mad science — a sanctum of caffeine-induced wizardry where words like “boring” and “limited” are NEVER uttered.

Get the 208-page hardcover edition for $28 on Amazon. As of this writing (December 17th, 2023) I don’t believe there are Kindle or Apple Books editions available.

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Reusable water bottles are key for staying hydrated, and there are so many awesome ones to choose from, each designed to suit a particular need. However, one use-case we haven’t covered yet is a bottle that solves the dual problems of occasional smelliness and generally being a breeding ground for bacteria.

Not to worry, because there are now self-cleaning water bottles that have UV lights in their caps, which periodically activate to obliterate the molecular bonds holding together the DNA of bacteria and viruses, thereby disinfecting the bottle’s contents and neutralizing funky odors. It honestly feels a little magical, even though I know it’s pure ⚡SCIENCE⚡.

The lid on the LARQ Bottle in particular holds enough charge to work for up to a month before needing to plug in, which it does via an IPX7-rated waterproof micro-USB connector.

You should still wash your bottle by hand once in a while, but the UV light makes it so you can attend to that mildly annoying task a bit less often than usual, and I’m all for that. Also keep in mind that the UV light doesn’t remove heavy sediments, so you’ll want water that’s at least clear to the eyes, not something out of a dirty stream or whatever.

You can get the insulated LARQ bottle in 17 oz ($99) or 25 oz ($118) sizes, both in a variety of color options.

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It’s been five years (plus 13 days, to be exact) since we posted about the “memobottle” collection of flat-shaped water bottles, each of which correlates to a standard notebook paper size: A5, A6, or A7. They’re eyecatching to say the least, but what really makes them great is that they fit nicely into a slim bag alongside an iPad, laptop, or book.

If those original clear Tritan plastic ones weren’t quite your style, you might like the stainless steel editions they introduced back in 2021, which are made from food-grade 304 stainless steel and have a classy satin-textured powdercoat finish in your choice of black or white.

They come in the same three paper sizes:

• Stainless steel A7 ($50 usually, but it’s out of stock as of December 8th, 2023)
• Stainless steel A6 ($55)
• Stainless steel A5 ($65)

Also like the clear ones, they offer a “Slim” version ($60) for people who don’t necessarily care about the paper size thing.

Keep in mind, the extra slim form of these bottles prevents them from standing up unassisted. They’re more meant to either lie flat (ideally on an unabrasive surface) or be kept in your bag.

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