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Tag: Coffee

  • Getting Started with Pour Over Coffee: The Pros & Cons of the Hario V60, Kalita Wave, and Chemex

    Getting Started with Pour Over Coffee: The Pros & Cons of the Hario V60, Kalita Wave, and Chemex

    Ready to upgrade your morning coffee? We’ll help you determine which of the 3 most common pour over brewers to start with.

    With the renaissance that’s taken over coffee aisles and kitchen counters, there is no reason for you to still be making coffee you’re not enjoying with your plug-in brewer. Sure, it’s easy, but chances are the coffee that your old machine produces isn’t the best tasting.

    In fact, your drip brewer is ruining your cup. Why?

    Ditch Your Drip Brewer

    Your drip brewer doesn’t know your beans as well as you do.

    The history of the drip brewer goes back to the 1950’s. Alongside the invention and popularity of other electronic household appliances the plug-in brewer became a popular item that cut the wait time for percolator coffee. The percolator produced over-brewed bitter coffee. The jump from percolator coffee to the electronic drip brewer became a giant leap for mankind. It improved both convenience and taste, but it didn’t highlight specific flavors that discerning drinkers crave in their cup.

    Real talk: If you brew Folgers coffee and you love it the way it is, keep your drip brewer. If you find yourself consistently let down by the joe coming out of your kitchen, consider upgrading to a pour over. 

    The drip brewer doesn’t know the beans you are brewing. It’s programmed to operate the same way each time, by pouring scalding hot water (one of the basic variables) over a bed of coffee that doesn’t brew evenly.

    Take Control Over Your Coffee: Get a Pour Over.

    One of the most popular and trendier ways of making coffee right now is the pour over. It’s a brewing method available in most coffee shops where the barista manually pours the water from a kettle over the coffee and drips through the filter and down to a cup. They probably charge you $4 for it too!

    So why pay more for a slower cup of coffee versus getting a cheaper drip coffee?

    First, it tastes better. Fine coffee has a lot of nuance to its flavor. That’s why you’ve probably noticed Starbucks tastes different from the fancy shop on the corner and that tastes different from the fancy cafe on the opposite corner. It’s not just the roasting process – there are a lot of variables that effect how a specific bean will brew like grind size, water temperature, and brew time. A pour over is about as manual as you can get when it comes to controlling all of these important factors. Using a regular old countertop automated coffee machine is the microwaved pulled pork to a pork roast you cooked slowly and intentionally in your smoker.

    Second, having control over how you brew your coffee is truly satisfying. A machine compromises the skill involved in brewing a better tasting cup of coffee for the sake of convenience.

    In our previous post on Brew Basics we introduced you to the proper use of the four fundamentals of brewing coffee. So now you have yourself a scale, a quality grinder, good filtered water, and some fresh whole bean coffee. Now let’s brew it, pour over style!

    The Top Three Pour Over Brewers According To Insiders

    Ironically, I called your Mr.Coffee machine historic as I’m trying to promote the pour over. It turns out the pour over has been around since the early 1900’s, way before any automated kitchen appliance.

    The method has evolved to many different designs. Choosing the right one for you might become overwhelming, especially if you aren’t familiar with each type of pour over.

    With all the pour overs out in the market I’m going to review what are widely considered the top 3 pour overs within the coffee industry: The Hario V60, Kalita, and the Chemex. All three are designed differently and require their own specific filter, causing a difference in extraction and therefore producing unique flavor profiles.

    This one might just be the most iconic pour over out there. The V60 is made by Hario, a famous Japanese company that makes heat-resistant glassware. The company has built a reputation for quality products since 1921.

    This popular pour over device requires a careful technique, a timer, and gooseneck kettle but rewards you with a delicious tasting cup of coffee. If done correctly, specific flavors can be brought out depending on the type of coffee brewed.

    Material: comes in glass, copper, plastic, ceramic

    Required Accessories: V60 paper filters, scale, gooseneck kettle, clock or other timing device

    Grind: Medium/Fine (similar to table salt)

    Click here for a step-by-step on how to brew with the V60.

    PROS:

    • Conical design of this device gives you a more pronounced floral and fruity cup.
    • Shape of the filter allows the coffee to extract to a center point, helping develop a clean and bright cup of coffee (opposite of what a French press would give you).
    • Affordable. Starting price is at $20. Check out this full kit on Amazon.
    v60 pour over coffee reviews

    CONS:

    • Meticulous consistency is required when brewing.
    • V60 filters are not readily available in grocery stores. Must be bought online.

    This Device Is Best For:

    • People who are patient and exacting.
    • Those who enjoy the coffee-making process and are willing to invest time in experimenting.

    Kalita Wave: For the Nonchalant

    If you want a good cup of coffee but don’t want the sophistication the V60 might carry, then the Kalita Wave is the right one for you. Similar to Hario, Kalita is another known Japanese brand that is famous for their line of coffee equipment. The Kalita Wave was invented in response to the market’s demand for an easy to use, hassle free dripper that didn’t involve the specific skills needed for a conical pour over dripper.

    This simple to use pour over requires a scale, and a gooseneck kettle.

    Material: comes in stainless steel & glass, two sizes available

    Required Accessories: Kalita Wave filters, scale, gooseneck kettle

    Grind: Medium/Coarse (slightly coarser than table salt)

    Click here for a step-by-step on how to brew with the Kalita.

    PROS:

    • The flat bottom design of this dripper allows an even extraction for a consistent cup.
    • Not sensitive to inaccurate water pouring. Minimal pouring skill required.
    • Affordable.
    kalita pour over dripper differenceskalita pour over dripper differences

    CONS:

    • Filters not readily available in grocery stores. Must be purchased online.
    • Although it’s an easy-to-use dripper, some flavors tend to be “muted” in this brew process. Floral and fruity flavors tend to be compromised in return for the consistency of the brew.

    This Device Is Best For:

    • People who want to keep the same routine every morning.
    • Those who don’t want all the complications of timing their pour.

    Chemex: The Entertainer

    One of the most iconic ways of making pour over coffee is the Chemex. It was invented in the 1940’s by an American chemist named Peter Schlumbohm. It was during a time when a majority of American households drank burnt percolator coffee. Schlumbohm wanted to create a simple brewing method that didn’t require any extra accessories. With the Chemex, you have your serving carafe and cone dripper all in one piece.

    A favorite by both young baristas and baby boomers, this iconic kitchen appliance has made its name across all ages. This pour over is unique among all others due to its thick filter that absorbs and filters majority of the oils, leaving you with one of the cleanest-tasting cups of coffee.

    Sidenote: Aside from great tasting coffee it produces, this aesthetically looking device also acts for a great display piece in the kitchen. It’s won numerous design awards and is on permanent display at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, among others.

    Material: Glass. Available with the classic wooden neck or glass handle.

    Required Accessories: Chemex filters, scale, gooseneck kettle

    Grind: Coarse

    Click here for a step-by-step on how to brew with the Chemex.

    PROS:

    • Carafe included in the design. Great for making & serving multiple cups.
    • Chemex filters are becoming more easily found in most grocery stores.
    • Due to its thick filter, the flow of water is slowed down significantly. So ff you’re a tea fan, you can use it to technically steep loose leaf tea. Dual purpose!
    • Affordable ranging in price from $35-$50 depending in capacity size. Check this one out on Amazon.
    chemex coffee dripper reviewchemex coffee dripper review

    CONS:

    • The unique Chemex filter gets picky with the type of beans used. This brew method usually prefers lighter roast, fruity beans. Narrows your variety of coffee to brew.
    • Due to its conical drip design, specific pouring techniques are required to achieve the perfect cup.

    This Device Is Best For:

    • People who love to entertain or drink more than one cup at a time.
    • Those who like the versatility of aesthetic and purpose.

    And The Winner Is…

    I’ve been working in the coffee industry for over five years now and I went through phases with my ‘coffee personality’. Initially I wanted something that looked cool – I first got a Chemex, and I was amazed with the bright flavors it highlighted.

    Later on I became more precise and adventurous with my brewing and acquired a V60. Now, at home in the morning, my palate wants consistency in flavor so I brew the same one or two favorite coffees over the Kalita. After brewing thousands of cups of coffee at home I’ve settled with the Kalita which suits my lifestyle and palate. Occasionally on the weekends or when I get a new bag of coffee I’ll experiment with the V60 or the Chemex.

    In all honesty, you can never really go wrong with any of these three pour over drippers. Choosing the right one for you all winds down to your own personality and preferred flavor profile. Are you an entertainer? Are you the meticulous type? Are you adventurous with your coffee? Or are you just the type of person who just wants a consistent pour over ritual every morning?

    Coffee is always changing and people’s palates are always changing as well. I can’t give you a clear answer on which pour over is the winner. Many people will argue different pour over devices as the best.

    I listed these three pour overs because these three are considered to be the most popular, reliable, and affordable in the industry. If you don’t want to buy all three at the same time or are in a real tight budget, go to your local coffee shop that brews using pour overs and pick a type of coffee that you originally like and ask for an opinion on which pour over method it’s brewed best over.

    John David

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  • Leading the Bulk Coffee Market: Gillies Coffee Unveils New Online Experience

    Leading the Bulk Coffee Market: Gillies Coffee Unveils New Online Experience

    Bringing nearly two centuries of expertise into your home or business with affordable, bulk coffee solutions.


    NEW YORK, May 14, 2024 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Celebrating nearly two centuries of excellence, Gillies Coffee is proud to announce a significant evolution with the launch of its new website and a renewed focus on offering bulk coffee at the most competitive prices. Founded in 1840, Gillies Coffee is America’s oldest coffee merchant and is embracing its future as the “Bulk Coffee Central,” bringing wholesale quantities directly to consumers and businesses alike, all while maintaining the highest quality standards.

    Honoring its deep roots and rich traditions, it is expanding operations to provide bulk coffee options that do not sacrifice quality for quantity. The newly launched website is designed to reflect its commitment to making premium coffee accessible. Customers will find bulk bags ideal for true coffee aficionados, and that allow every coffee lover to experience the renowned Gillies quality at home.

    “Imagine, over 200 years ago when Wright Gillies was roasting coffee with horses in Tribeca, could he have ever envisioned the massive expansion coffee would have in America?” said Johan Pesenti, CEO of Gillies Coffee. “As we breathe new life into Gillies, we’re thrilled to invite more coffee lovers to join our community, enjoying premium coffee that’s both accessible and affordably priced.”

    “Being America’s oldest coffee company places us in a unique position within the industry,” said Benjamin Elmalek, CDO of Gillies Coffee. “Since 1840, we have been at the forefront of coffee innovation and quality. Our latest initiatives are a testament to our enduring commitment to providing exceptional coffee at prices that challenge the market, making premium coffee a daily luxury that is accessible to all.”

    The evolution of Gillies Coffee is characterized by a strategic embrace of modern market demands while staying true to the historic roots that have defined the brand for generations. “Imagine if Gillies were a beverage—it would be a generous serving of our Legendary Blend filter coffee; and if it were a place, envision a museum showcasing the grand tradition of Americano or a bustling store brimming with pounds of fresh coffee,” elaborated Lola Dorso, Managing Partner.

    As Gillies Coffee unveils its revamped direction, focusing on bulk sales and competitive pricing, it invites coffee enthusiasts to explore what makes Gillies unique. The new offerings are not just products; they are an invitation to be part of a community that values quality, heritage, and innovation.

    About Gillies Coffee

    Since 1840, Gillies Coffee has stood as a beacon of quality and tradition in the coffee industry. Renowned for its traditional roasting methods and commitment to excellence, it continues to offer unique coffee experiences. Now, Gillies Coffee is set to transform the landscape of bulk coffee purchasing, providing premium options that are both accessible and affordable.

    Source: Gillies Coffee

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  • Review: De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine With Cold Brew

    Review: De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo Espresso Machine With Cold Brew

    The counter space in my kitchen is at a premium. It’s valuable real estate, and every square inch matters. So when a new espresso machine arrives at my door, I always have to play a high-stakes game of countertop appliance Tetris to figure out how everything will fit—or who needs to get banished into a cupboard. When the De’Longhi Specialista Arte Evo rolled into my kitchen, I was ready to make tough decisions.

    From the box’s size, I was sure the rice cooker or the food processor would have to be exiled. When I got the De’Longhi out of its box, though, my appliances breathed a sigh of relief. This is a svelte espresso machine, and it fits perfectly without sending any of my favorite appliances to a pantry gulag. Things were off to a good start, and it only got better—mostly.

    Slim and Consistent

    The first couple of shots I pull out of any espresso machine will usually require some finagling. When an espresso machine has an internal burr grinder, that’s just one other thing I have to dial in from scratch. By the second shot, I was happy with what I was getting out of the Specialista.

    The espresso poured into the cup in two streams of luxurious caramel-gold liquid, the crema gathering on top in an even layer. I changed the settings and pulled more tester shots to see how it performed with different grind consistencies and amounts for testing purposes, but by that second shot, I knew I’d found the sweet spot.

    Photograph: Jaina Grey

    Something I always like about De’Longhi espresso machines is the knobs. A lot of different models from the company up and down the price spectrum have really good knobs. The ones here are a joy to use. They’re raised from the surface of the control panel, and the outward face has the signature concentric circles of machined steel; the sides are adorned with textured metal accents. One controls the amount of coffee to grind, and the other toggles between brewing modes.

    When you turn the grind knob, there’s a little resistance, just enough to feel like you have very fine control. The mode knob has a satisfying click when you switch from one mode to another. How much you enjoy using a device is important, and these little details make the Specialista Arte Evo feel good to use.

    The Specialista Arte Evo comes in at a delightfully narrow 11.2 inches, sparing quite a bit of my counter space—especially since this is taking the place of two appliances, an espresso machine and a coffee grinder. There are smaller espresso machines—the new KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is about as narrow as the Specialista—but most that have a built-in grinder are a little wider.

    Front view of silver home espresso machine on kitchen counter

    Photograph: Jaina Grey

    Some Assembly Required

    The Specialista’s built-in conical burr grinder can grind coffee fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for drip or other brewing methods, so it’s capable of replacing a stand-alone grinder. There is one little quirk, though. The portafilter can’t slot into place underneath the grinder unless you attach the “grinding and tamping guide.” This component is a short cylinder of plastic that locks onto the portafilter to guide the grounds directly into the basket and help direct the tamp down onto the grounds.

    It’s weird. The guide doesn’t feel as high-quality as other parts of the Specialista, almost like a cheap 3D-printed plastic. If you try to slot the portafilter underneath the grinder without the guide, you have to hold it there the whole time, and the grinder will likely spill some grounds into the drip tray. It feels like the grinding and tamping guide was added as a fix to the issue of the grounds spilling out.

    Jaina Grey

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  • The Best French Presses for Low-Stress Morning Brew

    The Best French Presses for Low-Stress Morning Brew

    The French press is a humble piece of coffee-making equipment. It doesn’t require electricity, yet experts agree that it can brew a richer and more full-bodied cup of joe in comparison to its more technologically advanced peers. For example, natural oils that would otherwise be filtered out in a drip coffee maker remain fully intact, making the coffee aromatic and robust.

    The French press method of making coffee is straightforward, cost-effective, easy to use, and hard to mess up. It also doesn’t take up too much counter space. Once you have your measurements down, it’s a quick process of steeping coarse coffee grounds in near-boiling water. We tested these models using the James Hoffman French press technique, in which he uses 30 grams of coffee to 500 grams of water, waits for four minutes, and stirs through the crust. Whether you end up choosing a French press made from glass or stainless steel, a few factors make a difference based on your personal coffee needs. Want to make the process even easier? Take a look at our favorite electric kettles and our guide to coffee subscriptions.

    Tyler Shane

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  • Orlando-area union Starbucks workers weigh in on Supreme Court case

    Orlando-area union Starbucks workers weigh in on Supreme Court case

    click to enlarge

    The U.S. Supreme Court today is set to hear oral arguments in a legal battle between Starbucks, the multibillion-dollar retail coffee chain that moonlights as a rather aggressive union-buster, and the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that oversees private-sector labor relations.

    At the heart of the issue is the federal labor board’s authority to order Starbucks to rehire seven workers at a location in Memphis, Tennessee, that Starbucks is accused of firing in retaliation for organizing a union at their store.

    The so-called “Memphis 7” were fired just days after announcing their intent to unionize with Starbucks Workers United, in what the workers say was a violation of their federally protected right to organize.

    Starbucks, however, has claimed the workers were fired due to violating company policy by reopening a store after hours without consent and allowing journalists into the store.

    The NLRB, an agency that’s been inundated with allegations of unfair labor practices against Starbucks, hasn’t bought into the company’s explanation.

    While an investigation into the firings is ongoing, a federal judge approved a request by the agency to order that the seven workers be reinstated. That was later upheld by an appeals court. Starbucks, however, has disputed the standard that allowed for the labor board to order that the company offer reinstatement to the workers.

    All in all, at least 420 Starbucks locations across the United States, representing over 10,000 workers, have unionized since December 2021, including a single location in the Central Florida region — at the 305 E. Mitchell Hammock Road store in Oviedo.

    Baristas at that store overwhelmingly voted to unionize in June 2022, citing a desire to advocate for higher wages — to keep up with the region’s higher cost of living — in addition to a credit card tipping option and other improvements to working conditions.

    Roy Sistovaris, one of the earliest union activists at the store, previously told us that he and his co-workers were inspired by the Starbucks unionization wave spreading across the country, even early on.

    “I just looked at one of my co-workers, and I was like, what if I just sent them [the union] an email? What if I just did it?” he recalled. “And she was like, ‘Hell yeah, man. Just do it.’ And I was like, man, whatever. So I did.”

    Back then, just 70 Starbucks locations were unionized. Now, the number of unionized locations has more than tripled (with one of the more recent victories being at a Starbucks location in Miami).

    And that’s despite frustrating delays in negotiating an initial union contract (also known as a collective bargaining agreement) that Starbucks has been accused of prolonging in an effort to weaken workers’ support for unionization.

    Clay Blastic, a shift supervisor at the union Starbucks in Oviedo, told Orlando Weekly over text on Tuesday that he hopes the Supreme Court “makes the right decision” in the Memphis case. “But I’m not holding my breath,” he added.

    Blastic also confirmed that — like other unionized stores across the country — workers at the Oviedo Starbucks did finally get their credit card tipping option back last week, after having that option formally rolled out at the store, before being taken away.

    Essentially, this system means if someone wants to tip, they can do so when paying with a credit card, as opposed to only having a cash tipping option.

    Back in May 2022, Starbucks caved to pressure from their employees to roll out a credit card tipping system at their nonunion stores, but claimed that they couldn’t offer this to union stores. Their argument was that such a thing would have to be negotiated through the collective bargaining process (which at that point, they were stalling).

    click to enlarge Courtney Thompson (left) stands on the picket line with fellow Starbucks workers at Central Florida's only unionized Starbucks on March 22, 2023. - photo by McKenna Schueler/Orlando Weekly

    photo by McKenna Schueler/Orlando Weekly

    Courtney Thompson (left) stands on the picket line with fellow Starbucks workers at Central Florida’s only unionized Starbucks on March 22, 2023.

    The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint last March, alleging that withholding that option from union workers was illegal. A federal judge in September agreed.

    According to the union, Starbucks just last month began (finally) implementing that at stores like Blastic’s (which, per the workers, actually did have that option until management remembered that they were union or something and took it away).

    Blastic is one of the few union Starbucks workers who’s been chosen to represent unionized Florida locations in the collective bargaining process after literally years at this point of both the union and the company pointing fingers at each other over delays. In a text message, he told Orlando Weekly he’s flying up to Washington, D.C., today to kick things off.

    Despite the legal battle, he said he hopes the company’s announced plans to begin bargaining with the union and to roll out credit card tipping at union stores is “a sign of good faith.”

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    McKenna Schueler

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  • The Best Espresso Machines for the Home Barista

    The Best Espresso Machines for the Home Barista

    There’s always room to up your game, and there are quite a few additional tools that can help you make the best espresso possible. These are all tools you’d employ before the brew, setting the stage for the perfect extraction.

    Fellow Atmos Canister for Coffee Beans ($40): A vacuum canister is a great way to store your coffee beans. By vacating the chamber of all air every time you close it, the Fellow Atmos slows down the degradation of all those flavorful oils and chemical compounds inside your freshly roasted beans.

    Oxo Conical Burr Grinder ($100): This is one of our top picks in our Best Coffee Grinders guide, and it’s a good choice for espresso. Espresso requires a fine and consistent grind, the likes of which you can easily get out of a burr grinder. Just be sure to get in there and give your burrs a sweep now and then—maintenance that the Oxo makes easy, with a bean bin that snaps apart without any fuss.

    Bottomless Portafilter ($50): Nothing will improve your experience of watching espresso brew like a bottomless portafilter. Not because it will make your coffee better; it’ll make you better by making you more aware of your mistakes and inconsistencies. Bottomless portafilters are finicky, and when your grind is off or you’ve over-tamped your grounds, the bottomless portafilter lets you see that in how the espresso coats the bottom of the filter and pours down into the cup. Be sure to double-check the circumference on your espresso machine’s group head, though (the place the filter attaches). There are a number of standard sizes, so you need to make sure you order the right one. The most common are 53 mm and 58 mm, and almost every bottomless portafilter comes in each of these sizes.

    Crema Distributor & Tamp ($39): Once you put your grounds into your portafilter, the next step is giving them a good, even tamping. You want to use about 30 to 40 pounds of pressure, and while you can use a scale to determine exactly what that feels like, I find it’s better to just press with your upper body, then extract a shot and see how it went. If it’s too bitter, you tamped too hard; if it’s too watery you didn’t tamp hard enough. A distributor (also called a leveler) makes it easy to get an even surface for you to tamp, and this one has a tamp on one side and a distributor on the other so you can level off your beans, then flip this tool over and give ’em a good tamp. Just make sure you get one that fits the circumference of your machine’s portafilter!

    Duralex Picardie Shot Glasses, Set of Six ($19): These are my favorite shot glasses in general, but they’re also great espresso shot glasses—tall and narrow enough to allow a wonderfully aerated crema to form on top, and made of tempered glass so they can stand up to the heat. They’re also great for serving up smaller drinks like macchiatos—a shot of espresso with a dollop of froth on top.

    Jaina Grey

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  • GE’s Café Specialty Grind and Brew Can’t Make Just One Cup

    GE’s Café Specialty Grind and Brew Can’t Make Just One Cup

    Yet this machine’s unforgivable sin is the lack of dishwasher-friendliness. It comes with a veritable stack of parts, yet none can go in the dishwasher. Of course a thermal carafe can’t go in there, but being able to throw the filter basket, either of the metal filters, and the showerhead in the dee-dub sure would go a long way to tamping down the resentment.

    Looking at the Numbers

    With testing going up and down, I was happy to bring the Café to the lab at Olympia Coffee Roasters in Seattle, where I was eager to get co-owner and award-winning barista Sam Schroeder’s take. Sam noted that combo brewers are simple, but unfortunately if one or the other breaks—the grinder or the brewer—that makes the whole machine useless.

    He immediately went ratio hunting, first weighing out the amount of water it ran through in a coffee-less cycle, followed by the amount of dry grounds it made for the same cycle, and determined it was a 1 to 16 grounds-to-water ratio. That was perfect, actually—exactly what it says to use on the bag of Little Buddy beans we were brewing.

    Using a spectrometer and a coffee-nerd app, Sam verified that it hit its marks with a total dissolved solids score of 1.4, meaning it was the right strength, and the extraction percentage was 19.26, meaning the coffee was balanced. More importantly, it tasted great. A lot of home brewers can’t get the water hot enough, or give the grounds too much or too little time in contact with water. Here, you can press a button and it does well.

    Unfortunately, things started to quickly go downhill. For batch two, it ground 88 grams of coffee instead of 85, an unavoidable flaw with a grinder like this that works based on the amount of time the burrs are spinning, not the weight of the beans it grinds. With batch three, it ran out of beans in the middle of the brew cycle and kept going like nothing was wrong. We lost a bunch of coffee and had to start over, a big downer. When I checked in with a company rep about this, they said it should automatically stop, but that they had realized it wasn’t sensitive enough and were going to update the software, and hopefully that would fix it.

    We also tried the single-cup brewing, which really did not work well. The basket is peculiarly small and metal mesh filter only; using a paper filter really isn’t an option. The small filter basket isn’t even mentioned in some of the literature, making us wonder if it was added on at the last minute. The first cup came out poorly. Subsequent efforts were better, but Sam noted it doesn’t compare to full-pot quality. To put it bluntly, Sam said, “This isn’t a single-cup brewer. I’m not sure it’s able to be good.”

    We were all still impressed with the Café’s full and even half-full carafe brewing capabilities. We liked playing around with the temperature, a rare ability in a coffee machine and a coffee nerd’s delight, and found that while there were only six grind settings, they were enough for a drip machine. We also found its styling to be what you might call “divisive.” No one could go as far as calling the Café “good looking.” That, combined with its size, reminded me of something you might see on a countertop in McMansion Hell. (If you have never visited that website, you’re welcome.)

    If you like coffee, don’t mind an initial bit of tinkering, and want that push-button ability of having a grinder built into your coffee machine, this could work well. It offers fun features to take advantage of, but the app could be souped up a bit. Asking a few questions following a brew—whether the coffee is too strong, weak, sour, or bitter—then making or suggesting changes for the next batch would be incredibly helpful. (Midea’s forthcoming Barista Brew is supposed to do something like that.) In fact, I was feeling kindly about it, until I remembered the lack of dishwasher-able parts and my lack of an aircraft runway to store it. A six it is, then.

    Joe Ray

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  • La Colombe introduces larger, redesigned draft latte cans

    La Colombe introduces larger, redesigned draft latte cans

    It’s been almost four months since Chobani bought La Colombe in a $900 million deal, and now the Greek yogurt overlords have debuted some of their first changes.

    As promised, Chobani has focused on the Philadelphia company’s ready-to-drink line of canned beverages, specifically its signature draft lattes. The newly retooled cans feature an extra 2 ounces of coffee — they’re now 11 ounces — and a fresh look that incorporates the brand’s redesign.

    MORE: The new Mamajuana Cafe in Fishtown aims to recreate the vibes of a Punta Cana vacation

    That redesign includes an overhaul of the La Colombe logo, now larger and featuring extra color shading. The brand’s dove is still there, but the bird has shrunk and moved further down the packaging, next to text reading “ESTD 1994.”

    La Colombe is now pushing its product as “the world’s frothiest draft latte,” with at least half the sugar of competitors. (La Colombe canned lattes have 9-15 grams of sugar, depending on the flavor. A slightly bigger 13.7 oz bottle of original Dunkin’ iced coffee with milk, for comparison, has 39 grams.) In a release, Chobani said the La Colombe line “delivers on the growing consumer demands for cold coffee and less sugar.” 

    The original 9-ounce draft latte cans are still be available online and in La Colombe brick-and-mortar locations.

    Per the terms of Chobani’s deal with La Colombe, the coffee roasters will continue to operate independently. When the sale was finalized in December, Chobani promised to “meaningfully expand the reach” of its new brand’s single-serve products, which cater to younger consumers’ growing preference for chilled coffee.

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    Kristin Hunt

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  • Fellow steps away from its usual grind with $365 Aiden coffee machine | TechCrunch

    Fellow steps away from its usual grind with $365 Aiden coffee machine | TechCrunch

    Coffee is a beverage, sure, but to many people, it’s more than that. It’s a ritual to find a pause in the day, rewarded by a tasty jolt of caffeine. For many years, Fellow has been top of mind for those looking to embrace the ritual. It’s a bit of a surprise, then, to see the company launch Aiden. The fancy drip coffee maker has a $365 price tag to match. But in a space where $25 gets you something serviceable, is Fellow’s device really 14x better?

    How Fellow bootstrapped for 8 years to build a coffee empire

    Fellow has consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible with home coffee equipment. The latest addition to its aficionado-forward lineup is the Aiden coffee machine, a sleek brewer taking a stab at transforming the at-home coffee experience. Known for their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality, Fellow’s announcement of Aiden is a curious one — but with extraordinary design and a handful of fancy features, it may just be a contender.

    So, what’s special about it?

    “We make coffee products for the nerds. But we also want to help as many people make and enjoy great coffee as possible. We’ve had a dedicated group of enthusiasts asking us to create a brewer for years, and we saw a real opportunity,” said Jake Miller, CEO and founder at Fellow, in an interview with TechCrunch. “Aiden is for everyone — from coffee aficionados to those who simply want a reliable and convenient way to brew their morning cup. Even my parents, who have Fellow products laid out on their counter, still use a basic coffee maker. Aiden is designed for them.”

    The brewer has one-cup and multi-cup baskets, accurate time control and a double-walled, stainless steel thermal carafe to keep coffee toasty. Image Credits: Fellow

    The Aiden coffee maker promises precision and customization that rival professional setups, all from the comfort of one’s kitchen. The main innovation for the coffee maker is its adjustable shower head, which promises to ensure an even saturation of coffee grounds, which is paramount for extracting the full flavor and aroma from the coffee beans. Users can adjust the spread and rate of water flow, which the company suggests mimics the techniques of a skilled barista.

    The other innovation is the coffee maker’s precise temperature control system, which is crucial for brewing the perfect cup of coffee. Aiden enables users to dial in temperatures to suit different types of coffee beans and brewing methods. This level of control can significantly affect the coffee’s acidity, sweetness and overall flavor profile, providing a customizable brewing experience tailored to individual preferences.

    “It’s incredibly fulfilling to finally introduce Aiden to the world after two years of development. With Aiden, we’re bridging the gap between manual brewing and traditional drip coffee makers,” says Miller. “No longer do people have to compromise on quality or convenience. I’m particularly excited to welcome new users to the world of specialty coffee, whether they’re embarking on a coffee journey or just want that perfect cup to kickstart their day. Aiden celebrates every coffee preference and journey, and I can’t wait for people to experience it.”

    Customizable everything

    The company is introducing customizable brew profiles, which enables users to save their preferred settings for different coffee beans and brewing styles. Whether you prefer a robust, full-bodied cup or a lighter, more aromatic brew, Aiden promises to tickle your tastes at the push of a button. This feature is particularly beneficial for households with multiple coffee drinkers, as each user can quickly and easily access their favorite settings.

    Of course, it’s 2024, so users will be able to connect to the machine using a mobile app, which lets users adjust settings remotely and helps coffee beginners with feedback and tips on how to improve their brewing techniques. It’s a nice touch that may just make coffee-brewing a bit less mysterious for coffee beginners, turning the task into an enjoyable and educational experience.

    Design out the wazoo

    The design philosophy behind Aiden is deeply rooted in enhancing user experience and pushing the envelope of innovation. The company says it consistently rethinks and reshapes how coffee equipment can fit into the modern lifestyle, not just as tools, but as part of the daily ritual of coffee enthusiasts.

    A sleek black cube that makes coffee. Image Credits: Fellow

    Great design is 99% invisible, and the Fellow design team has gone out of its way to make its sleek, minimalist products better and more intuitive. That goes beyond its outward appearance — the company highlights how every aspect of Aiden has been crafted with the user in mind. The design team at Fellow started with the question, “How can we make the ritual of coffee brewing as enjoyable and efficient as possible?” This question led to the development of features that are intuitive and user-friendly.

    “There’s a hidden gem we’re excited about. Aiden comes with a discreet cord-wrap feature, perfect for those seeking a clutter-free countertop. It might seem like a minor detail, but fitting it into the slim base of Aiden was quite a feat. Take a closer look, and you’ll see the meticulous attention to detail our team has put into every aspect of the machine,” says Miller. “It’s a small touch, but one that speaks volumes about our commitment to thoughtful design and makes me proud.”

    Beyond a tucked-away power cord, the machine boasts a clean, accessible control panel that demystifies the often complex coffee brewing process. The designers have prioritized clear, understandable icons and a responsive touch interface, ensuring that users of all levels of coffee expertise can operate the machine with confidence and ease.

    As you might expect for a brewer in this price class, Aiden continues the company’s reputation for sustainability and durability. Constructed from high-quality materials that are both aesthetically pleasing and long-lasting, Aiden is designed to be a staple in the kitchen for years to come. This commitment to quality materials not only enhances the user experience but also aligns with ecological sustainability practices by reducing the need for frequent replacements — and if something does need repairing, you can get spare parts easily.

    More than the sum of its parts?

    Yes, this is a $365 coffee machine. That doesn’t include a grinder, so you need to spend a chunk of cash on that, too. Fellow has a sub-$200 grinder, or a $350 high-end edition if you’re really serious about coffee.

    “The biggest challenge we faced in building Aiden was fitting so much technology into such a compact design. While most coffee machines rely on a bubble pump, we were adamant about creating something truly innovative. Our engineering team encountered numerous obstacles along the way, with many moments where we didn’t think it was possible,” Miller explains. “However, driven by our commitment to raising the standard of home coffee brewing, we persevered. The result is a brewer that defies convention. Aiden is a testament to our dedication to pushing boundaries and delivering unparalleled coffee experiences.”

    Gotta love a bit of design porn. Image Credits: Fellow

    I love Fellow’s brand, and have spent a bunch of my own money on their products over the years, but I just keep stumbling over the price tag. I get that technology doesn’t come for free, and neither does thoughtful design — but I’m making really tasty coffee with my $35 AeroPress, and I can’t imagine spending 10 times that for the additional convenience. Then again, this machine isn’t for me — and with the company’s incredible brand recognition and the enthusiastic zeal people have for steeped beans, I have no doubts that Fellow will sell these brewers by the pallet-load.

    Aiden Precision Coffee Maker is today available for presale for $365 on FellowProducts.com, and the company says it will ship in September. Each presale purchase includes three bags of coffee from renowned roasters — Onyx Coffee Lab, La Cabra and Verve Coffee Roasters — made specifically for Aiden with scannable roast profiles while supplies last. The company backs up its coffee makers with a two-year standard warranty, extendable to three years with product registration.

    Haje Jan Kamps

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  • The Best London Cafes and Coffee Shops to Work Remotely

    The Best London Cafes and Coffee Shops to Work Remotely

    If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that it’s possible to work from almost anywhere. Having the right place to work remotely, however, can make a huge difference in productivity. Light, atmosphere, location and views can impact how a space feels and what you can get done while there. And when you’re on the road, being stuck in a hotel room often starts to feel tedious and cramped, and can be isolating if you’re used to being in an office. Those in London, whether local or visiting, are in luck, as the city is quite conducive to remote working, especially if you enjoy answering emails with a good coffee in hand. 

    The city’s many neighborhoods are filled with cafes and coffee shops that cater to remote workers looking for somewhere to meet with colleagues or a quiet working space, from the buzzy area of Shoreditch to the popular stretch of Southbank. Whether you’re looking for a quiet, discerning space to focus or a livelier option to keep the energy high, there is a WFH option out there for you (yes, even if you don’t have a Soho House membership to take advantage of). Here are 13 of the best cafes and coffee shops to work from home in London, including hotel lounges, hipster coffee joints and museum cafes. 

    Emily Zemler

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  • 13 Common Misconceptions About Caffeine & What The Research Says

    13 Common Misconceptions About Caffeine & What The Research Says

    In recent years, the wellness industry has popularized delayed caffeine intake, a habit championed by neurobiologist Andrew Huberman, Ph.D., to mitigate the afternoon energy slump. While some have reported benefits, recent research challenges this and other caffeine myths. 

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  • Federal Donuts plans national expansion starting with 3 stores in Philly suburbs

    Federal Donuts plans national expansion starting with 3 stores in Philly suburbs

    Federal Donuts is taking the next step with its previously announced plans to grow beyond Philadelphia, revealing on Wednesday that new franchise locations will soon open in Radnor, Willow Grove and Conshohocken. Beyond those stores, the company has its sights set on multiplying in Pennsylvania and growing a national footprint. 

    Founded in 2011, Federal Donuts began as a passion project of culinary partners Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook, whose CookNSolo family of restaurants, headlined by Zahav, has earned the pair national acclaim. The trifecta of donuts, fried chicken and coffee at Federal Donuts grew to be a staple in Philadelphia, which has 10 stores scattered around the city and stands at the Wells Fargo Center and Citizens Bank Park.

    Opening dates for the stores in Radnor, Willow Grove and Conshohocken haven’t yet been announced, but the company shared the planned locations. A 1,550-square-foot store in Radnor will open at 200 Radnor Chester Road; a 1,250-square-foot-store in Willow Grove will open at 4021 Welsh Road; and a 1,700-square-foot store is opening in Conshohocken’s Plymouth Square at 200 Ridge Pike. 

    Two years ago, Federal Donuts announced it had received a growth equity investment from Radnor-based NewSpring Franchise, which has helped finance the expansion of other brands like Duck Donuts, Blo Blow Dry Bar and brunch spot Turning Point.

    Federal Donuts is a sister company to CookNSolo that operates separately under CEO Jeff Benjamin, a longtime partner of restaurateur Marc Vetri. Solomonov and Cook originally created the concept together with Felicia D’Ambrosio, Bob Logue and former Federal Donuts CEO Tom Henneman, who had been leading the company when the planned expansion was announced in 2022.

    Since then, only one Federal Donuts location has opened outside the Philly area, a store that debuted in March at the Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. The company also rebranded last year to the full name Federal Donuts and Chicken.

    On Wednesday, Federal Donuts said it has partnered with three local entrepreneurs to open a series of stores in the Philly suburbs. The company said Pennsylvania will see “an influx of store openings,” adding that Federal Donuts is now poised for both regional and national franchises.

    “I am thrilled to now lead the expansion as CEO and allow Federal Donuts to reach its full potential,” Benjamin said.

    The company is seeking potential franchisees for multi-unit and single locations.

    In January, Federal Donuts closed its original South Philly store to open its largest location yet last month at a former warehouse nearby. Another store in University City also closed to allow the company to pursue a bigger space that’s planned in that neighborhood.

    This isn’t the first time Federal Donuts has attempted to venture beyond Philadelphia. In 2017, Federal Donuts and CookNSolo’s Israeli restaurant Dizengoff opened in Miami, but both locations closed within a year. Laser Wolf, the Israeli grill house in South Kensington, expanded to Brooklyn in 2022. 

    Federal Donuts has lately been growing its menu, adding fried chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders and a breakfast sandwich called the Early Bird. It also announced a chicken Caesar sandwich this week and plans to soon introduce a three-piece chicken dinner meal, in addition to its rotating cast of donut flavors. 

    Michael Tanenbaum

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  • Should You Stir CBD Into Your Morning Coffee

    Should You Stir CBD Into Your Morning Coffee

    Every morning, roughly 63% of Americans and 71% of Canadians savor a hot cup of coffee. It is a morning ritual shown in movies, memories and memes. But can it be a vehicle to help improve your mood and general state of mine.  CBD oil, which has gained popularity as a stress reliever over the last few years. Studies also show CBD reduces aggressive behavior and effectively helps you chill out. If it is all true, should stir CBD in into your morning coffee?

    Studies have shown CBD contains anti-anxiety, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties. Add the caffeine boost you receive from coffee and it seems like the perfect way to start your day. It’s widely reported by those who use both caffeine and CBD oil the combination can remove the jittery edge.

    However, combining CBD with your coffee fundamentally changes how it affects your body. That’s why experts recommend not doing so if you’re using the extract for medicinal purposes.

    RELATED: 5 Morning Activities To Help You Feel Happier

    “Those who want to use CBD for serious medical conditions, such as seizure disorders or inflammation from autoimmune disorders, should not take CBD in this manner, as accurate CBD dosing is extremely important for efficacy in these types of illnesses,” Bonni Goldstein, a California-based physician specializing in cannabinoid therapy.

    Photo by Nathan Dumlao via Unsplash

    A study backed up Goldstein. According to researchers analyzing cannabis tea, temperature changes CBD content in both hot and cold liquids. So, if you require precise dosing of medicine, it’s best not to dump your CBD oil into a hot cup of joe.

    RELATED: How Many People Can You Date At One Time

    Those approaching the issue from a wellness perspective don’t have such concerns. Anecdotal evidence of the therapeutic effects combining CBD and coffee to boost your day-to-day proceedings is mixed. Some say that CBD-infused coffee diminishes the buzzing rush caffeine delivers while lowering anxiety symptoms. But others find the pairing disorienting. Since CBD is also used to achieve a good night’s sleep, the cannabinoid’s drowsy properties fight with coffee’s caffeine to leave you groggy and unsatisfied.

    Most importantly, you should understand that CBD affects each individual differently. What works for you might not work for someone else. But we know for certain that dumping CBD oil into your coffee dramatically decreases its bioavailability, or the extent and rate at which the drug enters your body’s circulation to produce the desired effects. CBD oil taken sublingually, or underneath your tongue, maintains a bioavailability between 20-30%, but received orally, like in a drink, drops the bioavailability down to 6%. This is another reason medical experts don’t recommend patients combining the two.

    RELATED: CBD Coffee Is The Easy Way To Pain-Free Mornings

    If you’re committed to starting your day with CBD-infused coffee, but don’t want to sacrifice efficacy, we have a recommendation. A 2016 study reported that combining cannabinoids into a fatty acid allows CBD to bypass your metabolism — which is responsible for diminishing the plant’s impact — and increases bioavailability. This explains why many report the most therapeutic effects are found by adding organic butter or coconut oil to make a CBD coffee concoction. It’s a little more work, but your body will thank you for it later.

    Sarah Johns

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  • How to Make Better Coffee at Home

    How to Make Better Coffee at Home

    First, let’s talk flavor. When you’re shopping for coffee you’ll see a lot of different words thrown around, we’re just going to focus on a couple: light, medium, and dark roasts. Each roast type is produced a little bit differently, though the longer they sizzle, the darker they get. There are other variables in there like roaster temperature, but for our purposes, we’re sticking with the basics. Every second your beans are in the roaster, they’re changing. Their aromas, their flavors, their color profile.

    Light roasts come out of the roaster a light golden brown. These are usually roasted at a lower temperature or for less time, and the result is a bean that produces a lighter color and a lighter flavor. Light roasts often taste a little floral, a little fruity, almost like you can taste the coffee cherry the bean used to be nestled inside. Light roasts always taste like spring mornings in Portland to me. If light roasts had a playlist, it’d lead off with “Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor for sure.

    Medium roasts are what I drink almost every morning. Medium roasts tend to come out of the roaster a rich earthy brown. They taste like warm spices, caramel, and toffee, with gentle notes of chocolate. A well-brewed medium roast tastes like a relaxing fall morning to me. Because they’re right in the middle of the roast spectrum, they produce delicious coffee no matter how you brew them so they’re a great pick for their versatility, too. The medium roast playlist is the kind of thing you could listen to in the morning as you’re starting your day, or at night while you get ready to go out—filled with songs like “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan.

    Dark roasts are my second favorite for everyday drinking. No other roast produces the rich, deep, chocolatey, toasty complexity you get from a dark roast. Dark roasts are often used in “espresso blends” but to my palate, they make some of the best pour-over or AeroPress coffee. Either method lets those warm background flavors shine and brings out some of the spicier flavors too. For the dark roast playlist, I’d probably start with “Moonlight Magic” by Ashnikko.

    2. Source Locally

    Photograph: Grit

    Time is important for coffee beans. Time spent in shipping, time spent on the shelf, time spent on your shelf. The longer it sits, especially after roasting, the less fresh it will taste. Eventually, around the one-week mark, you’ll start to notice a decline in quality. By two weeks, it’s still drinkable but makes a much less flavorful cup of coffee. To make sure you have the longest amount of time to enjoy your coffee, your best bet is to buy local.

    Jaina Grey, Scott Gilbertson

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  • The 4 Things To Avoid In Your Coffee

    The 4 Things To Avoid In Your Coffee

    The weekend is time to relax, party, explore or just make the most of life.  So Mondays can be rough with a back to the grind atmosphere.  Sometimes you need a big cup of Joe to get in the grove. Two-thirds of Americans (66%) drink coffee every day, up nearly 14% since January 2021. Globally, it is the 4th most consumed drink behind water, tea, and beer (yes beer).  But despite the love of the hot brew, there are 4 things to void in your coffee so your body is better.

    RELATED: Here’s How To Realistically Reduce Sugar From Your Diet

    From the rich smell to the smooth feeling as it goes down your thought. Coffee is a popular beverage researchers have studied extensively for its many health benefits, including its ability to increase energy levels, promote weight management, and perhaps enhance athletic performance.  But how to maximize all the benefits of the bean?  Here is some things you might want to reconsider stirring into your cup.

    White sugar

    Photo by Sara Johnston via Unsplash

    While adding sugar to coffee is a ritual to most people’s mornings, the use of white sugar provides no nutrition and can quickly get out of hand when added to the sugar you consume throughout the rest of your day, especially if you tend to have several cups of coffee a day.

    RELATED: Here’s How To Realistically Reduce Sugar From Your Diet

    Fortunately, this is one of the easiest problems to solve. While sweeteners have gotten a terrible reputation, studies are unclear on their potential side effects and are believed to be neutral elements: it’s not great for your health, but not detrimental, either. Sweeteners have much less calories and provide more sweetness than sugar, resulting in a drink with less additives. So instead of reaching for white table sugar, try SweetDrops, Stevia, maple syrup or even coconut sugar.

    Flavored syrups

    Canadian Company Wants To Be Starbucks Of Cannabis In US
    Photo by Engin_Akyurt via Pixabay

    Right up there with sugar is flavored syrups. Next time you order your double tall vanilla latte, ask for “one pump of syrup” or else you might end up getting three, which is typical at many coffee chains. Flavored syrups are just cane sugar in liquid form. If you’re using syrups to mask the flavor of your coffee, maybe it’s time to find another coffee shop.

    Powdered creamer

    Photo by Natalie Collins via Unsplash

    Powdered creamers are basically just chemicals and oils flavored as “cream.” Powdered creamer can actually be explosive. We’re not kidding. Cow’s milk or plant based milk makes for a good replacement, having less calories and less concerning stuff that could ruin your mornings. And if you want to skip all the extra hormones, which aren’t great either, head for the plant-based milks. Oat milk is possibly the closest you’ll get to the real thing.

    Whipped cream

    Pumpkin Spice Coffee
    Photo courtesy of Starbucks

    RELATED: 5 Easy Ways To Eat Less Meat

    You already knew this. Whipped cream might be the most delicious addition to any hot drink, but it adds calories, fat and sugar to your morning coffee, not to mention high cholesterol fat if you’re whipping your own using half-and-half. If you’re using the stuff from a spray can, you’re also dealing with a lot of corn syrup and nasty chemicals. It’s best to skip it all together or make your own out of coconut cream.

    Amy Hansen

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  • This 7-in-1 Travel Mug Effectively Replaced Every Bottle I Own — Here’s Why You Need It

    This 7-in-1 Travel Mug Effectively Replaced Every Bottle I Own — Here’s Why You Need It

    We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

    Like many of you, I love a good travel mug. While I’ve been an Owala-devotee for quite some time now, as a shopping editor, I’ve tried them all: Stanleys, YETIs, Hydro Flasks, you name it. However, even after all of these years of testing, I’ve yet to find “the one” that can do it all. I’m a self-proclaimed beverage goblin so I’m constantly grabbing a new drink throughout the day, whether it be water, a loose-leaf tea, or something fun like a Poppi or a United Sodas. So I’ve been on the hunt for a bottle that can handle any drink I can throw at it. 

    I used to think that this was too big of an ask. After all, how many times have you used an “all-in-one” product that didn’t end up letting you down in an area or two? However, when the VIVA Recharge Travel Mug came across my desk, I was intrigued and decided to add another bottle to my collection. Little did I know that it would end up replacing my collection. 

    What is the VIVA Recharge Travel Mug? 

    Designed to act as a travel tumbler, thermos, tea infuser, coffee press, flask, iced tea maker, and teapot, this 7-in-1 wonder makes it easy to make virtually any and every drink you could want. Featuring a French press-like design, the interior mesh filter is a dream for those looking to brew both tea and coffee. And if you’re looking to switch to water after that morning cup, simply remove the filter, rinse, and voilà: an instant travel tumbler! Complete with a double-wall insulated interior that keeps drinks hot for over 6 hours or cold for 12 hours, a leak-proof lid, and an ergonomic, nonslip design, it’s hard to fight the ingenuity of this mug. 

    Why I love the VIVA Recharge Travel Mug

    Now, I had never seen a mug claim to do all of this before discovering the VIVA Recharge — so that meant I had some serious testing to do. I decided to perform a bunch of tests over the course of a week to see if it really could live up to its multiuse claims. I began with the easiest test: water. After putting in some water and ice, I used it as I would a normal water bottle for the rest of the day, and reader, it lived up to that 12-hour claim — I clocked in 13 and a half hours before I felt my water getting warm. 

    Next came the tea tests. Each morning, I made a different type of tea: loose-leaf, bagged, and then iced. All three were incredibly easy to make, but I found myself the most impressed with the loose leaf. The mesh filter of the press is so incredibly fine, and I was pleasantly surprised to find none of the tea made its way through. Plus, my tea was still warm six hours into the day! I haven’t put this mug down since. 

    The last test was the coffee test — this was the one I was most curious about. I don’t drink coffee so I had a friend come over and made her a cup with this “travel French press” so I could decide once and for all if this mug was the real deal. I was particularly interested to see if the fine mesh strainer would truly leave the coffee grit-free. So I made the coffee, poured my friend a cup, and wouldn’t you know it — no grounds at the bottom of her mug. Not only was I impressed, but my friend hit me with, “Oh, you have to write about this!” And well, here we are. 

    The VIVA Recharge is available in six fun colors and comes in at $50. Now, while that might seem a bit steep (see what I did there?) for a travel mug, when you take into account all that it can do, you’ll find it to be more than worth it. So if you’re ready to discover your new favorite travel mug — and possibly clear up some precious cabinet space in the process — give this mug a shot. Something tells me it may just become everyone’s next go-to mug.   

    Buy: VIVA Recharge Travel Mug, $49.95

    Sarah M. Vazquez

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  • Add This To Your Diet For More Gut Support (Beyond Probiotics)

    Add This To Your Diet For More Gut Support (Beyond Probiotics)

    No more bland meals.

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  • The Team From Chicago’s Only Michelin-Starred Indian Restaurant Is Opening a Cafe

    The Team From Chicago’s Only Michelin-Starred Indian Restaurant Is Opening a Cafe

    The team from Chicago’s only Michelin-starred Indian restaurant, Indienne, is opening a cafe where customers can sip fresh-brewed masala chai. Swadesi Cafe should open next week in the West Loop with unique pastries like samosa chaat croissants stuffed with spicy potatoes and a pleasant hint of tart tamarind. The menu also includes chicken tikka toasties with chicken, cheddar, cilantro, and mint.

    Indienne chef Sujan Sarkar worked on the food alongside chef Sahil Sethi, his collaborator who oversees Sifr (ownership’s Middle Eastern restaurant in West Loop). But the man in charge of day-to-day operations at Swadesi is Yash Kishinchand. He’s a recent graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Napa where students run a cafe. That’s where Kishinchand received his only barista training.

    Sarkar has toyed with the idea for a cafe for years. Kishinchand moved from Columbus, Ohio to Chicago to open St. Regis Chicago — the luxury downtown hotel that now houses Tre Dita and Miru. After he left the hotel, Sarkar offered him a chance to open Swadesi inside the former Ruin Daily at 328 S. Jefferson Street.

    Kishinchand who enjoys brandishing a chef’s torch — he keeps a shiny gold-colored one handy for the finishing touches on treats like jaggery chocolate chip cookies — is trained in French cooking, and says he wasn’t as familiar with Indian ingredients and he received an education from chefs Sarkar and Sethi when creating Swadesi menu. The cafe’s name is derived from “desi,” a term that often refers to Indian Americans. The menu intends to reflect their tastes in combining cultures. How else would you explain the cheesy potato tikki tots? And it’s not just South Asian, a carrot halwa cake gives a taste of the Middle East.

    This bakery approach isn’t that different from Kasama’s where pastry chef and co-owner Genie Kwon combines her husband’s Filipino culture and her Korean heritage with French pastry. In Lincoln Park, Indian native Arshiya Farheen has slipped in subcontinental influences in her pastries at Verzenay Patisserie.

    There’s been a wave of interest in Indian egg sandwiches. Mini chain Eggoholic helped popularize them locally, and places like Superkhana International have taken them to another level. Swadesi will offer its own with avocado on a spiced potato rosti — yes, the Swiss get a say. There’s also a butter chicken croissant with burrata.

    Finding the literal sweet spot for masala chai in Chicago has been a challenge. Swadesi will allow customers to customize the sweetness levels with sugar, and down the line, alternate sweeteners may be offered. For now, the masala chai is made to order whole milk, but an oat milk ready-to-go version is available. These drinks fundamentally differ from the chai lattes most coffee shops serve made from concentrate. Masala chai specialists, ones who brew black tea with South Asian spices (Swadesi uses ginger, rose, and cardamom), aren’t frequent in Chicago. Chiya Chai and Superkhana in Logan Square are locals’ best bets. Along Devon, Sukhadia’s Sweets and Snacks is a popular and quick option. Some Indian restaurants don’t offer the beverage. In Avondale, Thattu, which specializes in cuisine from the southern state of Kerala, serves South Indian filter coffee. Brewing masala chai takes time, but so does preparing pour-over coffee, so there’s a labor precedent if a demand emerges.

    But it’s not just about tradition. Swadesi also plans to serve a cold nitro masala chai.

    Eventually, Swadesi will extend hours and Kishinchand says they’re hoping to sell beer and liquor. The focus is on morning and evening service, but dinner pop-ups are a possibility.

    Swadesi, 328 S. Jefferson Street, opening Monday, March 26.

    Ashok Selvam

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  • Vertex Coffee Roasters is opening a second location in Ypsilanti’s former Cultivate space

    Vertex Coffee Roasters is opening a second location in Ypsilanti’s former Cultivate space

    Since the unexpected closure of Cultivate Coffee and Taphouse in February 2022, Ypsilanti residents have been eagerly hoping for some sort of comeback for the beloved cafe. Finally, Vertex Coffee Roasters is breathing new life into the space at 307 N. River St., with an opening set for March 23.

    This will mark the second location for Vertex, whose home base is at 1355 S. University Ave. in Ann Arbor. The women- and queer-owned space was opened in 2019 by Kara Soto and her wife Mackenzie.

    The cafe serves coffee and tea crafted with housemade syrups, as well as 12-ounce and 16-ounce bags of beans straight from the company’s roastery in Milan. Plus, Vertex prides itself on a commitment to sustainability, helping produce less waste by recycling, using all compostable materials, and more.

    Vertex first announced its Ypsilanti location through an Instagram post in late January with a photo of the building captioned “New location unlocked.”

    People were immediately excited.

    No one was sure when the space would re-open though, but earlier this week, another Instagram update announced a soft opening will take place on Saturday, March 23 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

    “We will be introducing new menu items slowly over the next few weeks, but we are so excited to open up the space!” the post reads. “This weekend we will have coffee and toasts/sandwiches! Our zero-proof bar is in the works and opening soon.”

    While Cultivate served both coffee and alcohol, Vertex currently has no plans to get a liquor license.

    The hours for the new coffee shop will be Monday through Sunday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m.

    Layla McMurtrie

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  • Eggless Tiramisu | Kitchen Nostalgia

    Eggless Tiramisu | Kitchen Nostalgia
































































    Eggless Tiramisu | Kitchen Nostalgia






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