Each piece is a work of art.
What happened? Just days ago, it was 2010. We were all sitting in hipster coffee shops. A guy in a flannel with a handlebar mustache poured hot water from a Hario kettle into a Chemex. He waxed on about single origins beans, light roasts, and third wave coffee.
Third wave coffee has certainly stuck around. But the aesthetic of our coffee tools, like all trends, is changing. A world once defined by barnyard wood and steel is now about brutalism and brass. Coffee is more gorgeous than ever, whether you have $1,500 to spend or just $5. Here are some of our favorite objects on the market.
BRUTALIST ESPRESSO
If you want easy apartment espresso, Breville makes a great little machine. But if you want a statement piece, and full manual control? AnZa offers an appliance like you’ve never seen: An espresso maker encased in a concrete block. If that’s too rough around the edges for your taste, we get it. They also offer the same machine in seamless Corian. It’s honestly hard to decide which model we like more. $1,180
CONCRETE POUR OVER
If you have a concrete espresso maker, well, you just have to have a coffee maker to match it! The Basi coffee stand lets you make pour over coffee (basically what a stock coffee maker does, but with a lot more love), with a sturdy, self-standing base that won’t easily tip. $600
SCULPTURAL COLD BREW
Making cold brew coffee isn’t hard. You can just stick some ground beans into water and let it sit in your fridge. But cold brew towers can be beautiful accessories that celebrate the slow process—especially when they’re made of hand blown glass, like the Dashi. You put beans and water in the top vessel. Then, after soaking, you release a spigot to pour and filter the sludge into a delicious refreshment. $990
TEA SERVICE . . . BUT FOR COFFEE
Stovetop espresso, like that made from Moka pots, is popular across Europe. But Tom Dixon elevates that experience to new heights. He coats the steel bodied kettle with a glimmering brass finish. And the best part? You can get accessories to match, including cups, a tray, a scoop, caddy, and even a French press. Items start at $50 and range up to $300. The espresso kettle costs $240.
A MINIMAL GRINDER
A good burr grinder is essential to absolutely any type of coffee you want to make. Unfortunately, most are hideous. Not so with the Ode Grinder, by Fellow. It has a minimalist black posture that evokes strong Richard Sapper vibes. As an extra plus, it’s designed to grind quieter than competitors, so that you don’t wake your significant other while getting the caffeine going. $300
AN ELECTRIC KETTLE WITH POISE
Once you try an electric water boiler, you may never use that teapot again. They are fast, mindless . . . and did we say fast? We love the Plissé Electric Kettle, by Italian architect Michele de Lucchi. Its faceted design is like no other. But it’s designed to be safe to use, too. The kettle turns off when it reaches a boil, and it also shuts down if it detects too little water inside. $100
SCANDINAVIAN-CHIC FLASK
Sometimes it’s nice to make a guest a careful cup of coffee. Other times, you’re serving brunch, and you just want to keep a lot of coffee hot and on the table. Leave it to IKEA to do the job on a chic budget. The BEHÖVD vacuum flask holds 34 ounces (or about eight cups of coffee) and keeps it hot and ready to pour for up to six hours, without needing a plug or electricity. $5
NOT ANOTHER MONDAY MUG, BUT A DESIGN ICON
Garfield hated Mondays because he had no taste. The Heller Rainbow mugs, designed by the legendary design duo Lella & Massimo Vignelli, will put a bright pep in your step any day of the week, any time of day. The 1964 design is timeless. The polycarbonate material is microwave and dishwasher safe. And it’s an opportunity to own a design icon for less than the cost of your next shipment of beans. $60 for a set of six.
This article first appeared in www.fastcompany.com
