Coffee-Accessories

I spent years assuming good microfoam required an espresso machine with a proper steam wand. Then I tried a $30 handheld frother and realized I was wrong. Not all of it was great, but the gap between a cheap frother and good one is smaller than the gap between a cheap espresso machine and a good one. If you drink lattes at home and don’t own a machine with a prosumer steam wand, a standalone milk frother will make a bigger difference to your coffee than upgrading your machine. ...

A gooseneck kettle exists for one reason: pour control. The long, narrow spout lets you put water exactly where you want it — over coffee grounds in a specific pattern, around tea leaves, or into a narrow vessel without splashing. For pour-over coffee, that control directly affects how evenly your grounds extract. Bad pour control means some areas over-extract (bitter) and others under-extract (sour). We tested 7 gooseneck electric kettles — variable-temperature models with precise 1-degree Fahrenheit control, fixed-temperature budget options, and premium kettles with flow-rate restrictors and brew timers. Some are worth the money. Others are standard kettles with a curved spout and a price markup. ...