Stylish Coffee Gear Awards, Part 2

For the home artisan brewer, the market for stylish coffee gear is nascent but exploding. While products previously originated from the Asian-design world, nowadays they are being developed all over the world. From a high-end hand-grinder out of Germany, to gorgeous kettles from San Francisco, here’s the second half of the Coffee Gear Style Awards. Here’s Part 1.

Ceramic Coffee Cup: East Fork Pottery The Mug, $36

Stylish coffee mugs deserve a category of their own. Gone are the days of “Greatest Dad” logos made in China. Instead, a plethora of gorgeous options have swarmed the market, including this partially glazed cup from East Fork. The potters are based in Asheville, North Carolina and use local clay to craft their tactile collection. Though the lip is a tad thick, the rustic handle feels good in the hand. If you’re keen for a kitchen full of matching plates and bowls, peruse their site or check out their Instagram page which showcases the brand’s wares set on pretty tablescapes.

Filter: CoffeeSock, $13

Coffeesock offers a sustainably sourced, cotton-based filter for nearly any brewing method. The filters are hand-sewn and reusable, reducing your disposable filter footprint. If style is about good intentions, then the coffeesock doesn’t get much more apt than that. Coffeesock is a family-based company deep in Texas, which sources its cotton from India.

Scale: Timemore Black Mirror, $111

Being a Shanghai-based company, Timemore’s products are challenging to acquire but worth finding. The Black Mirror boasts utter minimalism with utmost functionality. An LCD screen lights upon touch on an otherwise black rectangle, revealing both the weight of extracted coffee and weight of water added to your brew vessel. A pour over stand can be added to the side of the scale, plus Wifi and Bluetooth connectivity allow smartphone control and monitoring. A USB connection charges the device, instead of separate batteries. The scale of the future? Perhaps the name Black Mirror is no coincidence.

System: Ratio Eight, $495

The Ratio Eight is an automated pour over machine, not a coffee machine. It mimics the steps of a barista yet operates with one button. Press it, and launch the pre-infusion cycle, otherwise known as the bloom. This is the critical first stage when water saturates fresh grounds to degass them and promote even water flow through grinds during brewing. The carafe is handblown gas, and the water temperature is consistently maintained, unlike a traditional coffee maker. The most arresting feature, however, is the series of wood panels which flank the carafe. Available in walnut, mahogany, or ebony, they offset the device’s five color choices, rendering the Ratio Eight the most attractive contraption on your counter.

Mug: Mugr in Charcoal, $60

Taiwanese design and craft company HMM perfected their interpretation of a Japanese matte glazed ceramic mug. The walnut wood handle offsets the dark mug body, lending it a vaguely 19^th century-meets-modernity appeal. However, it demands treatment as careful as an artifact – no dishwashing, microwaving, or long-term soaking. Otherwise, a thin lip and balanced weight lend the Mugr an pleasurable visual and drinking experience.

Cannister: Le Creuset 2 Quart Canister, $60

Coffee beans are a perishable staple like bread, so their storage should be managed as such. If the coffee bag does not have a degassing valve, the best solution is an airtight, opaque container on the counter away from moisture and heat. Oxygen degrades coffee freshness. Le Creuset produces a rectangular jar, serving as a departure from the typical circular, plastic vessels offered in many home goods stores. It’s simple but effective design – a silicone gasket seals the beans in a 9 by 4 inch can with six different shade options for the enamel exterior.