Best electric kettles according to redditors

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Get some beans, and you'll have better coffee than 95% of campus.

If you want to move to a Chemex instead of the aeropress, you totally could, but remembering dorm life, I'd absolutely pick an Aeropress.

Hario V60+Filters, Bonivita Electric Kettle (or any goose neck kettle), a kitchen scale that reads in grams, a stop watch/timer, and some coffee. Done. If you have the extra money get an electric burr grinder, if not just have the roaster or wherever you buy the coffee pre-grind it for pour over.

edit: Added some Amazon links in so people can see prices.

Electric kettle. It will heat the tea to the exact temperature.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KYSLNQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

• 175 F for green tea
  
• 185 white tea
  
• 190 oolong tea
  
• 212 black tea
  
  Not only does it help control flavor, but for green tea I can start drinking immediately after steep. Whereas with boiling the water you usually need to let it sit longer than steep time.

An electric tea kettle. I have the utiliTEA currently and it's great http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-utiliTEA-Variable-Temperature/dp/B001A5NFQA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415059770&sr=8-1&keywords=utilitea
Even if you don't drink a lot of tea, it's perfect for any time you need hot or boiling water (oatmeal, french press coffee, baby birth, etc.). The utiliTEA has the added feature of separate settings for black and green tea.

If I had to make that small an area work, I would rely heavily on countertop appliances.

Forget a built in burner, takes up too much room.
Get a gas or induction hot plate for use in the summer, and use the black oven in the winter.

Make outlets readily available on the counter. Best place would be the underside of any cabinets, or just the wall.

You can do a lot with one of those combo griddles. Cuisinart makes a cheap one, but you can get nicer ones from others. Breville is one, but I am sure there are others.

Build your knife storage into the counter, a la Alton Brown. Saves space, and makes them always available.

Don't skip the dishwasher. It'll take up valuable storage space, but working in a small kitchen like that will be much more bearable if you don't have to wash dishes by hand.

Make sure you get plenty of prep bowls, and have storage space for them. Mise en place will be very important with a small space, and they will help a lot.

A Magic Bullet type blender is really handy for cooking for 2, and for a lot of tasks that would otherwise take up more counterspace (chopping onions, beating eggs, chopping herbs, etc).

Make the whole countertop out of end grain butcher block (or side grain if you don't want to/can't spring for end grain) so that you don't have to deal with cutting boards at all.

If you don't already, try cooking sous vide. Takes little space, and good for summer cooking as it won't let too much heat into the space.

Have a hood vent for your black stove, and in the summer, put your hot plate there. The vent needs to be the type that goes outside, not the filtering one.
You don't want a small space like that filling with smoke from cooking.
Actually, depending on how you build the kitchen, you might be able to just put the vent in the middle of the room. Have the ceiling slope towards the center a bit.

Don't skip the garbage disposal in the sink - you'll regret it. Also, stick with a single sink instead of the traditional double. You're better off with one normal sized sink than two half sized sinks.

Skip the microwave, and just get a large toaster oven instead, one of the deep ones that can fit a 12" pizza. You can do most everything you can do in a microwave in the toaster over, it just takes a bit longer.

Skip the coffee maker, and get a hot water ketttle with a gooseneck spout like this. Learn to do pourover, get an Aeropress, or a Chemex. Saves you counterspace, and you can use the electric kettle for other cooking things too.

I have the BonaVita. I can't speak to BIFL, but I like it and there are no submerged plastic pieces.

Going strong for one year now. Hamilton Beach var temp kettle. http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

I’m in Australia and all hotels have kettles. But when I travelled the US last year I knew this wouldn’t be the case so I bought this collapsible kettle from amazon. It was fantastic, made of silicon so it folded up very small, and boils water very quickly. It would fit in carry on, depending on what else you have. Dual voltage too so I can use it worldwide.

Gourmia GK320 Travel Foldable Electric Kettle - Dual Voltage - Fast Water Boiling - Food Grade Silicone - Small, Collapsible, Portable - Boil Dry Protection - .5 Qt - 100v/120v and 220v/240v - White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG7YLQG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_v57YDbKH0PM4R

Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp Kettle

Hario Buono kettle and either the Hario Skerton or Porlex. Use the rest to buy a scale if you don't have one, or a pour over if you don't have one, or a bag of beans :)

Best: multiple portraits of Ulysses S. Grant.
Worst: multiple portraits of Ulysses S. Grant.

Me entire family sans SO gave me cash for Christmas. I can't really complain; I wanted a bunch of boring adult things (new contacts and glasses, underwear, socks, shoes) and now I shall have them. Cash is stupid dull on Christmas day, though, once everyone starts pulling out their new toys and playing with them. Super easy clean-up, though.

My SO gave me the electric tea kettle I've been coveting for the last year. If President Grant wasn't such a charmer - and I wasn't so excited about getting new undies (it's been awhile) - my SO would have won Christmas.

>Stove

bruv

What the fuck are you smoking?

One of the more popular kettles in the tea community is this and it is great https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40/ there are a few higher end ones that heat up even faster as well.

The variable temp is important for tea ofc but lmfao @ you thinking that I'm using a stove or that it would be unsafe. This thing will hold the temp for 2 hours before it gives up and turns off.

from /u/eeyore9999:

Bonavita Variable Temp [$61 on Amazon] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/)

Okay I guess -

This one is pretty, and comparable to this teapot

Stainless steel tea kettle. Compare stainless steel teapot.

Pouring Kettles typically function as their own pot, in the style of these gooseneck pots.

This Kettle is Black, and calls out his friend The Teapot as also being black.

I'm convinced that this glorified Tea Kettle is really the same product as this novelty Tea Pot.

Who wore it better?

• Various Bodum items are 20% off and haven't been marked up.
  
• Hario electric kettle
  
• Willow and Everett electric kettle
  
  I didn't see much. A lot of the prime day deals are just % off msrp which is the usual selling price for the item.

C'mon OP...

• Bialetti Moka pot
  
  
• Lido 2 hand grinder
  
  
• Lodge cast iron skillets one large one small
  
  
• Lodge enameled cast iron dutch oven
  
  
• All clad copper core sauce pan
  
  
• Miele washing machine
  
  
• Miele C2 vacuum cleaner
  
  
• Vitamix 5200
  
  
• Duralex glasses - tumblers??
  
  
• Zojirushi NS-LLH05 rice cooker - only 1 left!
  
  
• Cuisinart Perfectemp Kettle
  
  
• OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Food Scale
  
  
• OXO Good Grips Cutting board
  
  
• Corelle winter frost dinnerware set
  
  
• Light my fire titanium fork-spoon-knife - spork?
  
  
• Darn Tough socks
  
  
• Exofficio briefs
  
  
• Felco 2 Secateurs
  
  
• Wahl Peanut beard trimmer
  
  
• Dualit Toaster
  
  
• P38 can opener??
  
  
• Zwilling J.A. Henckels knife set
  

If your interested. Couldn't live without mine.

It looks like you are set on a grinder. Virtuoso and Encore are both great. It's up to you if the Virtuoso is worth the additional expense.

The Fellow Stagg Kettle looks sexy, but honestly the basic Bonavita gooseneck kettle is a workhorse and a great value. If you want a little more temperature control then you can go with the variable temp Bonavita gooseneck kettle. I have the basic Bonavita gooseneck kettle and honestly it does exactly what I need it to and I haven't missed having a temp control.

I recommend a stainless steel insulated french press, like this one from VonShef. It keeps the water temp from dropping during the brew process and it won't break like the glass body french press.

Good luck!!

I wrote an answer to a similar question yesterday. Here's a version edited for you, hope this helps.

​

Cheapest possible way to get into it is a whirly blade grinder and a french press. No filters needed, just fresh ground coffee made rather quickly and easily. This was my first ever coffee set up, and really got me into drinking better coffee. Buying locally from a reputable roaster will be the best option for quality beans for a good price, and you seem to know that already.

​

The other option, is to buy nice or buy twice. After using the above set up for a few months I was hooked and decided to upgrade everything. So I will send you some options for the most cost effective way to make specialty level coffee. For this I would look at a nicer grinder and a pour over set up. While hand grinders are great, almost everyone upgrades to an electric one. The linked options there are my favorite for the money. The electric model from baratza can be found refurbished on their website from time to time for additional savings.

The next thing you'll need is a pour over and a kettle to pour with. I recommend a Chemex here as they are good for serving one to three cups comfortably. I recommended a glass handle chemex because they are beautiful, but wood necked models are a little cheaper. I would get the white square filters with it as they impart less papery flavor. As for a kettle you have a ton of options. I am going to link a budget electric kettle as I find the stovetop models to be more of a hassle. The additional cost for an electric kettle is pretty marginal.

​

Hope this is helpful! Happy brewing and welcome to the fam!

This one for me, the variable temp control is a really nice feature. seems like it's on sale, looks like a darn good price to me.


https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1540949854&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bonavita+gooseneck+kettle&dpPl=1&dpID=41m5oiUYEaL&ref=plSrch

Edit. Sale price is gone. That was quick

Grinder

>Capresso Infinity - $89
>
>or
>
>Hario Mini Mill Slim - $30 - If you don't mind hand-grinding your beans


Coffee Maker

>Aeropress - $23 - Balanced flavour, easy cleanup
>
>or
>
>Hario v60 - $19 - If you enjoy the process of preparing your coffee, and enjoy a brighter (more acidity) cup of coffee.
>
>or
>
>A french press - $20 and up - If you want to make more coffee at a time than the Aeropress, don't mind a "thicker" (more coffee particulate and oils in the cup) coffee, and are not opposed to having a little bit more clean-up.

You'll need a kettle for any of these brew methods; a programmable/temperature controlled kettle like this one ($95) is ideal for manual brew methods, but any kettle (and a thermometer if you'd like to get fussy) will do just fine.

Personally I would get the Capresso and the Aeropress if I were you. It's a very balanced and forgiving brew method that can make coffee a few different ways (eg. paper filter for a "brighter" cup, metal for a thicker one). Set aside the rest of your budget and find a good coffee roaster near you!

I'd go for an Aeropress, a decent hand grinder and an electric kettle. You will have far superior coffee, you can use the kettle to make all sorts of food (boxed mac and cheese, ramen noodles, cous cous, etc.), you will save some money and you will be able to explore all sorts of amazing freshly roasted beans.

I'd have to recommend looking away from a pod based machine. Because it's pre-ground the coffee is stale already when you buy it. In addition to using stale coffee these machines aren't capable of producing enough pressure (9 bars) to produce real espresso. Instead of opting for a machine I'd get an aeropress.

An [Aeropress,] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GXZ2GS/) [grinder,] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PE85xb5KY6678) [scale,] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004164SRA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_NG85xb8VP81H3) and [kettle] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_8J85xbF33PVD0) will be cheaper than the Nescafe and will produce significantly better coffee.

The nice part about the aeropress is its simplicity and versatility. You can use it as an espresso substitute for Lattes and milk drinks, drink it black for a clean, bold cup, or dilute it to an americano for a traditional cup of coffee. Make sure to get some fresh beans from a local roaster too!

I have this kettle: Cuisinart PerfecTemp Kettle. It's great. I use it for coffee and tea. It doesn't have a temperature display exactly, but you press a button to select your desired temperature. But my favorite feature is probably to "keep warm" feature. Great kettle, well worth the money.

You'll be in Seattle, what's the problem again? Oh, funds.

For dorm use a French Press and an electric kettle + a manual grinder should do you and not break the bank.

If espresso is more your thing, look into the aeropress, but the grinder and kettle recommendations stand.

Because I must have temperature control, I love the Bonavita (have 2 and given many as gifts). https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1492702531&sr=8-2&keywords=bonavita+kettle

I have the Hario as well, but it's difficult to manage the temperature.

But next coffee bar will be the Stag EKG. Pre-order only though: http://fellowproducts.com/shop/staggekg/

kettle: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417710975&sr=8-2&keywords=bonavita

Scale: http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Drip-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU/ref=pd_sim_k_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=04WC4XNEDPNT7K81849C

Hand mills (good to take with the aeropress while traveling):
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Skerton-Storage-Capacity/dp/B001802PIQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417711031&sr=1-2&keywords=hario+mill

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Canister-Ceramic-Coffee-Mill/dp/B003EEGDSM/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417711031&sr=1-3&keywords=hario+mill

Or if you want to go all out you could get a small roaster and some green bean samplers to have some fun with.

I have the Bonavita variable temp kettle and I love it, but not for the temperature control (which I keep at near boiling). I love being able to wake up, click it on, and then hop in the shower without worrying about it boiling over or having the stove on. Holding water hot for an hour or so is, to me, the biggest "win" for the electric kettle.

A simple stovetop will do, of course. I used that for years and my brews were awesome. But I love my electric kettle.

Edit: Looks like the Bonavita variable temp is on sale now for around $50 on Amazon(as of 7am Pacific time, 11/21/19).

Get yourself a kettle with automatic temperature control -- those things are awesome.

I use the Cuisinart Perfectemp.

There are other kettles that are recommended, but this one works great, and has been in use multiple times per day for years with no issues. You hit the button, it heats the water for you and then you just start pouring away.

I have this Cuisinart one, which offers 6 presets (not adjustable) and a 30min keep-warm button:

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1459448793&sr=8-3&keywords=variable+temperature+kettle

I've had it for just under 2 years. It does the job and wasn't too expensive. It doesn't look very nice, and I worried that the buttons wouldn't last, but it's served me well so far.

I have this guy. This is the cheapest variable-temp kettle I've ever seen.

The interface is a little weird, and it's definitely not as easy to use as the Cuisinart PerfecTemp, but it sets accurately to within 5 degrees and holds 1.7 liters. It's served me well for probably around a year now. For ~$40, it can't be beat. That's barely more than most non-variable kettles.

I have this one. It's been great so far, though I just got it about a month ago. My only complaint is that the cord is super short, so if you aren't using it right on your kitchen counter, it can be kind of hard to find a good place to plug it in.

Aeropress - $25
Hario Mini - $25
Elec Kettle - $15

Total: $65 for a decent college budget brew station

If you look closely it's actually connected to a heating coil. Looks like you place it directly in the mug like this.

EDIT: From Amazon.

For those of you interested in an electric kettle, consider this Bonavita kettle. It has restaurant/barista precision when it comes to accurate temperature. Kettles like the one posted here can have a variance of 5% of the set temperature which can mean almost 10 degrees difference if you're aiming for 180, and even more when you're heading to black teas. This kettle here is accurate within 2% of the exact temperature you set it for. Check around at good tea and coffee shops (you'll see baristas shooting for 205F when doing coffee) and using similar devices. Don't risk scolding your precious leaves! Simple brewed beverage enthusiast here.
http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

Indeed $50 new.

Link : Bonavita 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2YlaBb56GN88P

Great find! Bought one of these for $85.70 (before tax) on Tuesday and I love it.

Wish there was some way I could've saved the extra $20. Why is the price so low right now?

EDIT: Amazon customer service refunded the price difference. Apparently they do this if the price changes within 7 days and you request it.

For the current $10 price difference on the electric kettles ([Hario] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003EEAPPY/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_3?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000IGOXLS&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1VMZV8HBSW85J8171MR3) vs [Bonavita] (http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40)), definitely go with the bonavita. It lets you set and precisely maintain your desired temperature. (this can be very important, depending on your pourover device, degree of roast, and grind size) Unfortunately, IMO function outranks form. Watch for price drops, I got my Bonavita from Amazon for $59.99.

I'd go pour-over. I feel like it's a good place to start because the more expensive things that you need are useful to have in general, but you can also get away with skimping on. Variable temp kettle, accurate scale, burr grinder. You could spend $5 on an instant-read thermometer, and go with the "let the water boil and then sit for 30 seconds" route instead of getting an electric kettle with temp settings, and you COULD buy local coffee in small bags that has been ground right when you buy it (though personally I'd rather buy a burr grinder than buy coffee every couple days). A bee house dripper and filters are like $30 and totally sufficient if you only want to make one cup at a time. Then you can upgrade as you go with kettles, grinders, different pour-over brewers, etc. Although you'd probably want at least a cheap gooseneck kettle.

This is what I'd get. Granted, slightly over $150.

Electric kettle with temp setting

Burr Grinder

Pour-over brewer

Filters

Scale

Electric or stove top? I'd suggest going electric and sticking with the bonavita variable electric kettle. There are a couple places you can get them cheaper (the occasional massdrop drop) or other places, but this will let you have full control if you're going to go for a chemex

I have the Bonavita electric gooseneck kettle w/temperature control and it's fantastic. Highly recommended.

Have it and love it.http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1413852010&sr=1-1&keywords=bonavita+gooseneck

Get a refurbished Vario with steel burrs, electric gooseneck kettle, and a V60 of your choice.

$324 - https://www.baratza.com/product/vario-refurb-with-steel-burr-set-installed/

$89 - https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

$7.99 - https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Plastic-Coffee-Dripper-Clear/dp/B001RBTSMM

Spend the remaining $80 on a scale, pack of filters, and some yummy coffee.

When buying new gear like this, I often find it worthwhile to buy the good stuff from the beginning. It'll cost more upfront, but in the long run you save money by not sinking it into gear that you're just going to upgrade away from. I know you're looking for a starter kit, so I'll outline some entry level stuff and then some recommended upgrades.

For a burr grinder, a decent entry level manual grinder is the Hario Skerton. One complaint with this is inconsistent coarse grind size, which is what you'll be using with a French Press. Orphan Espresso makes an upgrade kit that fixes this problem, but personally I feel that if you're going to spend $40 on the Skerton and $15 on the upgrade kit, you should just spend a few more bucks and get something like the Capresso Infinity. This grinder is going to be way more convenient, versatile, and consistent than the hand grinder. For one last option, there's the Baratza Encore. This is probably the best grinder you'd want for French Press, because anything better / more expensive would just be overkill as they're primarily aimed at espresso.

The Press itself isn't too important. Bodum is usually the recommended brand.

You'll also need a way to heat water. You could go with a stovetop kettle, but I think electric kettles are more convenient, and are roughly the same price anyway. You can get a pretty standard one for less than $25. But getting a gooseneck kettle is going to help control your pour better and ensure the coffee grounds are completely saturated. If you don't want to worry about getting the perfect temperature for brewing, a variable temperature kettle will take care of it for you.

Other than that, you might want a kitchen scale to get the right coffee-to-water ratio, and a thermometer to check your water temperature.

Does he have any pourover devices? If he does, a kettle would be really nice to have. This is the one I have, and I love it.

I guess that is something I would buy myself, though, so that doesn't fit your question....

Hario Buono Kettle for $36. I'm considering it myself as I don't have a kettle at all. Hario V60 Buono Coffee Drip Kettle, 1.2 L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_rhSPwbMRE3BG8

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Hamilton Beach 1.7 L. I've had it for a just about a year and a half, it has a standard 1 year warranty if any malfunction happens (no questions asked), its a bigger kettle (1.7 L is on the larger but not crazy huge end of electric kettles). I did quite a but of research and because I like mine programmable and also not crazy expensive (I didn't exactly think controlled temperature water was worth 200$ on some I saw while researching mine). I bought mine for either 40$ or 45$ with Amazon Prime (so free two day shipping, and it stays at this price, not from a third party), and it does have a really nice, although h not necessary for myself, guide on the side of the kettle telling you in small subtle print what temperature for what tea (or coffee) drink is needed. It only does preprogrammed temperatures (the temperatures for white, black, green, Oolong and coffee) and it does tell you the exact temperature at every moment, as it's boiling or sitting at room temperature. So there is a bit of control manually if absolutely necessary. But I find complete temperature control is unnecessary when it comes to tea brewing. The preprogrammed temperatures do tea well.


Edit: here's a link to Amazon where it's sold by Hamilton Beach at a 10$ discount for 3
$39. (Just a note, I never got a feeling that it was cheap even though it's definitely in the lower end. Hamilton Beach makes great small kitchen appliances and this steel kettle has been amazing. Plus their customer service has always been really easy going). http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0083I7THI/ref=mp_s_a_1_7?qid=1459456433&sr=8-7&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=hamilton+beach+electric+kettle&dpPl=1&dpID=4186x8-tdwL&ref=plSrch

I have this electric kettle and it will boil a full pot in 3 minutes or less.

highly recommend this one from Ovente. honestly never heard of the brand before but the ratings were good and i can attest after having for over 6 months now. also the $22.99 price tag is a bargain.

http://www.amazon.com/Ovente-KG83B-Glass-Electric-Kettle/dp/B00DEPGY7G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1453571000&sr=8-1&keywords=ovente+kettle

I've been curious to try a Clever dripper, myself. You get full immersion like a French press and paper filter like an Aeropress (which is also full immersion). No matter how you slice it, you'll need a kettle to heat water. I used one of the cheapest ones on Amazon, and it worked just fine.

FYI, same kettle is $126 on amazon right now https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B00N2278VC/

Massdrop did this same $75 deal a couple months ago. It is a very good deal if you want the big Bonavita.

At that price point, I believe that Bonavita variable kettle is the better product. It's going for 90 dollars right now, but a couple months ago I got it for 60 bucks. The Bonavita lets you choose which temperature you want, which is great for experimenting.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407789280&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+kettle

I assume you're talking about this.

It's way too expensive for what it does, and will leave you frustrated with what it can't do.

You need to heat water to specific temperatures - there are a few good kettles that will do that for a third the price.

You need a vessel to steep your leaves in. Do you need it to be a liter and a half? If you did, you would not want that comparatively tiny basket, which would keep the leaves too tight to steep effectively.

Do you need to agitate the tea leaves as they steep? Never.

Do you want to have any control over the process? This will deny you that control.

Don't buy this.

So what should you buy?

Water:

• Get a filter if your water is nasty. I'm using this because it produces a neutral tasting water, with soft texture.
  
  
• Get an electric kettle with temperature control. I'm using this because of its precision spout.
  
  Steeping:
  
  
• Decide how much tea will be drunk by one person at at time. A mug? A gallon? An ounce? Your answer will guide your options.
  
  
• Decide how many servings you are likely to prepare with it. Drink alone? Serving 5?
  
  
• Do aesthetics or price pay a significant role? There's much we can advise you on, and if you can narrow down these questions, we'll be very helpful.

I'd recommend an Aeropress wholeheartedly. Combine it with an electric kettle or microwave to get some hot water and you're in business.

I've been eyeing this kettle and it just dropped to a much more tempting price on Amazon recently: Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle by Bonavita http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_czhTtb0342HQB

Aeropress: Aeropress Coffee and Espresso Maker by AeroPress http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_OAhTtb19EX9SZ

I think its largely going to depend on what you want out of the kettle.

Any kettle with temp control would be ideal. You want to look at your price vs. use and see if one with a digital exact temp will be preferable to one with predetermined settings.

Gooseneck kettles are lovely and provide a very steady and controlled pour so finding one that allows this is beneficial but often costs a lot more.

I am currently using this one: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B019J0A092/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lgo7BbGV0DHER

It has a hold feature so my water stays at temp for 2 hours which is great as I tend to start water, get distracted, and then remember I wanted to make tea! Plus it's good for longer sessions with tea that needs steeped many times and I can have water at the perfect temperature instead of steadily cooling.

However this is the kettle I actually wanted: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xoo7BbFWKM023

I think there might be a better version of this now or an alternative that is better since I have been happy with my less fancy version and cant afford the nicer one I haven't looked into it!

Good luck!

Probably the single biggest thing that'll reduce acidity is brewing at a lower, more controlled temperature. If you don't have one already, get a variable-temp kettle and try brewing at 180ish F. You can also get pH test strips on Amazon if you want to science the fuck out of it and actually measure the effect different brewing parameters have on the final acidity.

Upgrading from a blade grinder to burr grinder will help as well. Blade grinders smash the beans together, heating them up and causing them to roast a bit extra. Burr grinders also give you a much more consistent grind size, which will give you a more consistent brew. This is the one I have, but there are cheaper but still good options too.

I'm a card-carrying member of the cult of Aeropress if you want an alternative to your French press.

If you have a spare Tuesday, go down to Conduit Coffee on Westlake near the Fremont Bridge. They have a weekly open house where the owner talks shop and runs a coffee tasting. If you tell them you want low-acid coffee they could probably suggest some beans for you. They also do subscription deliveries by bicycle, which is how I get my beans.

Here is the most recent pic of my setup. Not much has changed since the last time I posted in one of these threads. I moved into a new house, got an electric kettle and a nice wooden handle tamper for christmas, but other than that the other equipment is the same. The snow that morning was so nice!

> Gaggia Classic/MDF Grinder
>
> Rancillo Steam Wand
>
> Kitchen Cart
>
> New Tamper!
>
> Kettle

I've used this Bonavita at least twice a day for a few years w/o any issues. It has fine temperature control, which is great, but really the best feature is that it will hold it at that temperature for 30 minutes.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_bWDltb03JV709

I accidentally did that with my electric teapot last week. It's this one and I absentmindedly set it down on a hot burner instead of its base.

Luckily my wife was watching me. Once she shouted "STOP" for the fourth time, I realized what I was doing.

I use Bonvita gooseneck kettle. Currently $75.99.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480115613&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+gooseneck

There are ways around not having access to a kitchen.

a small rice cooker
can be used for steaming as well as cooking rice.

a slow cooker

a small George Formangreat for sandwiches as well as grilling meat.

an electric skillet

for soups

These 5 would meet most of your cooking needs.

The Cuisinart CPK-17 Variable Temp Kettle is on sale on Amazon currently.


Per Camelcamelcamel this is an all time low at $51.04.

In the past I've been able to have Bed Bath and Beyond match Amazon prices when it's shipped and sold by Amazon, so I would suggest doing so if you want this Kettle but don't want to support Amazon. I included a link, but I'm not sure if it's a referral link or not. Just search CPK-17 and it'll come right up.

If you're willing to pay (what I believe to be) a lot for a variable temperature tea kettle, I can not recommend this tea kettle enough.

I've had mine for...about 6 months now I believe. It still works as perfectly as the day it was bought. It's also gorgeous so there's that too.

On Amazon the price fluctuates but it drops down as low as $79.99 every once in a while. If you don't mind waiting, I'd recommend it to save the $10-$20. Also, don't let that weird "You save 51%" thing fool you, it actually retails for $100 on Cuisinart's website.

We use this Cuisinart Electric Kettle for coffee and tea, and like it a lot. Water heats up quickly, and has buttons for different temps (for the different types of tea) and one button for french press at 200°F. The $80 price point may be a bit beyond reasonable, but I think it is worth it.

http://smile.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1414441702&sr=8-1&keywords=Cuisinart+CPK17

I have a Hamilton Beach electric kettle from Walmart. I've been using it for a year or more and I love it.

Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_PajZtb1DHM8386CF

I've had this Hamilton Beach kettle for a few months now and I love it. It has pre-programmed temperatures, the ability to program your own temperatures, and will hold your temperature for up to an hour (I don't remember if you can set it for longer or not). It has a clock and it has a neat feature where you can set a time that it will turn on and heat your water- so you can have your water ready when you wake up in the morning or ready for you when you get home from work.

Don't be jealous, I used to have this one and it's not very good. The lid warped and wouldn't shut properly after a few months, there's no temperature control so you have to measure the temp manually, and it doesn't heat up as quickly as most kettles. The light on it is pretty awesome though, I will give it that.

I ended up upgrading to this Hamilton Beach kettle,and it is so much better. Has temp control, has a clock feature on the base that you can also setup so it automatically starts boiling at whatever time you set it for(I set it for right before I wake up in the morning so that by the time I wake up my water is already done heating up), the water heats up much faster, has a feature that automatically heats itself back up to the set temp when the temp drops(which is nice for long gongfu sessions), and just feels much more well-made overall.

True, but a 120 volt/1750 watt kettle that heats a liter of room temperature water to a boil in 90 seconds ain't shabby.
http://www.amazon.com/T-fal-BF6138US-Balanced-1750-Watt-Temperature/dp/B0086UJQN8/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1410558896&sr=1-1

At my college we could still have an electric kettle because the heating element is completely enclosed. Our school's regulations specifically say "the following types of electrical appliances are not permitted: any appliance with an open heating element […] unenclosed instant water heating elements" and other appliances that right now have nothing to do with tea. Therefore enclosed is allowed.

The one I have (it's also lasted all through college and still going) is pretty cheap by Proctor Silex.

Also make sure you plug your kettle (and everything else, really) into a power strip with a built-in fuse since most of the reason they don't want these appliances is so that they don't short out (which actually happened to me when I plugged my alarm clock into the power strip with a fuse, but I digress).

I just HAVE to have coffee in my hotel room and I don't trust the cleanliness of the coffee set up in most hotel rooms. I carry this dual voltage collapsable kettle for boiling water as I don't like the metallic taste left by EVERY infusion water heater I've used. Also, it gets too tedious to wait for one cup at t time when I travel with my husband: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG7YLQG?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1&pf_rd_p=90cc9c48-c4b5-46f2-bc74-4c537b7e8d9a&pf_rd_r=XM2GKNHQNZZEWAJD619F&pd_rd_wg=CCmH1&pf_rd_s=desktop-huc-carousels&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_i=B01MG7YLQG&pd_rd_w=bbdUk&pf_rd_i=desktop-huc-carousels&pd_rd_r=61e1e125-b416-43a8-ac46-403370d9a019&ref_=pd_luc_rh_crh_rh_bxgy_02_04_t_img_lh Pour the water over this if I'm traveling by car or train and don't worry as much about packing restrictions because this works fast enough I can make one cup at a time: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Single-Coffee-Dripper-Auto-Drip/dp/B01ENK41Q6/ref=pd_sbs_468_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01ENK41Q6&pd_rd_r=474c02f8-ec2c-11e8-9f7e-2132386dfc7d&pd_rd_w=GZbTh&pd_rd_wg=gpofm&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=7d5d9c3c-5e01-44ac-97fd-261afd40b865&pf_rd_r=NXGJZ38Y2WM70TPVQTY3&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=NXGJZ38Y2WM70TPVQTY3
Or I use these when I fly. Im usually making a cuppa for husband & I so with these I pour the water a little slower, going back & forth between the 2 cups: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HMP9SDZ/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07HMP9SDZ&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&pd_rd_wg=dwQey&pf_rd_r=VBMTWV8Z4MM6T9YZ96NY&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=zE3jD&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=3bd71eb0-ec2c-11e8-bbc4-8bb98d0238f1

I pack the coffee, tea, dry soup mix, sugar packets, etc around the "negative spaces" of the tea kettle in my little kit that I pack. I learned the hard way that most hotels in Europe (except the Americanized ones near airports) simply don't seem to have a coffee / tea set up in the room. If you can handle the taste of a hot water infusion device, get yourself a dual voltage one.

These look hopeful, I ordered some for my (4th) trip to Scotland next year. BTW, IF you do find a coffee set up in your room in the U.K., it will inevitably have packets of instant coffee which is...awful. I like these things because I can pre pack them, use them & toss them out so I don't have to wash, dry, pack the collapsible coffee drip base: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LI6QEZE/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_4?smid=A14N1JL0Z8P4B7&psc=1

And if we are on the run to get someplace, I just use my good old coffee press travel mug.

I've used this one for about two years, it's good: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KYSLNQ/

If you want pourover (though you specified you're not crazy about it), go with the Hario V-60 ceramic. Pick up one of these for expert level pouring. I also agree that the aeropress is another great (and easy-to-clean) option for a one-cup operation. For improved flavor, there is a reusable stainless filter that allows more oils through (versus paper filters). You can also pour instant coffee directly into your mouth. You're welcome.

I hear very good things about this kettle.

Or for $100 less, the bonavita temp control I’m sure the stagg is nice too if you have the funds

My best tips:

Fresh beans + fresh grind + good water = great coffee pretty much regardless of your brewing method.

The 4 ways you can increase the quality of your coffee is to focus on improving these things: beans, grind, water, brewing method.

This is my set-up:

Beans: I get whole beans sent to me in the mail every two weeks from Moustache Coffee Club. This ensures I always have fresh beans on hand.

Grind: I use this Porlex hand grinder and really like it. I used to use this Hario hand grinder, which was cheaper. I haven't yet splurged for an electric grinder. Maybe some day.

Water: I use a kitchen thermometer to make sure my water is between 195 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the optimal range for brewing. I also use this Bonavita kettle for heating the water.

Brewing method: I started off using a Melitta pour-over cone. I've since moved to the AeroPress. I also have a French press. The AeroPress is what I use almost exclusively. I also have a kitchen scale to measure out the water and beans. I use a 16:1 ratio of water to beans. For the AeroPress, 16g of beans and 256g of water fits perfectly. When I measure the water, I aim for between 256 and 260g. I'm not so obsessive that I make sure it's exactly 256 every time.

This sounds like a lot (and there's more, but this is a good start), but I built up to this over a period of a few years. Take your time. Keep learning and exploring and have fun.

The Bonavita Electric Kettle is what I just bought and I love it. Stainless steel all through the inside. I also see it used at a lot of coffee shops around here.

The bonavita is one of the only electric kettle's I've ever seen that has a gooseneck, and it has a thermometer (temp control actually)

this is the kettle I'm supposed to get right?

edit: 6 or 8 cup chemex? assume for two people

If I were you I would spend it on a nice kettle like this or some teaware, or just save it for something else

You're not going to find great quality tea on Amazon

If you want a quality tea sampler I would highly recommend What-Cha's Intro to Tea Collection

In my variable temp Bonavita, It drops at around 1 degree/minute once it has reached 100°C and is taken off heat. It starts cooling more rapidly as time goes on and the kettle itself isn't holding residual heat. You are of course correct though that every kettle is different, and that ambient temperature will effect this. I do believe this however to be a solid rule for people without access to a variable temp kettle or a thermometer.

Your easiest, relatively cheap option would be something like the Bonavita Connoisseur. Just slap in water and ground coffee and it’ll do the rest. Your cheapest option would be a pour over device (Chemex, V60, Kalita, etc.) and a kettle with a thermometer. You could go stovetop (cheaper but less convenient) or electric (more expensive). I’d go with something with temp control like the Bonavita or Brewista for something inexpensive but functional.

Now you are probably gonna hear a lot of people recommend getting a dedicated grinder, and for good reason. If you get a pour over, I’d say a grinder is needed for most of them unless they have some flow control (Kalita, Blue Bottle, or immersion droppers) as you’d need to be able to adjust grind size for best flavor. The Baratza Encore is always a good pick. The Porlex Mini or Hario Skerton are inexpensive and perform adequately for pour over although hand grinding may not be your thing.

For under $100 you obviously won’t be getting the best coffee you can, but overall if you want quality and don’t mind spending 10-15 minutes making coffee then I’d go something like the Skerton grinder, Kalita pour over, and Bonavita kettle. It will be effort though. If you just want something adequate, a dripper (Bonavita above) with basic temperature regulation will be leagues better than keurig, even with preground coffee (grind in store if possible).

You can get the temp controlled one for $55 from Amazon Warehouse Deals. I bought mine that way and it works great! They say “used” but they are basically just open box products. I buy a bunch of stuff that way and have never had a problem. But if you don’t like it you can always return it.

Edit: words

If you are doing greens, you want something with a temperature control. I love this one personally. It doesn't have a plastic window - which I prefer for alarmist BPA reasons. Also it looks cool.
https://smile.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_8?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1480702280&sr=1-8&keywords=electric+kettle+temperature+control

I'd recommend this one http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1453570674&sr=1-1&keywords=bonavita+kettle+temperature+spout ... it's listed @ 71$ right now, I'm a big fan of the pouring spout :D

The Bonavita Variable Temp Electric Kettle is arguably the best and while it's normally around $85, it did get down to $68 the other week (though this was by far the lowest it had ever been) on Amazon. I purchased mine then as I had been using their non-variable temp one for the past 2 years and had been lusting after this one. I highly recommend it but if you can't wait for the sale, the non-variable one is just as good, if not quite as convenient (and requires a separate thermometer if you want to ensure your temp is accurate).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0GDA

We just got a Bonavita and we LOVE it. However it's electric vs kettle, so probably not what you're looking for, but ours is stainless steel and heats up fantastically. Lots of preset temps, holds the warmth for up to an hour, it's fantastic.

I'm convinced this is some kind of sick experiment on part of the owners.

The first thing I would do is break the rules. He needs a small plastic electric kettle. A Hot pot from Rival would be perfect for him. 15 dollars and if he buys it on Amazon it comes in a cardboard box, no one has to even know he has it.

If he is forced to play by the rules, I wish him all the luck in the world and I hope he can get out of there soon.

Commercial towel steamers are impractical for home use. The microwave works fine, but an electric hot pot is small enough to keep under the bathroom sink.

Since I'm a coffee nerd as well, if you're looking to get into coffee for god sakes save for a good grinder. Visit /r/coffee and browse around.

Minimum setup for decent coffee IMHO for a beginner

Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/Porlex-JP-30-Stainless-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0002JZCF2/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1499788564&sr=8-12&keywords=hand+coffee+grinder

Kalita Wave for Pour-over: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-05033-Wave-185-Drippers/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1499788582&sr=8-1&keywords=kalita+wave

Goose neck kettle: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSVV60-Buono-Pouring-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1499788593&sr=8-7&keywords=gooseneck+kettle

Alternatively to the wave,

Aeropress - https://www.amazon.com/Aeropress-Coffee-and-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1499788632&sr=1-3&keywords=aeropress

Clever - https://www.amazon.com/Clever-Coffee-Dripper-Large-Ounces/dp/B00EOM5RN0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1499788656&sr=8-3&keywords=clever+coffee+dripper

Personal notes:
I've used all 3 types of coffee makers above and I still prefer my Kalita wave/v60. If I'm pressed for time and don't really want to think, the Clever.

Cuisinart PerfecTemp: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397060878&sr=8-1&keywords=CUISINART+TEA+KETTLE

Notes and observations from a couple months of drinking:

1. Cuisinart PerfecTemp kettle and Ingenuitea are both amazing
   
2. Not impressed with the cheap tins from specialtybottle.com. I should've known since there's no tension and no gasket. I'll keep larger inventory in the Adagio tins in the back of the cupboard.
   
3. Less black. Once I've run through the Assam and Irish Breakfast (noob mistake on similarities), I'll start on more greens and possibly a white. I can taste why people love green, though it's taking a bit of time to work up to the earthy flavors.
   
4. Drinking ~70% less coffee. My mood and stomach are grateful!
   
5. In Seattle, Perennial Tea Room is a great place. I try to buy about 50% of my tea locally. Will take local suggestions.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ

exactly the reason i got this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=pe_309540_26725410_item

I'm a fan of insulated glass mugs and steel infuser baskets - here's a cheap set on Prime. As far as equipment, you mostly need a kettle. You can either go for a basic stovetop kettle, simple and cheap but no variable temperature - or electric kettles. A good one can run for quite a bit more cash (like mine, not cheap but highly recommended), but are easy and can have variable temperature.

Loose tea isn't cheaper than tea bags, but I'd say it's definitely better and way more diverse.

I was in the market a few months back as well.. ended up avoiding the Hario kettle because it supposedly has thick walls that makes boiling water take longer than normal.

I ended up going with the Bonavita electric kettle and will never boil water for coffee on the stovetop again.

My college setup is going to be a Hario Skerton, Hario V60, and a Bonavita Electric Kettle. It may seem like a lot of money, but after that initial investment you'll spend about 90 cents per cup. Also, the V60 is much easier to clean than a french press.

It seems you will not be making tea for people other than yourself on a regular basis so you don't need a tea set.

I personally have never needed variable temperature kettles. Others love them. I personally don't own but have used this Bonavita. It's a tad pricey but I love the goose neck. One friend runs a teashop and uses those there. Cheaper electric kettles exist.

I would get a cheap porcelain pot, with a shallow brew basket. What happens is the tea brews and as soon as you pour out the first cup, the water level goes below the brew basket and can sit without overbrewing. The shallow brew baskets are 5 bucks and can be found at most large Chinese grocery stores.

AeroPress, for sure. Here is probably the cheapest setup you can do, and still get the best flavour/experience.

Aerobie AeroPress + Able DISK Fine - $40 (I strongly suggest the DISK Fine over paper filters, but the AeroPress does come with a bunch of filters.)

Pocket Scale - $7

Carafe - $7 (so you press straight into this, and measure yield, as most mugs will not fit on the scale; also great for serving two)

Hario Slim burr grinder - $34 (if you'd rather go electric, the Bodum Bistro burr is a great buy and can be had for $120 new or under $100 used/refurbished)

Bonavita Gooseneck kettle - $50 (You do not need a gooseneck for the AeroPress, but you do for any type of pour over, so why not?)

Good luck, and have fun! Give my video a gander to see how to prepare with the AeroPress. It is fun! Almost as fun as an espresso machine. Ha! Yeah, right! But definitely worth the small coin.

I felt like this was a big enough price drop on Amazon to share it. I picked it up today so I can get a work setup going. Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle for $28.94US

This goes a couple of dollars above $50, but if I were buying a gift to myself with these criteria I'd get myself:

A Hamilton Beach programmable kettle for $38.

A Finum double-walled Hot Glass System for $14.

I actually own both of these items and think quite highly of them.

You can get this variable temperature hamilton beach kettle for about the same price. It may not look as nice, but it is very convenient for white/green/wulong teas. If you drink anything other than black teas I would strongly recommend something more like this.

For a goose-neck kettle I recommend the Bonavita 1.7L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle BV382518V. If you don't care about it being goose-neck I have a Hamilton Beach that has lasted awhile now. Don't think they make it anymore but I think the brand is good. Hamilton Beach 40880 Stainless Steel Electric Kettle, 1.7-Liter $23.08. Fount this one Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter $29.99. I cannot speak for other brands. I just know that Hamilton Beach is over 5 years old and did not cost that much.

Here's one for $40 that has 5 preset temperatures and an alarm feature. I have the same kettle, except mine allows me to choose the temperature in 5° increments from 160°F to boiling. I haven't tested the alarm feature since I don't get up at the same time every day, but it is a good kettle.

>First off, how do you store your teas air-tight? I have one tea that doesn't have a seal, so I just keep it in a ziploc bag inside the paper box.

I do the same. Put the tea in something that blocks out light, then put that in a ziploc bag to keep out air.

>Also, how do you approximate the temperature of water in a kettle? I know it's important to have the temperature right, so how do I get the temperature right for non-black teas with a kettle?

I use this kettle, which has a variable temperature control. Before that I boiled water in a pot and used a cooking thermometer, which was more work, and before that I just estimated based on the size of the bubbles in the water.

I am an unashamed Sleepytime tea addict...it's a must every night before bed. Yes, it's a mix, but chamomile is the main note. I got one of these and one of these for his recent Happ-Tea Birthday with a bunch of quality loose leaf black teas. He decided he just likes his Red Rose English Breakfast tea bags, so I get to play around with the tea steeper. I quit caffeine, so I haven't tried those, but I've tried Tranquil Dreams so far which I really liked. I think I might get a just straight up chamomile and lavender blend next go around.

Long live tea!! :-D

Hario Skerton $31

Bonavita Variable Temp $50

American Weigh Scales LB3000 $25

Total: $106

You're not going to be able to get an electric burr grinder with your budget. The cheapest, generally acceptable, burr grinder is the Capresso Infinity and it's $100.

This Bonavita kettle is really hard to beat. Not only does it have 6 assorted temperature presets, but you can also manually set it at any temp up to 212°F in 1° increments. It also has a hold feature that will hold your temp for up to an hour before it auto-shuts off.

I was a bit upset that my first one crapped out after only 4-5 months, but it was an open box deal, so who knows what might have happened to it before I got it. They did send me out a replacement pretty quick, no questions asked, so I can't complain too much.

I can give suggestions for a kitchen since I remember what it was like shopping for a limited kitchen.

1. [Electric Water Kettle]( Proctor Silex K2070YA Electric Kettle, 1-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_1oDtub1AP48CP) - nothing is more satisfying than having hot water for cup of noodles and tea on a cold day. It may seem simple, but you'll definitely get a huge use out of it. This one is a cheaper model, but if you want a sleek looking one I'd recommend the Hamilton Beach one.
   
   
2. Crock Pot - it is a bit home body but the standard sleek silver or black finish is still very modern and beautiful in my opinion. You can find one of these ANYWHERE and will depend on how big you would like one. The size will determine the cost, but also how much food you can make in one sitting.
   
   
3. Digital Kitchen Scale - unless you plan on doing a lot of cooking where the recipes are in grams, this is definitely a futuristic tool. It makes me feel like I'm back in my chemistry class each time I use one of these.
   
   Hope some of these help make your new flat into a home!

That's a good start, but there are a few things you need.

• A poster for a band that's alt enough to make you seem edgy, but not so alt as to make you seem weird.
  
  
• A guitar propped up in one corner that you must never play
  
  
• A bean-bag chair, of course
  
  
• An electric kettle.
  
  All joking aside, you should have an electric kettle, not a coffee-maker. If you're into coffee, get a french press to go with your electric kettle. They are both totally affordable.

YAY! :D let me think.... I'll add things to this post as I think of them.

Bed Caddy

Bed Risers

Hamper

This Book (my cousin got it for me when I started college way back when, and it really has a lot of good advice)

Storage

Dry Erase Calendar

Small Room Safe

Dorm Security

Command Strips

This amazing food/beverage station

A freaking PURPLE fridge

Brita

Make pooping in a shared bathroom less embarrassing

This photo display

An electric kettle

Also a planner! I like to make my own and use different colored pens to differentiate between my classes! If you want the template I use for my planner, I can send you a link to it! :D

Bonavita has a 1.7L variable temperature gooseneck kettle.

[Well, actually...] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00N2278VC/ref=redir_mdp_mobile?psc=1)

I will have to agree with what u/Pumpkinsweater said. Last year my girlfriend and I were in the same boat, but we decided to get a french press and use a cheap $40 grinder with not-so-great results.

We then got the Hario Slim hand grinder, which made a huge difference, but was just a bit too much work for the mornings.

We now have a Baratza Encore grinder and an Aeropress; a $150 (USD) total investment. We still use cheaper beans because we are on a budget, but properly ground and pressed cheap coffee, to me, is still quite nice.

The cool thing about the Aeropress is it makes coffee at double strength, which you then dilute down to "regular" strength or whatever you want. If you want a latte-STYLE, just use the double strength and finish with an equal volume of milk/creamer/whatever. You get a ton of variety from one little Aeropress. It's quick too, I can have a cup made (after the water is already heated, of course) in just under 4 minutes.

The Baratza Encore grinder will work across whatever you want to try. They say it's not great for french press, but I find it perfectly fine. Aeropress, French Press, Pourovers, or grinding for a cheap-o drip coffeemaker, it works for them all.

Oh, that's one thing, you will need a hot water kettle. We've had the Hamilton Beach temp controlled w/ timer since last year and it is awesome. You can program a time for it to turn on, so your hot water is ready, and also set the temperature (I brew coffee at 195-200 degF, then I can vary it for teas). http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418247900&sr=8-3&keywords=hamilton+beach+hot+water+kettle

Anyway, good luck in your ventures!

If you don't feel like spending the money on a variable temperature kettle (I own this one which is generally the cheapest variable temp kettle you can buy), I recommend purchasing an instant read thermometer. They're typically $15 or less. That's what I did before I got a programmable kettle and I'm glad I upgraded.

> I'm sure you're tired of noobs asking for help here, so thanks again :)

Not at all. I'm happy to see noobs asking, it means the community is growing.

>I'm sure at some point some of you were preparing tea just like me,

Yup, you bet your bottom dollar I was.

>what did you change since then?

1. Get an electric kettle! This is absolute best possible thing you can do to improve your tea; it doesn't matter how good your tea is if you don't brew it right. I have this one and I love it, make sure whichever one you get is actually accurate: http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YE3RNG
   
   
2. An infuser works but I would suggest switching to a teapot, preferably gaiwan. You don't need anything fancy. You can get gaiwans smaller than teacups or as big as a stockpot. Gaiwan brewing makes a huge difference in flavor, each cup tastes different.
   
   
3. Quality tea. Some places to start: https://www.reddit.com/r/tea/comments/48tr3d/if_you_could_go_back_in_time_when_starting_to/d0mx38l
   
   Order in small amounts, it will help keep both the tea and your palate 'fresh'. Plus vendor offerings change with the seasons.
   
   
4. Slow down and enjoy your tea, the process, the aesthetics, the aroma, the texture, etc. Go sit outside, drink your tea, and just listen to the sounds of the world, observe.
   
   >How do you weigh your tea? One way would be to prepare 1l cans instead of a cup, then I could use a regular kitchen scale and would not have to fiddle with the digital spoon.
   
   Personally? I don't, I eyeball it. In my itsy bitsy gaiwan I add enough dry tea leaves to cover the bottom.
   
   For your purposes though I would recommend getting some storage tins and some very small plastic baggies. You can sit down and weigh out a bunch of individual servings and bag them and store them in your tin; when you're craving tea all you have to do is grab one of the baggies, drop it in and you're good to go.
   
   >I could use a bigger tea infuser where the tea could unfold completely.
   
   You absolutely positively have to be doing this no matter what. Give the leaves space to breathe, no matter the brewing method.
   
   > I really want to step it up this year, and get something citrus-y and refreshing for the summer (any recommendations?) that's delicious cold.
   
   Send a private message to Liquid Proust Teas on Etsy (I linked to him in my other comment), super friendly guy, great prices, even better tea and he can do custom blends for you. He has some really interesting blends, like the Fake Mead which has powdered honey in it. (Paging /u/LiquidProustTeas).

You could get a small and unobtrusive travel kettle for coffee. Bonavita make one that's quite nice:

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Voyage-0-5-Liter-Electric-Travel/dp/B008YQLZOW/

Hey /u/iamadudette, I've been teaching Americans about proper kettles again.

Easy Ramen!

First, you'll need one of these.

Next, you need a brick of Ramen noodles. Fill the water to the top line, then place the brick in –it fits very nicely. Turn it on and wait for it to click off. Perfect Ramen!

While not the healthiest food, Ramen is extremely customizable with tons of different spices and ingredients that either don't need refrigeration, or come de-hydrated.

I soup my Ramen by adding soy sauce, sesame seed oil, broccoli, and sriracha on top. The broccoli can be added to the water while the Ramen is cooking in the kettle, and it will come out nicely.

BonaVita makes a 1.7L kettle, but it seems like it's harder to find nowadays.

Maybe an immersion heater would help? https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Instant-Electric-Immersion-Heater/dp/B01M0Q84BR

I'm bringing this electric kettle with me. Between that and my new Camellia Sinensis tea flask I should be good to go.

Invest in a good grinder. Here are two items that you'll also need:

• A cheap 0.01g scale: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003O5K3JQ/
  
  
• Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle (on sale!) - http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40
  
  Your actual brewing hardware will depend on the style of coffee you prefer and the amount of people you make coffee for. I'm a huge fan of an Aeropress with a SS mesh filter -- but I only make coffee for myself.

I got this one. I brew both green and black teas, so I wanted to make sure I had the option to brew both at the right temp.

I got the Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle. True, it is the single most expensive single purchase so far for my coffee but it has made coffee making a ton easier. Getting water to 205 degrees (or whatever you prefer) without any hiccups and being able to pour it without worrying about splashes, over-pouring or anything else has made it one of my favorite purchases so far. It just adds a ton of control to your coffee-making, which is super beneficial when there are so many variables in it already.

Generally not a fan of these guys. They do work hard on design, but they often miss key elements in the finished product (specifically in their first coffee steeper).

I bought a version of the Bonavita gooseneck four or five years ago (here's an example of a recent model) that still works like the day I took it out of the box. When I am home, it gets used at least once per day, if not multiple times. Coffee in the AM, tea in the afternoon. I can't recommend a model like this enough.

An app and WiFi is fun, but I prefer this version.

No dumb ass questions. If you're going to the bother of grinding your beans, it takes about 2s extra to weigh your water and beans to get the right ratio. Costwise, I guess you could skip it, but at that point if you don't care about ratio, we're talking about a different mindset than I'd originally thought.

I realize now I didn't recommend a kettle. This omission kinda changes things a little. Ideally, you'd get this one but it's $71. Bringing the total cost to $178.

Bare bones kit: Skerton grinder. Aeropress ($30). Any electric kettle you can find at Walmart ($15). Still would need a milk frother if you're into frothy milk.

First thing you need is the Hario Burr grinder (if you're on a budget).
Here is the one I use camping and at my boathouse:
http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Ceramic-Skerton-Storage-Capacity/dp/B001802PIQ

If you're new to the coffee scene, I recommend subscribing to a coffee service like Blue Bottle Coffee until you develop a taste for what you like. It's a little pricey, so if you're on a budget buy a variety of locally sold beans.

Next, get a water kettle. I bought a variable temperature one 4 1/2 years a go and it still works great and accurately (got a new thermometer and themalcouple for Christmas and just ran an accuracy test just for this comment!)
http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40
For the budget coffee drinker, microwave your water to a boil and measure the temperature with a $5 Walmart kitchen thermometer. Pour on your grounds at 185-195 degrees F.

If you want to get very precise, get a scale that measures to a tenth of a gram. A timer is also useful, but usually don't need to buy once since you can use your phone, microwave, watch, etc.

There is Temperature Variable Bonavita Gooseneck for $68 and free shipping, it's a steal.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1480367109&sr=1-2&keywords=bonavita

I'm looking into getting an electric kettle that has a manual temperature control. I like the idea of boiling my water to different temps according to the beans I'm using or the type of tea I'm making. But I've been reading the reviews on both the Fellow Stagg EKG and the Bonavita BV382510V and it sounds like they're garbage-- they either break down after a few months or won't even work out of the package. On top of that, some people complain that the temperature the kettle reads is quite different than the actual temperature of the water.

​

My question(s) is: is it worth it to get a temperature controlled kettle? Or should I just use a conventional kettle and a thermometer? Are there any temp controlled kettles that you all recommend?

​

Here's the two I'm looking at: Bonavita , Fellow Stagg

there's always the bonavita electric kettles

The Bonavita Variable Temp Kettle fits your requirements. I did a review of it 8 months ago, and still use it multiple times/day.

buy a steamer since it shouldn't break ANY school dorm rules at all, (and maybe an electric kettle like this for things like tea or whatever.)

Then, just every few days, pick up healthy meals at a cheaper place, say Aldi. (Aldi has frequently been cheaper than Walmart or Costco per oz. Just figure out when they get their shipments, though, because produce is only good there like twice a week) and just steam your meals. Buy some spices to make it yummy, and if you get the electric kettle you can heat water or milk to makes sauces.

The only thing that is difficult to do with a steamer is red meat. Usually to cook meat via steam you need a pressure cooker. That said, though, if you cut it into small pieces it can work. That would take some messing around with. I'm assuming your dorm has a microwave somewhere too and maybe a community toaster?

You can make lots of things in the steamer, including some not-quite-so-healthy foods like many of the Asian style of appetizer (dumpling, pork bun, etc).

There's a chance you could get a mini fridge with a larger freezer portion, but unfortunately until that happens with my method you'd have to buy in small portions and go shopping once every 4 days or so too keep the food guaranteed fresh.

What's your price range? The Hario Buono Kettle runs for just shy of $40 on Amazon right now, and the Fino Kettle runs for just under $30.

If you're really tight on money though, you can always look for one of those tall silver-plated tea pots with a long spout from a local antique store. I picked one up for $3 and used that for years before getting myself a Bonavita. It's a little unwieldy but it gets the job done, and pours much cleaner and slower than a normal kettle.

The Cuisinart PerfecTemp is a favorite around here. I've had one for a few years and absolutely love it.

Maybe it's the cuisinart kettle?

I always have a cup at my buddies place and love it. Fuck it, I'm going to buy a gourd and order some Yerba right now.


Edit: these were his recommendations:

How to for traditional preparation. This is a little much, but you will get the idea.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3hh7Qh828U

A properly made gourd will last all day.

Gourd and bombilla

https://www.amazon.com/ARGENTINA-GOURD-YERBA-STRAW-BOMBILLA/dp/B001E8P93A/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1487864201&sr=8-8&keywords=yerba+gourd


Good Yerba brand

https://www.amazon.com/YERBA-MATE-CRUZ-MALTA-2-2lb/dp/B00E3UI0SC/ref=sr_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1487864314&sr=8-2&keywords=cruz+de+malta

electric water kettle

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_9?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1487864357&sr=1-9&keywords=electric+water+kettle

Also, need a thermos or insulated coffee cup.

For a quick yerba here is a tea infuser. Its not as effective as traditional, but still does the trick for a quick fix. And you can make it in a coffee pot if you are making a large amount for whatever reason.

https://www.amazon.com/SALE-Tea-Infuser-Stainless-Strainer/dp/B01DMMVXLW/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1487864396&sr=1-3-spons&keywords=tea+strainer&psc=1

My parents' house burned down around Thanksgiving and they asked me for pot & pan recommendations as they rebuild. Here's a list I sent them of things that ought to last forever but won't break the bank (no Mauviel, Staub, All-Clad, Le Creuset, etc). #1 on the list is a 12" Lodge skillet, just like the one we have. :)

• 12" cast iron skillet, along these lines: http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-L10SK3-Pre-Seasoned-Skillet-12-Inch/dp/B00006JSUB/
  
• 8-12qt stock pot. Here's a reasonably priced 10qt model: http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-76610-26G-Classic-10-Quart-Stockpot/dp/B007HN67KU
  
• 2.5qt sauce pan (optional)
  
• 3.5qt chef's pan (not optional), similar to this (the rounded bottom/edges is critical): http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinox-Elite-Quart-Covered-Chefs/dp/B001BKKB3Y
  
• Stainless roasting pan (root vegetables, turkey, etc): http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-MCP117-16BR-MultiClad-Stainless-Rectangular/dp/B0041Q409G
  
• 5-7qt enameled cast iron dutch oven (we use this as our primary soup pot. We only use our stock pot for pasta or when we're making soup for a really large crowd): http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-EC6D43-Enameled-Island-6-Quart/dp/B000N501BK
  
• Cuisinart electric kettle (this is SOOOOOOOOO much more efficient than either the microwave or the stovetop -- we never knew what we were missing until we bought it): http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ
  
• Measuring cups and spoons: http://www.amazon.com/Kitchenmade-Stainless-Steel-Measuring-Stackable/dp/B00IRQNHTK and http://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Stainless-Steel-Piece-Measuring/dp/B000P0W4MC
  
• Pyrex measuring cups (a 2qt and a 4qt)
  
• Nesting glass mixing bowls: http://www.amazon.com/Luminarc-Stackable-9-Piece-Bowl-Set/dp/B000V6W5ZG
  
• Large stainless steel (lightweight) mixing bowl. I'm not sure exactly how big ours is, but it's probably similar to this. We use it when we make salads for crowds, or any time we don't want to crowd whatever we're preparing. http://www.amazon.com/Thunder-Group-Mixing-Bowl-13-Quart/dp/B001E0HQSO
  
• Colander (pasta, veggies): http://www.amazon.com/Bellemain-Micro-perforated-Stainless-5-quart-Colander/dp/B00O97D0DO
  
• Strainer (berries, rinsing beans):http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Grips-8-Inch-Double-Strainer/dp/B00004OCLX

This is the one that I am COVETING!

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1451440676&sr=8-2&keywords=CUISINART+TEMPERATURE+CONTROL

You might want to mention what country you live in. If you’re in the US or another 110v country, your options will be much more limited and the kettles will be much slower.

That said, I’ve been happy with this Cuisinart multi-temp kettle. Pricey, but reliable, and handy if you drink a lot of white/green/Wu long tea.

Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_NVoSDbMKAJ0F1

When I lived in a dorm I had a thing like this that I used to make noodles or couscous or those indian food things in packets that you just have to boil. And then you can just chop up vegetables from the store into little bits and mix them in. http://www.amazon.com/Rival-4071-WN-32-Ounce-Express-White/dp/B00006IUXU

This allowed me to make hard boiled eggs, wilt spinach, heat soup, make soup from semi-scratch, pasta, ramen, things I am sure I am forgetting, and a friend had luck making mini pancakes in it.

I successfully poached/boiled chicken in it as well. I had brined it first, so it didn't suffer to terribly in terms of texture. You could also do baby potatoes pretty easily, and I sometimes heated frozen vegetables in it or portions of those frozen "meal in a bag" things. I bet rice would even be doable, but I suck at making rice.

It is a little workhorse of a water boiler if you are creative and want/need to cook in your dorm room.

Maruchan Instant Lunch isn't a bad meal either, you can get them for 49 cents from Wal-Mart and other discount stores, they are super easy to make with an electric kettle and if you like hot tea you have a quick and easy meal right there.

1. This is something I have not known I wanted before now. I was doing some research on something I could do to make my macro photography better and this is the most amazing product I have ever seen. If I don't win, I am going to buy this. It will really change how my images turn out! Plus, I want to start selling fine art images, and it would be easier to get really good images if I had this, rather then them being great macro images, but poorly lit. :)
   
   
   
2. If I got this amazing electric kettle I know I would use it several times a day. I have been wanting this for almost a year now. C'mon...gimme.
   
   Lookin mighty splendiferous today, if I do say so mahself!

There are also much, much cheaper electric kettles. Here's one for 15 dollars. It doesn't have all the various temperature options that the one greentea1985 linked to has, but it boils water.

It's been 3 hours, so I assume you've gotten your coffee fix for today.

For tomorrow, get yourself a French Press and an Electric Kettle. The two together will run you about the same as a medium-quality drip coffee maker. Chances are you can even get them locally at a Walmart / Target for cheap.

• Put water in electric kettle
  
• Turn on electric kettle
  
• Put coffee grounds in French press
  
• When water boils, put water in French press
  
• Set a timer for 4 minutes (I use my microwave's built-in timer)
  
• After 4 minutes, push down the top of the French press
  
• Pour coffee into cup, add cream/sugar/Irish whiskey if applicable
  
• Enjoy

In Indian colleges, students aren't allowed heaters etc. and the food almost always sucks.
So we hide electric kettles and use it to boil maggi noodles.
That has become the staple diet of all college students.

>I thought about a pour over, but I don't really know what I'm getting myself into

Honestly, not that much. It's pretty straight forward. A Chemex produces a fantastic cup, and would only really require you get a gooseneck kettle. Ditto if you go the v60 route. Bonavita has a couple, either temperature controlled or not. Other wise Hario kettle would also work.

Regardless, take a look here at Brew Methods. It has summaries on a variety of brew methods, from chemex to other. May give you some ideas.

>I don't want to spend a ton of money,

Depends on what "a ton of money" is to you, but:

• you may want to consider a new grinder, it will allow for expanding what you can do with the coffee. Potentially too much money, but a refurb Baratza might be worth saving for. Especially the Maestro/Virtuoso if you aren't doing espresso.
  
• a scale to weight coffee and water to nail down variables
  
• a gooseneck kettle for pourovers
  
  > would a chemex be a better investment?
  
  Yes, imho. Buy a cheap gram scale, a gooseneck kettle, and a chemex/v60. You'll be very pleased with the results.

About a year and half ago I went from 0-60 with this setup:

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSV-Buono-Drip-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Dripper-V60-Clear/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=pd_sim_k_6

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-White-Filters-Brewer/dp/B001U7EOYA/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349906139&sr=1-1&keywords=hario+v60+filters

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349906080&sr=1-2&keywords=hario+hand+grinder

http://www.amazon.com/Ozeri-Digital-Multifunction-Kitchen-Elegant/dp/B004164SRA/ref=sr_1_5?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1349906101&sr=1-5&keywords=kitchen+scale

Here is a video I found about how it all works:
http://vimeo.com/34182806

The big thing is to use FRESH roasted beans (we're talking ~3 weeks old or less). If you are buying beans that don't have a date on em, try again. Hopefully there is a coffee shop around you that will sell their own roast (usually comes in a 12oz package). If not you can try the grocery store or order online (http://ceremonycoffee.com/ is a good start), it really depends on the city you live in.

I had always liked the aroma and taste of coffee in other things (ice cream specifically) but it wasn't until I got into beer that I really started to appreciate it. Hopefully this finds you well, feel free to send a message my way if you have any specific questions!

The only thing is that you basically need the Bouno Kettle or a similar kettle to use the V60 properly. Unless OP has a kettle that can give a slow consistent pour, the V60 may be a bit out of the question...

The Hario gooseneck is floating around the lowest price it's ever been on Amazon. According to camelcamelcamel:

Currently: $33.49
Lowest: $30.97

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Link: here it is on amazon

• UK: amazon.co.uk
  
• Spain: amazon.es
  
• France: amazon.fr
  
• Germany: amazon.de
  
• Japan: amazon.co.jp
  
• Canada: amazon.ca
  
• Italy: amazon.it
  
• China: amazon.cn
  
  
  This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting).

The Kalita Wave Pot is gorgeous and the comments say people use it on gas, electric, and induction stoves. It's just $1 over your budget.

The Hario V60 Buono Kettle is another option as well, slightly less expensive at $38.

Lastly, I know it's out of your price range and you don't need electric but wanted to mention it anyways. The Bonavita Variable Temp Kettle is pretty much the standard just in case you're interested!

The kettle is indeed necessary. It's only $40 though.

My ritual includes the following items which make tea at work for me:

• The electric kettle
  
• The personal tea mug
  
• The meeting tea pot
  
  This is the best $60 I ever spent. These are my favorite teas I can recommend:
  
  
• Ahmad Barooti Assam - for the mornings
  
• Rooibos - A root tea popular in Africa, also called "bush tea" for the afternoons
  
  Boil water, steep and drink! I usually load up on the tea and steep for about 5 minutes because I like my tea strong. The Nissan Thermos is the best insulated mug I've ever owned. It has kept my tea hot for about 4 hours with the lid on. Absolutely amazing.

If you don't want to spend the extra dollar, you can use bubbles to estimate the temperature. What I'll also do, since I have a non-programmable Aroma kettle that just celebrated its fifth birthday, is boil some water, stick a thermometer inside, and jot down the temperature every few minutes. Then, I'll know, for example, if I want water at 170°F, I should leave the kettle for ~10 minutes after it finishes boiling.

If they allow you to bring something to plug in at your desk, buy an electric kettle to heat your water. Only caveat is that they draw heavily on the electric grid compared to other American appliances, and can cause a circuit to trip on old buildings/apartments.

If you have an electric kettle, then you can make something at your desk. I use mine to make tea (the right tea can totally get you as wired as coffee), but others have mentioned french presses which should work as well.

I have this electric kettle, which has a temperature control which is vital for making different types of teas. Maybe that would be helpful for coffee too, I dunno...I don't drink coffee.

Edit: An electric kettle just heats water. You don't make the tea or the coffee (or the hot chocolate or ramen noodles or anything) in the electric kettle...you make it in a 2nd pot or cup. The electric kettle just gets the water boiling.

There are plenty, you can just Google it, but they tend not to be the cheapest possible options. Then again, I agree with what's been said--save up a bit and buy a stainless kettle; the plastic ones are nasty.

-PINO

-Jura-Capresso

-Kalorik

-Adagio

-Melitta

A good varible kettle, electronic from Adagio I haven't used it myself but proper water temperature is very very important if you drink lots of greens or non-black teas. The one I use (Cuisinart CPK-17) is more expensive, but right now it's on sale and within your price range. It has buttons for specific types of tea.

UmiTeaSets has a great selection of gaiwans, I'd reccomend some of the "easy" ones with the little mouth at the end, it makes pouring very easy and very mess free. I also would to point out that 150ml is a lot, especially since in gongfu brewing you do it maybe up to 12 times, which could easily be too much tea for you.

I can't recommend a gawain enough, especially the easy variety. They're great for drinking just the right amount of tea whenever you feel like. It takes five or ten seconds to brew, and with my CPK-17 the water boils quick and stays hot long enough for me to take my time drinking many infusions from my gaiwan. They're also easy to clean and perfect for a single person, if you were making tea for your roommates then I'd say something bigger but for just one person you can't get a more perfect size than 120-150ml.

I use this kettle. I tested the temps with a thermometer when I first got it last year, and the settings more or less do work. I think I measured 170 degrees for the low-end of the green tea setting and about 182-185 degrees for the highest setting. I only brew green tea in the morning and peppermint tea after dinner, so I'm happy with it!

Hey there. If you haven’t already you should browse /r/tea. I know it’s a bit overwhelming, but their tea FAQ breaks down a lot to of good info for beginners.

I currently use a fancy multi temperature electric kettle that my husband bought me (this one by Cuisinart ), but in the past I brewed tea by using a stove top kettle or even just a pan on the stove. How you heat the water is up to your preference. Just make sure you’re heating the water the right temperature and the correct steeping time for the type of tea you’re brewing (covered in the tea FAQ).

If I want more than one cup of tea, my electric kettle actually keeps the water at the correct temperature for 30 mins so I can easily go back and pour another cup. I also have a 6 cup ceramic tea pot that I use and I find it reasonably keeps the tea warm enough, though I usually only use it if I’m drinking tea with someone else. If a tea pot doesn’t seem to keep it warm enough you can knit or crochet or buy a tea cozy to insulate the pot.

I only use loose leaf teas now since the price is better and it’s much fresher than bagged teas. I shop with Asiago since I can order online or go to their shop downtown, but there’s tons of tea shops to choose from.

It doesn't really come as a "kit," what he's recommending (and something I would suggest myself) is getting a good grinder a kitchen scale (doesn't matter what kind as long as it measures in grams), a kettle (if you really like tea, go ahead and splurge on one with temperature control if not, any old electric kettle will do), and lastly, /r/coffee's hands-down favorite noobie coffee brewer, the aeropress.

The aeropress is, in essence, a big ass syringe with a filter where the needle would go. I won't get into the specifics of any of the umpteen fuckzillion ways to brew with it, but the instructions that come with the aeropress will make something really tasty and a lot like espresso, and there's tons of methods on how to make good, strong black coffee with it.

I'll be honest, it won't be as rock simple as insert pod->push button-> receive coffee-like liquid, and it'll take a little trial and error but the aeropress is much less of a pain in the ass than other brewers (cleanup takes literally two seconds) and once you put a little love into it and learn how to use it properly it'll never seem like a chore. IMO a low-effort method like a french press or aeropress requires no more effort than making a pot of coffee in a regular all-american drip brewer.

Anyhow, if you decide to go with the aeropress or another manual method, I'd suggest also reading this quick and dirty introduction to coffee that I wrote up just to get a basic idea of the methods behind the madness as to why everyone's steering you away from pods and how to get a great cup of coffee.

Hope this all helps!

Well I'm obviously slow but here it is. Great deal with Prime.

It's also available at Macy's, which is where mine was sent from as a gift.

I have this kettle. I press the temperature button I want, and by the time I'm done grinding my coffee and got my aeropress ready, the water is at the desired temp.

The Smart Kettle has no plastic that touches the water.

In addition to the Smart Kettle, I also have a UtiliTEA and a Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp. They both have plastic water level windows. Even so, I prefer the Cuisanart over both the Smart Kettle and the UtiliTEA.

You might want to check out Foxxie's comments on a previous kettle thread. Foxxie talks about which kettles have BPA, etc.

I brought a Cusinart Electric Kettle and it boils a 1.75 liter amount in a reasonable time. About 7 minutes. 2 cups in about 2-3 minutes.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_sp-atf_title_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393879919&sr=8-2&keywords=cuisinart+kettle I didn't pay that much.

You don't have a lot of variable temperature electric kettle options under $50. Cuisinart CPK-17 gets a pretty good Consumer Reports score but is slightly over your budget at $61.19 right now (though earlier this month it was $51.04.) Hamilton Beach 41020R is very similar, and comes in just under your budget at $44.99 (and I see a 25% off coupon. You may not.)

We put this electric kettle on our registry and we use it every day: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KYSLNQ?colid=1F4292RFY6ZAJ&coliid=I1KRV7C8N20K8U&ref_=hit_wr_dt_vr_md_pt

If you like a variety of teas it'll heat the water to the right temperature, and it heats up SUPER fast :)

Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awd_4RO-wb8T7E0D3

There are many ways to make green tea, but in all honesty, just drink it the way you like it. This may take some trial and error, but you will eventually find a way you like it. Usually generic brand green tea bags are more "forgiving" than say the higher end green teas that require you to be a little more precise with the temp and steep times. If the tea tastes bitter to you, try steeping it for less time or lower temps. Usually a good starting point is what they put on the package.


Personally, as I hate making tea at the office as I always struggled with getting my teas the right temperature or let it steep too long as I got distracted by a meeting. Now, I just make it in the morning before coming to work using this water kettle and this travel mug. The travel mug usually keeps it at the temperature I want for several hours.

I've got the Cuisinart CPK-17 and it's been working wonderfully for me. I've read on a review that the temperatures are pretty accurate.

This one's hold feature only works for half an hour, though, and you can't set in 1° increments. Just showing you an alternative.

Gooseneck kettle is a must for pour overs if that's what you see in your future! I have the Bonavita 1L electric kettle. Looking back, I would have invested in the more expensive version that lets you vary temperature, but I've had great results with mine regardless.

I started out with a v60, then a Chemex, then the Aeropress. Of the 3, I use the Chemex the most often; it gives the best quality brew with the highest quantity (37g @ ~600mL of water). It took me quite a while master the pour, but it was definitely worth it!

Hope this helps and good luck on your coffee journey!

EDIT: For grinders, I have the Hario skerton. It takes a while to grind the beans, but was marvelous for my budget at the time. Once I have the money though, I'm going for the Baratza Encore. It's cheaper than the Virtuoso, but an old roommate had the Encore and I LOVED having all my beans ground in such a short amount of time.

Just some food for thought!

Not OP but:

Grinder

Coffee

Brew_Method

Brewing_Gear

Edit: I should note that these beans are roasted. Roasting your own can be a whole new game. Also you will want to get a Water_kettle

I've been using the Bonavita one without the temp control, and it has worked well for my work set up with a V60.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-0L-Electric-Kettle-BV3825B/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1426096288&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+1+l+kettle

I've had this one for almost a year now and I'm pretty pleased with it so far. I installed a probe thermometer in one of the vent holes.
http://amzn.com/B005YR0GDA

Adagio has a pretty good teapot/tea sampler to start out with. This:

http://www.adagio.com/gifts/holiday_ingenuiTEA.html

is what I use. I also recommend buying a programmable electric kettle since different varieties of tea require different water temperatures. I have this:

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_52?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1395218831&sr=1-52&keywords=electric+kettle

and it's been amazing. I drink mostly Oolong and green teas, so I wanted something that had temperature control.

The best way to find what your preferences are, and to understand your palate is to try what sounds appealing to you. Adagio is a pretty good place to start. :)

Hey there--if this lucky individual is really into tea and interested in learning more/expanding his/her palate, then I'd highly recommend starting with something like this ["Discovery Collection"] (https://redblossomtea.com/products/discovery-collection) or the ["Green & White Collection"] (https://redblossomtea.com/products/green-white-collection) from Red Blossom Tea Company, based out of California. Pair it with a cheap tea basket from Amazon (~$10.00USD) and call it a day! If you're really feeling generous, then I'd also pick up this ["Hamilton Beach Programmable Kettle"] (https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_13?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1511811952&sr=1-13&keywords=variable+temperature+kettle) from Amazon if he/she doesn't already have a kettle. Hope this helps!

A lot of people like this one from Hamilton Beach if you can spend about $10 more. https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

Quick Google search returns this one. It also has some preset temperatures and a hold function. I haven't tried it but it was the first thing that came up.

Google "programmable kettle" and you'll get some options.

You could also go with a smart plug and put a timer on that, just plug into the outlet (outlet turned off), turn on the kettle and set the plug to turn on at a certain time. If you get a smart plug with power monitoring it can also notify you when it's done.

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420989185&sr=8-1&keywords=programmable+kettle

your mug is fine just the way it is, but it is better to heat tea in a kettle (electric or stovetop) to avoid superheating it and causing an explosion of water in your face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_OXM4mr_i0

http://www.amazon.com/Finum-Brewing-Basket-medium-black/dp/B000I68NCS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420989221&sr=8-1&keywords=tea+filter+basket

these are highly recommended.

.

https://www.davidstea.com/

Davids tea has AWESOME "dessert teas" which is what I think you are looking for.

They also have some KICKING tea mugs with stainless steel infusers that are similar to the finium, but they also come with a lid doubling as a coaster for the filter.

I don't typically sweeten teas unless they scream for it, so i can't help you there.

https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/

I use this one and it gets the job done

You could always get something like this http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

It's probably not very quiet but it has a timer and you could literally pour a cup of tea when you wake up.

I use this Hamilton Beach kettle. It can be set to between 150 (I think) to 212 degrees, in 5 degree increments. My only real complaints are that it is kind of loud, and there's no alert to let you know it's done heating (although it gets much quieter once it's finished).

I use the Hamilton Beach Variable Temp. Electric Kettle . I drink a lot of varietys of tea that require different temperature. If you just drink black tea, or just aren't that serious about tea, a tea kettle would be fine. You can find simple ones at super markets. And you do not put tea in tea kettles. Those are tea pots. And sometimes they arent even required. When I drank loose leaf tea casually (without any gongfu (chinese) teaware) i just used two cups, poured the water in one cup with the tea, and poured the water out with a strainer into the other cup.

I've used this almost every day for a year without issue. Variable is the only way to go.

I have this one:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0083I7THI/

I actually bought one of the Amazon warehouse ones for like $28 or so. They come and go.

So far, it heats the water quickly and works pretty easily. I haven't verified the temperature independently, but I'm honestly not that exacting (/r/coffee blasphemy, I know).

The LCD interface to set the temp and other things is pretty confusing. I pretty much just fought through it, set the temp to 195 (what I like my aeropress at) and then have left it alone. Now I just hit the on button, it heats up and holds for an hour.

Possibly my only complaint is a gooseneck would be nice, but I mostly do aeropress, not pour over, so I just am careful with the pour and don't have any issues.

I have [this one,] (http://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Balanced-1750-Watt-Electric-Temperature/dp/B0086UJQN8/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1416434273&sr=1-2&keywords=electric+kettle) and I love it and it will turn cold water into hot water faster than you can say "OMG that was fast!"

It's also cute, if you're into that sort of thing.

Gas burners can have different levels of heat output. Get the model number of your stove and lookup the burner output in the specifications section of the owners manual.

The design of the pot base and how it's positioned over the gas burner can have a big impact on its efficiency and effectiveness to absorb and transfer the heat. A burner that's too small may not output enough heat to boil water quickly when the pot is also too big and ends up distributing the heat too well, causing a lot of the heat to be released invisibly through evaporation and air cooling of the side of the pot.

Imagine how a single candle flame might be enough heat to easily and quickly boil water in a small glass test tube, but it might only slightly warm up a large cast iron pan. The heat output is the same, but the heating effect on the liquid depends on how concentrated that heat can become.

The concentration and amount of heat are related but different things. If you want to quickly boil several gallons of water, you'll need a lot of heat and an efficient way of transferring it. You might find it worthwhile to buy an electric water kettle that's specifically designed to boil water quickly (and with auto shutoff). However, you should learn about the capacity of the electric circuits in your kitchen, as well as how those circuits are wired to the outlets. Most circuits in the USA are 120 volts with a 15 or 20 amp breaker. Most kitchen appliances are designed to stay within the current limits without tripping the breaker. They do this by limiting their power use to share the power in a circuit better, but at the sacrifice of not being faster or better by using the max amount of power they can.

Therefore, a lot of electric kettles use from 800 to 1,500 watts. If you look for a "quick boil" feature, these kettles use 1,750-1,800 watts. Some also have double-wall insulation, stainless-steel or glass, and other features that affect the speed of boiling, keeping it hot, and cleaning it.

I have a couple of these TFal electric kettles. They're close to the max power, the temp is adjustable, the kettle is cordless to the base (which has the cord), it has auto shutoff, and it's easy to clean with a bit of vinegar and a sponge, since the top opens up enough to reach inside to access the stainless steel heating element.

You can also get a good stovetop kettle, but you should match it to the burner sizes you have.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/

Not gooseneck, but otherwise the same.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418624608&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+electric+kettle

This is the cheapest available option for a variable temp kettle that I know of that still stays under $75 (most are closer to $100).

If you want precision by a single degree, Bonavita has one as well as a gooseneck version that fall under your budget.

We have the Bonavita 1.7L electric kettle

Variable temp kettles are a definite requirement for the tea enthusiast.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YE3RNG?pc_redir=1412262025&robot_redir=1

Not quite preset temperatures, but control of the temperature. $29.99 with Amazon prime! Very easy to pour, well worth it, and I'm someone who switched to this from a Breville One Touch.

Here's my kit:

• Bonavita travel kettle
  
• Travel scale
  
  I shove everything in a cheap canvas tool bag for carrying places. It'll fit beans, kettle, aeropress, aergrind and friends with some nesting.

I'd recommend the Bonavita Travel Kettle.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YQLZOW?pc_redir=1408852939&robot_redir=1

You're probably not going to get quite as hot of water out of that heater thing as you'd want.

Ah ha but you have run into an American. I use [this](Ovente KG83B 1.5L BPA-Free Glass Electric Kettle, Fast Heating with Auto Shut-Off and Boil-Dry Protection, Cordless, LED Light Indicator, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DEPGY7G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wKIgDbJFB9VSR)

Not sure what cordless is supposed to mean, it does have a cord to plug it in.

Yorkshire Tea can be bought in some grocery stores in the international section, but they might not have a dedicated “England” section so check the entire international section.

A wondorus contraption that can boil a liter of water in a couple minutes. If you drink a lot of tea, eat a lot of ramen, or do a lot of general cooking you will wonder how you ever lived without one.

It's amazing how handy boiling water is. The best thing I ever used mine for was replacing linoleum. Boiling water turned out to be the best way to remove dried glue from concrete.

The ones in the UK use more power and boil even faster.

Edit: You don't have to dig a pot out of the whatever, they use less energy than firing up the stove, and work much faster. You can easily control how hot the water gets, anywhere from delicately hot for green tea to a roiling boil.

The one you linked seems cool, but... Uh... Explain electric kettles to me, haha! I've heard the phrase before but I never really thought about how they could be better or even much different than a stovetop one! It says... it says it's cordless? How does that work?

CVS stocks this one https://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A

Had it for 3 years. Nothing fancy but boils water just fine

So let's take an elecric kettle like this one. We'll use it as our "average" kettle. It consumes 1000W at load, and takes 5 minutes to boil a liter of water while consuming that much energy. This translates to a little more than 83 watt hours, or about 7 amp hours on a 12V battery bank. Assuming you have at least a 100AH battery bank since you're going to be charging devices and running a fridge, this isn't a huge percentage of your energy storage capacity. It is, however, a large draw of energy, so you will need to make sure both your battery bank and inverter are rated for energy draws of at least 1500W.

get an electric kettle such as

https://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=sr_1_1?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1478353562&sr=1-1&keywords=hot+water+heater

And a Bodum french press:

https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-Shatterproof-Coffee-12-Ounce/dp/B002UFWW2W/ref=sr_1_7?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1478353640&sr=1-7&keywords=french+press&refinements=p_89%3ABodum

Bonus, hot water also allows for oatmeal and other things too!

Even though we aren't huge on kettles here in the US, we do have kettles.

I've had this little guy for more than 10 years, and it heats up very quickly. My cousin has this incredibly fancy thing and it is fancy af.

Much cheaper and simpler than hiring an electrician to do all of that stuff.

Green Tea you do not want to pour 100°C (212℉) boiling water on it.

Depending on what type of Green Tea, from 75°C (167℉) to 85°C (185℉ ), nothing near 90°C.

I'm using this Brewista Kettle, If you set it to 85°C, it will brew UP TO that temperature and stop.
Unlike most kettle or those chinese tea kettle where they brew to 100°C, and you'll have to wait for it to drop the temperature.

There's also a "keep warm" function, where it will trickle boil the water to maintain at that temperature.
Timer to set what time to start boil, so when you wake up and go to the kitchen, the water is ready for your tea. (I don't use this function though).

​

Check this video out:

​

** Green Tea is healthy, but too much green tea is actually not good for health.

For gaiwan brewing I would recommend a variable temp kettle. If I had a device that holds 2 gaiwans full Id need to refill it 6 times in a session. I find 5-6g of tea makes over a liter of tea. A variable temp kettle just stays where you want it. I am not familiar with heating pads but it would be difficult in a gaiwan because you want to add the correct temp water to the leaves.

Here its my electric kettle. Very very little plastic. Doesn't take up much space
Epica 6-Temperature Variable Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bdxMBb083HH34

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Just got this in the mail today and am super pleased. It works really well, my only semi-complaint being that it does rumble while boiling.

I have a zojirushi boiler/warmer, and I don't think it'll do what you're asking for. What it does is that it boils water, lets it cool to a user set temperature, and then keeps it at that temperature. So if you want hot water on demand, and you tend to need to heat water several times a day or convenience is really important to you, it's a great device. Mine is over ten years old and still working great. But it doesn't make the coffee for you.

The closest device I would suggest is an old fashioned one cup coffee maker. I got a $5 one from target nearly a decade ago, and it's pretty fast in terms of making one cup of hot coffee/water. It's got a reusable filter too, so no waste. This device is small, smaller than the water boiler, but it's still stashed away in the cabinet. Our household doesn't drink that much coffee, so most of the time, we just use the zojirushi and a vietnamese coffee filter. We used to have a pourover filter, but I don't know where that's gone, I think I lent it to someone and never got it back. My parents use a zojirushi and a pourover filter, or powdered coffee, or cold brew, they're coffee people.

Reminder: if you're only going to need a cup of hot water, you don't have to fill the whole electric kettle and boil the whole thing. You can boil just the one cup, or whatever the minimum water level is. It takes a lot less time to heat up one cup of water vs 2L of water.

Or boil however much water and keep it in a thermos to gongfu with during the day, pre heating the thermos will help significantly with heat retention. I use a 40oz stanley that I take to work.

I also have one of those small travel electric water heaters, and it works fine. I just have alot of kitchen gadgets, it's a weakness.

I don't have one of those instant immersion heaters ( https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Immersion-Electric-Portable-Reheater/dp/B01M0Q84BR/ ), which is basically a metal coil you can put in your cup of water to heat it, but if counter space is an issue, it looks pretty small and you could stick it in a drawer.

For daily travel, a vacuum insulated metal travel mug. Zoujirushi and KleanKanteen are both excellent, haven't had to replace either in 6+ years so far, except for a new silicone seal for the KleanKanteen. I request hot water from cafes and coffee shops, bringing my own cup usually means no charge for water. For longer trips when I have a little suitcase, a small collapsible electric kettle similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/Gourmia-Travel-Foldable-Electric-Kettle/dp/B01MG7YLQG

Gourmia Travel Kettle.

Picked up mine from a thrift store.

I cannot function without coffee in the morning. When I found out that one of the cheap hotels I had booked didn't have coffee maker in the room, or coffee available in the hotel at all, I had to act. https://www.amazon.com/Gourmia-GK320W-Travel-Foldable-Electric/dp/B01MG7YLQG

OXO On Adjustable Temperature Electric Pour-Over Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KHPS7F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_H4u4AbD1V1NXY

This is the one i have http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ

It's back down to 59.99 on amazon again.

Edit: 60.99

granted

Looks like he might have used this.

I think you've got your priorities a little mixed up if you're using a microwave to heat water because you don't have the money for the most expensive variable temp kettle you can find.

Pick yourself up a cheap kettle, electric or stovetop, and a thermometer. Get the kettle you want when you're good and ready. Brewing with water that is a little too hot isn't going to immediately destroy your brew.

Someone mentioned the possibility of superheating your water and scalding yourself. If you're going to continue boiling water in the microwave, please make sure you've got something to prevent this (/u/seepgnarr mentioned a chopstick).

I personally use a Bonavita Variable Heat Gooseneck kettle for my coffee (usually pourovers). http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

No idea what's best, but here's the ones I've owned. I tend to avoid ones that have plastic bits touching water:

• This is my work kettle. You can select a temperature, but it doesn't hold at a temp: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019J0A092
  
• This is my home kettle. I like this one a lot because it can hold at a specific temperature: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40
  
• If you are concerned about plastic bits touching your water, there are some ceramic kettles: https://www.amazon.com/Ceramic-Tea-Kettle-Temperature-Presets/dp/B06XGQ9SB1 and https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Ceramic-Kettle-detachable-protection/dp/B00C4Z8O1G
  
  I have the ceramic bella, I don't use it much, but it holds a lot more water than my other units. It's a pain to fill with how my water spout off of my fridge (filtered water) is designed because it has a has a wider brim. I do not have the temperature adjustable ceramic, that was just a random Amazon result that looks good that I threw in.
  

• If you're an engineer and have a little disposable income, one very popular choice is the Bonavita 1l variable temp kettle. Sometimes the lids on these do rust for no apparent reason. Cheap thermometers are cheap, and you might want to have one.
  
  
• A 10-12oz ceramic mug is good for starting out with. There is a Chinese style with a lid that has a lot to recommend it.
  
  
• Tea from good vendors comes in packaging that will keep it adequately fresh for months. You should just drink it up soon enough that you don't need storage.
  
  
• You are missing a basket-style infuser.
  
  
• Not absolutely necessary, if you are sticking with small broken-leaf tea that can easily be measured with a spoon, a small digital scale is inexpensive and useful for measuring tea with large, fancy leaf or tea that has been compressed.
  
  This is basic gear for so-called "Western-style" brewing for one person. If you decide you want to scale up with this method, there are pots that work with the same principle.
  

Oh, a dedicated pouring kettle is crucial for any pourover brewing methods. The gooseneck design allows for far more granularity and precision in the flow rate and position of water flow. The faster the extraction rate, like a V60 pourover, the more important the control over those variables becomes.

I have this Bonavita. It's probably the single best purchase I've made for my coffee brewing adventures for a few reasons. First, it's got that gooseneck spout I mentioned. Second, it has a variable temperature sensor and control, which removes the guesswork from water temperature. The hold function is great, too, since I can put water in and set it to 200, hop in the shower, and it will hold the temperature at 200 until I pour it. Super useful. Lastly, it heats water faster than any other method I have. Faster than stovetop, faster than microwaving. It's great. Massdrop has been doing runs on them occasionally for ~$78, so you could keep your eye on that.

Not enough control. I prefer this

I'm not OP, but it looks like a Bonavita Variable Temp. Gooseneck, which can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464394066&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+variable+temperature+kettle

If you're looking for loose leaf, this is a pretty good little sample pack to try a couple different kinds. If you're really new though, (coming from Keurigs and Starbucks and such) I'd probably recommend starting off with some less expensive/complex bagged tea first.

Assuming you're in the U.S., Twinings is likely to be the best you'll find in an average grocery store. P.G. Tips are pretty good as well, though as far as bagged tea goes I prefer the selection of Twinings. You can try all the different basic kinds this way and refine your tastes from there. Get a kettle, electric for convenience or stove-top if you like the whistle. Then just put a tea bag in your favorite mug and add hot water. There are also individual tea steepers so that when you have loose tea you don't have to make a whole pot at once.

If you go electric and have spare cash, you can spring for one that measures water temperature. That will make it much easier to make sure that you brew each kind of tea at the optimal temperature. Here is a quick guide on what temperature is best for each basic kind of tea. If you get into more complex teas from there, the supplier will usually have more specific directions.

Lastly, make your tea the way you like it. Don't be discouraged by people who say black is the only way to appreciate tea, if you like it better when it's half cream then more power to you. Milk, cream, sugar, honey, and lemon are all popular additions, feel free to mix and match and add and subtract until you find what's right for you, and then let your tastes evolve from there. (Many darker teas may taste a little bitter at first, but with milk and sugar become quite a treat).

We registered at Amazon for the selection and convenience. We could find just about anything on amazon, and could add anything else through the universal registry feature. Guests shipped most gifts to our home, which was great since we live across the country from where we were married. I'd heard the return policy was rough, but luckily we didn't have any duplicate purchases. Amazon's registry was perfect for our needs.

Some of the most-used items we received:

• VonShef mixing bowls.
  
  
• Narrow measuring spoons. These fit inside containers and are so much less messy.
  
  
• Glass tupperware set.
  
  
• Adjustable temperature water kettle. Our household is really into coffee and tea, and this has made all the difference.
  
  
• Coffee grinder. Our total splurge of a grinder that was generously gifted by another coffee nerd.
  
  
• Griddle pan. Perfect for grilled cheese, pancakes, etc.
  
  
• The Harry Potter box set. We put this on there to break up the typical household list and were so excited for a nice hardcover set!
  
  
• Cast iron dutch oven/skillet combo.

1. I use a standard Brits filter, however the water in my area is actually very good water.
   
   
2. If you are going to use TWW then you buy distilled water from tre grocery store. Sometimes you can get it from a water store in bulk. Some people just use bottled water instead.
   
   
3. No, just use the water from your tap. If you filter filtered water from the store, your just wasting the filter you bought.
   
   
4. Depends on the size of your mug and how much you plan to brew. I personally brew into a mason jar then pour in my mug because the filter will touch my coffee on top of my mug.
   
   
5. It’s not really “coarse” or “ready” it’s more of a “fine” to “coarse”. There’s not really any way to do this other than trial and error. If you get the mini mill, start at about 6-8 clicks and then see what your brew time is. If it’s really short, like 1-1:45, it’s likely too coarse, but if it’s 5 mins plus, it’s likely too fine. You’re shooting for a brew time between 2:30-3:30 mins, but sometimes you’ll like it a bit longer or shorter. Don’t worry about the time too much, since you should base your coffee on how it tastes, not the variables you put in.
   
   
6. The filters on your amazon list are sufficient. I would recommend if you start with the tabbed ones, that you stick with them. Always buy bleached as well. The “natural” ones will need a lot of washing before they stop tasting like cardboard. Not worth it.
   
   
7. I would recommend the plastic v60 as it’s better at heat insulation, which gives a more consistent brew temp, and is also more durable, so if you drop it it won’t break. I would also say to either get a cheaper kettle, or spend a little more and get the highly discounted and highly recommended bonavita variable temp kettle for $44
   You could also save on your scale and get something like a Jennings CJ4000 (I have it, and you can plug it in so you don’t have tho use batteries) the hario scale is more accurate to .1 as opposed to the Jennings .5 but that’s not super import in pourover. Especially as a beginner, you won’t be able to detect the taste difference of a few 10ths of a gram of water or ground coffee. The hario also lags, and your mostly paying extra for the aesthetic. But if the aesthetic is worth it, go for it.

This is the Bonavita I have and I love it!

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Digital-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1525132017&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+tea+kettle

It's not really a question of "better". It's just different, and it's up to you which you prefer (or maybe you'll prefer one or the other depending on the coffee beans). In my opinion, French press coffee tends to be somewhat muddled. It's hard for me to distinguish different flavor notes. Pour over produces a cleaner cup that's also less oily, and none of the fine coffee grounds end up in the cup. I usually use the French press for blends, but stick to the pour over for single origin coffees.

For making pour over coffee, it's pretty important to have a kettle that gives you good control over the pour, which is why a gooseneck spout is preferred. I would recommend the Bonavita 1L variable temperature kettle.

Here are some alternatives:

Bonvita variable temp gooseneck kettle

Hario [scale]
(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009GPJMOU/)

American Weigh scale

I've used many electric kettles, and the Bonavita 1L Variable Temp Gooseneck is by far the best. It's expensive on Amazon right now, although you can usually get one secondhand for around $65. There's one on eBay for that price plus shipping right now. Since it's gooseneck, he can also use it for coffee pourovers if he decides to pick that hobby up too.

Hmm, maybe you got lucky or I got unlucky. I used it 2-3 times a day and they both developed the rust and it also started taking significantly longer to boil. The rust problem seems to be mentioned in a lot of the reviews on Amazon too... https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1540718362&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+kettle

You can get an electric kettle with temperature control if you want more control: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_awdm_zCMoub1Q9WQAE

I second the Cuisinart kettle. Also, Bonavita works for me just fine. The only downside is that it’s a gooseneck kettle, so the water drops a few degrees while being poured. But the kettle usually overheats by a couple of degrees anyway, so at the end it balances out.

Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0P.5CbZC5HDYN

I use this one and love it so far.

In my opinion, just pay $9 more and get this Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_bOW5CbHK339A6

No problem! Hope it ends up being useful.

The kettle is the Bonavita Variable Temperature kettle:

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417298015&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+kettle

It is amazing. Worth every penny, in my opinion. It completely eliminates the temperature guesswork involved in everything coffee.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417710975&sr=8-2&keywords=bonavita

As /u/geekRD1 listed below = Best gift I ever received. Differen't coffee's and tea's need to be brewed at different temperatures, PLUS for pourover's the gooseneck spout is something you cannot be without, otherwise the water flow is messed up.

FYI, the Bona Vita Variable Temp Gooseneck electric kettle is only $50 on Amazon. This is one that I see a lot of people use. It's not as pretty as the Fellow Skagg EKG, but imo it's a better value.

For $50, I think everyone here will recommend the Bonavita variable temp: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/

Baratza grinders are hard to beat. If you can manage to wait a little while, they offer refurbished models for sale too (I think they update on Thursday mornings US Eastern time) - https://www.baratza.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=RFRB

For a scale, I use and love the the American Weigh 2Kg scale. It has 0.1g resolution to measure your beans and because it can measure up to 2Kg you can put the Chemex right on it and measure your water while you brew! Plus, it's under $20USD. http://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-SC-2KG-Digital-Pocket/dp/B001RF3XJ2

If you have an iPhone, Intelligentsia has a great app that has guides for all sorts of different brew methods. It includes timers and calculators to let you know how much water to use for a given amount of coffee. (Sorry, I can't help with android apps). http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/content/iphone-app

I haven't gotten a gooseneck kettle yet and have been using a 2L electric kettle without any temp control. I use a thermometer every year or so to measure how long it takes for the amount of water I put into it to cool off from a boil to ~200F (which is around 2 minutes) and then just set a timer when I use it. That said, this kettle is on my wish list: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

I make a pot of coffee with the Chemex almost every morning before going to work. I use a Klean Kanteen insulated bottle (http://www.kleankanteen.com/products/wide-mouth-insulated-20oz?variant=1605388483) and some generic travel mug. Before brewing I pour boiling water through the filter of the Chemex and also into the bottle. Then when it's time to brew I pour the water from the Chemex into the travel mug and brew the Chemex as normal. Post brew - empty the warming water from mug and bottle, and pour in the coffee. The mug doesn't keep things warm for very long, but the bottle works pretty well for several hours.

Happy brewing!

This is my preferred kettle for tea and coffee:
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1482382252&sr=8-5&keywords=temperature+control+kettle

I like my Earl Grey a bit more on the bitter side. Look up 'Uncle Grey', it's made with vanilla in it. On that note, look into make a drink called a 'London Fog', they're fantastic.

We had a flash heater in my dorm freshmen year. It was pretty neat but there isn't much more you can use it for if you don't eat lots of ramen. I don't know much more about them but I'm pretty sure they should mostly have a temp regulator.

However I think an electric kettle may be a better move, especially if you're on 220 volts. It looks like that isn't the case for you though. This electric kettle that I have is great. It only takes a couple minutes to heat up a full liter to 190 degrees and if you use a hand grinder the timing works out pretty well. I think this would be a better purchase.

bona vita variable gooseneck. no question. http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

This one is good, lots of features like "keep warm", and variable temp.

Yeah, hard to beat for $50.

Bonavita Variable Temp Kettle

As /u/Lion_Thompson mentioned, you can consider getting a BonaVita that allows you to control the water temperature, that is, if it's within your budget. I usually brew mine at 205F but there're a lot of Aeropress recipes out there. Heard someone used 140F in a competition so you can definitely experiment with it!

Otherwise, I'd recommend just getting a decent gram scale so that you can start playing with the coffee:ground ratio, and the brew time if you'd like :)

Amazon Japan has the gooseneck version of the Bonavita available via Prime.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B005YR0F40/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_cr_x__a_w

I brought over the non-gooseneck version of the Bonavita and have used it for a few years. I like the degree-specific setting and hold mode for up to an hour. Built in timer as well.

I have the Bonavita variable temp gooseneck kettle and I absolutely love it. The gooseneck is much better than the stubby spouts for gongfu. Easier to control the pour. Plus 1L is the perfect size, so that I'm not continuously boiling the same water.

By the way, there have been quite a few threads in the past with the same discussion, you could probably find some good info by searching for "electric kettle" or something like that ;)

Just to add a more modern option to the lineup, I bought this kettle to take to college with me, and it has served me fantastically! The temperature control is a must have imo if your brewing up some good green tea :D

Love it, nice overview picture. Just about the same setup as I've got at home, minus the hario. I haven't splurged for one yet (just using a teakettle, ugh), but I'm tempted to jump for the Bonavita electronic kettle. Any thoughts on why not to get an electric kettle?

It dropped to $60 on Amazon recently. http://camelcamelcamel.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/product/B005YR0F40

Im looking to buy an electric kettle for myself as ill most likely be in a dorm room, as of now im looking at this but some of the lower star reviews had me wondering if there is a better option and whether or not it does loose leaf (im only just starting)

I don't have anything too fancy! Just a Hamilton Beach programmable one: https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1527110277&sr=8-9&keywords=electric+kettle+hamilton+beach

This Cuisinart one is normally highly recommended though: https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1527111212&sr=8-3&keywords=cuisinart+kettle

I have an Aeropress with a Hairo Skerton Slim grinder and can vouch that it's amazing. The Skerton was supposed to be skeleton but I think it's an Engrish typo thing. Also using 175 degree water helps with flavour. I use this kettle and am very happy with it. http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346697392&sr=8-1&keywords=cuisnart+kettle

Find a local coffee roaster/shop and ask them to show you the size of the grind to use for inverted Aeropressing. I do it for 2 minutes and the grind is more similar to a french press grind, maybe a tad smaller. I'm drinking it right now and it's delicious.

Also I remember seeing two sizes of the Hairo Skerton, I have the smaller size, the slim, and it's diameter is just a bit smaller than the Aeropress so it's easy to transfer the grounds into the chamber. I think the larger size would require the use of the Aeropress funnel but I could be wrong. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Hairo+Skerton

Also, Make a small digital kitchen scale is useful to get the same amount of beans everytime. I personally use between 12-20g depending on what I'm in the mood for. The grounds usually go to the level 2 on the Skerton if that helps.

happy brewing!

edit: fresh beans from a roaster taste better to me. The stuff on the shelves at grocery stores are all stale. Starbucks beans are too burnt for my taste too.

I have this one from Cuisinart and love it I've had this one for a year and a half or so now and it's still going strong. No issues at all.

You can get a relatively inexpensive electric kettle and keep hot water, hot cider, Mulled wine, etc behind the bar. Heats up pretty quickly, and this one you can set a temp so you don't boil over or denature your booze.

I usually preheat my non water ingredients in a small metal tin resting in a tempered pint glass half filled with hot water, so it acts like a hot water bath. That plus preheating your serving vessel (ideally tempered glass too, with a handle) gets you a ripping hot drink.

I'm not in the UK, but these are kettles that I've used and have been awesome without having any problems. Both of these kettles are great for any types of tea you might want to brew. I really like the precision pour that you get with the gooseneck kettle, and also it is a favorite kettle if you like to brew coffee too.

BonaVita Variable Temperature Gooseneck

And

Breville Variable Temperature Kettle

You could have refrained from buying the cast iron pot. You can make stellar tea with a way cheaper pot. I don't know their return policy, but if you can return it, I would highly recommend that. Look into Gaiwans; Shoot, I use a pyrex measuring cup sometimes to brew tea and just strain through a dollar store tea strainer. I would save the money that you spent on a cast iron pot and put it towards a water boiler that can heat to different temperatures. My favorite it the Bonavita variable temperature kettle.

If you are new to tea, I would recommend getting the smallest weight available of all the teas you buy. I think in Teavana, that is 2oz. This helps you by allowing you to buy more teas to sample different varieties, you can always go back for more if you really love it. Lastly, buying the smallest amount of tea ensures you will finish it faster, which means your tea doesn't have a chance to go stale.

How many people are we talking about? That will inform the decision. Also if more than maybe 2 or 3 you will really want to consider getting a commercial machine or at least a high-end consumer setup. An entry-level espresso machine designed for home use is not designed to be pumping out shot after shot all day.

I think ease of use and ease of cleanup is paramount. I honestly think a Nespresso may be a good bet. Yes they are expensive to operate and yes the pods are wasteful but they are super easy to clean up. If you get a regular espresso machine and somebody forgets to remove the portafilter or leaves scummy milk on the steam wand it will get gross really fast.

Here is what I would recommend:

• Nespresso and/or K-cups. The coffee is mediocre at best but it is truly idiot-proof and no mess.
  
• A nice grinder like a Baratza Vario and a nice, largish coffee maker like a Technivorm Grand (makes about 6 mugs of coffee). You can program the Vario to grind the right amount of coffee to brew a pot.
  
• Buy a grinder and an electronic kettle or two (I like this Bonavita kettle since you can program the temp), and then tell your employees to BYO brewing technique. And/or buy a bunch of ceramic pour-over cones that can just be put in a dishwasher.

I own a virtuoso and I love it. Grind quality for anything that isn't espresso is going to be about as good as anything that isn't $2700. The Lido is of course a great grinder, but I really think the no-effort aspect of the Virtuoso is underrated. I just made three cups of the same coffee in different ways - a side by side test is so much better than comparing days apart. I don't think I would have done that if I had to manually grind it out each time.

Pourover, V60 or Kalita are your best bet. Kalita is more forgiving but I think the V60 is more flexible once you get used it it. You should also look at getting an Aeropress - it is what got me used to stronger coffee and ultimately espresso.

Other gear, if you're doing pourover you need a gooseneck kettle. This one is great if you can swing it, otherwise any gooseneck will do. A scale like this one will be your best friend too.

EDIT: Disclaimer: I would not plan on using either of those grinders on espresso. The Lido is certainly more capable for that specific task, but ultimately you will want a grinder for espresso use only for two reasons:

1). Grind quality is SUPER important for espresso, and the Lido might get you to mid-range in that capacity. Plus adjustabilty is an issue here, so while the Virtuoso can grind to espresso fineness, it can not take small enough steps to get a truly great cup.

2). Switching from brew to espresso is a pain, and it will decrease the quality of your espresso. You need to "dial in" espresso, which is finding a very specific grind setting and recipe for a specific bean. Switching back and forth will completely disrupt that process on top of just being a pain.

Now, both grinders will be fantastic for brew and I would highly recommend both of them for that purpose. The above just something to be aware of.

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Buono-Coffee-Drip-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1397058465&sr=8-9&keywords=Kettle

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_22?ie=UTF8&qid=1397058484&sr=8-22&keywords=Kettle


I personally prefer goosenecks, you get much more control when using pour overs. The top one is a stove top, the bottom one is electric

I personally use this one (it's cheaper, and hasn't failed me yet -- and I like the digital readout vs the cuisinart since the cuisinart buttons will gradually wear off and you'll have to memorize the temps for each button):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044WWB8Y/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've been using it daily for about a year and have had zero problems. Cleaning (any electric kettle) is simple by just running vinegar in it to remove hard water deposits, then rinsing thoroughly. Also purchased one for my father as a gift, and haven't heard any complaints. It has a stainless model if the metal aesthetic is important to you, but there are plastic innards.

I've also heard good things about this one (but haven't used it personally):

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/

I got a 1.7L bonavita variable temp electric kettle for around $66 on sale. You can find the 1.0L or the 1.7L on sale if you're patient. Most people on these forums swear by them.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B00N2278VC/

You should start there.

What I did in your situation was get a Bonavita kettle, used Zassenhaus, and Chemex. There's no way to make good coffee for an office without hiring a barista.

I agree with getting a kitchen scale where you can weigh your coffee. Getting your measurements right makes a difference in the way your coffee tastes. I started out at a 1g:14g coffee to water ratio the first time I started brewing. I'm now at a 1g:16g coffee to water. There's a lot of methods out there it seems on r/coffee and the internet. But I think that's the beauty of it is that we can experiment and find our favorite cup of coffee. TONS of resources online

• Pour carefully and slowly. Having a gooseneck kettle. The gooseneck helps control the pour a lot compared to an electric kettle. I brewed for about two years with an electric kettle and I noticed a considerable difference when I upgraded to a gooseneck kettle.
  
• Temperature matters. I believe most electric kettles don't go higher than 160F (about 71C). The gooseneck kettle I bought when I upgraded was the Bonavita Variable Temp Kettle. Kind of pricey but it killed two birds with one stone for me. I could now brew at 201F (about 93C) and higher. This also improved the quality of cup I was making. I've seen places brew at 200F or 205F.
  
• BradyHoke hit some great points. No need to further reiterate.
  
  V60 Brew Videos
  
  Iced Coffee Tutorial I used to learn

I usually look for Bonavita for my kettles. It’s a bit pricey, but it’s a guarantee of good quality.

Also, you can get an electric gooseneck with built in temperature control for around $40.

Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_T.goDbFT58JXW

Mine looks a little different, but I’ve had it for about 1.5 years and it’s been a trusty companion to making great coffee at home.

I use this one and it works pretty well.

Not sure if it's the "best" electric kettle though. For that, I've heard the Bonavita variable temp is one of the better ones.

On my wish list is the Kalita wave dripper, as I've heard the notes you get from using it are different from a Chemex (my brewer of choice). I also have an aeropress on the list too.

Also, there's nothing like a good espresso brush... they have to be replaced frequently (like once every two months or so), so having them as stocking stuffers is nice.

Lastly, my favorite tool is the Bonavita variable temperature kettle, which lets me get a consistent brew temp every time and has a gooseneck for a controlled pour.

Book: God in a Cup

Bonavita 1L Goosneck Kettle

I think you're looking at the non-gooseneck version... the gooseneck kettle is still around $100.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416957289&sr=8-1&keywords=bonavita+kettle&pebp=1416957295154

That's on the low end for the usual, recommended kettle here. The Bonavita 1L variable temp retails for $65ish. MassDrop is a website that polls its members for what they want to buy. Members vote on certain products. If polls show enough interest, MassDrop offers the item for sale and the price usually decreases based on how many sign up for the "drop."

I have an OXO variable kettle I snagged for $60ish which now sits at $99.

Variable temp kettles are certainly more expensive than their counterparts, but filling it with water, pressing a button, then going about your business is very nice. I use mine enough I got another for the office. They are by no means necessities, and it's been my last piece of gear to upgrade.

​

I don't know your budget, but I use the Bonavita variable temp gooseneck for teas and coffee. It pretty much covers all tea and coffee needs without a need to upgrade in the future (covers pour over should you get the itch). I frequently do green tea, hibiscus tea, and coffee, which cover a wide range of temps. The only annoying part is having to adjust in 1 degree increments when switching from one end to the other, but that is what gives it very precise control.

The Cuisinart is good in that it lets you press a single button for temp adjustments if you switch very frequently, but it doesn't have a goose neck or perfectly precise temp controls (neither may be absolutely necessary for your needs currently). There aren't too many options, but they are atleast varied to give you some different choices.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/

I'm guessing you're talking about the kettle and not the grinder here. As far as kettles with all the bells and whistles, she was probably talking about a gooseneck that you can set temperature for each type of coffee, and make it hold the temperature. Something like this:

Bonavita BV382510V 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle, Metallic https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_BLGzCbH4YQAHA

I would say that (even if you dont get one with all the gadgets) the gooseneck is really important.

I still use a normal food scale and it's not really that big a deal.

As for the grinder, like everyone said, dont get a blade grinder. Definitely get a burr grinder. The issue is that if you're looking for a cheap burr grinder it's going to have to be a manual one which can really get exhausting especially if you're just waking up lol.

My suggestion in general is not to invest TOO much at first. Start off with a cheap gooseneck, whatever food scale you have, or some cheap one, and just getting whatever coffee shop you buy your coffee from to grind it for you. You can ask for a specific type of grind like "pourover" or "french press" and they'll find it to their ideal setting. When you really get into it, you'll realize what you need to upgrade etc.

I highly recommend the Hario Drip Scale. It's made for coffee, super easy to use, accurate, dependable, and good aesthetic design. Been using it for 2 years.

Edit: And while we're on the subject, you don't only want to measure your coffee beans. You want to measure your water temperature and get a consistent grind as well. This Bonavita electric kettle has always been good to me, as well as the Baratza Burr Grinder.

If you can spring $80+ for one, I highly recommend the Bonavita Variable Temp Gooseneck kettle. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_8cjEub0ZA0Y9R

The timer feature is perfect for what I use it for. When the kettle isn't on the base, you can press the plus button and a count up timer will start.

If you don't need the gooseneck, this is the same one without it, for much cheaper. Bonavita 1.7-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_zfjEub0XGWA48

Edit: I just realized you wanted a programmable timer to start the kettle in the morning. I don't think either of these can do that. Sorry!

Probably the only kettle that will meet all 5 of your criteria would be the Fellow Corvo:

• Goes down to 135F
  
• 0.9 L capacity
  
• Not a gooseneck
  
  You can get a variable-temperature gooseneck kettle for less than half the price of a Corvo, though. I've been using my Bonavita for years.
  
  As /u/light_white_seamew said, most 1L variable-temp kettles are designed for pour-over, which is why they have a gooseneck spout. It's not really big and cleaning the spout itself has never been a thing for me.
  
  No kettle that I know of goes down as low as 120F; just pour the water into an unheated ceramic cup and it'll drop by 10-20 degrees quite rapidly.

I love the Bonavita Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle. It will bring his pour over game to the next level.

A temperature variable electric kettle is the best for tea drinkers. Some tea require more heat than others and a kettle like this

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

or this what I use

http://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-CD-WBC30-TS-3-Liter-Boiler-Warmer/dp/B00M0GOI0K/ref=sr_1_sc_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1417855010&sr=1-2-spell&keywords=zoujirushi+water

would make brewing a variety of tea fast and easy.

here you go :D
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0086UJQN8/ref=od_aui_detailpages01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

If you want something VERY precise then http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418156999&sr=8-1&keywords=digital+electric+kettle

Alright, I'll lay out two set ups for two different price points.


Cheap Set Up

Hario Skerton This is the most basic entry level grinder possible, grinds enough for one person pretty easily, and gets "good enough results for a poor college student

Aeropress You can make full cups of coffee or pseudo-espresso that you can mix with milk for a pseudo, its easy to clean, and probably the most forgiving coffee making tool.

And then any kettle and any scale. Look for cheap on both, were going for cheap here, and were not doing rocket science, should be another 25-30 total for both of these, which lands you just under $100 total for this set up. You don't need to bother roasting beans yourselves, and if you're in a college town theres probably a local roaster around that you can get good quality roasted beans from and be happy with. For cold brew just throw grounds and water in jar in you fridge for a day in a 8:1 ratio, then strain the goop the next day for a solid cold brew concentrate



The pricier beginner college set up


Baratza Encore. If you can afford this, then get it. The things great, does everything but espresso grind really well, and because its not manual its doesn't take that long and it doesn't require any real effort on your part. I love mine, but the $140 price tag could be steep (I wouldn't have bought it when I was in college, I was poor as shit).


Brew Methods: I still recommend at least an Aeropress, but pair it with a 1LFrench press too for when you want to make a lot of coffee at once, or coffee for friends. you can also make cold brew in a French press instead of a jar, and you can use it to strain it out. Also, if you really want to make the closest thing to espresso that you can without blowing $300 dollars, get a 3-cup moka pot. You can find a cheap one at your Ross or Home Goods equivalent.



For kettle, you can get a variable temp one if you want to spend the money, people recommend the Bonavita Variable Temp Gooseneck but I still just use my cheap 15 dollar kettle and am doing fine.


As far as scales go, I still just say find a cheap scale that works well enough.



Bits and Bobs


Hand held Milk Frother for frother hot milk for lattes. Sounds like something you would like.

Can you recommend a scale?

Is it worth it to get a temp-controllable gooseneck vs a standard gooseneck?

Same here. Actually just bought one this morning.

https://smile.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

This really comes down to preference. The good thing is that a lot of these methods are inexpensive, although I don't know your financial situation.

First, you'll want a kettle with controllable temp. There are better, but this Bonavita is ~$50 and totally gets the job done. You'll be able to use this to boil water for cooking, control temps for different types of teas, as well as tweak your brew temp for coffee. I use mine a ton! This device is useful with pour-over, Aeropress, French Press, moka pot, and manual espresso methods. A digital scale is also useful for weighing your beans/grinds, and potentially weighing your cup when pouring.

You can get a ceramic (personally I would pass on plastic) dripper for $12-$20. There are two filter styles: V60 (cone) and Melitta (flat-bottom). Some people love the V60 - I haven't tried one though. I have a Melitta flat-bottom style. I get my filter paper from Trader Joe's; I think it's $1.99 for 100.

The Aeropress is ~$30 and an excellent brew system. It does seem to prefer finer grinds, which oxidize very quickly so fresh-ground is important. French Press is similar in cost, somewhere in the $20 - $40 range for a basic press. You may want to watch this video if you go with the press.

You can't go wrong with these three as starter methods - they all produce good, and slightly different, coffee. However, there's one thing that we need to address, as it's also important:

Grind and bean selection.

Using whole beans and grinding fresh can make a huge difference in your coffee. In addition, the consistency of the grind makes a difference as well, including the amount of fines that your grinder generates. (Fines are ultra-small particles, like dust.) If you are on a budget, you might want a good hand grinder like the Hario Skerton (~$45 - not so great for course grinds though). If you have a bit more money, you might want to look at the Capresso 560.01 (~80). Both of these selections have shortcomings, but they're pretty inexpensive too while still providing a decent quality result. These are just two quick picks - please take the time to dig some more and do your own research. People are highly opinionated about grinders. ;)

OK, last but not least, bean selection. There's a lot of different flavor profiles to be had out there. One problem with Keurig brewers is that the K-cups tend to have pretty cheap, low-quality coffee in them. There's an issue of both the beans that are being used, and your own preferences of different roast levels, and even what roast levels work the best with the given beans. There's no shortcut here other than your own personal experimentation. But I will advise, generally, that you should neither blow your budget on boutique coffee when starting, nor should you go as cheap as possible.

You could potentially stop by a local coffee shop and inquire about pour-overs and French Press. It'll cost a little more but they'll let you pick exactly which beans to try, and you can even contrast methods as well.

Good luck!

Is your goal French press specifically (as in, the coarse grind and long brew time that results in that characteristic slightly-grainy taste) - or is it more generally non-shitty coffee from an automatic machine?

The mechanics of French press make it hard to automate, so I'm not terribly surprised there's not a lot of robotic presses out there. If your goal is just good coffee without a long manual process, the best option I'm aware of are the automatic "pour-over" machines:

https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KCM0802OB-Coffee-Brewer-Black/dp/B00OQJ7X8S/

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV1902DW-Coffee-Brewer-Silver/dp/B0752CKQHW/

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Barista-Brain-Coffee-Maker/dp/B00YEYKK8U/

There's also "fully automated" espresso machines. A lot of them even include a grinder, so in theory you can press 1 button and get a latte or americano or whatever a few minutes later. They tend to be $$$ and use up a lot of counter space, though.

My personal setup is fairly manual - an electric kettle and an Aeropress. The electric kettle is way easier than a kettle on the stove - the one I linked has variable temp controls, so you can set it to heat up to 80 C and hold there. Doesn't need constant monitoring the way a teakettle on a burner does, and you'll get much better results with not-quite-boiling water. And the Aeropress makes fucking great coffee, without the PITA of cleaning a French press.

Hey there,
I am thinking you might as well have the ability to set a temperature and hold it at the set point. In my industry these little things are the tops. If you don't need the variable temp control, there are cheaper options. https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Digital-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1521834000&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=bonavideaelectric+gooseneck+kettle

I think the Chemex would be good for you. For a kettle the Bonavita BV382510V is highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

This is my current kettle. Really love it. It has a feature that allows you to set a few presets for temperatures which is really convenient.

Also the goose neck looks sexy.

ehh if you're going to be paying in that ball park the best thing to get a a bonivita electric kettle, they are fairly popular in this community. You get to set the temperature and it has a spout designed for 'pour-over'ing

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1422464277&sr=1-2&keywords=hario+electric+kettle

1. Just use the 200 setting and let the water cool for a few minutes, or pour it into a cold cup before pouring it into the pot to bring the temperature down.
   
   
2. Here you go

I have the Bonavita with the long spout for my coffee and I love it. I decided against the one OP bought for that very reason. Some people disagree about the ideal temperatures for various teas and types of coffee brewing and I didn't want to be locked into fixed presets.

Both AP and chemex are great methods for great coffee. I have both plus a french press. I use the AP daily because it's the quickest and hard to screw up. I suggest the inverted AP method (google around for videos). The only downside is that you can only brew one cup at a time, and it's not a huge cup at that. Which is part of the reason i bought a chemex, so i could make larger batches for groups of people. I usually reserve the weekends for chemex since it's more involved. It took me several tries before i learned what techniques work well. In terms of which is better, the chemex makes the smoothest cup. I also find the ritual of brewing with the chemex soothing and challenging at the same time.

Equipment-wise you'll need a good scale for both. I use a Jennings CJ 4000 (http://www.amazon.com/Jennings-CJ4000-4000g-Digital-Scale/dp/B004C3CAB8) and am happy with it. Only downside is the 0.5g resolution but I've never noticed it to be a noticeable problem in terms of brew taste/strength. If you go the chemex route you'll also need a gooseneck kettle to ensure precision when pouring. I use the bonavita electric with variable temp (http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40) and I love it, especially for the convenience and price.

So, my recommendation would be to try/get both as they are each suited best for different situations. I'm a fan of having options and am always evaluating other gadgets to add to the collection as i consider it to be a hobby of sorts.

You should consider getting an electric kettle. This is the one I use at home and the only one I can really recommend from experience. The temperature controls can be a bit fiddly at times, but once you get used to them its super easy to get the temperature you want. This is another popular programmable kettle which I've heard a lot of good things about. You can also surf around on Amazon and read some reviews, there's a large variety of electric kettles around. Another option is to keep boiling your water on the stove then letting it sit and cool and using a meat thermometer to gauge the temperature.

As for brewing, get a gaiwan! One, Two, Three, Four, Five, and there half a million more options out there. This is an awesome simple guide to using a gaiwan. Look up some tutorials on youtube or google for some more detailed info, or search around /r/tea a bit.

Next on the checklist, SAMPLES! Don't order 100 grams of a tea that you've never tried. Here's some basic sampler packs: One, Two, Three, Four. Plenty of other great sites offer samples too, check out /r/tea's List of Retailers on the sidebar.

Hope this helps, and sorry if this was too rambling and in-cohesive, I've had a lot of caffeine.

Also, I want to leave you with this guide. It's an incredibly well done piece. Good luck!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=asc_df_B005YR0F405480201/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B005YR0F40&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167141308073&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15174540700106762513&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9012026&hvtargid=pla-275333816061

This one.

For a variable temp kettle I just got this and it works great. Same brand as top comment but it's variable temp (also comes bigger in a 1.7L)

For infusing: this is neat and not too pricey, not glass but allows you to see the leaves. You can also get one of those neat glass mugs that have the infuser in it that you just lift out, I've got one of them too but not a link.

Many here like the Bonavita variable temp. I have one as well and am very happy with it. Set the temp and forget it :-)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005YR0F40

Mostly flavor, but also mouthfeel. It lacks punch, it tends to feel very thin, and it's just not a very high quality cup of coffee. The beans are old, weren't high quality to begin with, and they have to use workarounds to make the extraction that fast. The only method that will properly extract coffee that fast is espresso, but you're looking at close to a grand for an entry level setup if you go down that road.

But like I mentioned, I'm a coffee snob. Good coffee for me has to be made with freshly roasted beans (If it's much older than 2 weeks past roast, it's too old), ground fresh (Within 5 minutes of brewing), with a decent quality burr grinder, made with the proper ratio of water:coffee (Which requires weighing the beans you're going to use), and brewed using proper technique with the proper temperature water (a difference of 5-10 degrees can make or break a cup). That might sound time consuming, but it generally takes me about 5 minutes to make a cup in the morning.

I don't normally recommend coffee "machines", because they generally make sub-par coffee, and I don't know enough about them to recommend one. I've heard there are a couple on the market that are pretty good, but the overwhelming majority suffer from not getting the water to the proper temperature.

I'd say the easiest way to get into legit coffee for a beginner would be either a pour-over or a french press. You can get a Hario V60 pour over setup or a Bodum french press for pretty cheap. The Aeropress is another good option, but it's a little more tricky, and only brews a single cup at a time.

I would also highly recommend investing in an electric kettle like this one. The gooseneck design is almost mandatory for good pour-overs, and the ability to set it to the proper temperature is invaluable regardless of the process.

Another thing to consider is a grinder. The Baratza Encore is a really good entry level grinder. You might look at the ~$140 price tag and think I'm insane, but the grinder plays a massive role in good coffee. And if you think that's bad, there are $800+ grinders out there that are common choices for home espresso setups. Might take the sting out a bit ;)

Sorry for the overwhelming wall of text, but I like my coffee, lol. It's really not as complicated as it sounds, but there's more depth to the coffee world than most people realize if you're the sort of person that wants more.

I have the Bonavita kettle, I'm very happy with it.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

This is the one I have and I couldn't be happier.

Since your question has already been answered I won't bother going into those details, but if you ever want to buy a variable temperature kettle and want what I personally think is the best available for the price, get this one. It keeps water warm for an hour, and you can adjust the temperature by single degrees instead of increments of 10 or whatever, so it's more accurate.

I was using a no temp setting electric kettle and a thermometer for at least a year. Finally I broke down and bought a Bonavita Gooseneck kettle (waited until price dropped to $59.99, normally $99.99). Loving it so much!

It's this one - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40?keywords=bonavita&qid=1453906908

You can set the temp to 205 or whatever you want and it holds that temp. I bought it because we don't have an electric range at work.

So I was in a similar position to you at one point.

I found someone on a reddit community I frequented who sold me his Baratza Preciso for $100. It’s basically a retired version of the Virtuoso with micro adjustments on top of the regular macro. It’s served me very well. I had a friend who I got into coffee who just picked up an Encore and he’s delighted with it. For the bang for the buck it’s hard to go wrong with Baratza really in the sub $200 range. Especially considering you can find their refurbs which are updated (on Thursdays I think?) regularly and can get an encore for sub $100.

I find the Chemex to be far more forgiving than a V60. Some people say it’s expensive ($35ish) but considering you can get away with not using a gooseneck it’s cheaper in the long run in my opinion. If you don’t use a gooseneck with a V60, you’re going to have a bad time. V60s are finicky until you get a good feel for them. Don’t get me wrong, they can make a fantastic cup, but you have to put in the work. You can also look at the Kalita Wave which I think you can find the 185 on amazon for like $25 instead of $45 which is typical. It also takes funky filters that are hard to find (similar to v60).

As others have said the body is going to naturally be a little softer and more nuanced with a chemex. If you like big juicy Kenyans like me that may not be your preference, whereas if you like more floral, delicate Ethiopians then you’re golden. As time has gone on I’ve learned to appreciate my chemex more. It’s easy to dial in and brew correctly. Very forgiving of pour and what not and the body issue (less oils from the thicker filter) is more or less non-existent now that I have a little more developed palate (although I’m far from a connoisseur or q-grade taster).

Also a scale is super important if you aren’t using one. It’s ridiculous how easy it is to think you’re measuring correctly and you are totally off without a scale.

TL;DR Buy an encore or virtuoso and a chemex if you don’t have a gooseneck. Maybe a Kalita Wave if body is a huge deal for you. Get the V60 if you’re obsessive compulsive and want to really nerd out and probably brew shittily extracted coffee until you get it down. Any extra money invest in a good kettle and SCALE.

Cheap ass Shopping List:

• refurb encore $99
  
• chemex 6 cup $35
  
• chemex filters $8 amazon lists them for twice the normal price everywhere else FYI
  
• super reliable, cheap ass, beater scale $26
  Total: $168
  
  For shits and giggles: plain bonavita gooseneck $29 and variable temp version $69 (you want this one if you go this route)

>I would imagine that it would be unlikely to find it much cheaper than that, unless it was used.

Amazon has it on sale pretty regularly. for as low as $60.

I'm not a Kalita guy but my Bonavita variable temp kettle has been amazing. I bought it two years ago and it's still great. I use it for coffee, tea, and even for making water for miso soup when I'm lazy. Being able to control the temperature has really helped me step up my coffee game.

Will that base work with the non-temp controlled gooseneck? I have the $40 ones without temp control.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-0L-Electric-Kettle-BV3825B/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=pd_sbs_hg_6?ie=UTF8&refRID=00MAPWRXP7EP1NZ0HM07

Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle BV3825B https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_X8IBzbKG2GP85

Hand grinder- I'm using a java presse, a Hario will work well too

Scale-American Weigh Scales AMW-SC-2KG Digital Pocket Scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RF3XJ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lOKBzbRWNCTD5

Choose what you want for a brewing device. V60/Kalita wave or a French press are your best bets in my opinion. If you are new to coffee I would suggest holding off on an aero press.

You absolutely need the following to enjoy coffee out of a chemex:

• Burr Grinder: I suggest, to start, the Hario Mill Grinder
  
  
• Gooseneck Kettle: I suggest the Bonavita Electric Kettle
  
  
• Scale: I suggest the AWS Pocket Scale
  
  
  The scale is the least necessary, but the other two are absolutely essential to make decent coffee out of the chemex.
  
  Once you have those, watch a couple demonstration videos and mess around to find what you like! Below is the video I watched when I first started using this method:
  
  
• Buddy Brew Chemex Tutorial
  
  Overall, it's a bit of an investment, but it's so worth it! The chemex is a great method, and I use it often! Good luck!

Grinder is the NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. Seriously do not skimp here. I'd almost maximize your $125 budget and get baratza encore. It doesn't seem like grind quality can make a difference but after experience better grind consistency I will ALWAYS recommend that.

Get the barazta encore for $100 (refurbished) - $130 shipped prime

THen save up for a bonavita kettle - http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-0L-Electric-Kettle-BV3825B/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1420866671&sr=8-2&keywords=bonavita+kettle

That one has been GREAT for me.


Any scale will work.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-0L-Electric-Kettle-BV3825B/dp/B005YR0GDA

You are definitely using too little coffee. Normal ratio is usually around 2 tbs per 8 oz of brewed coffee, or 6 oz if you like it on the stronger side. Coffee Ratio Chart

You generally want to shoot for a 3-4 minute extraction. If your filter cone is draining in less than two minutes, it's going to be under extracted. Adding more coffee will increase the water transit time, as will grinding finer. Start by increasing the coffee amount, and then time your brew and adjust the grind accordingly.

Here are a few other suggestions that will help you get the most out of your dripper:

Add a small amount of the water at the beginning of the brew, and let the coffee "bloom". Then give it a good stir to make a slurry, and then add the rest of your water. This will ensure the CO2 from the coffee doesn't prevent the water from reaching it, leaving much of the coffee under extracted.

If you are using a paper filter, always rinse it out with hot water before brewing. This will open up the paper a little, and wash out some of the "paper-filter" taste.

If you're having trouble getting into the 3-4 minute mark, try pouring the water over the filter slowly, and in small batches. Having a kettle with a goose-neck really helps with this.

Hope you can find some useful info in all of that. Happy brewing :)

Honestly, the easiest way to start is probably an Aeropress and a decent kettle. Get a gooseneck early, then you won't have to buy a second kettle later if you decide to start playing with pour-overs. If you want to make boiling water a little more passive, get an electric one. I have this one and it works like a charm.

Another cheap starter option for brewing is the V60 and its various clones. The original is plastic, but this one is ceramic and only $20. It takes some practice to get pour-overs just right, but it's worth it. And for $20, it's not a bad way to give it a shot or just to have in your collection.

Grinders are a whole discussion. I have a Baratza Encore that I really like. It's easy to maintain and Baratza's support was pretty good to me when I needed them. If you want to go a little cheaper, you might consider a Skerton or Mini Mill.

For beans, have fun. There are a ton of places to get decent beans, and part of the fun is finding new places. There are a number of redditors that roast and will probably sell beans to you if you like. (Including me!) I would suggest some, but I actually skipped this part and went straight to roasting.

EDIT: Oh, and good luck. You're opening a door to a rabbit hole, now.

I don't have the electric kettle you're referring to, though I do have one from Hamilton Beach. Mine doesn't whistle, though you can hear the water boiling at higher temperatures, and it can produce a lot of steam out of the spout. The Breville IQ seems very similar to mine, so I'm guessing it won't whistle like a stove top kettle. Even so, the sound of the water boiling and the production of steam might be an issue in a cubicle environment (at least when the water is being heated to a higher temperature).

I don't blend teas, but according to this thread, it might be better to go by the preferred water temperature and steeping time of the more sensitive tea (in this case, the green).

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

This is the one I have but it appears to be discontinued, though is still available from third party sellers:
https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_29?m=A2L77EE7U53NWQ&s=warehouse-deals&ie=UTF8&qid=1544024690&sr=8-29&keywords=electric+kettle

Here's one in the same price range ($24) that gets good reviews:
https://www.amazon.com/Gourmia-GDK260-Electric-Rotates-Cordless/dp/B01MD0D5IH/ref=sr_1_4?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1551041059&sr=8-4&keywords=variable+temperature+electric+kettle&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

It looks like Hamilton Beach has two new models of variable temperature kettles, both of which are really pretty, one is copper and one is glass, but they're both around $50.

I found a Hamilton Beach Programmable Kettle at Walmart that allows you to set the temp and a timer. I wake up to 180°F water at 7 every morning! It also keeps it at your set temp for an hour after initial boil. I highly recommend it.

Edit: this one. Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_OrhEub0C68BAE

I got a Hamilton Beach. Found it a few years back at my grocery store on sale for about 30-40. It's stainless steel, but programmable, start-timer, and keep warm functions

I've been using this Hamilton Beach kettle since I started brewing tea. Works very well.

Here is what I use, and I love it. This strainer actually lets the loose leaf tea expand, unlike little tea balls. It's also easy to clean. I get a pot because I like to brew 2-3 cups at once. I pour one in an insulated mug so it's drinkable by the time I finish the first. This set also comes as a brew-in-cup system for singles.

Infusing
1:Water temp. Either get an electric kettle like this that you can set to heat to a certain temperature, or bring to a boil and let cool to the right temperature. For greens that is always BELOW boiling. 170-190 degrees F, and it can vary by the type of tea.
2: Preheat your brewing vessel, be it cup or pot, by swirling some of the water inside and dumping that out. Starting with a preheated pot keeps the water temp. stable during brewing. You want a lid for the same reason.
3: Add loose tea leaves to the infuser.
4: Pour in your water.
5: Let steep. For green tea that is going to usually be 2-3 minutes, but it can vary by strain. Overbrewing green tea makes it bitter.
6: Remove the infuser. A good quality loose leaf tea can be brewed 2, and sometimes three, times! Let it cool between brewings, and you want to use it the same day.

7: Pour and enjoy! I like to brew in one cup/pot and drink from another. Pouring into a cold cup drops the temp of a green tea to almost drinkable right away.

Brands
I tend to order online and in bulk. I like to buy 8-16 oz of loose leaf at a time. I've enjoyed Republic of Tea, though they can be expensive and some of the flavors are a big miss. Their Vanilla Almond is to DIE for! Right now Rishi Tea is my favorite. They do greens very, very well. I recommend the Green Flight sampler pack to get started. The name is a play on taking a vacation across regions of the world by sampling greens from each.

I just ordered some Numi jasmine green tea, but I haven't gotten it yet. I'll update you when I do.

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_8?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1367686511&sr=1-8&keywords=hamilton+beach+tea+kettle

This one is the best bang for buck IMO, one of the cheaper ones with electric temperature control and it's really well built.

It's digital and works as a thermometer as well, I always boil my water and then cool down from there by aerating the water, so I go from a large measuring cup to the kettle and back and forth and by putting it back down I can see the temp each time.

It's pretty much all stainless but there is a bit of plastic I think, and then the mesh filter has some plastic around it (you can take that out, I broke mine so it's off)

I was also debating between buying a couple of the more expensive kettles on amazon, but I ended up getting a cheaper one and I'm glad that I did.

The kettle I bought is this Hamilton Beach one. It's $37 right now and I've been using daily for over a month with no issues or rust.

This one has worked out very well for me. Dunno if it's the 'best' but I like it.

$42 for this one. Bought it recently for work, works great. Keep warm by way of triggered reboils for an hour, has a programmable turn-on with a clock, and a thermometer that always displays the unit's temperature. My only small complaint is that the water sometimes gains an additional 5 degrees when the heating element stops depending on the amount of water in the pot.

The T-Fal kettles are great. I have the larger one, but I'll recommend the smaller one to you. You won't find a 1750 W heating element in many kettles, it's pretty powerful!

Looks like you're shopping a bit higher end but I wanted to list this one for budget shoppers: amazon link

I got one as a "spare" kettle at work and it heats like a champ. Fast and does have variable temperature, though you need to do some experimentation to figure out exactly what "low" and "high" mean for your particular unit. I tend to leave mine in the middle for my black teas and low for green.

A gooseneck for a college aeropress? Seriously?
this should do just fine for now; it makes hot water, and it works. I use a similar one for myself in my dorm room. That being said, it's quite cheap, and if you can swing the extra money for variable temp, go for it. If you can spend more than that, I would recommend upgrading your grinder next, then maybe you could think about a gooseneck (though I really don't see the point unless you decide to get into pour over.)

Edit: Also, when it comes to money, remember that these are all one time investments, but you will also be consistently spending a decent amount of money on beans, and that should be factored into your budget.

Hmm I see. It looks nice.. But would it be any better than this, or this? I agree, the variable direct temp control is nice, but in terms of cost.. I dunno.

I am currently a college student, and in my little tea corner I use this Bonavita electric kettle.


I don't have a tea tumbler though...
You should get me one too! :D

another precisely-controlled bonavita kettle if you don't need a super precise pour (only $35):

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1418167108&sr=1-2&keywords=bonavita+variable+temperature+kettle

Thanks! So it would be this then right?

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG

This was my starter tea pot http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3DCPPM/

and my second kettle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008YE3RNG/

They are both great and I use them multiple times every day

I have the non gooseneck version of that kettle, it's 50 dollars. I don't think the gooseneck would be very important, except maybe for precision pouring like pour over coffee. I like it a lot and have had it for over a year. My only complaint is that it slows down a lot when it gets near your set temperature, so it could take longer than others to boil water.

While on tour last summer, I had this little kit to keep my coffee habit happy in middle of nowhere America:

Hario Mini Mill

[Bonavita Bona Voyage 0.5-Liter Electric Travel Kettle] (http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Voyage-0-5-Liter-Electric-Travel/dp/B008YQLZOW/ref=sr_1_10?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1404394599&sr=1-10&keywords=bonavita)

Clever Dripper

I went with this set up so I didn't have to worry about bringing a goose neck kettle with me and could just pour straight from the kettle to the clever. I weighed out the typical amount of beans I use for a full Clever and marked it on the mini mill so I wouldn't have to keep a scale with me. Worked great and saved me from buying daily coffees at Starbucks. I've seen others post more elaborate travel set ups around here, so hopefully they'll respond.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Voyage-0-5-Liter-Electric-Travel/dp/B008YQLZOW

I’ve owned this $20 electric kettle for about 2 years now and it worked great as a budget option in my dorm and first apartment for my French press and aeropress. It also works with ramen and noodles https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DEPGY7G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_mlXpDbTY29Z01

Maybe not the same, but I have this one cup thing. Boils just enough for one cup of coffee or tea, or ramen.

Now I picked up something closer to a kettle awhile back, but stuggle to find uses for it. I don't ever need that much hot water at a time for anything.

Also, heads up on the plastic kettle, they're very harmful.

They exude massive amounts of estrogen, BPA and other harmful toxins.

Opt for a stainless steel or all glass kettle. They're so much nicer and the water tastes cleaner.

/u/neongreenpurple you're missing a Kettle

Also, for your sweets list. I've hear this kit kat flavor is the best.

Happy birthday !

I added an electric kettle the last time there was this contest.

It this one on my kitchen wishlist

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DEPGY7G/

Thanks!

I've got one of these and it works well enough. If you want to get fancy, you can probably find something with a temperature control in your price range.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DEPGY7G/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 You should take some video of it for her and put it to music(chemical brothers probably).

I like this one. It doesn't have an adjustable temperature but it works well, holds a lot, and boils quickly. The price is also pretty good, especially if you shop around.

http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A

Plants! They're great to have, I have some bamboo right now. I love it. Here's a really pretty bonsai tree!

And you definitely need a crock pot! They're super handy to have, just throw some food in in the morning and come home to a super easy meal, plus leftovers!

An electric kettle is another essential! Especially if you love tea.

Cheap, cute end tables! I turned the top of mine into a chessboard! Fancy-s up my room a lot.

Here and here are some really nice shelves!

You definitely need a set of knives too!

A really awesome bottle opener!

Here are some really cool glasses.

Aaand the cutest sake set ever.

Okay I'll stop linking now. I just really love household-y things! :D

Thank you for the contest and I hope this list helps!

First, I'd call the resort and see if it's an option. If not, I'd order one off Amazon and have it delivered. If that poses a problem, I'll order it for you in exchange for some real tea :P

This tiny 1L model is only $12: https://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=sr_1_3?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1502127089&sr=1-3&keywords=electric+kettle

So, why can't I heat the water in the microwave??? I don't mean to offend anyone but that's how I make my tea sometimes, especially if I'm in a hurry! :s and that's because I drink tea every morning!

I found this amazing [kettle] (http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1449093355&sr=1-2&keywords=kettle&refinements=p_36%3A-2000) which will come in very handy! :D

Definitely an electric kettle!

I have this one at my office and this one at home. I'd recommend either one, although I prefer the pink one a bit more. It's a little bigger and easier to pour from :)

What do you think of this setup?

​

Gooseneck

​

Baratza Encore

​

Chemex

​

Chemex Filter

​

$304 shipped from Amazon.

​

Would this be a good intro to better coffee setup? I don't know if there's a more cost-efficient way to go, but this seems acceptable to me.

ya mean something like this ?

This Epica kettle ...was on sale for $40 a few years ago when I bought it. It's been a great product, and it's on sale again!

I have this for $40.

-Electric
-Cordless
-Variable temps (6)
-Keep warm feature (2 hrs.)

I love it.

https://www.amazon.com/Epica-6-Temperature-Variable-Stainless-Cordless/dp/B01G7OL9ZW

Sure:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0Bd4BbBVTZNX8

I got mine off Amazon for $40. It has 6 temp options from 160F to 220F and works great.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Q3h3BbQ6R5BTA

I get Jimmy joy its cheaper but it's less smooth. Soylent use to be a good option but they jacked their prices up year after year. It definitely saves a ton of cash if you get jimmy joy. It's like $2 a meal.

Just a warning mixing soy-lent or any of these products in liquid above room temperature destroys many of the vitamins. If you want proof mix it in high temp inside an airtight bottle, it will create a ton of gas.

As far as no kitchen. Get a mini-fridge ($70) and a hot plate ($15). Perfect size pot for hot plate. An electric kettle is pretty useful too. I have all this crap in my room because I have 4 roomates and trying to get in the kitchen is fucking annoying.

Other option for cheap food is rice / beans / eggs / veggies ect. All can be cooked with a hot plate. Dehydrated veggies are a god send

Just want to say that I bought this Epica kettle to keep in my work kitchen and it's the BEST. Does various temperatures for different types of tea/coffee and keeps water warm for up to an hour. Better than the $80 Cuisinart equivalent.

My vote would be to get an Aeropress and an electric kettle. Sheesh, I saw that they have the Aeropress at Target now (at a good price, too). He can make a coffee by the mug (forget a coffeemaker that makes a pot if he's only going to drink "a coffee" every few days). You can use regular ground coffee with the Aeropress, and the only thing he will need to figure out is how much coffee he wants to put in it (which determines how strong the resulting coffee it). The benefit of this system is that the electric kettle will be useful for other things (like tea, if you are a tea drinker, for instance... or cups of noodles, stuff like that). Here is a video on the Aeropress, so you can see how easy/simple it is to use. There are LOTS of videos on the Aeropress on YouTube. It makes good coffee.

I got the Epica version of this for $40.

Epica 6-Temperature Variable Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_lOnoyb1P8V114

Works great so far. The only missing feature I think it needs is an audible beep when it hits temp, but I don't know which ones do.

Didnt feel like this deserved its own thread. Does anyone have anything to say about this electric kettle? Anything better around that price?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=s9_wsim_gw_g79_i1_r?ie=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=21PJ6CNKZ2FD1KZ0EPJ6&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=a0732ba3-2c28-420f-893e-6aca94d77e48&pf_rd_i=desktop

I had some old ones picked up from my parents or a yard sale, but they were quite similar to this. It's a close fit, but not tight, at least on the ones I've tried.

Amazon still sells them:

https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Instant-Electric-Immersion-Heater/dp/B01M0Q84BR

You can get an Immersion heater from Amazon or Walmart (or many other places) to heat up water for ramen or other soups. You could also make tea, etc. It's small enough that it's not a hassle to travel with, but cheap enough that it's not a big deal to abandon. Just don't leave it plugged in when you're done with it and make sure you have a safe place to set it down until it cools.

An immersion water heater is more compact than a kettle, just be careful to only let it be on while immersed.
https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Instant-Electric-Immersion-Heater/dp/B01M0Q84BR/

Like these

NEW Norpro Instant Immersion Heater Coffee/Tea/Soup Electric Water Portable Reheater https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0Q84BR/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_AxWRCbBE42WG1

It’s only dangerous if it is raw electricity outside. The resister heating element is actually inside the metal tube.

I've had mine for a couple years so I don't remember if this is the exact one. Once folded down, it fits nicely in the lower right section (where the guy shows a full pour-over cone) if you have the handle toward the center of the bag over a section divider.

I'm kinda OCD about my coffee gear when I'm on the road after a couple horrible how bad can in-room coffee be for a few days ... And I have to have coffee before I can even step out my room in the morning.

I was overwhelmed with reading all of the options when I got into this. After a lot of reading I got a Chemex.

Oxo kettle

OXO On Adjustable Temperature Electric Pour-Over Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KHPS7F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wMMmDbCR9T648

Baratza encore

Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007F183LK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_YNMmDbPHSKK4G

American Weigh Scales AMW-SC-2KG... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RF3XJ2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

These four things were the most highly recommended from all chemex posts on this sub. These are the basics, and from there I used tons of different beans

If you're looking for a variable temperature kettle (without presets) I'd recommend the OXO On Adjustable Temperature Electric Pour-Over Kettle. I've had it for almost a year and its been great.

Not to burst your bubble, but couldn't you just get a hot plate for about $15, use a pot you have in your kitchen, and a towel over your head?

I guess this would use less power, but I think you would have more uses for a hot plate.

Or you could get an electric kettle for about $12.

Now you have me wanting one!

I used an electric kettle similar to this to get through college since I didn't have a stove top.

http://www.amazon.com/Rival-4071-WN-32-Ounce-Express-White/dp/B00006IUXU/ref=sr_1_29?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1415716949&sr=1-29

I have a dirt cheap electric hot pot that I've had FOREVER from target:
http://www.amazon.com/Rival-4071-WN-32-Ounce-Express-White/dp/B00006IUXU/ref=sr_1_32?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1369171972&sr=1-32

That, plus a quality french press is all you really need:
http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-1-Liter-34-Ounce-Coffeemaker/dp/B004NBYADU/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1369172037&sr=1-2&keywords=bodum+french+press

Get a hot pot and lots of Ramen. Best way to survive college.

If you don't have one, you need an electric kettle! It is so much more convenient to make tea/coffee with it!

I have an electric kettle. Greatest thing ever. It might not boil as quickly as it does in Europe, but a couple liters of water will still boil faster than on the burner.

For those who are mildly confused about what an electric kettle is referring to:

If you have the money to fork out, this one is great.

Budget Kettle.

Honestly I'm truly grateful for the presences of my friends in my life. This summer I have been having a lot of financial issues which resulting in my depression worsening to the point I was suicidal..if it wasnt for my best friend Logan I wouldn't be typing this. If you ever read this dude thank you for all the 4am calls to comfort me, and never quitting on me. Your the bestest friend in the world.

This kettle would be cool dorms suck!
or well anything!

These are not stupid questions! I grew up with poor quality tea bags, when we had them at all, and now I drink almost exclusively loose-leaf tea. We didn't have a kettle or teapot in the house and now I can't live without them. So I had to learn this stuff, too.


> Can anyone recommend what type/brand of equipment to get and where to get it or is it all just based on personal style and preference?

It is based on personal style and preference as far as teapots and kettles go. Basically you have two types of kettles: one that is stovetop, that you place directly on the burner, and an electric kettle, which is very convenient and fast. Something like This would be just fine. As for teapots, have fun shopping around. I found mine at a thrift store for $2.50. You don't have to have the fanciest of teapots; if you like it and it's functional, buy it!


Never use a teapot as a kettle, even if it is cast iron. There is too much risk of breaking the teapot and hurting yourself. A teapot should only be used to steep tea and serve tea. Kettles should only be used to boil water, and use new water every time.

> Strainer question

You can buy strainers that fit one cup or a pot. Sometimes one strainer can work for both. You may also be able to find disposable tea bags to put your loose leaf in; I am guilty of using these sometimes, though it is bad for the environment and I've also heard there's some risk of chemicals you don't really want to ingest seeping into the tea. Not sure how true that is. Another person linked examples so I'll let you read that one.

> How do you determine how much tea do you put in the pot? Is there a specific amount or is this just something that just my a preference based on tea strength?

Another person here made a pretty good table of amounts/steep times, but when I started making loose leaf tea, I didn't know anything about how much to use. I just experimented, and now I just eyeball it. It does depend on personal preferences; I like very strong teas, so I might use more than some people here, or steep for longer.



I hope that helps. What kind of tea do you like so far? I could give you some recommendations and tell you my favorite places to buy. I always recommend trying a tea without sugar and milk first, too. Some people might hate me for this but I think most people put too much sugar in their tea and it ruins the flavor (I don't take any sugar at all, myself).

I don't recommend buying tea from Teavana, if you have them in the area. While the tea itself isn't bad (in fact, one of the best black teas I ever tried came from them on their 75% off sale), their sales tactics and prices ARE bad. You can get tea just as good or better for a lot less. I can't help but want some of their teapots, though.

I don't need double talk, I need a phone charger.

And I nominate /u/IguanaGrrl because I think she could use some cheering up in the form of an electric kettle

Thanks for the contest! :D

It will be Autumn soon, and I'll be drinking a lot of hot tea. This electric kettle is $14.99 with free shipping and would be AMAZING for all of my tea making. :D

Home Sweet Home is where I wish I could stay today, but I have stuff to do and work to attend. :/

If I were you, I'd invest in something like this. I found one for cheap at a thrift store. Or can't you have one of these in your dorm either?

http://www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070Y-Electric-Kettle/dp/B00023XCWS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368723305&sr=8-1&keywords=kettle is about $14

One of these and one of these and a tin of tea.

I use a stovetop hario gooseneck: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Buono-Pouring-Kettle-1-2L/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1518792943&sr=1-4&keywords=hario+gooseneck&dpID=415EGQgqlHL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

I started getting into coffee nearly a year and a half ago, and here is what I did to start:

I bought

• A Hario V60 02 Pour-Over Dripper ~$20, with filters, ~$30
  
  
• A Hario Buono Gooseneck Kettle ~$50
  
  
• A Bodum Bistro Burr Grinder ~$150
  
  
• A scale ~$25
  
  
• Freshly, locally roasted whole beans ~$10/lb. Dark roasts tend to be less acidic, sweeter, and have less caffeine (when brewed correctly); light roasts are the opposite: acidic, fruity, and more caffeine.
  
  Now, bear in mind that I knew that I loved coffee before I invested all this money into it; you should obviously really consider your situation and really get into "good" coffee before splurging on all of this equipment. I now have a French press, a moka pot, and am going to invest in an Aeropress soon, but I still prefer the pour-over method to any other coffee that I've had, thus why I recommend you go that route. It can take some definite getting used to and has a bit of a learning curve, but it is easily worth the effort (tutorial videos will help immensely.
  
  Keep in mind, you needn't buy exactly what I did. Shop around, see what you like and what is in your price range. I will say this, however: if you do go the pour-over method, go for the V60 or the Chemex, they are both easily the best on the market, and the same goes for the Buono kettle, though if necessary you can purchase a different kettle, just so long as it is a gooseneck (which is required to finely control the flow of water).
  
  Many other people will tell you to go with a French press. This is good advice as it has a very slight learning curve in comparison to pretty much every other method (besides maybe the Aeropress, depending on who you talk to): it is literally grinding the coffee coarsely and letting it sit in water for X-amount of time. It also does not take filters, is easy to clean, and is a relatively cheap initial investment (~$20). I like the Brazil model that Bodum makes.
  
  No matter which method you choose to brew with, there are three things that you should not underestimate the importance of (and thus should not skimp on):
  
  
• Freshly ground and roasted beans are a must. The fresher, the better.
  
• A blade grinder will always do a worse job of grinding than a burr grinder. It is worth it to spend the extra cash for a burr grinder right off the bat, as, if you get at all serious about coffee, you will eventually purchase one anyway, rendering your blade grinder useless and a waste of money in hindsight. Blade grinders make it nigh impossible to control how fine or coarse the grind is, which is one of the biggest variables in coffee brewing. There are absolutely cheaper models out there than the one that I linked to, especially if you get a manual one rather than the electric one that I own.
  
  
• A scale is essential. Coffee brewing is very much an exact science. Making sure the ratio of water to coffee is exact and being able to fine tune down to the gram/milliliter can create some of the biggest deviances between batches next to grind size. This cannot be overstated.
  
  Best of luck. There's a lot of good knowledge on this sub, on this sub's How to Coffee: A Primer, and on the Internet in general. Check it all out, pick your path, and enjoy the ride!

If I had to go stovetop I would use one of either of these:

• http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV3825ST-1-Liter-Stovetop-Kettle/dp/B005YR0IBU
  
• http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Buono-Coffee-Drip-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS
  
  EDIT: formatting

Why not just use a cheap electric kettle and pour the water from the electric kettle in to this one. I learned this method from a friend and since then my hario kettle has not touched the stove it's just so much faster and more convenient (though you'll want a little extra water to warm up the kettle first).

Not sure about availability and pricing in Germany so everything here is in US dollars. If pricing over there is a straight conversion from dollars to euros ( $100 = 105€) you'll be pretty close to 100€.

In terms of grinders, you'll be in the manual grinding arena with Hario Skerton, Hario Mini or the Porlex JP-3 if you want to spend a bit more. Just be aware these are good enough for a single person but if you're doing more, be prepared to grind in batches.

Since you're doing a pour over, you're going to need a gooseneck kettle to help control your pour. You're out of the range for electric kettles with temperature control, however you may be able to find electric goosenecks without temperature controls. Again, Hario is a popular option but I've heard mixed reviews about them, namely poor heat retention and debate over whether to use it directly on a stove top. The Stagg Kettle is well regarded and can fit into your budget if you choose a less expensive grinder.

The answer to your question is really dependent on budget. A quick perusal through the sub will show you that the Aeropress is a popular option because it is one of the least expensive ways to get a solid cup of coffee.

If you have some cash to part with, it might be worth looking at setting yourself up with a pourover setup - I'd probably suggest the v60. You would need the v60, the hario buono, and you'd probably want a scale to weigh coffee (there are a LOT of options, many cheaper than what I've linked). You would also need to get a reasonably good grinder - check out the sidebar for a list of grinders. Yes, it's a lot of capital to get started, but the coffee is fantastic and the equipment is very durable. This equipment, properly cared for, could potentially outlast you in many cases.

There's also the standard drip coffee maker, but from my experience if you go that route you ought to just invest in the cheapest one. The quality coffee from most drip machines is pretty similar. A better question is what grinder to get - that will improve your brew quality across all methods. Again, sidebar has great advice, but a really popular grinder here is the[ Baratza Encore] (http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B00LW8122Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459250167&sr=8-1&keywords=baratza+encore+coffee+grinder) which you can sometimes find on their refurb page for discounted prices.

No matter what you choose - good luck and happy caffienation

There's also a 1.2L Hario Buono

To answer your question, the strength of your coffee is mostly influenced by how much coffee you're using versus how much water. For a strong cup with your Keurig, go with the setting with the smallest amount of water. The Keurig is by no means the "best" method to make coffee, but it will make coffee. If you decide to get a manual brewer (French press, Aeropress, Kalita Wave, etc.) the brew time has some leeway, but I'd recommend just using more coffee than trying to push the recommended brew time too far. Coffee can/should be strong without being bitter, and keeping the water and coffee together too long will create bitterness.


What follows is everything you need to know about making great coffee. Warning, this may be overwhelming:

1. Freshly ground coffee is going to taste better. Consider coffee like bread. A loaf left on the counter will get stale faster if you slice it up. Freshly roasted is better, but it might be more expensive/harder for you to find and you might not want to dive that deep yet.
   
2. Conical burr grinders are better than blade grinders. The problem is that a decent automatic burr grinder is going to be ~$100 and that's a steep price for someone just getting into coffee. Many people will recommend the mini mill, Skerton, or something along those lines that is hand-crank. (Good non-name brand options: 1 and 2) Those are your best bet. Although I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, you can get an automatic blade grinder if you might have an issue with manual grinding/don't want to drop a lot of money. I will mention that darker roasts are easier to grind manually so there's less worry for your wrist. The problem with blade grinders is you get a bunch of differently sized bits, which makes it more difficult to get consistency and figure out a grind size/brew time you like.
   
3. Each method of brewing calls for a differently sized grind. This is pretty important. If it's too small, you'll get a bitter cup. If it's too big, you'll get a sour cup. The same goes for brew time. Too long will make a bitter cup, and too short will make a sour cup. However, there's some leeway on both of these to your taste.
   
4. There are a bunch of ways to make coffee that change how it tastes. Methods that involve filtering through paper make a cleaner cup, but you lose most of the oils in the coffee. Metal filters leave in these oils, but can also leave a lot of sediment/mud in the bottom of your cup. You might drink this if you drink that last sip, and it isn't really nice.
   
5. Weighing your coffee is much more accurate if you want to make a consistent cup. A tablespoon of a darker roast might be 5 grams while a tablespoon of a lighter roast might be 7 grams.
   
6. You'll need something to boil water in. If you have a kettle, great. If you don't, you can use a pan or you can buy a kettle. It doesn't need to be a fancy/expensive gooseneck-style one (1 and 2), but you might want one of those if you get into pourover methods.
   
   I would recommend a French press (1 2 3 4) or Aeropress for someone just getting into coffee. They're much more forgiving than pour-over methods, meaning you're less likely to make a bitter cup. They each have their own drawbacks, too. An Aeropress is easier to clean up, but can only make one cup at a time. A French press takes more time to clean, but can make about 3 cups at a time. (By cups I mean a standard 12-ounce mug.) Definitely get a grinder, too (see above). A scale (1 and 2) is optional but recommended. For beans, seek out a local roaster/coffee shop, but there are tons of online options available, too.
   
   Welcome to the wonderful (and sometimes crazy) world of coffee!

Since it doesn't sound like you're poised to dive into the insanity that is espresso, here's what I'd recommend for a top notch drip setup:

• Clever coffee dripper $13.50
  
• Baratza Maestro grinder $99.00
  
• A good scale $30-$50
  
• A good, quick thermometer $15-25
  
• A kettle where you can easily control the flow rate $40-70
  
• Beans from a quality, specialty roaster
  
  On that list... the grinder is really not optional. You should get one that good or better; it makes or breaks the setup. For the brewer, you could go with any other pour cone or a french press instead of the dripper and get great results. The scale probably isn't optional. The thermometer probably is. The kettle is definitely optional but makes things easier to manage if you're going with pour-drip. (It doesn't matter for press.) The one I linked is the best of its kind.
  
  With that setup and coffee from one of the roasters on that list, I'd say you'll have a hard time finding better coffee anywhere outside your home. As far as how it appeals to someone who likes "caramel macchiato" drinks from *$, I'd add some quality syrups and some good milk to match her taste.
  
  Off the list of roasters I linked, I order most frequently from Klatch, Gimme and Counter Culture, and have loved every single roaster I've tried from that list.

Here's the thing..

Gooseneck kettle will last you forever and it is an absolute staple if you're going to invest in this hobby/truly enjoy this ritual.

I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSVV60-Buono-Pouring-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1501770513&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+gooseneck+kettle

I also would recommend a scale that can weigh out by the .1 gram (or even more fine). Also a timer is important.

I like this one: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Coffee-Drip-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770540&sr=1-1&keywords=hario+food+scale

Kalita wave is very forgiving, great to learn on, and makes a wonderful cup of coffee. I use Kalita Wave each morning and Chemex on weekends.

Kalita Wave: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-05033-Wave-185-Drippers/dp/B000X1AM0Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770620&sr=1-1&keywords=kalita+wave

Kalita Wave Filters: https://www.amazon.com/Kalita-22199-Filters-White-Japan/dp/B00BJBOITS/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1501770637&sr=1-1&keywords=kalita+wave+filters

Good luck buddy!

Grinder: https://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Encore-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B007F183LK/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=encore+grinder&qid=1554328450&s=gateway&sr=8-3


Kettle: https://www.amazon.com/Hario-VKB-120HSV-Stainless-Stovetop-Original/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=hario+kettle&qid=1554328475&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Not to mention I don't have the patience for standing over my Chemex for 5 minutes straight - much less the motivation to buy a $50 teapot.

I actually bought mine on Amazon. I'm not home so I can't check, but the Amazon page says it's made in Japan:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B000IGOXLS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's the [hario V60] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000IGOXLS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1416975293&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SY200_QL40) .

Moka pots are fun, but I can't make it a daily thing.

I say shore up your pour over gear. A gooseneck kettle ($38) and a scale ($17) are musts.

You could replace the plastic cone with something prettier like a v60 ($11), but you can use the scale and kettle with the plastic pour over cone just fine.

[edit] the pour over cone I linked isn't a v60, but I'm sure you can find it :)

A lot of people are crazy particular about tea. I think they're the same kind of people who, when presented with a $10 red wine in a $150 bottle, claim it is of superior quality...

Anyways, I don't care for a lot of green tea as most of it tastes like wet hay, but Lipton makes a decent green tea called Orange, Passionfruit, & Jasmine Green Tea. Can only get one cup out of the tea as the second cup tastes like wet hay. I like their Orange & Spice Flavored Black Tea too. Those are the cheap teas I commonly drink...

"Expensive", I like Rishi White Tea, the variety I'm drinking at the moment has a hint of peach in it and is flipping delicious. I use one of those clamp-ball infusers all the tea snobs pull their pubic hair out in despair over, I've never had any problems. I fill it about half full and the tea leaves usually expand to almost but not quite the whole basket. Can usually get two reasonably strong cups of tea out of one basket load. I'm sure they can hear the tea leaves cry about being cramped and bitter, but I'm not one to listen to the screams of those I'm boiling alive...

For the hot water, I got an electric kettle which is amazingly fast and convenient, and makes water at 185'F automatically. At least, I pour it as soon as it clicks off into my mug, and a candy thermometer reads between 185'F and 180'F.

For sweetener, I'm using a teaspoon or two of organic sugar (Domino at the moment), it has an amazing flavor that will make you wonder why you ever suffered plain, refined sugar before.

We have exceedingly soft, alkaline water (strange combination I know) out of our well, you may want to filter yours first as I've heard it makes a difference.

I went with this one for use at the office, it's been great!

They are a bit of a money sink but I would recommend looking at cast-iron teapots and Tetsubins for college. This one looks pretty cost efficent even though the cups will probably kill your hands. They cost more than porcelain but it is a nice relief to know that they won't break. I don't know much about other kettles but I love Adagio's UtiliTEA. I have had it for a good year and it is still running strong.

I got this electric kettle. Advantages are not having to hang around a microwave or a stove (I can boil water wherever I am) and the temperature control which allows me to easily make green teas.

Disadvantages are that electric kettles can be rough on old electric systems...I couldn't have an electric heater, computer, and electric kettle going all at once, the fuse would go and I'd have to go downstairs and reset it.

If you're in LA, or near a big city, you can use Yelp to look up local tea places. Big cities tend to have a few. Alternately, you can buy online.

Personally I've bought from adagio.com, harney.com, tgtea.com, and verdanttea.com . Haven't had any problems with them so far. Be aware Verdant Tea is based in China now, so shipping times are considerably higher than other vendors. (Adagio and the like had my tea to me in a few days, Verdant took a few weeks.) Other tea vendors who are not based in the US I expect would also have longer shipping times.

There's a lot of different places selling a lot of different teas...I've found I just keep sampling new stuff all the time, and slowly build a "list" of the ones that were memorable to me.

The electric version is also a really great deal.
I was thinking about getting one for the office.

I have this cuisinart one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_hVVAyb0SKTBV8

I totally recommend it even if it is way pricey. It has temperature settings specifically for different kinds of teas (green, black, white oolong, herbal)

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_14?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1518685969&sr=1-14&keywords=water+kettle



I fill it to 1.5L or so, set to boil, pour off the boil. I prefer this over a gooseneck, less thermal loss, and the tradeoff is marginally more bed turbulence, but my technique is based on that expectation. I've never really liked goosenecks, so quickly moved away from them.

I can attest that the Cuisinart is an excellent unit and lasts a long time:

https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1510530254&sr=8-2&keywords=cuisinart+electric+kettle

I also have experience with the Breville and greatly enjoy it.

I don't think you can go wrong with a traditional Chinese-styled teapot and strainer over a sharing cup. It's simple, cheap to get into, and can well handle many different tea types.

I hope you enjoy exploring tea, it's a wonderful world,

• Tealos

Electric kettles are awesome -- they are much faster than stovetop.

I have this one it has very little plastic exposed to the water, and the buttons are great.

There are 5 buttons for different types of tea, but you could just use the "boil" one for coffee.

The pre-sets are super easy, and you can also choose to have the kettle keep re-heating your water for you if you want.

Electric kettles are safer than stovetop kettles -- they turn off automatically when the water is boiling, and they have boil-dry protection as well. I have ruined a few stove-top kettles this way.

I splurged on this Cuisinart water kettle and I've never regretted it. All metal inside (except a little bit on the removable scale filter) and accurate temperature settings.
Edit: I english no Good well.

I guess the only Cuisinart I've seen is the one mentioned below in this thread (http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ) which only gives you selections of temperatures rather than specifically setting a temperature. Is there a kettle of theirs I'm missing?

I hadn't seen the Hamilton Beach variable temp though, that does seem like a good low-cost option, even if it isn't perfect.

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1324350038&sr=8-1

Either the Cuisinart CPK-17 or the Zojirushi water boiler.

I use the Cuisinart CPK 17 and I love it. If you're a big coffee drinker with french presses and expensive drip stuff get the Bonavita Gooseneck, but I love my Cuisinart. Would recommend

If you drink tea often you should invest in one! Your way looks really cool - but seems a little impractical. We've had our Cuisinart kettle for over 5 years now, and have used it multiple times every single day. Works flawless, and keeps it at temp!

Cuisinart CPK-17 PerfecTemp 1.7-Liter Stainless Steel Cordless Electric Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_VvfSybAK6T5Q8

Here's the kettle I currently use: https://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ

I definitely love having the variable temps for different types of tea straight on the kettle. It makes brewing teas with different temp requirements less of a hassle. Heats quickly with a decent capacity too. Definitely wouldn't say it's the cheapest, but it was a great investment.

I have a FORLIFE Crurve teapot, makes three cups of tea and is great.

An electric kettle would be a fantastic part of a gift set. This one appears to be one of the best. Good luck.

I only had bad experiences with Cuisinart. A toaster broke very quickly after it came out of guarantee. Then I had two of these Cuisinart kettles in a row. Of the first one the lid mysteriously opened while trying to cook a kettle of water. (The lid just opened between 80° and 90°C.) Exchanged it while under guarantee. The second one always had trouble to stop boiling... sometimes it stopped at 100°C, sometimes it just kept boiling and boiling for minutes unless you turned it off manually.

Last week I chucked it out and bought a kettle from another brand. Maybe Cuisinart was good in the past, but to me they've started making overpriced but nice looking bad products.

I have this variable temp kettle I use for my Aeropress and tea (which makes the variable temperature part more important). I've been really happy with it. http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-CPK-17-PerfecTemp-1-7-Liter-Stainless/dp/B003KYSLNQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1422715602&sr=1-1&keywords=cuisinart+tea+kettle

I want it too.

this works pretty well for me

I did a bit of research and got this one from OXO. The entire kettle itself is stainless steel, no plastic or glass near the heating element or water, only where the bottom connects to the stand (which never gets remotely hot). You can dial in the exact temperature to the degree and can utilize it as a timer/stopwatch too. I've had mine for about a year and it still looks new. Definitely recommend it.

This is what I have. All stainless with adjustable temp and a gooseneck spout designed for pour over mainly. Apologies for my archaic link skills.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074KHPS7F/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521875136&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=oxo+on+gooseneck+kettle&dpPl=1&dpID=41sDi1ETRJL&ref=plSrch

Oxo adjustable temp! I love it! It's pricey but worth it. https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Adjustable-Temperature-Electric-Pour-Over/dp/B074KHPS7F/ref=asc_df_B074KHPS7F/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198091976077&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12271096293936072105&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9025327&hvtargid=pla-353176065491&psc=1

Oxo gooseneck. All stainless steel except for the signature Oxo silicone handle and the top of the lid which has a silicone handle, but underneath the lid is all stainless steel.

I just purchased this kettle and I absolutely love it. It's on sale on Amazon, too.

I almost purchased the Fellow Stagg EKG but aside from being aesthetically-pleasing, I can't justify the price. I've also heard of the handle randomly falling off after a few uses.

Here's an Amazon link. I waited around for a bed bath and beyond coupon to get it cheaper since the price looked the same everywhere.

Do you have your heart set on a Stagg? I recently was in a similar boat but landed on Oxo’s offering. Used with a 20% off coupon to Bed Bath and Beyond and you can get them for around $80.

Heats really fast, great accuracy, excellent pour, and doesn’t have the metal ring that burns the heck out of your hand like the top of the Stagg handle =).

OXO On Adjustable Temperature Electric Pour-Over Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074KHPS7F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_Rm-WBbJ6EGF0R

Yeah, this is what I've got now- SO much easier to control, and way easier to work with. Less clean up, too. Love it!

How does that Bonavita compare to the OXO @ https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B074KHPS7F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 out of curiosity? I just ordered it, but I'd happily cancel if I can get the same functionality for half the price.

I use this Cuisinart. Not sure what your price range is.

Thanks for reporting back. Love the zen comment. How coarse is your grind? Also, what are you using for your very accurate pouring? Though I'd love one of those Hario kettles, I'd really love to get one of these kettles as I love the idea of the preset temps. I'd like to think I could fashion something to stick in the spout to promote a more even pour.

Here you go

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005YR0F40?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003KYSLNQ?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Might want to wait until black Friday.

I have this one for my tea and love it! I never thought to boil noodles with it. I'm gonna try that now.

I use a pre-programmed multi-temp Cuisinart Kettle.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B003KYSLNQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have this one, which has a very nice narrow spout for controlled pouring with a built-in thermometer with brew temperature markings and this one, which has variable temperature control but a wider spout. Seattle Coffee Gear has a video called Ultimate Electric Pour Over Kettle Comparison if you are interested in something electric. Competition has resulted in some nice features in these kettles, like auto-start as automatic drip machines have and automatic temperature hold resume after taking the kettle off the base and returning it there.

I think this is the correct link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

First off, there are guides for this already which is why people are not responding. They are in the side bar and I linked them again here:

How To Coffee: A Primer

Coffee Gear Suggestions by Price

Now on to my own advice. I am also relatively new to coffee so my advice is based on researching how to get started over the last couple of months

Give us a budget, but under $100 puts you here:

1. Grinder: The Hario Mini Mill ($27) is fairly highly recommended here
   
2. Scale: American Weigh Scales SC-2KGA ($25). The AC-adapter version of a fairly popular scale here. It should work for a long time and work well for most types of brewing. The Jennings CJ4000 ($27) is also very popular and is worth a look. The difference is the Jennings responds way faster - which is useful for pour over - but is less precise (increments of .5 grams instead of .1 grams, though this is not as big of a deal)
   
3. Brew device: Aeropress ($22), French Press ($25), or Pour Over (Melitta Cone or Beehouse) There is only one Aeropress version but there are lots of French Presses, I linked to a Bodum Chambord which is the favorite here. You can decide which one of these will work better for you based on the other responses on this thread or by searching in /r/Coffee.
   
4. Cheap water thermometer or an electric kettle that can set temperatures. If you go with a Pour Over method you need a gooseneck kettle which sets you back another $35-65 depending on how nice. A lot of people go with the Bonavita Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle ($63).
   
5. The coffee! Try to get freshly roasted (look for a "Roasted On" date instead of an expiry or packaged/binned on date) coffee. Try and buy stuff that is roasted less than 5 days ago and use it before 3 weeks from the roasted on date (some people say 2). You can try to find local roasters and coffee houses that sell fresh whole bean coffee using the /r/Coffee search or Yelp. Be careful with darkly roasted (ie French roast) coffee because a lot of the dark roasts at Grocery Stores and even shops (Starbucks) is considered over roasted and basically burnt. If you want suggestions for brands search /r/Coffee, though really popular and expensive stuff would be Intelligentsia and Stumptown.

$59.99 again!

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

If you plan on doing pourovers at all later on you pretty much need a gooseneck kettle. The main variable temp gooseneck is the Bonavita. Wait for a bit to buy it, amazon drops the price to 80-85 dollars pretty regularly.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Digital-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1510085205&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=bonavite+gooseneck

That's the one I recommend. I think it does make a difference, but how much I think is subjective. I normally do about 195 and the boiling temp of water is 212.

$40.00 - 8 cup chemex

$11.00 - pack of filters

$42.00 - hario drip coffee scale

$70.00 - bona vita electric kettle with thermometer

$15.00 - ground specialty coffee

TOTAL $178.00 (minus any applicable tax and shipping)

note: i used a mix of sources. the scale and kettle come from amazon but everything else was overpriced there. hell, those items are probably overpriced there too. the chemex is listed in google express and the filters are from william-sonoma. you can usually find good deals from these places on coffee equipment being liquidated. you could potentially even pick up everything you'd need directly from a specialty cafe that has equipment for sale in your area. if you're interested in continuing your coffee brewing, you'd definitely use the kettle and scale for any other drip methods, like v60 or kalita wave.

cheers and i hope you and your family have a great thanksgiving.

The Bonavita's are by far the best. Having that kind of control when pouring is awesome. They have a model for 90USD with temperature control. as well as a model for 60USD without.

I have this: http://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1B-Mini-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B001804CLY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1370300514&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+slim+mill and this http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1370300537&sr=1-2&keywords=bonavita+kettle that I got a while back. The Baratza is cool, but might be out of the $40 budget I was looking at. Is a better grinder something I would need? That one is way better than the $10 walmart blade grinder I had.

Upvote for the burr grinder advice. I have a cheap(er) Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder, a Chemex and a Melita Ceramic Cone Brewer. I actually prefer the Melitta over the Chemex. For water I have a Bonavita programmable kettle. The Aeropress is on the long list of items I need to purchase... You probably already have a decent scale...

I'm a big fan of this Bodum Bonavita kettle. I use it 3-4 times a day at work. Is that the one that failed on you?

IMO I think you can get better bang for your bucks, all possible with a cheaper price tag -- I've assembled a list assuming a pour over kit. Obviously you would want to get a dripper. Now, there are a lot of different kinds out there (even within the same product line e.g. plastic vs ceramic construction), amongst which the popular ones would be the Hario V60 and the Melitta, the Beehouse included. For the kettle, you can get the Bonavita Variable GooseNeck for $60 now at Amazon (it's a steal!), or the Stovetop version for $20 less. The Bonavita allows the user to manipulate the temperature much more precisely, and thus ensures more consistent consecutive cups of coffee. To be even more precise, get a scale. I have owned the Hario Slim Mill for some time now, and with some simple modification, it can grind some pretty darn consistent grinds! I think altogether this will sum total to at most the same price. And above all, make sure you buy him freshly roasted beans!

Looks like the Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle

The easiest and cheapest way to control your temperature is through the application of patience. Use whatever means to bring water to a boil, then stick a thermometer in it (I find it easier to use a seperate vessel for this; a milk-frothing pitcher and its accompanying thermometer is perfect and cheap, and can be used for many other things too).

Wait until the water cools to your desired temp, then begin your pour. Simple, few moving parts, and you probably have most if not all of what you need already.

For convenience, you can use a temperature-controlled kettle. Be careful when shopping -- some "temperature-control" is a knob with no meaningful graduations.

This Hamilton kettle is the cheapest I'm aware of that doesn't suck and actually lets you set a numeric temperature.

The Bonavita controlled gooseneck is quite a bit more. But goosenecks are quite convenient--they pour at the same rate based on angle, where standard kettles change pour rate at a given angle based on volume. This is extremely convenient for pour-over, and fairly convenient for anything else, as it's less likely to make a mess. But it's certainly not essential in either case.

Just a guess, but but Bonavita brand electric kettles are well liked in this sub. Especially the Gooseneck var. temp. is popular.

I'm personally thinking about getting one.

EDIT: I see that heir non-goose neck ("mongoose"?) kettle is now half off on Amazon.

If you are only going to be using the burner/cooktop for making coffee I would recommend the Bonavita variable electric kettle. I have a stove and a Hario V60 and I haven't used it once since I got the Bonavita.

Had a pretty weakly drip-brewed cup and a half of Dunkin Donuts, but I drank it lounging in a hammock in a gazebo staring out at the ocean with a nice, cool, salty breeze blowing in my face.

Not too worried about the quality either because I have a bonavita gooseneck kettle coming in tomorrow that was on sale for $60. That along with some Counter Culture Ethiopian that should arrive around the same time makes the rest of this week look quite heavenly.

For those in the US this is a good brand (from second-hand knowledge of friends and small coffee shops).

Hopefully Reddit won't delete the comment...

Bonavita 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_eOs3AbXH8FKJG

Great choices. My setup at home is the following and highly highly recommended. Also don’t forget to pick up the bleached white filters for your dripper, Grindz grinder cleaner, a brush for cleaning the grinder, and maybe some Third Wave Water. I also have a Zojirushi hot water pot with Third Wave Water in it so I can have shorter boiling times in the kettle.

• Baratza Virtuoso (heard too many grind issues with the Encore) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006MLQHRG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_n8F1AbFH5Y4FE
  
• Bonavita 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_N7F1Ab7QVKWWP
  
• Acaia Pearl Black scale https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XP7PPF9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_g7F1Ab8K1D9AT
  
• Kalita Wave 185 Lotto Ceramic (I used the Hario V60 02 for years and switched over... the V60 is way too finicky and difficult to consistently get it right) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W5JHXU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_g6F1Ab67RC0M4
  
• Kalita Wave Series 500 “G” glass server (pours much easier than the Hario one) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004R0RFPC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_62F1AbWH67CS5
  
• Zojirushi America Corporation CV-DCC40XT VE Hybrid Water Boiler and Warmer, 4-Liter, Stainless Dark Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R4HKIV8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_k.F1AbMBTS3V5

Still my go to setup as well.

Porlex Hand Grinder:
https://www.amazon.com/Porlex-Jp-30-Stainless-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B0002JZCF2/

AeroPress
https://www.amazon.com/AeroPress-80R11-Coffee-Maker/dp/B000GXZ2GS/

Goose Neck Kettle (allows you to do pour over as well):
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Digital-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/

Second the Baratza Encore -- I have been very satisfied with mine and the ease of it being automatic is nice, especially if brewing for multiple people although there are some great hand grinders out there. There is also the option to upgrade to the Preciso burr kit which I think I plan to do at some point in the future so I can't speak on it from personal experience. Something else to consider is a good gooseneck kettle. I have this one which is pretty popular (https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Digital-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40). It lets you set a specific temperature and also hold that temperature (for a believe an hour) which is nice for heating in the morning while you shower, etc.

Thanks very much....is this the kind of transformer you use? http://item.rakuten.co.jp/netkashi/nti-149/
I want to get a sous-vide too!

And with the earthing deal (another stupid question coming up), when using products like that sous-vide and other things with or without the transformer, what happens with the earthing and those foreign devices' 3-pronged plugs? I've been going a little beyond the simple old 3->2 prong adaptor and using this Hataya extension cord and adaptor for 3-pronged devices to keep some of the earthing going as I connect it to the one socket in my kitchen that actually has an earth.
Even though it's for outdoor use....I used it to connect this Bonavita kettle from the US with temperature control and it seems to have been alright except for error messages coming up sometimes. But I want to go that transformer route for future things. Of course Japan has no shortage of its own great kitchen supplies, but for certain things like the above, I was more enamoured with the American option.

I use the Bonavita variable temp gooseneck at home, and took it to the hotel last week, but I'm moving to the Bonavita travel kettle as I expect it will pack better.

You need a couple of things but we can make it with the lower end of your budget.

A good burr grinder. Your biggest investment but also the most important one. For pretty much everyone here I would recommend the Berata Encore. A fantastic electric grinder that grinds really well for every brewing method out there except for real espresso.

If you think you might want to get a grinder that will be great for espresso as well, look into high end manual hand grinders like a Lido. They costs between $200 and $250. They require manual labor of course but it takes about 20 to 25 seconds to grind for a single cup. Not that big of a deal.

An Aeropress itself. Around $40 I think. Comes with paper filters that will last you a long time. They also sell reusable metal filters that give a distinct, more french-press like, tasting coffee. Worth a try but non essential.

A kettle/water cooker. Probably have those already. Don't need anything especial like a gooseneck for Aeropress. If you're looking to invest, buy a gooseneck kettle with build in thermometer like this one. They will be very helpful if you expand the hobby beyond aeropress.

A 0.1g scale. A scale that works with a precision of 0.1grams. Costs around $17 on Amazon. If you buy one, buy one with a build in timer. Very handy it doesn't cost more. If you have a regular kitchen scale, this one is a bit optional but if you want consistent results you need a precise scale.

About Aeropress. It's one of my favorite brewing methods. Very fun to use and can brew a wide range of coffee. However, it doesn't do espresso. It can make a very strong cup of coffee. It can even do crema if you use it right. Just not actual espresso. It just can't. Doesn't provide enough pressure.

My girlfriend and I use an Aeropress, and have a nice electric kettle. We buy local coffee, and grind it ourselves usually. If we're on a road trip, we'll have the coffee shop grind it for us.

The Aeropress is much like a french press, except a lot smoother of a taste. With our set up, you can have an amazing cup of coffee in less than 3 minutes, fresh brewed.

Links to press and kettle on Amazon.

Aeropress

Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle

Baratza Encore: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LW8122Y

Hario scale/Timer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009GPJMOU

Bonavita temp control gooseneck: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40

Then add a V60 or Chemex & Filters. $306 amazon cart.

If you don't mind spending more on the grinder, http://www.amazon.com/Baratza-Virtuoso-Conical-Coffee-Grinder/dp/B006MLQHRG the Virtuoso is an upgrade from the Encore with better burrs, and a more solid build.

Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_e1VVBbE82P2KT the kettle I mentioned. I owned two and both are still in good conditions after 4+ years of twice daily use.

Oh this kettle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40

Just a scope from aeropress kit makes a cup. There is a reusable metal filter made by someone else.

V60 (amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Plastic-Coffee-Dripper-Clear/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541449217&sr=8-1&keywords=hario+v60+plastic

Grinder (amazon): https://www.amazon.com/Hario-MSS-1DTB-Ceramic-Coffee-Mini-Slim/dp/B01GPMH590/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1541449268&sr=8-7&keywords=hario+skerton

With a v60, one of these kettles would help a lot too (something similar is perfectly okay too, but pay attention to the skinny spout: https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1541449338&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+variable+kettle

And coffee all depends on local roasters in your area, but they put the regions on the bags, so just find some ones from africa, or focus on tasting notes they list.

Hope this helps!

This adds another device, but you might be interested in getting an electric kettle such as this 1L Bonavita Variable Temp. Add your cold water, set your desired temperature and go do something for a few minutes, come back and your water is ready. You can go cheaper and get something like this which is not gooseneck since you're not doing a pourover. Either way, a fast and easy way to heat your water and easily pour into a FP, all while cheaper than a Keurig.

I've found the electric kettle to be a great thing to have around. I use it for coffee, tea, and my daily instant oatmeal.

So a little bit of an update for anyone that cares.

This is really my third time ever brewing any type of tea at all. For the last couple of months I have brought to work mass produced bottled tea (exhibit A and B) for lunch. I decided to up my game and try to brew my own higher quality tea. I've had experience cold brewing coffee with great results and tried it with some bag tea and got something that was okay. So I hopped on Amazon and got some loose leaf green tea for my French press, which is what you see in this post. I brewed it according to this recipe for about 8 hours in my fridge. Didn't add any sugar and packed it with my work lunch. Pretty disappointed to be honest. Super grassy and pretty bitter.

But then this morning I brewed it hot according to the package directions (I have a nice adjustable temp kettle which I used for coffee and now for tea). And let me tell you it was a whole different cup of tea. Sweet and lemony, with a present but not over powering vegetal taste. Just ordered some Darjeeling and jasmine loose leaf tea to experiment with. I've been down the coffee road for the last couple of years and I don't think I'm ready to give up coffee, but I do think tea might be a companion to it.

Agree--you can get a great variable temperature kettle for manual brewing under $80. This and a Chemex/Kalita, etc. is arguably the best way to make coffee.
http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

Definitely get an Aeropress it's a great beginner brewer that will allow you to grow in your coffee brewing technique as well as being easy to use for a novice. As for grinder don't skimp on it I suggest the lido 3 because I have it and I know it's good. It's a manual grinder but you will never need another one.

Get any scale that does grams it really doesn't matter and get a kettle to heat up the water. If you want it to be a one time purchase that doesn't require an upgrade in the future get the Bonavita 1L variable temp kettle

Here are some links:

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

https://prima-coffee.com/equipment/orphan-espresso/lido-3

https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Drip-Coffee-Scale-Timer/dp/B009GPJMOU/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=hario+scale&qid=1551379746&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I'm partial to the Bonavita kettles myself.

There is a great Bonavita kettle with variable temperature control as well as a gooseneck for about the same price. It's what I use for my pour over and I've been very pleased with it.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

Thanks for the reply. Is this the one you'd recommend?
Bonavita BV382510V Electric Kettle, Gooseneck Variable Temperature, 1.0L https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_y7U6ybCQ9G25Z

His french press, grinder, and kettle are certainly sufficient for what he's doing. There are certainly upgrades for the grinder (such as this) and the kettle (such as this), but for what he's doing, it's not likely to make much difference.

Others have suggested different brewing methods, which would be nice, but this depends on preference, of course. The Aeropress is probably the best option for someone looking to expand their horizons from the french press.

Given his equipment, the biggest difference is going to come from the beans. I personally have not tried coffee subscription services (such as Tonx), but it sounds like a really neat idea and I've heard generally positive things. Periodically, you get shipments of different kinds of coffee, so you can try new beans.

It's a specific type of kettle. It helps control your pours, and is used in all pourover methods.

The variable temp gooseneck is extremely handy to have, and if you have the extra cash I'd pick up one of those. Otherwise I think there are a few for ~$30.

Bonavita 1-Liter Variable Temperature Digital Electric Gooseneck Kettle

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/

Great tool.

Here is a great option

https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Variable-Temperature-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?crid=3AIDPH27TRPSQ&keywords=electric+gooseneck+kettle&qid=1555623320&s=gateway&sprefix=electric+goos&sr=8-4

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

Don't know if this fits in your budget though. If it doesn't fit, could you give us a rough idea of what your budget is?

Disclaimer: I literally just switched from bags to loose leaf tea drinking today after hours and hours of research.

I bought a Bonavita Electric Kettle (http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/) and chose it for it's precise tempature control and the ability to dual-purpose it for coffee pour-overs as well.

For infusion, I purchased an in-cup stainless steel one (http://www.amazon.com/FORLIFE-Brew-Mug-Extra-Fine-Infuser/dp/B001JPA3Y8) mostly because it has good reviews and Amazon Now had it in stock for 2-hour delivery. There is some well-reviewed plastic infusers as well, but I like the visual of stainless steel in my new ritual.

The process is super easy. I fill up the kettle with water and punch in the temp (160 degrees in my case for Harney Japanese Sencha). Once it's hot I put the infuser in my mug and add a heaping spoonful of loose leaf. Then I pour-over the leaves and set my phone timer for a couple minutes. In no time, the tea is ready and I remove the infuser and dump the contents into composting.

The resulting tea is perfect. Easily twice as good as the experience as using the tea bags (I've been drinking Harney Japanese Sencha in bags for 2 years).

Coffee. http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

Its the year of the temp. control for me. Seems everything has been upgraded to a TC version for me this year.

I'm actually still using my $10 kettle/boiling water tap in my dorm but I have my eye on this one. My friend has it and she loves it.

Not glass, but a workhorse who holds a space of honor in my tea space. The gooseneck design is preferred for pour over coffee brewing (coffee drinking heathen/significant other) and is very nice to have to fill smaller teapots.

This is the kettle that's pretty popular here, it's a really good deal for the money and yeah you can choose the specific temperature with it. A kitchen scale can be had for under 15 and is important for hitting consistent cups. Almost all recipes you'll see will ask for a specific gram measure of beans and even water. You can work without it, but there's honestly no reason to skip it when it's so cheap.

As for burr vs blade, you can read up on that here. The cheapest acceptable grinders are the Hario Skerton/Mini Mill and the Porlex, both around $30-40~.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1452979640&sr=1-2&keywords=Bonavita

Love mine.

Well then, try just using boiling water, and see if you like what you get. What's most important is that you find a way of brewing that gives coffee you think tastes good. All the rules and recipes are flexible - have fun exploring and experimenting a bit!

If you really want to tinker with your water temperature, you could get something like a temperature controlled kettle (which can get expensive if you want a gooseneck), but that's probably further down the road. Another option is just taking a kitchen thermometer and sticking it in your stovetop kettle so you can keep an eye on what the temperature is.

Well this is gonna get kinda long and will only scratch the surface but I'll break down the pros and cons of some of the most popular entry-level gear in as un-confusing of a way as I can. First up, let's look at grinders.

First off, you want a burr grinder, particularly a conical burr grinder because those blender-y blade grinders they sell at wal-mart for $5 don't get any kind of a consistent grind. Varying sizes in a grind means varying levels of extraction in the cup and that means off flavors. Because burr grinders are more expensive, hand crank conical burr grinders are commonly recommended to beginners because of their lower price point compared to similar quality electrics. They're cheap and work well but do have some drawbacks beyond the extra effort involved in grinding. First, most of them don't have actual grind settings and you adjust the grind size by twisting a wheel until it looks as fine/coarse as you want it to. If you use different brew methods and switch grind size a lot, this can be a bit of a pain. Second, most hand grinders aren't ideal for french press because of the way the burrs are stabilized; they'll give fantastic fine/medium grinds but the coarse grind is a tad inconsistent. That said, I use a hand grinder for french press all the time and am relatively happy with the results. A few common ones are:

The Hario Skerton. I personally have one and love it. As I said, not perfect for french press but it's a durable daily driver that never lets me down and can do an espresso grind damn near as well as a $300 baratza

The hario mini is essentially the same grinder in a different, smaller package. Perfect for travel

The porlex JP-30 is a tad more expensive but has grind settings that, while unmarked, do "click" into place making adjusting grind coarseness a bit easier


If you wanted to go the electric route, I've seen refurbished Baratza encore grinders for around $100. This will give you a mediocre espresso grind but a perfect and much easier drip and french press grind


Next up: preparation methods

French presses use a metal mesh filter, which gives you all of the oils in the cup and lets a tiny bit of really fine coffee solids through, which gives the cup a rich, full-bodied, velvety character They're also very easy to use as there's pretty much one accepted way to brew in them. And here's Philly's own Todd Carmichael demonstrating it. As far as which one to buy, they're all pretty much the same: a glass tube with a stick in it and some mesh on the end of the stick. I like my sterlingpro a lot but the bodum chambord is hugely popular and looks just as nice. Even a cheapo will do the job just as well, though, even if it doesn't look as nice.

pourovers do essentially the same thing as a drip coffee machine just with a lot more input from you, which is good because all but the most ludicrously expensive drip machines are very inconsistent and don't work as well as just doing it your own damn self. With a pourover, you're going to use a kettle or measuring cup with a spout to pour the water over the grounds in a set amount of time (3-4 minutes depending on the grind size) and usually in a very specific manner. Because these use a paper filter, there are no oils or insoluble solids in the cup so the coffee is clearer, tastes cleaner and usually a bit brighter than french press coffee. Popular models include the Hario v60 which is one of the more finicky models. If you decide on one of these, be sure to use a gooseneck kettle like Mr. Carmichael was using in the french press video above. Slightly more forgiving are the kalita wave and the melitta both of which would work fine with a normal kettle so long as it has some type of pour spout. If you want something with very thick filters, so as to produce a very clear cup, and also looks very nice, the chemex is a beautiful thing that produces great coffee, has a built-in carafe, and can make more than one cup at a time. Really more of a replacement for a large-volume drip machine than most pourovers.

The Aeropress is an absurdly popular, extremely versatile, and very well priced coffee brewer which is essentially a huge syringe with a paper filter instead of a needle. There's a thousand recipes online with different ways to use it, all of which produce a different cup.



Also worth noting is that you may want a kettle with temperature control, coffee should be brewed at 195-205F, so knowing what temp your water is helps reduce a lot of the headaches of cooling off boiled water for a vague amount of time. This bonavita is a little on the pricey side but has temp control and a gooseneck, which is always useful

Note, if you get a chemex, that kettle will be a pain in your ass. I have that kettle at work and it's perfect for an aeropress but with a chemex (or V60, Kalita Wave, etc.) you need a goose neck kettle or else you'll get a lot of stuck brews.

Bonavita, and Hario have good ones if you go that route.

Ive got a temp control kettle, im not sure how accurate it is

It is this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV382510V-Electric-Gooseneck-Temperature/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1504105463&sr=8-2&keywords=temp+control+kettle

Bonavita pour over kettle maybe..?

So my scale should be OK, or should I take a small moment to look outside of the one place I shopped to find a better scale?

Also, on the Bonavita variable temp:

This is the one I purchased: http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

So you are saying the small-sized neck of the Bonavita variable temp (assuming you mean the gooseneck [ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40 ] and not the regular [ http://www.amazon.com/dp/B008YE3RNG ]) is preferable due to the controlled manner of the stream? I guess I want to be sure about changing my choice due to the over 100% difference in price, is all.

Thank you!

I have this one and it works great: http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/

It heats up really quick. The only possible issue is that the cord isn't long (but if there's an outlet nearby that point doesn't matter) and it doesn't make a sound when it hits the specified temperature (which may or may not be a good thing).

Bonavita makes a version of this kettle with a timer and automatic temperature hold control. I've had it for a year now, can't imagine using anything else

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376408872&sr=1-1&keywords=bonavita+electric+kettle

Hario v60, about $6-7 on Amazon (the one I bought even came with 20 papers filters). This is the kettle I have ($80).

There are electric gooseneck kettles that have a timer built in. Bonavita has one for $50 usd.

Bonavita BV382510V 1.0L Digital Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0F40/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_O-3PCbPE3YQQB

[Bonavita Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle](http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40/)

will give you

Bonavita Variable Temperature Gooseneck Kettle

Google gooseneck kettle...

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Gooseneck/dp/B005YR0F40

http://www.amazon.com/Hario-Buono-Coffee-Drip-Kettle/dp/B000IGOXLS

http://www.amazon.com/Kalita-Tea-Coffee-Kettle-Wave/dp/B000X12JDC

I might recommend this kettle, mostly just cause it's cheaper than the one you chose. The one you linked to will work well, I'm sure. If you're looking to splurge, this is the kettle I'd like the most, but I'm gonna get this kettle soon.

The pour is actually very important in making good tea, and most people don't realize that. Gooseneck kettles have a great, easily controllable pour. You might not notice it for a while, so that's why the first kettle is good for beginners.

I use this and a thermometer but there's also a temperature regulated version. Both get high marks from most people, both online and irl.

Prior to buying a Fellow Stagg EKG+, I simply used a electric boiler, which heated to an optimal-brewing temperature, and transferred it to a standard, cheaper, gooseneck kettle. Most temp-controlled, sleek-designed, kettles are in the $150 range. A popular choice in this community is the Bonavita Digital Temperature Gooseneck Kettle at around $65

1.) Has anyone ever made a time sheet to see about how long it takes to microwave water to a certain temperature?

2.) What costs more: one of these Pyrex containers or just a kettle?

The gooseneck is also quite out of my budget, but I am saving up for this

Bonavita Electric Gooseneck Variable Temp Kettle on Amazon for $72

Do you think you're the Lord spake, saying, "First shalt thou take out the credit card couldn't normally cut this belt is great https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005YR0F40/ there are other people] is the 69th time today.

This is the one!

If you can stretch your budget for the Bonavita temp controlled kettle it's really worth it. In addition to the obvious benefit of temp control (letting you hit exactly the right temp), it's really nice because it will HOLD that temperature while you get the rest of your stuff ready. You can turn it on and go about your prep routine and whenever you are ready the water is waiting for you. With most other kettles the kettle will shut off once it's hit boiling or on the stovetop it will just keep going unless you keep an eye on it.

It's brutal waiting, or buying when you see what it has been.

This right here: http://amzn.com/B005YR0F40

I'm talking about the variable. Check camelcamelcamel for the amazon price history.

edit: price history link

edit: I bought this kettle myself for 59.95 from amazon about 9 months ago.

Hmmm I see, would you recommend the hario buono or the non temp adjustable bonavita electric kettle?

Yeah, I made my first cup today with a standard kettle and it was just too hard to pour due to lack of accuracy and consistency of the stream.

3-Cup Chemex // Aerobie Aeropress

Mini Ceramic Conical Burr Mill // Electric Burr Grinder (Faster than manual, but inferior grind quality and life)

Immersion Water Boiler // 1 Liter Gooseneck Kettle

/r/Coffee — Join Us.

The Bonavita Variable Temperature Kettle is as good as it gets. Especially if you make tea or coffee. You can set it to keep the water at a particular temperature, and the gooseneck helps pour the water.

It's basically the same kettle without the digital control.
Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle BV3825B https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fuV2xb1GA1SZK

> Electric Kettle: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005YR0GDA/

It is amazing how much these have dropped in price. I remember when $50 was a deal.

> Scale: https://www.amazon.com/American-Weigh-Scale-Ac-100-Digital/dp/B003O5K3JQ/

That scale is small and designed for low weights.

A pour over set up can be had for quite cheap.

Hario V60 Plastic Coffee Dripper, Size 02, Clear https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001RBTSMM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_WcZ5AbRMPN9JG

Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle BV3825B https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_TeZ5AbY1C3CZG

Hario V60 Paper Coffee Filters, Size 02, 100 Count, Natural https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001O0R46I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_yfZ5Ab8GY8NBT

$5.67 + $6.21 + $29.34 = $41.16

I realize you’re using euros so it will be slightly different. And honestly if you got a different kettle you could cut out 10 or more dollars to get you into the ~30 USD range which from what I can tell would be saving you money. Just make sure it’s a gooseneck and keep in mind the fewer times you have to rebuy something the likely less cost efficient it is.

Getting a goose neck does seem like a good idea. Next paycheck I'll probably get this one: Bonavita 1.0L Electric Kettle BV3825B.

It's the Bonavita! But that one is the electric model.

Amazon link, electronic

Ebay, stove top

Ebay, non bonavita, but bit cheaper

I am no way affiliated with these guys, just giving some links if you're interesting in a pour-over, I own one of those homeloo kettles, they're really nice.

I've had the Bonavita for about half a year to a year and I'd give it a 5/5 any day. Heats very fast and pours tremendously. All metal interior and any thermometer fits in the steam release holes so I can get it to any temperature I want with ease.

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-0L-Electric-Kettle-BV3825B/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1376203945&sr=1-3&keywords=Bonavita

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-0L-Electric-Kettle-BV3825B/dp/B005YR0GDA/ref=sr_1_20?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1381476090&sr=1-20&keywords=electric+kettle+no+plastic

or

http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-KUA-17-Cordless-Automatic-Electric/dp/B00004S9CZ/ref=sr_1_12?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1381476090&sr=1-12&keywords=electric+kettle+no+plastic

I didn't get the variable but I got this cheaper version instead. The water leaks through the lever on the side.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005YR0GDA/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473890857&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

I have this one and love it: https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1483851397&sr=8-2&keywords=programmable+temperature+kettle

Programmable temperature (Has presets, but you're not limited to them), keep warm, programmable clock: has everything I want for like half the price of some of the more expensive versions out there.

my old roommate had this. It's not programmable, but if you put it on "keep warm" it'll hold temp for up to 2 hours and then shut itself off. If you want a specific window of warm water, I don't know of any programmable ones, but if you're just looking for one that's safe to forget about, this one's golden.

EDIT: realizing you may have wanted one to boil at a certain time, not just shut itself off. If that's what you're after, this seems to do it (plus auto shutoff) but I've never used it myself

EDIT2: I actually was wanting a new kettle, so I ordered the second one I linked. I can report back with my findings

Something like this might be what you're looking for? It says it'll boil when the clock hits a set time.

What about this one? It probably sucks, but that's a $30 kettle for ya.

https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_KkVJxbSKNXT8Q

Affordable and functional. Although I think the the temp control is slightly inaccurate, as in the actual temperature is about 5 degrees higher than the reading. I'm happy with it though

[And some are inexpensive!] (https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1510283224&sr=8-6&keywords=hamilton+beach+kettle)

These days it's easy, if not a bit luxurious with a variable temperature kettle. I was skeptical on coffee water temperature myself until I did a blind taste test.

Hi there! First off, congratulations on your first contest! That's awesome! =D

The cheapest item on my wishlist are these mini cupcake liners. Something else that I really, really want is this AMAZING tea kettle!. I LOVE tea (and coffee too!), and currently, i still use a traditional stove kettle. But this electric one would be so much more efficient and convenient- it even keeps your water warm for your second cup! I would be over the moon to receive this! =D

Again, congratulations, and thank you! You're awesome, and your username is adorable!

> Also about 80 C for green tea, how do you guys find the right temperature consistently?

I use an electric kettle

I just got this one and I've fallen in love with it (other than the stupid display never turning off unless I unplug it). I have a white peony that needs 190 degrees and most electric kettles don't do this exactly

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1394241231&sr=8-4&keywords=hamilton+beach+kettle

I'd wait until this was on sale more, but I've had mine for a couple years no problem
http://www.adagio.com/teaware/utiliTEA_kettle.html

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI

It's a little squirly to change the set temp and we just repaired ours when the thermal fuse went out after years of use.

Honestly, just get the kettle at a store with a good return policy. If it doesn't quit in the first month, it'll go for years.

If you don't have good tap water, invest in a PÜR filter that can be attached directly to the tap. In order to brew a great cup of tea, you must start with good quality water. The water in my apartment is very hard and had a terrible mineral taste to it, and so I made a small investment into a good water filter, and it makes much better tea.

The temperature of water that you use will also effect the outcome of your tea. Some teas, like green and white, need lower water temperatures than black and oolong teas. This is where a variable temperature kettle comes in handy. I bought mine on Amazon for only $35, and it can be programmed to brew to a specific water temperature.

As far as the teas go, I'm sure others have mentioned this, but using quality loose leaf tea is the way to go. Tea bags are filled with poor quality "tea dust", and won't taste very nice. Try purchasing some fresh loose leaf tea samplers from online vendors. Check out the vendor list or Marketing Monday thread we have on /r/tea for some ideas.

Lastly, check out Mei Leaf's brewing guide for an idea on how to brew your tea.

An electric programmable kettle with different temperature settings will cost you about $30-$40 I just picked up this one, pretty decent, probably a bit too much water for one sitting to be honest. It's pretty important to get the right temperature for tea since too hot scalds certain types, and too warm doesn't get the full benefit of others.

At work, I'd go with those infuser cups, since it's really convenient. I don't have this one but I've got something similar to it.

With about $60ish left, you can get quite an assortment of teas.

I'm fairly new to tea and I just invested in an electric kettle. Nothing too fancy, I was able to find this one on Amazon for 20 bucks. It lets you program a temperature and it has made brewing a lot easier.

Chiming in, I have this one and it works well. They have a warehouse deal for $23. Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_a.K5BbJ23YCE0

I have this one, the variable temp and timer are nice features. [](Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i-uXBbG9FPTXH)

I bought the standard Hamilton Beach kettle with no gauge or anything about a year and a half ago,and that has been working without issue since then. I later bought the same brand but with temperature control and it has worked well for the about 6 months I've had it, but I find that it will generally overheat the water by about 5-10 degrees F (when set to below boiling obviously).

Right now I'm eyeing the Bonavita gooseneck kettle with temperature control as an upgrade, but if you want something cheap I would definitely say the basic Hamilton Beach is a good choice. Costco generally has it for I think cheaper than Amazon, so if you have access there I would take a look.

On a sidenote, I've been told it's better to start using a plain straight to boil kettle so you can get a better intuition for how you actually brew your tea, but I honestly just forget about my water too easily when I'm doing other things and making tea so the temperature control is good for me! Remember, you can always get a thermometer inexpensively, which is good to have around the kitchen anyway :D

Nope. I have this one and you can pour very slowly if you want to. Cheap. 5 temps too.

http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1448945189&sr=8-3&keywords=variable+temperature+kettle

This is what I use. There are increments of 5 degrees and it works fantastic. Simple to use as well. :D $40

K32 is not coming up

This one?
https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-40996-Programmable-1-7-Liter/dp/B0083I7THI/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_3?keywords=hamilton+beach+Programmable+1.7+Liter+Kettle&qid=1556654651&s=gateway&sr=8-3-fkmrnull#immersive-view_1556654700861

Or this

https://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-41020-Electric-Stainless/dp/B0758BZKQN/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_4?keywords=hamilton+beach+Programmable+1.7+Liter+Kettle&qid=1556654725&s=gateway&sr=8-4-fkmrnull

Get a kettle that can adjust temperatures first. This is what I use. Get one with a goose neck if you have a coffee fan in the house.

Look up yixing pots. Don't forget eBay.

As for teas themselves, I wouldn't. Try a dedicated puerh shop like Crimson Teas, Mandala, or Verdant.

A little more than $20 but nice is this Hamilton Beach programable one I just got on sale on Amazon for $33. Has different temp settings which is SUPER nice
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0083I7THI/ref=sxts1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481582302&sr=1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

Do not get. I got one as a gift and its just annoying to use...

Try a Hamilton Beach 40996 Programmable Kettle, 1.7-Liter instead.

Best electric kettle. Bar none.

I've had this model for years: https://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Balanced-1750-Watt-Electric-Temperature/dp/B0086UJQN8/ It is made largely of plastic, but we like it in our house so much that when my roommate broke it (knocked it off the counter, it landed weird and the side cracked) she bought the same one as a replacement. If the current one breaks and it's still for sale, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. It's currently $31 and has 3 temp settings - white, green and black. I haven't tested how accurate the different temps are since green tea brewed at the green setting tastes good and black tea brewed at the black tea setting tastes good!

I read a while ago that kettles aren't as commonplace in the US as they are in the UK, for that reason I am demanding you get one

I used a 1L T-Fal electric kettle. It's very cheap, pretty small, and it's made of food grade plastic. It was still working after about a year of use, when I upgraded to a better kettle. https://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Balanced-1750-Watt-Electric-Temperature/dp/B0086UJQN8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468020408&sr=8-1&keywords=tfal+kettle

I use this and it works great for me. I only drink black and green, but there are three settings, the middle being for oloong or white. Works great so far. Bonus it is quite small for a non-traditional brewing spot like an office or a personal room.

Many Aeropress recipes use water temps well below boiling, maybe this t-fal variable temp would be better.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0086UJQN8/ref=psdch_289753_t1_B0086UJQN8

WOW, you guys rock with this mass of suggestions and tips!

I think I've come to a conclusion on my Kuerig-crushing morning joe solution.

Aeropress, Hario Skim grinder, and a T-Fal kettle.

Went with the T-Fal because it just looks to be a better made device than the other one for minimal cost increase, not as a matter of difference in my coffee product.
http://www.amazon.com/T-fal-Balanced-1750-Watt-Electric-Temperature/dp/B0086UJQN8/ref=sr_1_2?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1415310283&sr=1-2&keywords=Electric+kettle

Thanks again folks, keep calm and coffee on.

For Christmas though, I just received this electric kettle. It's a nuisance in a one bedroom apartment to have extra appliances taking up kitchen space, but it does work a little faster than boiling on the stove. And you have a temperature gauge, basically far left for white tea, middle for green, and far right for black.

I just bought this one by T-Fal. It's 1300w and can bring cold tap water to a full boil in about 2 minutes. I absolutely love it. It's a heavyweight plastic. You can get it on Amazon or if you have a Sears nearby, buy it at the kiosk in-store and they match Amazon's price and ship it to your house free.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0086UJQN8/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1406664901&sr=8-1&pi=SL75

From what I read they said to lower the heat of the water if you're getting sour flavors. Here's the kettle I'm using.

I've owned and used this variable temp electric kettle for about three years at work, and six months ago bought another one for home. No problems whatsoever with it!

I want to get the Bonavita 1.7L kettle once I scrape a few pennies from under the couch. I hear a lot of great things about it. It's list price is $79.99 but it can be found for $44.99 on Amazon.

You could also buy the non-gooseneck electric kettle and a stovetop gooseneck kettle for cheaper

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-1-7-Liter-Variable-Temperature-Electric/dp/B008YE3RNG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1408858182&sr=8-3&keywords=bonavita+electric+kettle

http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-BV3825ST-1-Liter-Stovetop-Kettle/dp/B005YR0IBU/ref=pd_sbs_k_10?ie=UTF8&refRID=1PN1SM6HD90A92STTF8V

Bonavita variable temp electric kettle.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B008YE3RNG?pc_redir=1406286178&robot_redir=1

Props for not immediately supporting drinking all the coffee. It's tasty, but sleep is too.

Also, I would recommend a chemex and an electric kettle.

$35, variable temp, great kettle.

http://amzn.com/B008YE3RNG

I got the Bonavita Bona Voyage as a gift recently and I think it may be what you are looking for. I like its small size and that the interior of the kettle is completely stainless steel (if you forgo the cap, the water will never touch plastic). There are a lot of reviews that should help you determine if this will suit your needs. Good luck with your search and your new job! https://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Voyage-0-5-Liter-Electric-Travel/dp/B008YQLZOW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1468042826&sr=8-2&keywords=travel+electric+kettle

Right here!
I love mine. Super convenient.

Edit: I love my [travel] ( http://www.amazon.com/Bonavita-Voyage-0-5-Liter-Electric-Travel/dp/B008YQLZOW) kettle as well, but I will warn you that it is difficult to make more than one cup in a hurry and you've got to watch it to know when it's ready since it just clicks off. I honestly don't know if that's a typical feature in all kettles.

You can, but I wouldn't recommend it. I've used one from arrowhead (using an aeropress), and the temperature would fluctuate from 70C-85C. I finally caved and bought an electric kettle to keep at my desk Bonavita Bona Voyage, and it made a huge difference.

Bonavita Bona Voyage 0.5-Liter Electric Travel Kettle

This is mine.

I can’t believe my reply received so much love.

I have this kettle from Amazon that lights up blue when you turn it on, and it shuts itself off automatically when it's done boiling. It doesn't have a thermometer, but I usually turn it off before it boils so it doesn't burn my tea. I'm easily entertained lol.

Ovente KG83 Series 1.5L Glass Electric Kettle, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DEPGY7G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vtadzbDN79VKP
Sorry for late reply!

Here's a tip:

If you just want to drink drip coffee (not espresso), forget any and all coffee machines. I don't care if you spent $200 on some Keurig or other abomination.

Spend $20 and get a French press. Just add hot water (electric kettle for $20 is a no brainer) and ditch everything else. It's a joke.

Any coffee machine that uses paper filters is robbing you of flavor (and also usually doesn't seep the grounds long enough). Paper filters absorb oils from the coffee that are good for you and most importantly provide a fuller flavor.

A small upgrade to a French press setup is to get a cheapo coffee grinder and ONLY BUY WHOLE BEAN. You grind just enough right before you brew. Preground coffee is dried out and doesn't stay fresh. I don't care if you spend $40 a pound on preground. It's an abomination.

Here's some low barrier to entry tools:

French press:

https://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Brazil-French-Press-Coffee/dp/B000KEM4TQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_5?keywords=French+press&qid=1550357503&s=gateway&sr=8-5

Electric kettle:

https://www.amazon.com/Ovente-BPA-Free-Protection-Indicator-KG83B/dp/B00DEPGY7G/ref=mp_s_a_1_9?keywords=electric+kettle&qid=1550357576&s=gateway&sr=8-9

Cheap coffee grinder:

https://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Electric-Coffee-Grinder-Stainless/dp/B00004SPEU/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=Coffee+grinder&qid=1550357622&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Decent beans:

https://www.amazon.com/illy-Whole-Bean-Roast-Coffee/dp/B07FN5763G/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=Whole+bean+Illy+arabica&qid=1550357761&s=gateway&sr=8-4

Might have been this

Amazon has a ton of different versions, just have to search for glass electric kettle

I got this one. It's pretty basic, but it works well enough.

I've been using a cheap Proctor Silex kettle very similar to this one for a few years now at work, also with an AeroPress, and it's been working perfectly. I use it at least once and usually two or three times a day and it's still good as new. After a while you can recognize the sound it makes as the water heats up so if you want water cooler than boiling you can stop it early with pretty consistent results (though I also have a cheap thermometer just in case I get distracted, which happens a lot at work).

Good luck!

So I went over to a neighbor's for tea and she had the Breville One-Touch Tea Maker...and the teas she brewed came out exceptional.

I was wondering if people feel that I should invest in this particular piece, or instead go for the slightly cheaper Breville BKE820XL, which also has tea-specific temperature controls.

Either would be a massive upgrade from what I'm currently using and wonder if I need the timing and flavor profile-specific settings if I use an old-fashioned timer since I'd be baby-sitting the tea.

Thoughts? Thanks everyone! ♥ May your day be filled with the perfect-temperature cup!

I found [an electric kettle] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=IEBX1KVVTSUG&coliid=I2HNMVCFVW1EBE&psc=1) that's cheaper than a coffee pot lol

This may be considered to be more of a luxury item but adding an electric kettle to the mix has done wonders for my shave.

I use something similar to this:
Proctor Electric Kettle
Its a quick and easy way to boil water. I use it for soaking my brushes, filling my ghetto scuttle and I dump the leftovers on a towel for my prep.

Buy a cheap water kettle. I have one like this Then you can do ramen, tea or whatever.

When I was new to tea I bought this and it still works. Probably not the best or what people here would suggest, but for someone getting started, it works just fine.

You can pick up a litre kettle on Amazon for around 1, or grab one in a store for under 20£.

A nice kettle will be more expensive. My kettle at work was around 100£ but it is a full automatic tea brewer that sadly sucks at brewing tea but is a great kettle.

As for the speed the issue is a limitation of our electricity. The standard outlets on this side of the pond provide less than half the voltage you get over there. Which means water takes twice as long to boil.

I chose this guy.

Proctor Silex K2070YA Electric Kettle, 1-Liter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_FUUOub05DAEA1

I like it so far, but I want to upgrade to something that holds more water and allows me to change temps.

Get the Encore. Ideally a cheap $10 scale but I've found with experience that I can consistently eyeball it well enough with the scoop which came with something I bought. $12 kettle. $15.50 Clever dripper if it's cheap enough and some $6 papers (or off brand instore somewhere cheaper) or a $11.50 french press.

If you can get the Encore at 70, and just the kettle and brewer (no scale) that's just under 100.

Edit. I forgot you'd need to weigh the water to get the proportions correct and consistent, and would need a scale for that but, because water has many special magic properties you can just measure it 500ml=500g etc, so a cheap $1 plastic jug could also work.

If price is the most important factor for you, and you don't really care about temperature control then this one works great.

I have it and it heats to boiling super quickly. It's nothing special, but it gets the job done and the price is unbeatable. If you are looking for something with temperature control then you probably can't find anything below $35 unfortunately.

you can get a very cheap kettle online to keep at work. www.amazon.com/Proctor-Silex-K2070YA-Electric-1-Liter/dp/B00IWOJS9A/ref=sr_1_5?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1482987336&sr=1-5&refinements=p_36%3A1253523011 If someone breaks it it's no big loss. Better than a microwave.

I got great results from this $15 kettle. I boiled the water then mixed cold water in until I got the temperature I wanted.

I'd still be using it, but my thermometer broke and I just got a temperature-controlled kettle instead.

First one on an Amazon search is rated at 1000W... and that's a small/cheap model.

Time to upgrade your imagination... water heater have a huge current consumption.

1.5 L version now on Amazon for $90. (Essentially the same as Massdrop price with shipping.)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N2278VC/ref=cm_sw_r_em_taa_R-hvzb46T04V5


Just a friendly FYI. 8 left at the time of posting.

Dang it. Is the [Bonavita variable temp kettle 1.7 litter] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00N2278VC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) a good deal at 83.29 on amazon? Just ordered in an hour ago. Also, I already have a 1L stove top one but looking to get an electric and bigger one for larger chemex brews... decisions decisions

I'll drop some stuff anyways:

https://www.amazon.com/Zojirushi-SJ-SHE10-Stainless-Sports-32-Ounce/dp/B004YB3J4K/ref=sr_1_sc_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1467067756&sr=8-3-spell&keywords=zoristi+thermos because it keeps my water hot for a solid 12 hours and it holds enough that I can travel multiple places and still have liquid to make a cup in https://www.amazon.com/PRESS-ART-TP-160-500ML-CAPACITY/dp/B00AIVMID8/ref=sr_1_2?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1467067811&sr=8-2&keywords=kamjove&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

You're on a budget, so why not just look at what works: I figure you want to save money and heating water is a simple thing, there's all kinds of things out there... but I was in college just last year so I know how convenient it is to have everything come in a box from Amazon: I've never used one of these before, but 25 perfect reviews should say something... maybe? It's only $40 right now which is pretty low: https://www.amazon.com/Epica-6-Temperature-Variable-Stainless-Cordless/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=sr_1_18?rps=1&ie=UTF8&qid=1467067863&sr=8-18&keywords=electric+kettle&refinements=p_85%3A2470955011

Over time you'll realize how many different things can be introduced into the art of making one awesome cup after another, but for now it is best to focus on what you like and dislike and then go from there :)

If I go to re use the loose leaf how do I do it? I usually only drink one cup at a time. Do I just take the infuser out, let the tea dry lol? Or is it only intended on steeping again right after the first?

Also, i was looking at this combo https://www.amazon.com/Epica-6-Temperature-Variable-Stainless-Cordless/dp/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1486621787&sr=8-3&keywords=variable+kettle plus https://www.amazon.com/Hario-Chacha-Kyusu-Maru-700ml/dp/B000NVMC4I/ref=pd_bxgy_79_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=W6562BAB0YZQKH1YGCTM&th=1 i assume I get the water to the desired temp then pour into the infuser then straight into my mug?

Finally, as for the variable kettle is it okay to only pour one cup into it? Also, I heard a complaint that it didn't heat the water all the way up to the desired temp?

Ah, so you got this guy!

You ever heard anything about the Epica or Aicok kettles? They're a tad cheaper... so I'm hoping they might be just as good :)

I got this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 about three months ago and I'm pretty happy with it. No rust, no weird taste, and a decent price.

I have this kettle and really enjoy it, it was $40 when I got it but a seller has it for $25 shipped. Highly recommended.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B01G7OL9ZW/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=all&qid=1491840800&sr=8-3

An immersion boiler would be the smallest and cheapest thing, so long as you have a bowl/vessel to cook in. Less than $10. Just don't ever plug it in without it being in water or let it boil dry, or it will blow out almost instantly.

I have never tried one of these, but this is the most compact type I have ever seen. They are called immersion heaters. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M0Q84BR

I have one and it's been pretty great so far. I did have to watch some YouTube videos to get it right though. I had some instances where the water would bubble up and spill everywhere when lifting the arms. The flair seems to be a lot more straightforward. With either the flair or rok I would recommend an immersion heater like this https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Instant-Electric-Immersion-Heater/dp/B01M0Q84BR so you can ensure temps are where you want them to be. I did stop using it in favor of a portapresso Rossa pg air though.

"Use this lightweight and portable immersion heater for warming liquids (water, coffee, tea, soup and more). Ideal for home, office and travel"

https://www.amazon.com/Norpro-Instant-Electric-Immersion-Heater/dp/B01M0Q84BR/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=heating+coil+home+improvement&qid=1556521770&s=gateway&sr=8-13

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Solved

They make collapsable electric kettles if you want something like that for next time :)

Neat. Do you guys sleep in vehicles without heat left on overnight?

Also what coffee pot do you have? I've looked online before for something small that will boil water and didn't see anything ideal.

I own a 1,500W inverter and may well 'hard-wire' it into my RAV4. Making coffee and having a cup-soup thing before heading home would be handy + we'd use it camping in summer.

Hmm.. a quick search found an 800W small kettle. Odd I found nothing a few weeks ago: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG7YLQG

wait, this comes pretty close: https://www.amazon.com/Gourmia-Travel-Foldable-Electric-Kettle/dp/B01MG7YLQG

Yeah that would probably work pretty well. Alternatively I’ve seen people use these collapsible teapots for boiling their items on the go.

Gourmia GK320 Travel Foldable Electric Kettle - Dual Voltage - Fast Water Boiling - Food Grade Silicone - Small, Collapsible, Portable - Boil Dry Protection - .5 Qt - 100v/120v and 220v/240v - White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MG7YLQG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wru1DbH6Z48MQ