Just as one must choose the right weapon in a duel with the enemy, so must one choose the right gear in one’s friendship with coffee.
Anyone who takes his hobby seriously invests in good quality gear. This does not mean that the most expensive tools are always the best. Quality is not only determined by price, but also by ease of use and durability. And a hobby is only enjoyable if it remains affordable. Take what you like best in a price range that you are able and willing to pay for. Experiment with your tools, but don’t change them all the time, so that you get to know and use your gear well.
Weighing my coffee
Although it seems cumbersome to weigh your coffee instead of just scooping it, you can work more accurately (and thus experiment more) if you weigh the coffee. In the beginning, I used the kitchen scale I had, but it was a bit inaccurate and the tare button did not work very well. I bought myself a Salter 1270 BKDR scale instead.
Grinding my coffee
Although I am not averse to pre-ground coffee, I chose to generally grind my coffee beans myself. The choice for a small, manual coffee grinder led me, after some comparative research, to the Porlex Mini II grinder.
Heating the water for my coffee
The electric kettle I own has been around for several years and I still use it. It is a Tomado TM-1356 cordless electric kettle.
Determining how hot the water for my coffee is
xxx
Brewing my coffee
xxx AeroPress Go xxx
Separating my coffee from the grounds
Although I bought a reusable metal filter from Able which is fully compatible with my AeroPress Go, I use it little or not at all. I prefer [paper filters of AeroPress link] if at all possible.
Drinking and enjoying my coffee
At home, I like to drink almost everything I drink from a large double-walled glass. I have had my Bodum Pavina glass for years and now I also drink coffee out of it.
Indicative price list
| Product | EUR | USD | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scale (Salter 1270 BKDR) | 29.99 | 35.16 | 25.59 |
| Grinder (Porlex Mini II) | 76.80 | 90.05 | 65.54 |
| Kettle (Tomado TM-1356) | 18.99 | 22.27 | 16.21 |
| Thermometer (CDN DT450X) | 18.95 | 22.22 | 16.18 |
| Brewer (AeroPress Go) | 37.50 | 43.97 | 32.00 |
| Metal filter (Able Disk reusable filter for AeroPress) | 12.50 | 14.66 | 10.67 |
| Paper filters (AeroPress Micro-Filters 350 pack) | 4.26 | 4.99 | 3.64 |
| Glass (Bodum Pavina 450 ml double-walled) | 10.00 | 11.73 | 8.53 |
| TOTAL | 208.99 | 245.05 | 178.36 |
The Caffeinated Librarian or: How I Learned to Deal with Cacocafephobia and Love Coffee 