CURRENT FAVORITE
This dethroned my previous favorite (Now my daily driver). It is VERY smooth with clear separated flavors, high clarity, but then comes together with a smooth finish. I can taste raspberries and white chocolate on the front and it finishes as a smooth and juicy vanilla yogurt flavor. This is an SL28 variety and comes from a very well-known farm that is popular for their co-ferments (This is not one). I like to use my Ultimate Hybrid Brew Recipe to get the best balance and complexity.
CURRENT DAILY DRIVER
This was my previous favorite, and is now my driver. Luckily it remains affordable and available so I can buy 5lb. bags to refill as needed. It is very acidic, I get grapes and some tartness, but not sour. It is quite fruity and interesting to be a daily driver for some, but I really love highly processed coffees from Ethiopia. It can be very acidic in a V60 or Origami, or very sweet and well-rounded in a flat-bottom or hybrid immersion brewer. I buy it HERE.
ESSENTIALS
GRINDER - 1Zpresso ZP6 Special
I LOVE the ZP6. It gives such a focused and clear cup off coffee when doing pour-over (which is about 90% what I drink). I tried to use my electric grinder when I began, but compared to this the flavors were muddled. The ZP6 can really highlight the acidity and fruity flavors in the coffee. It is not for everyone because it can be too clear for some. But using a hybrid brewer or a different pour structure can balance the coffee out more if you want less clarity and maybe more complexity. I plan on getting a flat burr hand grinder soon for washed coffees.
GRINDER - DF54 - Stock Burrs
I currently use the DF54 grinder for espresso. I like that it is affordable (I paid $280 new) and uses flat burrs. It has a lot of grind adjustments, and a few accessories to personalize and improve its capabilities. I ordered the shaker cup attachment and the electric slow feeder as upgrades. It is one of the best entry level grinders that works great and looks sleek. I do not drink a lot of espresso, but when I do, I know this will give me a decent grind with low retention and fines.
GRINDER - 6.7" Handmade Brass
I got into Turkish coffee after my family brought back a czeve (Turkish coffee pot) and Turkish coffee from their trip to Istanbul. I found that I actually prefer it to espresso shots, and so I dove in as I always do in order to learn everything possible. I found I am able to get a very strong espresso-like drink that is easier to manage bitterness and acidity. It is an inexpensive way to enjoy strong coffee. But you do need a particular grinder to get the powdery texture that will allow the coffee to foam and brew correctly.
ESPRESSO MACHINE
I currently use the De'longhi Dedica Maestro Plus EC950. It is an excellent sub $500 machine and gets the job done. I have it set to no time between pre-infusion and extract because I like to pre-soak my puck and bloom for 30 seconds before I pull. I like that I can adjust the temp for different roasts, and I like that I can adjust the time settings for the one or two cup buttons. It is a great starter machine, really only limited by what grinder you have. Of course there are fancier machines, but I am not an espresso focused brewer, so I do not need all the frills. With a good grinder, this can make espresso as good as a $4k machine.
ELECTRIC KETTLE
I use an affordable electric kettle. I chose this one first because price, but also I wanted an electric kettle that could heat to an exact temp and hold the temp while on the base, and of course a goose neck so I would be able to control my pour. This kettle was under $50 and works amazing. I use my own water mixture that is between 75-90ppm, so in addition to making my coffee taste amazing, it also helps keep my kettle and equipment in good condition.
CARAFE
I use the Avensi Cyclone Carafe because it helps to release those volatile aromas that create that amazing smell when we brew, and the ridges in the carafe ensure all layers of the extracted coffee are mixed well when swirling. It is an affordable carafe, and the only one I own. They also have it in various colors (Starting on Kickstarter July 2025), which function the same but they do look beautiful.
BREWERS
Hario Switch
During the time of writing this, the Hario Switch is one of my top brewers. The Switch allows me to use it as a V60 for just percolation, close the switch and do full immersion, or use my favorite hybrid recipe to highlight acidity and balance it with sweetness. I recommend the Hario Switch as a go-to brewer for anyone starting out. The ability to add an immersion stage helps to balance the final cup and makes the brewer very forgiving for those who need more time to develop their brewing skills.
Hario Mugen
I like to use the Mugen for a no bypass conical option to increase sweetness. I also like that I can put it on the Hario Switch base and really push sweetness and body while still getting some clarity from a conical brewer. It is inexpensive so worth the purchase, but not a necessary one to own out the gate. It is more to experiment and have fun, but I would reccommend a Switch or traditional V60 if you do not have another brewer, before buying the Mugen.
Hario V60
I of course, have a traditional V60, no coffee enthusiast should be without it. I have the size 2, which accommodates a larger daily cup up to 30 grams. However, I find the coffee tastes best at 12-20 grams. Sometimes I will do 30g and do a 1:10/11 ratio concentrate, and use bypass to get a larger carafe to share a cup or fill my morning thermos. I will use my Ultimate Hybrid Brew Recipe with the larger batch version if I want to brew up to 500ml using a 30gram dose.
AeroPress
Like the V60, I feel everyone should own an AeroPress. It is very forgiving and great for beginners or those in a hurry. I will use the AeroPress sometimes when I travel with family so I do not have to do so many pour-overs. I will also use it if I forget my grinder when I travel or do not bring it, because it can be very forgiving with various grind sizes and distributions. I use two filters to filter the oils better and I plunge slowly to avoid sediment getting into the final cup. I prefer Jonathan Gagne's long immersion recipe found HERE. It gives a lot of flavor and sweetness with a bold body, and approximates a pour-over for many coffees.
Origami
I feel like I had to buy this because it is so cool looking. Seriously though, it gives such a clear, tea-like cup of coffee that is refreshing and crisp. It has a fast drawn down time that highlights the acidity and bright flavors in naturals and heavily processed coffees. I use it when I really want to stretch the coffee to a 1:18 ratio and get super bright and sharp brews. You definitely do not want to start with this brewer, it can be very unforgiving if you do not control the poor and other brew variables.
Chemex
The Chemex is great if I want to do larger batches for company. It also gives a great clarity and separation of flavors for complex roasts. I recommend everyone own a Chemex, it is just so universal. That said, I have a confession: I rarely use it... but only because I have no friends so I am only brewing for one. Seriously, it is a staple, but I just am not a huge fan of the long draw down times for the type of coffee I tend to brew. So I have it for when I need it, but I don't use it often. It can also make a great carafe, though.
Orea V4
I know, I only seem to have conicals, but I do appreciate the body, balance, and sweetness a flat-bottom can provide. The Orea V4 is my favorite flat-bottom, because I love its versatility due to having 4 different interchangeable bases I can play with. The fast flow base allows me to grind quite fine and get a very juicy and high extraction, coupled with a very round, balanced, sweet cup. I use the Orea when I want to really highlight sweetness and body, but not to the same profile an immersion or hybrid brew may result in. It works well with washed coffees because I can grind fine and still use agitation to really increase extraction.
ACCESORIES
500 micron Sifter - This helps to remove fines so the brewer does not clog and I can grind finer if I choose to
Sibarist Conical Booster & Booster Disc - I use these to increase the flow of my brewer so I can speed up brew time and/or grind finer when needed
MeloDrip, Timemore Dripper, Hario Drip Assist - These are a great way to minimize agitation to reduce fines migration and clogging, as well as not over-extract heavy procesed coffee
Chiller Ball - Many aromatic compounds are lost due to heat early in the brew. A chiller ball retains some of these to boost aroma and flavor
RDT Spritzer - The Ross Droplet Technique helps to improve the results of my ground coffee for better extraction
Blind Shaker - This is mainly for espresso to reduce clumping of grounds before going into the portafilter, creating more even extraction
WDT - Weiss Distribution Technique is a way to break any clumps and settle grounds more evenly in the portafilter for espresso. It can also be used to de-clump and distribute grounds for pour-over coffee
Filters - I use mainly Origami for conical and Kalita Wave filters for flat bottom