winter warmers

by Amy Gross

coffee and tea accessories for a delicious, home-brewed cuppa

The snow’s falling, a fire’s blazing in the hearth, and you have absolutely no reason to be on the road. What a delicious feeling! Time to reach for a book, a cozy throw, and a soul- and body-warming cup of coffee or tea. With these handy accessories, the brew you concoct at home can easily match any made in a coffee or tea house. Here’s to one of the best hygge comforts of the season!

 

Bodum Brazil 8-Cup French Press


Good design doesn’t have to be expensive, as Bodum’s Brazil French Press proves. Nor does it have to be complicated. The 34-ounce carafe is made of durable, heat-resistant borosilicate glass and a BPA-free plastic handle. A three-part stainless steel mesh filter extracts the coffee’s aromatic oils and flavors. Available in red, shown here, or classic black. $20, Red Rock Roasters, redrockroasters.com
Courtesy Bodum.

 

Bamboo Matcha Whisk 

Also called a chasen, this hand-crafted whisk is perfectly designed to whip up a creamy, frothy matcha drink. Matcha is the powdered green tea from Japan, and this handy tool, hand-carved from a single piece of white bamboo, is the traditional whisk for preparing the colorful, flavorful, anti-oxidant–forward beverage. $20, ArtfulTea, artfultea.com Courtesy ArtfulTea.

 

Aerolatte Handheld Milk Frother

Love the foam at the top of your favorite coffee house’s latte or cappuccino? You can create your own at home with this simple, easy-to-use frother. Simply place the frothing head in a mug or glass of milk, press a button, and you’ll have a rich, creamy foam in 15–20 seconds. Add espresso or hot chocolate and enjoy. Latte art optional!
$20, Williams Sonoma, williams-sonoma.com
Courtesy Williams Sonoma.

 

Finum Tea Filters


Concerned about chemicals lurking in your tea bags? Make the switch to natural fiber paper tea filters. Easy to fill, free of chemicals, and fully biodegradable, they’re perfect for steeping tea in any cup or teapot, or for taking on the go with your favorite herbal blend. Simply add tea in the open end; the wide bottom keeps the filter standing up during steeping for better infusion.
$7.50, The Fragrant Leaf,
thefragrantleaf.com

 

Submaterial Spindle Coaster Set

Coasters are great for protecting table surfaces from scratchy mug bases, but what’s to protect a table from a coaster? These gorgeous, chic coasters are made of three layers of wool felt that’s easy on all table surfaces. Your coffee or tea mug will look beautiful against the muted colors, and when the coasters are not being used, they fit neatly into a spindled base for an artistic look. $125, Submaterial, submaterial.com

 

G+H Tea Assam Tea Bag Squeezer

Bet you didn’t even know you needed a tea squeezer! No more fumbling with tea bags (with or without strings). This simple but oh-so-handy gadget easily plucks a hot tea bag from a mug or teapot; a simple squeeze extracts all of the liquid from the tea blend and doesn’t leave a mess on your fingers or countertop. $6, Hadley’s Tea, hadleystea.com Courtesy G+H

 

Hanselmann Pottery Tall Mug

Made by hand in Corrales, New Mexico, Hanselmann Pottery’s stoneware, once heated or cooled, will retain its temperature for a long time, and is microwave-, oven-, and dishwasher-safe. When the day calls for a serious dose of caffeine (or beer!), this 6-inch-tall, hand-thrown mug with lug-style handle holds about 20 ounces of your favorite beverage.
$49, Hanselmann Pottery, hanselmannpottery.com
Photograph by Hanselmann Pottery

 

Capresso Ultima PRO Programmable Espresso

and Cappuccino Machine

Featuring a self-tamping portafilter and programmable cup sizes up to 6 ounces, the Ultima PRO brews up to two coffee specialties at a time. A powerful frother creates steam for cappuccinos, and there’s a hot water setting for Americanos. Made of polished stainless steel, the Ultima PRO is compact and counter space–saving—the perfect pump espresso machine for your kitchen.
$200, Las Cosas Kitchen Shoppe
& Cooking School, lascosascooking.com
Courtesy Capresso.