How the Strategist Staff Caffeinates
From drip coffee and pour-overs to espresso and energy drinks, there are many ways to get your caffeine fix. It takes a decent amount of research and practice to perfect a good cuppa or matcha at home, and I thought, who better to survey than my fellow colleagues here at the Strategist. So, for this installment of “Stuff We Buy Ourselves,” I asked staffers how they caffeinate throughout the day, whether that’s a flat white or oolong tea. Along with the drinks of their choice, I also wanted to hear about their setups: grinders, kettles, mugs, and all. Their recommendations are below, including espresso machines at multiple price points and an unleakable plastic-free cup for sipping on the go.
Michael Zhao, senior writer
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Breville The Oracle Jet
Have you really processed what an espresso drink costs at a third-wave café these days? Between the drink itself, sales tax, plus tip (not to mention a possible upcharge for non-cow’s milk), you’re lucky to walk out the door paying less than $7 for a flat white. Though $2,000 for the Breville Oracle Jet seems like a lot to spend on an espresso machine, I did the math, and assuming my wife and I each drink one to two drinks every day, it paid for itself in its first four months of use — and it’s still under warranty for another 20. Compared to other all-in-ones I’ve tried, this machine makes it easier to make more consistently great coffee drinks because it has an adjustable water temperature and a built-in distributor tool that ensures perfect prep every time. The dual ThermoJet water-heating system preheats in seconds instead of minutes — compared to a typical boiler-based system — and the responsive touchscreen makes it so easy to operate that I can use it one-handed while carrying my infant in the other arm.
As for beans, I’ve been trying a few different options using Trade Coffee’s discovery trial. I found the first roast from Boston’s Broadsheet to be a bit too dark for my taste, but I look forward to trying the lighter Blue Orchid Blend from Denver’s Huckleberry Roasters. When I’m feeling less adventurous, my standbys are the Time and Temperature blend from Tandem in Portland, Maine, and Pastime Coffee’s Sure Thing blend from Portland, Oregon. Both are available in convenient two-pound bags, which help save some money without being so large that they start to go stale before getting to the end.
Winnie Yang, senior editor
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The first thing I do when I get up in the morning is get the electric kettle going. I’ve had this Breville kettle since 2010; it doesn’t do anything fancy — you just press the one switch, and that starts the water heating, and it pings and switches off once the water is at a vigorous boil. I’ll usually turn it off myself when I hear the water just starting to boil, with the hopes that it’s somewhat short of 212 degrees (for better tea brewing).
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I read earlier this year about the benefits of naturally occurring gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in certain types of oolong, the type of tea I already preferred as my source of caffeine, and have been drinking it weekday mornings ever since (it’s been about five months and counting). I find that, for me, it helps me stay focused and keeps the brain fog at bay. (The only reason I don’t drink it on the weekends is because I still like to drink other kinds of oolong and have a substantial stash I’m trying to work through.) Other kinds of oolong I find too caffeinated to drink more of or even to steep a second time later in the day, but the GABA oolong I’ll drink a second steeping of at midday or late in the afternoon, and I find it has no effect on my sleep (quite possibly, according to the research, it even helps).
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Finum Tea Brewing Basket
I’ve been using this Finum tea strainer since 2015, and I’ve tried to switch to other strainers (woven brass ones, all stainless steel) that don’t have any plastic parts in them, but this one just works better than anything else.
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My husband broke two of my favorite mugs this year, most recently this Heath Ceramics one, which at least is replaceable (the other was not). The proportions of it are just right in my hands, and it holds just the right amount of tea for my purposes. I also like that the rim is not too thick.
Emma Wartzman, senior writer
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I handle a lot of the Strategist’s coffee coverage, which means my kitchen consistently has a rotating cast of coffee makers, coffee grinders, and milk frothers — and I have opinions on all. But in my own daily life — when I’m not testing particular products — I rarely use the latter two. Maybe I shouldn’t be admitting this, but I buy preground Dunkin’ beans most of the time because I think they make the most delicious coffee in the world when it comes to classic drip machines, which is my preference. (I do keep a Baratza grinder around for the moments where I find myself with a fancier bag of whole beans, and it works great.) As for the machines themselves, I had this OXO model (our Best in Class pick) on my counter for quite a while, but I recently swapped it out for Caraway’s new plastic-free model in order to write a review of it. And there are a few other models in boxes in my hallway waiting for their moment.
Katherine Gillespie, writer
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I’m a coffee lover, but never a coffee snob. For the past three years, I’ve started the day with either a flat white or long black made with my Breville Bambino Plus. It’s a nearly automatic home espresso machine that requires very little maintenance or know-how. I love it. A few people I’ve made coffee for over the years have been convinced to buy one after seeing it in action. Freshly ground beans are essential, and I use a discontinued Fellow grinder that the brand sent me ages ago. It’s okay, but I wish I had a Baratza. I like trying different beans each week from a Trade or Atlas subscription. I always sip from the same favorite Robert Gordon ceramic mug that my best friend sent me from Australia. I also like to drink tea while I write — the Diaspora Co masala chai that comes in a set with an East Fork Kulhad is a real favorite. When I travel, I’ll take an Aeropress or the titanium Snow Peak French press with me, but I draw the line at a travel grinder.
Tembe Denton-Hurst, writer
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Celsius Sparkling Raspberry Peach
I am a Celsius acolyte. I drink one first thing in the morning, every morning, and as of my last check, I’ve ordered 53 cases over the past two years. It’s a little insane and I’m not proud of my consumption, which one commenter has referred to as “fizzy speed,” but it works.
Simone Kitchens, deputy editor
I have a complicated relationship with caffeine — I gave up espresso in 2019 (too jittery) and drank chai for years. I’ve also gone through phases of cutting it out entirely because it was affecting my sleep, but now I take low-dose melatonin and enjoy a daily matcha, sometimes two. My current setup starts with a small scoop (I stopped measuring) that I sift in this canister from Astrid Tea (it has entirely removed clumpy bits from my matcha). Then I shake that into a Pyrex mixing pitcher with a dash of boiling water from a Fellow kettle. Next I whisk it with this bamboo one from Sorate.
If I’m taking it cold, I pour oat milk straight into the pitcher then transfer to a glass. If I want a warm one, I’ll pour milk into Terra Kaffe’s milk frother, hit the matcha setting, let it swirl a bit first, and then add the matcha after a few seconds. I trade off between matcha (right now I like Sorate, Rishi, and Pique) and hojicha (from Cap Beauty or Kettl). The hojicha apparently has less caffeine. If I’m taking it to go, I’ll pour it into Fellow’s truly unleakable ceramic-lined cup (which my colleagues Jen and Michael pointed me to). It even has a little splash guard, which is good for driving. The Maho cup is newer to me, and while it will never compete with stainless steel for heat retention, it’s a very pleasant drinking experience. It’s completely plastic-free, has a secure silicone lid, keeps things warm, and feels very nice to sip from — no metallic taste, the reason I ordered it.
Sam Daly, senior deals editor
Here’s my fairly minimal setup. (I just moved into a new apartment about a month and a half ago.) I’m not a coffee snob by any means, but I do love my espresso machine. It’s supremely easy to use; it can pull single and double shots, and make cold brew. Plus the water reservoir detaches so I can fill it up at the sink. I don’t have a grinder at the moment, so it’s ground beans right now; I simply go off vibes at the store, though Peet’s Alameda Morning is a favorite. I’m currently on the hunt for a knock box, so I’ve been using a deli container at the moment; please no judgment at this time. And for all the accoutrements: I use one of the millions of bamboo trays from Ikea that I’ve amassed over the years. My mug was made by my dear former pottery teacher, Shannon.
Ashley Wolfgang, newsletter editor
My home coffee-making (and consumption) habits have definitely evolved over the years; when I was still living with roommates I had an OXO French press I used religiously until one roommate mysteriously broke it. When my now-husband and I first moved in together we used a Cuisinart, which did the job, but I didn’t know what we were missing until he got us a Moccamaster for Christmas one year. The coffee was smoother, brewed faster, and the machine overall looked nicer on the counter too. Freshly ground beans using this grinder each time helps a lot too.
The one constant between my different coffee setups over the years has been a Trade coffee subscription. I truly love it so much. Back when I was grinderless, it was helpful to be able to select what brewing method I used and they would send ground beans that worked specifically for my French press. Now that we grind them ourselves, I like that I’m able to order a mix of different beans from roasters across the country. I’m no coffee snob, so I can rarely notice a difference in tasting notes, but it’s a nice surprise to see what you get each month.
My current setup is admittedly very gray, so if the Moccamaster ever dies (which, I hope not!), we’ll probably go for a more colorful one next time.
Arielle Avila, writer
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I start nearly every weekday with a cup of hot coffee with some oat milk. I just started testing De’Longhi’s All-in-One coffee and espresso machine, and it’s already made my mornings easier. (I was previously using a Moka pot, which I’m still keeping around for camping trips.) The coffee maker is as automatic as it gets, and the warmer keeps an entire pot surprisingly toasty for hours. If I have some extra time in the morning, I like the option of a latte instead. Again, the espresso side is very intuitive and includes an adjustable steam wand that doubles as a hot-water dispenser. This truly feels like the Swiss Army knife of coffee makers. I have yet to try the cold-brew or cold-foam settings, but I have high hopes based on how the other features have performed.
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In the past, I’ve been grossly unpicky when it comes to beans, usually grabbing the cheapest bag from Trader Joe’s or Ralph’s. But I’ve been spoiled with good coffee that my boyfriend gets on subscription from Little Dreamer, a shop in Houston. The blends I’ve tried — Day Dreamer and Oaxaca — are rich and bold. I’m no coffee snob (I couldn’t tell you specific notes), but this has elevated my morning cup in a way that makes going back to grocery-bought varieties near impossible. Grinding coffee beans fresh has also been a game changer. The Cuisinart is easy to use and allows for different grind settings, depending on if I want regular coffee or espresso. My only qualm is that it’s on the louder side. I store a couple days’ worth of fresh grounds in two Pyrex canisters.
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I usually need something to get me through my afternoon slump. I’ve found that a third or fourth coffee in the afternoon usually results in bad sleep. Now I switch to matcha later in the day and have recently started making it at home. This setup has everything I need to whisk up a high-quality matcha hot or iced. It gives me that extra bit of energy I need to get through the day without any jitters, and so far it hasn’t affected my ability to fall asleep.
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Earl Circle Mug
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I was recently gifted these ceramic mugs from the Los Angeles–based home-goods studio Earl. They are beautiful but hefty, so I don’t feel I have to be too precious with them. After stopping by Smorgasburg LA’s Filipino market recently, I also added a new mug from Ten of Cups Ceramics to my collection with the Filipino star on it. And on the rare occasion I take my coffee to go, I use this ceramic mug with a silicone lid and sleeve from Nova Ceramics.
Liza Corsillo, senior writer
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I never thought of myself as a fully automatic espresso-machine person, but after trying out a similar model at my parents’ house for over a year and looking forward to using it whenever visiting them, I decided to request a sample. And I am not exaggerating when I say it has changed my life for the better.
My husband likes to make a big pot of drip coffee on weekdays so he can bring a thermos to work. But on weekends he, too, luxuriates in cappuccinos at home. I love that it takes no effort or brain space and it saves us so much money. We have a small apartment without a lot of counter space, so we got rid of our microwave to make space for this and I haven’t regretted it one bit.
Kitty Guo, writer
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Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Kettle
I don’t drink coffee, but I’m a prolific tea drinker. I recently discovered Brooklyn-based tea brand Dona when I stopped by my local Variety Coffee and immediately fell in love with its high-quality, sustainable tea blends. I’ve been making my way through this Tea Library set (which, by the way, would make a very nice gift for a tea lover); it contains the brand’s entire menu of green, white, oolong, black, and herbal teas, and you really can tell that these blends have been carefully and thoughtfully crafted. Every morning, the first thing I do after waking up is turn on my Stagg Fellow kettle, which boils water in two minutes; my trick is to pour the hot water into my Hydro Flask before dropping in a tea bag, which makes replenishing my mug very easy and convenient.
Jen Trolio, senior editor
We are coffee people. Nothing too fancy, because, while I would love to drink espresso at home, I am generally anti-pod-machine and overwhelmed by the potential learning curve (and expense) of getting started. Maybe I’ll be inspired by whatever lattes or other drinks my fellow Strategist folks are making!
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Amazon tells me I have purchased this two times, the last time in April 2022, which was apparently when I broke the first one.
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I literally just bought a 1,000-pack, which should be about a year’s supply for two of us typically drinking one pour-over per day with an occasional afternoon second cup.
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Our “backup” method, or what we use when we are making more coffee than just the two individual pour-overs, is a classic Bodum French press.
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We also have an AeroPress that we use occasionally. If we host a larger group, I’ll borrow a bigger drip coffee maker from my parents.
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I have this in all black. I love the look of the ones they have now with a walnut handle, but I’ll wait to replace until the current one fails. We’ve had ours since Christmas 2018.
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I need to check how long we’ve had this one, at least since 2018 as well.
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I bought this because the price is right. It works fine, but I don’t love how the auto-shut-off has never been quite what I expect or want it to be. Maybe I’ll replace or upgrade at some point, but there is really no need at the moment.
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Fellow Carter Wide Mug - 16 Oz.
My mug is always my beloved Ember. I’m currently testing the new Ember 3 and its new tumbler! My husband uses a Fellow Carter (though his is a branded one from Grand Coffee in San Francisco that’s no longer available).
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We brew two single pour-overs every morning — one dripper, used twice, and freshly weighed and ground beans. Once we open a bag of beans, we store it in a jar I got from the original Stumptown in Portland about 20 years ago, brown glass, no vacuum seal or anything — it’s good enough! I love to get “fancy” beans occasionally as a treat, but our go-to daily is Counter Culture Coffee Apollo Blend. I swear, coffee has gotten so expensive. I shop around and buy multiple bags at a time from Whole Foods or Target when it goes on sale. I also like a variety of “upgrade” beans from Grand in San Francisco, Four Barrel in San Francisco, Stumptown, Blue Bottle, Rising Star (a Cleveland roaster), and Troubadour (another Cleveland roaster).
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