12 Ways Kitchn Editors Are Getting Their Coffee Fix at Home During Quarantine
I don’t know about you, but treating myself to a mid-morning coffee using the fancy office machine was the most calming and comforting part of my workday. But six weeks in (and counting!), I’ve had to quickly improvise on ways to get my fix at home. And it’s not just me. For a ton of us, that’s meant investing in a new coffee maker, discovering quick and delicious ways to brew cafe-style coffee at home, or just getting the right tools to ensure that the morning pot of hot coffee doesn’t end up stale and down the drain by afternoon. If you’re still on the hunt for a good coffee solution, 12 Kitchn editors are here to share their favorite fixes that are keeping them fueled right now. From coffee makers to delicious instant brews to versatile concentrates — there are a slew of clever options for coffee drinkers of all stripes!
1. Nespresso by Breville Essenza Mini Espresso Maker in White
“My favorite part of my morning commute is swinging by my favorite local coffee shops, whether it’s the one by my apartment or one by my office. It makes me feel like I’m ready to start the day. It’s also the secret motivation for my morning or weekend runs — I always finish at my favorite coffee shop in my neighborhood. Obviously, those morning routines had to stop, and while I miss my coffee shops more than anything, I wanted to still have that same feeling of a specialty coffee other than drip to make me feel like I was having a treat. So I purchased the Nespresso Essenza Mini, and it has made a world of difference! It’s definitely not the same, but it’s about the closest I’ve gotten to feeling like I’m still in my normal morning routine and post-run treat.”— Rebecca Longshore, Director of Audience Growth
Buy: Nespresso by Breville Essenza Mini Espresso Maker in White, 150
2. Café Bustelo Coffee Espresso Instant Coffee
“Ok, so these instant coffee packets might not seem groundbreaking, but they are seriously saving me. They make super strong espresso-style coffee that I have been living off of for weeks.” — Jesse Szewczyk, Studio Food Editor
Buy: Café Bustelo Coffee Espresso Instant Coffee Packets, $12 for 6 boxes
3. Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee and Tea Maker
“I went into a panic when my local coffee shop closed in March, until I remembered that I had a Bodum French Press that’s been hidden away in my cupboard for years. Now, it’s part of my daily routine, and I have to admit that the coffee I make every morning — using beans from some of my favorite roasters — is better than what I was getting to-go when I was commuting to the office.” — Mark Marino, Commerce Director
Buy: Bodum Brazil French Press Coffee and Tea Maker, $20 (normally $25)
4. Aeropress Coffee Maker
“There’s no shortage of devices that can brew coffee in my kitchen. I have a drip coffee maker, a pod-based Nespresso machine, a French press, a cold brew maker, and I’m sure I’m forgetting about one or two others. And still, after reading through the results of our coffee-making battle, I found myself wanting yet another option. See, the winner of Kitchn’s in-depth testing was the $30 Aeropress. I was very intrigued and became even more interested when I remembered that Alton Brown loves this thing too. So I did what any ‘normal’ coffee lover would do: I got my hands on one. As you can tell from the title of this post, I’m so glad I did!” — Lisa Freedman, Lifestyle Director
Buy: Aeropress Coffee Maker, $30
5. Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine
“The Breville Barista Express has been such a nice distraction in all of this. Yes, it was expensive, but I work from home and am thinking of it as a long-term investment in my happiness (it is such a treat to be able to make a latte whenever I want!), an entertainment piece (someday!), and a hobby. There is so much to learn and know about coffee beans and making espresso! It’s been a really fun way to immerse myself in something new, which I need more than ever now.” — Kaitlin Garske, Senior Social Media Manager
Buy: Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, $700
6. Wandering Bear Cold Brew
“Since the weather is starting to warm up slightly, I decided to make my annual switch from hot coffee to cold brew. I don’t want anything to stand between coming into the kitchen and my caffeine fix, so I bought this 96-ounce box of vanilla Wandering Bear cold brew. Just a little splash of it combined with some hazelnut milk is a delightfully easy way to start my day.” — Tracey Gertler, Assistant Production Editor
Buy: Wandering Bear Cold Brew, $30
7. Breville Precision Brewer Drip Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe
“Before quarantine, I’d either buy coffee on my way to work or drink the office coffee. On weekends, I’d use my French press, which was my only means of making coffee at home. But once I started working from home full-time, I realized I needed a faster option for the mornings that could brew more coffee at once. This one from Breville has been a total lifesaver. I particularly love that I can get it all set up at night, then program it to automatically brew in the morning.” — Grace Elkus, Deputy Food Director
Buy: Breville Precision Brewer Drip Coffee Maker with Thermal Carafe, $300
8. Nescafe Clasico Dark Roast Instant Coffee
“It’s instant and super easy. Also very strong! Add some flavored creamer and cinnamon and it does the job.” — Yasmin Lashley, Affiliate and Commerce Manager
Buy: Nescafe Clasico Dark Roast Instant Coffee, $13
9. Breville Temp Select Water Kettle with 5 Programmed Settings
“We do a French press in the morning and we love this kettle. It heats up water in minutes and lets you know when it’s ready.” — Amelia Rampe, Studio Food Editor
Buy: Breville Temp Select Water Kettle with 5 Programmed Settings, $100
10. ANBANGLIN Coffee Cup Warmer
“I have this on my wishlist (so admittedly haven’t tried it yet) because it seems like between helping the kids with distance learning and regular WFH life, I can’t drink hot coffee anymore. Plus, it matches my favorite East Fork Pottery mug.”— Meghan Splawn, Associate Food Editor
Buy: Anbanglin Coffee Cup Warmer, $24
11. YETI Rambler Mug
“Between trying to keep an eye on my newly mobile baby and getting set up for my workday, my mornings of drinking my coffee while it was still hot came to an end pretty quickly when we all started staying home. Lukewarm coffee was okay for the first couple of weeks, then I caved and bought a Yeti mug, and I’ve never appreciated hot coffee more.” — Kelli Foster, Associate Food Editor
Buy: YETI Rambler Mug, $25
12. Jot Ultra Coffee
“I truly miss the coffee machine at work. It was a good way to steal a few minutes away from the desk and my favorite mid-morning treat. But at home, I find it simply annoying to use a coffee machine, and don’t even get me started about the clean-up process. But recently I have been trying out a coffee concentrate called Jot. I just add one tablespoon in a mug, mix it with cold water, add a few cubes of ice, and voila, I have a delicious cold brew. Add in hot water, and I have a strong cup of Americano. On days I’m feeling fancy, I warm up some milk, create a frothy later using my frother, and mix that in with a shot of Jot for a delicious latte. If you’re lazy like me but still need your coffee, I highly recommend giving it a shot.” — Sholeen Damarwala, Commerce Editor
Buy: Jot Ultra Coffee, $24
How are you getting your fix these days? Let us know in the comments below!