Guy Guide: The Coffee Lover

Coffee has become such a fixture in society. No longer is coffee simply consumed for the caffeine kick; it also has an evolving and growing culture that comes with it. Inviting someone out for coffee is as ubiquitous as the availability of coffee itself. Now, while many people are happy with going to Tim Horton’s for their coffee fix and others will only ever drink what they can get at Starbucks, an increasing number of people are seeking small batch coffee that they can serve at home. A premium coffee experience that you brew from home is far more special, enjoyable, and unique than any cup of Joe you order from the local coffee shop. While many men simply keep a container of whatever Folgers was on sale 6 months ago when they bought it, the more discerning guy takes their coffee acquisition seriously.

Serving a cup of perfectly brewed small batch coffee that you ground yourself and served in a special coffee cup can instill the strongest of opinions about your character and lifestyle. Good coffee is something that will make your days better, and warm the hearts and bodies of those you serve it to. Next time you consider brewing a cup of at home, consider picking up a few of these items to create the ultimate coffee experience, as this is the Guy Guide for the Coffee Lover.

Quality Coffee
Probably the biggest thing that most people fail to consider when brewing coffee is the beans. Too many people buy pre-ground, mass produced, cheap coffee of lower quality. Sure, that coffee is just fine to consume, but it should not be considered a true cup of java. Start with a Jamaican Blue Mountain or a Kona Peaberry coffee bean. These high quality beans are more expensive than the pre-ground coffee you pay $6 for, but once you taste the difference you will see how valuable a quality coffee really is.

Cuisinart Conical Burr Mill
The next thing you need for the perfect cup is to freshly grind your coffee. Coffee that has been ground and is sitting your fridge slowly loses its flavour and strength. This Conical Burr Mill by Cuisinart has multiple settings to control the grind sizes depending on your usage. It is also a great deal at $90, compared to other grinders on the market. Having freshly ground coffee may make a little noise as it grinds, but the fresh, full flavour of your cup is worth the noise pollution.

Bonaverde Coffee Brewer
Let us assume for a second that you want to go even further than quality coffee and fresh grinding – in which case you need to check out Bonaverde. This $400 machine does more in the comfort of your home than any machine before it. The first way that Bonaverde is different is that it takes fresh, unroasted coffee beans and allows you to roast the coffee yourself. Game changer. Next, the machine grinds your freshly roasted coffee, and, finally, it brews the newly ground coffee beans. The result is the freshest, best tasting coffee you will ever have. Shipping at the end of this year, Bonaverde should be on the list of all coffee aficionados.

Bodum Chambord 8-Cup French Press 
If the Bonaverde is not in your budget, surely a nice French press is! The versatility of a French press makes it an ideal kitchen vessel to have. Not only can you brew the perfect coffee, but you can use it for other infusions and elixirs. Now, some people claim that a French press makes a cloudy cup of coffee due to particulate being less than the screen filter – which is why self-grinding is so crucial. You want a grind designed for the mesh filter. When all is said and done though, this will brew a better and more personal cup of the good stuff.

A Favourite Coffee Mug
Having a quality coffee mug is a deeply personal yet important requirement of the perfect cup of coffee. A coffee cup will have dozens of stories that go with it – all the happy and depressing things in your life are likely not too far away from your favourite cup. If you do not have a favourite coffee mug then you need to change that immediately. While it may seem like nonsense, having a cup that’s ‘yours’ personalizes the coffee experience more than you might imagine.

What are some of your coffee gadget-needs? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.