It’s National Coffee Day. Celebrate your last socially acceptable addiction with a popular espresso machine, cold brewer, and coffee bean subscription. Since October 1st is International Coffee Day, most of these sales run through the weekend, and most retailers simply combine the two into one long-term, caffeine-fueled sale.
WIRED’s Favorite Coffee Gadgets and Tips
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Coffee subscription deals
There’s nothing like having freshly roasted coffee delivered to your door. These deals will save you a few bucks on your first order. Be sure to read our guide to the best coffee subscriptions for better roasters.
Photo: Atlas Coffee
Use code WIREDFREECOFFEEDAY to get a free bag of coffee beans with your first order. Atlas Coffee Club has been at the top of our best coffee subscription guides since its launch, and for good reason. We deliver a wide variety of freshly roasted single-origin beans to your home at reasonable prices.
Coffee roaster Grounds & Hounds Coffee is offering 30% off new subscriptions with code BIGBREW30. This is about $10 off a 2-bag subscription. The great thing about Grounds & Hounds is that a portion of the profits from every sale goes to supporting animal rescue organizations. You can also get 20 percent off sitewide with code BIGBREW20 (maybe you just want to buy a specific bag) and 25 percent off orders over $100 with BIGBREW25.
coffee maker bargains
Photo: Primrose
Primula is one of the most affordable items in our guide to cold brew coffee makers, and it’s even cheaper with this sale. While testing Primula Bark, it produced a smooth, flavorful coffee without much bitterness. The filter is fine enough that it produced less sediment than many immersion coffee makers. It’s also easy to clean and more durable than many cold brew carafes.
A simple moka pot is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to brew coffee. It is also very easy to use, clean and maintain. There are no moving parts to break. I’ve been using it for over 10 years and have never had a problem, except for replacing the silicone seal a few times. Brewing in a moka pot is also easy. There are many different methods, but I’m a fan of coffee guru James Hoffman’s method.
Great deals on espresso machines
Photo: Jayna Gray
The KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine (8/10, WIRED Recommended) is compact and has enough manual controls to fine-tune your espresso to get the flavor you want. This machine combines a built-in burr grinder, espresso extractor, and steam wand. The grinder is very quiet, the quietest we’ve tested. I also like the high clearance under the portafilter. That means it will fit almost any mug.
The Specialista is a great, surprisingly compact option for those with little counter space. It has a built-in burr grinder and doesn’t take much time to adjust. You can make great espresso right out of the box. The small plastic adapter required to attach the portafilter to the grinder spout can be a bit of a hassle, but at this price you can ignore it. This is an excellent espresso machine that can be used for many years to come.
Great deals on kettles and grinders
Photo: Wolf Gourmet
The Wolf True Temp electric kettle is our favorite commercial-strength kettle. It also has knobs similar to the famous Wolf ovens and ranges found in many restaurant kitchens. This product is built like a tank (it comes with a 5-year warranty) and claims to be a “professional kitchen” in every way. Cleaning is also easy. The removable lid has a huge water filter that is easy to rinse. The main body is double-walled stainless steel and has excellent insulation properties. It feels so good to pick it up and pour it. Our main complaint is the price, but this deal has made it much more acceptable.
This is one of my favorites for tea because it has a variety of presets, but if you’re on a budget it also makes a nice drip-over (it even has a preset for French press coffee). It has a backlit water window so you can see how much water is being poured (useful if you don’t have the best lighting in your kitchen). Also, a blue light indicates when the water is boiling and the setting. There is a mesh filter near the spout that can also be removed for cleaning.
Call me crazy, but I love hand-grinding my beans every morning. Sure, it’s easier to use an electric grinder, but for me, hand grinding is part of my coffee ritual. For years this was the hand grinder I used. It’s compact, surprisingly powerful (because the plastic holds it tight), and grinds just enough coffee for either a shot of espresso or your favorite moka pot.
