How to Choose Coffee And Tea
Start with your available space, intended use, cleaning requirements and the manufacturer's specifications. These products are examples to compare, not a claim that we tested or ranked them by sales.
Want the full comparison? Read our complete coffee and tea buying guide.
Products and practical buying considerations
Whips hot or cold milk into cafe-style foam in about twenty seconds, which turns plain drip coffee into a latte without giving up counter space to a machine. It also breaks up matcha clumps and stirs protein powder smooth, and the whisk rinses clean in a cup of water.
Who it may suit: Suited to coffee drinkers who want a latte-style foam without a machine on the counter. The listing says it also breaks up matcha clumps and stirs protein powder smooth.
What to check: It is a hand tool, so you hold it in the cup while it runs. Check the listing for how it is powered, and rinse the whisk in a cup of water after each use.
Boils water for tea, pour-over coffee, or oatmeal faster than a stovetop kettle, then shuts itself off so it can be left unattended. The wide opening makes the glass interior easy to wipe clean, and the water never touches plastic.
Who it may suit: Fits tea, pour-over coffee and oatmeal drinkers who want boiling water faster than on the stove. It shuts itself off, so it can be left to boil.
What to check: At 1.7 liters it needs counter space and a nearby outlet. The wide opening makes the glass easy to wipe clean, and the listing says the water never touches plastic.
A battery-powered handheld wand whips milk or non-dairy milk into foam for lattes, cappuccinos, matcha, and hot chocolate in seconds. It runs on four included AA batteries and parks on its own metal stand on the counter.
Who it may suit: Suits people who froth milk every day and want the wand to sit ready on the counter. The metal stand and four AA batteries come in the box.
What to check: It runs on batteries, so keep spares on hand. The stand adds a small footprint to your counter, so decide where it will sit before you order.
Brews up to 34 ounces of full-bodied coffee with just hot water and a few minutes of steeping, so there's no drip machine or paper filters to store. The heat-resistant borosilicate glass carafe sits in a slim frame that tucks into a cupboard between pots.
Who it may suit: For coffee drinkers who like full-bodied coffee and do not want a drip machine or paper filters to store. The 34-ounce size is listed as 8 cups, enough to share.
What to check: A French press needs hot water and a few minutes of steeping, so it is slower than a machine. The carafe is glass, so handle it carefully, and measure your cupboard shelf before you order.
Coffee bars get messy fast when cups, lids, sugar packets and stirrers all share one basket. This 13-inch upright station gives each one its own compartment so a home coffee bar or office breakroom stays tidy.
Who it may suit: For home coffee bars, holiday hosting and office breakrooms that stock disposable cups, creamers and packets.
What to check: It stands 11.5" tall, so make sure it fits under your upper cabinets.
Before you buy
Measure the installation or storage area, check compatibility and dimensions on the current product listing, and read recent customer feedback. Product specifications and availability can change.
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