A coffee expert shares the 6 things every coffee drinker should have

• Tyler Lauletta, Insider Picks
 

• Aug. 12, 2016, 3:41 PM
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Besides breathing and sleeping, there are few things I do with as much regularity as my morning cup of coffee. Before my first cup of Joe in the morning, I am walking through the day like a zombie, and I feel pretty confident in saying I’m not alone in this.

I do my best to make my morning mug at home when I can, but most days I’m scrambling for a train, and then scrambling through sidewalks with only time for a quick moment of reprieve at my morning food cart. It is not the ideal coffee scenario, but it gets the job done for me.

There are better ways to start your morning with a cup of coffee all your own, but since my daily routine is a bit chaotic, we decided to call in an expert. I recently spoke with Paul Toscano, connoisseur of all things coffee and chief marketing officer of Joyride Coffee, a company that specializes in cold brew kegs. I asked him to take me through some items he thinks avid coffee drinkers might be missing in their cupboards. 

Below you can find Toscano’s recommendations, along with his reasoning as to why any aspiring barista should consider adding a bit more to their collection of coffee tools. Take a look if you’re interested in learning to make your morning cup like the pros.

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A Chemex

Chemex Instagram

I think the best home setup is the pour-over. Unless you're routinely hosting larger groups of people at your home, it's really the best, most consistent and honestly most rewarding way to brew coffee.

My personal favorite is the Chemex, which is a tried-and-true brew method going back to the 1940s when it was invented by a German chemist. It's not only an extremely functional brew method, it's also beautiful. And that's not just my opinion...the Chemex is part of the MOMA's permanent collection.

Toscano's pick: Chemex 6-Cup Classic Series Glass Coffee Maker, $41.32.

A gooseneck kettle

Amazon

This is key for any pour-over or hand-crafted brew method. This allows for precise pour control, which is necessary when you're following brewing instructions carefully. A normal pour spout on a regular tea kettle is far too wide and imprecise for delicate coffee brewing.

Toscano's picks: (1) Hario VKB-120HSVV60 Buono Pouring Kettle, $34.(2) Fellow Stagg Pour Over Kettle, Matte Black, $85.

An Aeropress

Aeropress Instagram

Aside from the Chemex, having a smaller format brew method, like the V60 orAeropress, is great when you only want to make one cup of coffee at a time. For any of these brew methods, just be sure to pick up a box or two of filters and brush up on your brew methods!

Toscano's picks: (1) AeroPress Coffee Maker, $29.94.
(2) Hario VDC-02W V60 Ceramic Coffee Dripper, $20.

A scale

Amazon

For scales, I love the Acaia scale. Not only is it incredibly appealing to the eyes, but it is extremely precise and connects to your mobile device for additional functionality. It also has a built-in timer, which is super important for hand-brew methods. It is a bit pricey, however, so a simple gram scale and a phone timer will also do the trick.

Toscano's picks: (1) Smart Weigh Digital Pro Pocket Scale, $13.99.
(2) Acaia Coffee Scale Digital, $160.

A grinder

Capresso Instagram

Grinders are generally overlooked by the coffee layperson. Many store-bought coffees can come pre-ground or can be ground at the store; but if you are going through all of the trouble to buy great beans, pre-grinding will very quickly dull the coffee, as exposure to air will cause it to go stale much faster. For the best results, you want to grind your coffee immediately before brewing. The smell of freshly-ground coffee alone should be motivation enough.

Toscano's picks: (1) Capresso 560 Infinity Conical Burr Grinder, $95.74.(2) Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder, $129.

A coffee table book on coffee

Amazon

Lastly, anyone who wants a great introduction to coffee, direct trade practices, and the third-wave movement, check out "God in a Cup" by Michaele Weissman. It's not only a fun read, but the detail that is taken in the coffee growing and roasting process will blow you away — just within the first 30 pages. I know it did for me, the first time I read it.

Toscano's pick: "God in a Cup: The Obsessive Quest for the Perfect Coffee" by Michaele Weissman, $18.99.

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The British army has admitted it is no match for Russia

• Adam Payne
 

• 16h
• 21,825
 
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Russian T-90 battle tank. Wiki Commons

A report leaked to The Times newspaper says that the British army would be "vulnerable" in the battlefield against Russia and that Russian President Vladimir Putin would have a "significant capability edge" in state-on-state warfare.

The Times revealed the report, which was produced by the British army, on Wednesday. It warns that the UK and its NATO allies are "scrambling to catch up" with Russia, which enjoys significant advantages in pretty much every key aspect of warfare.

Specifically, the report explains how Russia's arsenal of weapons — which includes rocket launchers and advanced air-defence systems — are much more powerful than what Britain's military has at its disposal.

Even major developments Britain has planned will not match up to Russia's firepower. A planned £3.5 million ($4.6 million) fleet of lightly armoured vehicles will be "disproportionately vulnerable" to Russian rocket fire in a warfare scenario.

It is not just physical warfare in which Moscow has a clear edge, the report says. Russian intelligence has mastered the art of hacking and disturbing radar signals, meaning the effectiveness of British and NATO weaponry and aircraft operated using GPS navigation is under serious threat.

British soldiers could be under threat on social media, too. The leaked report warns that military personnel ought to leave devices like mobile phones and iPads behind when going on exercises, as they could be hacked by Russian intelligence.

The paper was based on research into the tactics Russia has used during its conflict with Ukraine. It sets out numerous strategies and weapons that British military must quickly learn to counter.

This study will be the cause of serious concern for Prime Minister Theresa May. It says Britain has spent the 21st century focusing on counterinsurgency operations against terrorist groups in the Middle East, for example, but as a result has fallen well behind when it comes to being prepared for state-on-state warfare.

"In the unlikely event of a direct confrontation between Nato and RUS, we must acknowledge that RUS currently has a significant capability edge over UK force elements," the report says.

May recently spoke with Putin on the phone for the first time since she replaced David Cameron as prime minister, according to the BBC. Both leaders expressed "dissatisfaction" with current UK-Russia relations and vowed to work toward an improved relationship.

NOW WATCH: Here's the high-tech military equipment Russia could use against the world

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More: Vladimir Putin Russia Britain Military 

You've been storing your food all wrong — here's how to keep fruits, veggies, and dairy fresh for longer

• Jacqui Frank
 

• Jul. 27, 2016, 9:55 AM
• 14,579

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Say goodbye to immediately overripe bananas and moldy berries; these tips will help you keep food fresh for longer and stop wasting groceries. 

Produced by Jacqui Frank. Additional camera by Emmanuel Ocbazghi.

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