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It’s International Coffee Day—here are 11 of the best coffee products to step up your brew

It’s International Coffee Day—here are 11 of the best coffee products to step up your brew

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Break out your mugs and get ready to celebrate with some delicious news to start the day—today, October 1, is International Coffee Day! What is International Coffee Day? A way for coffee lovers to make sure they get the ultimate caffeine fix, of course. But in all seriousness, it's an annual event that aims to shed light on the coffee growing and trading that takes place around the world. 

It just so happens that National Coffee Day was mere days ago on Thursday, September 29. If you missed the special occasion, you're in luck. Coffee aficionados are in for some tasty drinks today, too. While you can grab a latte on the road, there are also countless gadgets to help you make that perfect brew right at home. 

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At Reviewed, we test products year-round to recommend to you the best and, boy, we have some coffee recommendations for you. Here are 11 products to take your morning coffee to the next level. 

►International Coffee Day 2022: Celebrate International Coffee Day with the best gifts for coffee lovers

1. The perfect drip coffee makers

The Moccamaster and Black & Decker not only look great but brew a mean cup of coffee.

If we can say one thing about coffee makers, it's to never underestimate the power of drip coffee. There are thousands of brewers available on the market, which can make it tough to narrow down your choices. But don't worry—we've tested the most popular full-size drip brewers to find the best one. The results: The Technivorm Moccamaster KBG reigned supreme for its fast brewing speed, well-made design and ability to brew smooth coffee. While it's on the pricier side, it brews a complex pot of coffee, enough to serve multiple people (or refill your mug multiple times), giving you quality coffee for your morning commute or afternoon pick-me-up.

For something a little more budget-friendly, we love the Black & Decker 12-Cup Thermal Coffee Maker. It makes brew-tifully smooth and flavorful coffee and is very simple to use. This coffee maker even outperformed some of the high-end brands we tested it against, proving to be an affordable staple for the kitchen.

$329 at Amazon $83.72 at Amazon

2. The best bean roaster

Use this bean roaster to get your beans as dark as you like.

Roasting coffee beans yourself can help you make the perfect brew by ensuring that your beans are as dark as you want. Based on thorough market research, we determined that the Nuvo Eco Ceramic Handy Coffee Roaster is the best roaster you can buy online. The Nuvo Eco combines form with function, as the beautiful ceramic roaster efficiently heats up to 70 coffee beans at once. The eco-friendly material can get very hot, but thanks to the heat-blocking handle, you'll be protected from nasty burns.

$30 at Amazon

3. Our favorite coffee grinders

The Baratza and Krups coffee grinders feature everything you need to make delicious, freshly ground coffee.

While the convenience of pre-ground coffee surely can't be beaten, there's a reason coffee aficionados prefer to grind their own beans right before brewing. Soon after coffee beans are exposed to air, the beans and their flavor begin to dissipate, even if the coffee comes in a vacuum-sealed bag.

That's why buying a good coffee grinder is key for the perfect cup. Out of all the coffee grinders we've tested, the Baratza Encore gave us perfect beans both for a fine grind for an espresso machine and a coarse grind for a French press. The machine is durable and simple to use. Plus, it features 40-grind settings to choose from, making it a pick above the rest.

While a blade grinder can't produce as much coffee grinds at once, they don't overheat beans and they provide a very even grind. We prefer the Krups Fast Touch Electric Coffee and Spice Grinder when it comes to blade grinders. It's easy to use, doubles as a spice grinder and is a lot easier on the wallet than most coffee grinders. 

$170 at Amazon $22 at Target

4. Our favorite Nespresso machines

Nespresso machines are quick and user-friendly, making mornings that much easier.

If convenience is key for you, pod-operated coffee makers can be a life-saver. And if you don't want to skimp on quality, Nespresso machines have found a way to beautifully combine convenience and high-quality coffee.

We've tested a wide array of Nespresso machines and found the Nespresso VertuoPlus by Breville machine to be our favorite single-serve coffee maker. This compact machine packs a punch, offering fast brewing and plenty of coffee options from regular coffee to double espresso drinks. 

For a more affordable single-serve machine, the Nespresso Lattisima Plus by De'Longhi is an all-in-one coffee maker that allows you to make quality espresso shots, lattes or cappuccinos with just a touch of the button. The machine itself is very easy to clean, with some of the parts being dishwasher-friendly.

$157.24 at Amazon $320 at Amazon

5. Our favorite coffee percolator

If you like your coffee dark, you need a percolator.

While nothing beats the convenience of drip makers or pod machines such as Keurig, there are instances when the seasoned coffee percolator outshines its automated brethren. If you fancy your coffee dark and strong, you can't go wrong by using a percolator. A percolator is especially helpful if you’re looking to make a large brew as they typically boast larger capacities.  After extensive testing, we found the best coffee percolator to be the Maxi-Matic Elite Platinum EC-120 12 Cup Percolator. It offers modern safety features, can be lifted off of the heating element for easy serving and, most importantly, makes flavorful, delicious coffee (up to 12 cups at once!).

$48 at Amazon

6. An affordable yet high-performing milk frother

Our top-tested milk frother, the Instant Milk Frother, is perfect for any budget.

Frothy, foamy milk—it's necessary for making the perfect latte or cappuccino. We've tested several milk frothers available on the market and found the Instant Milk Frother to be the best option out there at a surprising $30 sticker price. This milk frother that is made by the same brand that gave us the Instant Pot easily creates foam no matter what temperature or type of milk (such as almond or oat milk) that you use.

$38 at Amazon

7. A coffee subscription to help you discover new beans

If you're looking for new coffee to drink, you should try a coffee subscription service.

If you're a self-described coffee snob, then you're probably always looking for the best coffee beans you can get your hands on. Thankfully, coffee subscriptions can help you discover and explore new coffee beans from across the world.

Our favorite coffee subscription service that we've ever tested is from Counter Culture Coffee. The brand is totally transparent when it comes to its beans, giving information about the origin, altitude and roasting date. The subscription changes constantly, offering new beans and plenty of chances to expand your coffee palate. 

Another great coffee subscription service comes from Atlas Coffee Club. What we like about Atlas is the fact that each delivery brings you roasts from a different country of origin. With Atlas Coffee Club, you’ll experience the wide range of flavors that the globe has to offer.

Shop Counter Culture Shop Atlas Coffee Club

8. Our favorite French press

The SterlingPro SS Double Wall Cafetiere received high marks across the board on all of our tests.

While French presses require a little more work than other coffee makers, the fruits of their labor are so, so tasty. It's no surprise that baristas and coffee enthusiasts love the French press. After testing plenty of French presses, Reviewed ranked the SterlingPro SS Double Wall Cafetiere as our favorite stainless-steel french press. Its lightweight, double-wall design provides amazing insulation, keeping the coffee hot and the exterior cool to the touch. The press also features a large capacity, holding a whopping six cups of coffee (where the average is about four).

$37 at Amazon

9. A stellar cold brew maker

The Takeya cold brew coffee maker is inexpensive and simple to use.

Cold brew coffee is all the rage at local and chain coffee shops alike. It's basically an extra-strength cup of iced coffee that offers less bitterness, while still maintaining tons of flavor. The downside: buying it out all the time is an expensive habit. You can save some serious dough by making your own cold brew right at home. All it takes is steeping coffee grinds in cold or room temperature water for an extended period of time and you've got a smooth, powerful brew.

Our favorite device to make cold brew is the Takeya Patented Deluxe Cold Brew Iced Coffee Maker. We tested it against several other models on the market and found it to be easy to use, easy to clean (it's dishwasher safe!) and it yielded around four servings of perfectly balanced coffee—not too acidic nor watered down. Not to mention, it won't break the bank and will save you money in the long run. 

$28 at Amazon

10. A reliable mug for home

There are many beautiful mugs to choose from when drinking your coffee at home.

When you’re sipping coffee from the comfort of your home, you want a mug that’s both convenient and allows you to appreciate your drink as you take in the flavor. For this, we recommend adding the Bodum Bistro Coffee Mug to your cupboard. It’s one of the best coffee mugs for home use as its insulation helps keep your drink warm longer. The Bodum Bistro mug is most notable for its transparent glass, which allows you to easily tell how much is left.

If you’re looking for the mug of the future, then look no further than the Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug. It maintains your coffee’s perfect temperature and alerts you when your drink is ready to sip.

$38 at Amazon $144 at Amazon

11. A solid travel mug

The Zojirushi travel mug is an absolute beast when it comes to keeping your drinks nice and hot.

Drinking your cup o’ joe on the go? You’ll want a travel mug that's easy to carry, simple to store and, most importantly, keeps your coffee piping hot as long as possible.

After testing a variety of travel mugs, judging mugs on heat retention and spill-proof mechanisms, the 16 oz. Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug rose to the occasion. When it comes to retaining temperature, it does an incredible job—it actually rose in temperature by 6 degrees over half an hour. If you need a new go-to travel mug, consider this your best option.

$30 at Amazon

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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.