(SPOT.ph) The coffee shop experience as we once knew it seems but a distant dream now that we're months-deep into a pandemic. Sure, delivery orders and socially distanced dine-in set ups are still totally possible, but the relaxing space that cafés once provided city-goers and nine-to-five employees is all but extinct these days.
If you miss the feeling of hanging out at a soul-soothing coffee shop, we recommend attempting to replicate it at home: Put on your favorite ambient music, sit by the early morning sunlight, and whip up a fresh cup of coffee. You can make the DIY experience even more authentic by shopping coffee-making tools and accessories to improve your homemade brew. We recently rounded up some coffee-making must-haves you can shop now and you'll also want to check out El Kapitan Coffee's lineup of coffee finds!
El Kapitan Coffee has all kinds of tools and wares to make your homemade brew even better. You can shop coffee drippers, grinders, kettles, syphons, brewing machines, and more to help you make delicious blends that are a notch above your usual instant mix. They also have mini tumblers and ceramic mugs so you can serve up your freshly made coffee in an aesthetically pleasing way. Don't forget to take a cute photo for the 'gram!
Check out some of the items you can shop:
You can shop El Kapitan Coffee through their Instagram page.
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If you're on the hunt for more coffee-making must-haves, check out some of the handy tools you can shop in Manila:Â
Pour-Over Drip Coffee Maker (P2,300)
If you usually make coffee using instant powder or with a standard electric coffee maker, then you probably don't linger too long in the kitchen in the morning. However, we suggest slowing down and taking the time to make your coffee with arduous, loving effort with a pour-over drip coffee maker. This one from Hario is a popular pick and can be used over any mug or pot. It works much like an electric drip coffee machine, but with just a little more muscle involved.
Start by putting your coffee grounds (a fine or medium ground should be good) into the receptacle with a filter already placed into it then pour just enough hot water over to coat your grounds. After about 30 seconds, you can slowly pour over the rest, moving your hand in circles until you pour enough for your desired brew ratio. The pour-over method is a great starting point if you're still learning about coffee and don't want to stray too far from your usual techniques just yet.
Available online.
Cold Brew Coffee Bottle (P1,600)
There's no shortage of cafes and online shops that make cold brew coffee in the Metro, but why spend on a few bottles every week when you can make your own at home? Though this method can't give you fresh coffee in an instant, it's actually one of the most effortless ways you can make some. Try this user-friendly Cold Brew Coffee Bottle from Hario, which will let you whip up a week's worth of coffee in one go. Simply place coarse coffee grounds into the filter, following the bottle's recommended portions. From there, just fill it with cold water and leave it to sit overnight in the refrigerator for at least eight hours. When you wake up in the morning, your coffee will be ready. Pour it over ice, stir in some milk or sweetener if you'd like, and take a gratifying sip. You can make it on Sunday night, so you won't have to worry about coffee prep for the rest of the week!
Available online.
French Press (P1,299)
Making coffee using a French press results in a brew that is highly saturated with flavor as it doesn't use a paper or cloth filter, which can potentially prevent some of the beans' natural oils from seeping into your coffee. Place coarse grounds into the carafe, pour your desired amount of hot water in, and let the device sit for three to five minutes to let it steep. When your timer goes off, just push down the plunger on top to allow the metal screen filter to separate the grounds from the liquid, and pour yourself a cup. For a chic and budget-friendly option, try this press from local brand The Bamboo Company, which features rustic wooden accents around the glass.
Available online.
Coffee Steeper (P7,477)
Think of the Duo Coffee Steeper as an updated version of the French press. As with the press, hot water and coffee grounds are mixed together to steep for a few minutes; in this case, they're placed in the upper chamber of the hourglass-shaped device. Once your brew is finished steeping, simply pull up the lock on top of the device to let the coffee pour down into the bottom chamber while the grounds are left on top. The Duo Coffee Steeper promises the same full-bodied flavor as the French press, but with less sediment.
Available online.
Coffee Grinder (P16,800)
If you're not too particular about your coffee grounds, you can stick to a basic blade grinder for your beans, but die-hard coffee lovers will tell you that a burr grinder like this one from De'Longhi is the way to go as it promises a more even grind each time. It lets you adjust the size of your grind (whether fine, medium, or coarse) depending on what technique you use to brew as well as the strength and aroma of the grounds.
Available online.
Moka Pot (P1,490)
You can make espresso the traditional Italian way with a Moka Pot like this one from Fityle, which comes in a cute teal color. The Moka Pot is made to be used on the stove with your coffee grounds placed in a receptacle just above but not touching the water underneath. When the water boils, it produces steam, increasing the pressure in the chamber and pushing the water up through the water and into the upper container. Once all your water is on top, you can enjoy a nice, strong serving of espresso at home. Delizioso!
Available on Lazada.
AeroPress Coffee Maker (P2,800)
The AeroPress Coffee Maker is kind of like a hybrid between a Moka Pot and a traditional drip coffee that gives you the best of both worlds: Convenience and flavor. Much like the Moka, the Aeropress works by pushing hot water through ground coffee using high pressure, but in a compact construction that's more modern and easier to clean up. It uses air pressure (created by the vacuum seal inside the tube-like chamber and activated by hand with a push-down motion) to force water through the grounds. It's faster, more efficient, and more user-friendly than the traditional Moka pot. Perhaps not quite as flavorful, but much more full-bodied than a regular drip coffee maker.
Available online.
Syphon Coffee Maker (P4,300)
Don't worry, it's not a chemistry experiment. This Syphon Coffee Maker (or vacuum coffee maker) from Hario uses a pretty cool method to make coffee. Basically, hot water is placed in the lower vessel of the device. When the lower vessel is heated, the vapor pressure pushes the water underneath towards the grounds on top where you can leave it to steep. Then, when your brew is finished, simply kill the heat and the coffee will drip back down, leaving the sediment on top.
Available online.
Coffee Kettle (P7,500)
If you're making coffee with a pour-over drip maker, French press, or even just with instant three-in-one powder, the temperature of the water is key to perfecting your brew. An electric kettle like this one from Bonavita will be the right companion to help you acheve the perfect heat level. It's adjustable in one-degree increments from 104 to 208 degrees Fahrenheit and even alllows you to hold the heat level for up to 60 minutes. Plus, the slim gooseneck spout is perfect for precise pour control if you're making drip coffee.
Available online.
Milk Frother (P6,800)
If you've already perfected your homemade coffee-making method, the only thing left to get right is the milk on top. Use this De'Longhi milk frother to transform any milk of your choice into a foamy topper for your coffee to make it creamy and even prettier to look at.
Available online.
this strange new world.
