All Brewing Equipment
Hario V60 Drip Filter Brewing Kit
Bruer Spectrum Cone Coffee Filter Papers - 100pk
Aerobie AeroPress Micro Filters
Bialetti Moka Express Coffee Maker
Bialetti Mini Induction Black - 2 cup
Bialetti Mini Express Coffee Maker
Bialetti Moka Express Dolce & Gabbana | Sicilian Cart
Bialetti Venus Moka Pot Coffee Maker
Bialetti Moka Express Dolce & Gabbana | Mediterranean Blue
Moccamaster Thermal KBT 1.25 Litre
How to choose coffee brewing equipment
Start with two questions: how many cups do you make at once, and how hands-on do you want to be? A pour over cone or AeroPress suits one or two careful cups. A moka pot gives a strong, short coffee on the stovetop. A drip filter machine makes a full jug while you do something else.
Pour over: Hario V60 kits
The Hario V60 is a cone-shaped dripper with spiral ridges and one large hole at the bottom, so your pouring speed controls how fast the water runs through. Paper filters give a clean, sediment-free cup that shows off lighter and medium roasts. The Hario V60 Drip Filter Brewing Kit is the simplest way to start, and the V60 Simply Glass Brewing Kit is the glass option.
AeroPress: quick, forgiving and portable
The AeroPress steeps coffee, then uses air pressure to push it through a paper micro-filter in about two minutes. The AeroPress Coffee Maker holds 10 oz (about 300 ml) for one or two cups. The AeroPress XL doubles that to 20 oz and comes with a carafe. We also stock spare parts and filters, from the rubber seal to the reusable Able metal filter disk.
Moka pots: stovetop coffee
Bialetti's Moka Express was first made in 1933 and still has its octagonal aluminium body. It works on gas and electric cooktops, and needs Bialetti's induction plate to work on induction. If you cook on induction, look at the Moka Induction or the stainless steel Venus (all sizes except the 2-cup work on induction). Rinse a moka pot with water only: Bialetti advises against detergent and the dishwasher.
French press: full-bodied and simple
A French press steeps coarsely ground coffee in hot water, then a mesh plunger holds the grounds back. It needs no paper filters and brews several cups at once. The Bialetti Smart French Press is a simple place to start.
Drip filter machines: Moccamaster
For a full jug without standing over a kettle, a drip filter machine does the pouring for you. Moccamaster machines are handmade in the Netherlands and heat the water to 92–96°C. The Moccamaster KBT brews 1.25 litres in four to six minutes into a thermal carafe that keeps it hot without a hotplate. The Classic and the 1.25-litre Select are also in the range. The jug machines take Moccamaster #4 filter papers.
The kettle, the grinder and the beans
For pour over, a gooseneck kettle makes a slow, steady pour much easier. The Fellow Stagg EKG Pro holds 0.9 litres, sets any temperature from 40°C to 100°C, holds it for up to an hour and has a brew timer built in.
Every brewer here tastes better with freshly ground coffee, so a coffee grinder is worth adding. Match the grind to the method:
- Moka pot: fine, a little coarser than espresso
- AeroPress and V60: medium-fine to medium
- Drip filter machine: medium
- French press: coarse
Then choose your coffee beans. Medium roasts suit filter and AeroPress, and espresso blends work well in a moka pot. If you'd rather have a machine that makes espresso, see our manual home coffee machines.
FAQs
What equipment do I need to make pour over coffee?
You need four things: a dripper such as the Hario V60, paper filters to suit it, a kettle, and freshly ground coffee. A gooseneck kettle like the Fellow Stagg EKG Pro makes the slow, even pour much easier, and a grinder lets you grind medium-fine just before brewing. The Hario V60 Drip Filter Brewing Kit is the easiest starting point.
Is an AeroPress better than a French press?
Neither is better. They suit different cups. An AeroPress pushes coffee through a paper micro-filter in about two minutes, which gives a clean cup and leaves little to wash up. A French press holds the grounds back with a metal mesh, so more oils and fine particles reach the cup and the body is heavier. The AeroPress makes one or two cups (or two to four with the XL). A French press brews a few cups at once.
Can I use a Bialetti moka pot on an induction cooktop?
Not the classic aluminium Moka Express on its own. Bialetti says it works on induction only with its induction plate. For induction, choose the Bialetti Moka Induction or the stainless steel Venus. Bialetti lists every Venus size except the 2-cup as induction compatible. Gas and electric cooktops work with all of them.
What grind size should I use for each brewing method?
Use a fine grind for a moka pot, slightly coarser than espresso. Use medium-fine to medium for an AeroPress or V60, medium for a drip filter machine such as a Moccamaster, and coarse for a French press. If the coffee tastes bitter and drains slowly, go coarser. If it tastes sour or thin and runs through fast, go finer. Grinding fresh with a coffee grinder makes these adjustments possible.
What is the difference between a drip filter machine and pour over?
Both run hot water through ground coffee in a paper filter. With pour over you control the water temperature, pouring speed and timing by hand, which suits one or two cups. A drip filter machine automates this. A Moccamaster heats water to 92–96°C and brews a full 1.25-litre jug in a few minutes, which suits households and small offices that want several cups with no attention.
How do I clean a moka pot?
Let it cool, unscrew it, empty the grounds and rinse every part in warm water. Bialetti advises against detergents and the dishwasher for its aluminium Moka Express because they can damage the pot and change the taste of the coffee. Dry the parts before reassembling, and check that the rubber gasket and filter plate are clean and seated properly before the next brew.