I am in love with coffee. My infatuation dates back to 2015, the year my grandmother passed away. She didn’t have much money by the end—with nursing home, hospital, and funeral fees—but left my parents a couple of thousand dollars. With the money, they decided to buy something they would use every day and remember her by, so they got an espresso machine. My parents had wanted one, a nice one, for 20 years and over time they mastered this machine, learning how to pull perfect shots of espresso with a hefty layer of crema on top and make cappuccinos that rivaled the best coffee shops. I, too, fell in love with this machine, resolving to start saving for my own. As luck would have it, though, my mom quickly found one for me, much discounted, at an estate sale.
Fast-forward five years and I not only have that espresso machine, but a French press, pour-over coffee maker, and an automatic drip coffee maker. So, yes, I love coffee. And I love making coffee—the ritual of it, the smell of it brewing, the fact that I, too, think of my grandma every time I flick on my espresso machine.
You don’t have to have multiple machines/coffee apparatuses as I do, but if you’re looking to invest in some coffee equipment, boy, do I have thoughts. Here is everything coffee-related I own: