A guide to the latest equipment for drinking at home
Commentary: Barista Takayuki Ishitani
GRINDER
The first step is to grind to a uniform grain size
"The first step to making a delicious cup of coffee is to grind the beans to the same grain size." Ishitani says that if too much fine powder is mixed in, it will have an unpleasant taste, and if the grains are too large, the desired flavor will not come out. If you are using a hand grinder, he recommends a conical type, where the beans pass between a rotating conical blade and a fixed blade. "The cross section of the powder is polygonal, so hot water can easily penetrate during extraction. Recently, there are also products with excellent design."
"Among the mills we're introducing this time, this is the most affordable and compact. However, it has 36 levels of grinding adjustment, so you can grind beans to suit your needs, from fine-mesh espresso to coarse French press. This is a recommended product for those who are just starting out with home brewing." - Equipment manufacturer from Shanghai.
TIMEMORE C3 / Body φ52 x H147mm (Handle W159mm) 11,980 yen (TIMEMORE Japan Authorized Distributor timemore.co.jp)
(Medium) 1Zpresso K-ULTRA
"This is the second most popular model after the Comandante. It's increasingly being used by baristas in recent competitions. Its conical blade allows you to adjust the grind size in 0.02mm increments without removing the powder tray from the main unit." This Taiwanese brand features a magnetic powder tray that easily attaches to the main unit, and a foldable handle for ease of use. It also comes with a storage case.
Easypresso K Ultra / Body φ60 x H195mm (Handle W185mm) 37,480 yen (1Zpresso 1zpresso.coffee/jp/)
(Right) Comandante C40 MK4
"When it comes to mills, this one made in Germany has always been the go-to. It's the one that every barista has to go through." The improved version released in 2012 still has a sharp blade, the Nitro Blade. By simply changing the adjustment screw, you can grind anything from espresso to French press grinds. "The body is extremely easy to hold, and the knob is extremely easy to grip."
Comandante C40MK4 / Body φ61 x H152mm (Handle W160 x H60mm). 60,500 yen (Bontain Coffee Head Office TEL: 052-991-3241)
The professional German brand, Marchenich, has released a home-use version. "It will be useful for people who frequently use espresso machines at home." The machine's portafilter can be set directly under the powder outlet. It also allows you to continuously adjust the grind size to suit various extractions, not just espresso.
Marchenich X54 Home Grinder / W190 x D280 x H425mm. Open price (Melitta Japan melitta.co.jp)
(Center left) Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder
"The large conical blade makes it easy to even out the grain size. In addition, the blade adjustment is quantified, making it easy for beginners to use. I also like that the operation button is located at the front. What's more, it can be used for everything from espresso to cold brew, and it's quiet when it operates. I recommend it as an entry-level model." It has the look you'd expect from a brand from San Francisco.
Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder / W129 x D210 x H268mm. 33,000 yen (Kigu)
(Center right) OPTION-O LAGOM MINI
Designed by a group of design engineers from Melbourne. "This space-saving design makes it seem like the Comandante has been turned into an electric grinder just by looking at its size." The body is stylishly anodized. The blade is conical. The cup is fixed with a magnet, so it won't move even with vibration, minimizing spillage of powder.
Optional Aura Rubber Mini / W65 x D95 x H240mm. 65,000 yen (R&D ESPRESSO LAB TEL: 06-7410-8237)
(Right) Varia VS3
Varia is a Hong Kong brand. "The blades are conical and continuously adjustable, and can accommodate a variety of meshes, from ultra-fine grinds for espresso to coarse grinds for cold brew." By placing the included silicone bellow over the hopper and repeatedly pushing, the air pressure causes most of the ground beans to fall into a magnetic dosing cup placed directly below, significantly reducing the amount of powder remaining in the machine.
Varia VS3 / W90 x D147 x H310mm. 52,800 yen (Kigu)
INNOVATIVE BREWER
Extraction equipment is evolving in a variety of ways
"The evolution of cone-shaped drippers, such as the SD1 from Indonesia, is amazing, but there are also smart drippers that can handle both permeable and immersion drippers in one unit, and drippers that have replaceable bases or special ribs inside. The extraction tools may be the most innovative right now." Manual machines that can extract espresso that tastes close to what you'd get in a coffee shop are also now available.
Although it is an American-made espresso machine for home use, it is equipped with an industry-standard 58mm portafilter. It also features a sturdy frame and a T-shaped grip lever, allowing for high-pressure extraction. "This was my first time using it, but it really does recreate the taste of a coffee shop," says the owner. It can apply 10 atmospheres of pressure, exceeding the 9 atmospheres of commercial machines.
Flair 58x / W130 x D510 x H340mm. 85,800 yen (Flair Espresso Japan flairespresso.jp)
Originally from Spain, this unique design features spirally arranged ribs inside. "The wet paper sticks to it so the hot water circulates evenly inside, making it easier for the powder to penetrate." The aluminum body has good thermal conductivity and heats up quickly, maintaining a high temperature throughout the entire extraction process. Because it gets hot, it is recommended to use it with a sleeve (sold separately for 3,300 yen). 13 colorful sleeves are available.
Grey Cano Dripper / Bottom diameter φ98 x H66mm. 11,000 yen (Kigu)
This is a collaboration between Kyoto coffee shop Kurasu and Hong Kong equipment manufacturer Varia. The dripper is made of stainless steel and has a removable base. By using the three screens, you can change the water flow rate. "For a lighter taste, choose 'Kurasu (Fast)', and for a richer flavor, choose 'Slow_1'." Three screens are included, but there are four types of screens available for purchase separately (2,640 yen each).
Varia x Class FLO Dripper / Bottom diameter φ45 x H85mm. 9,600 yen (Kigu)
This brewing device will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025. Simply set the coffee paper and ground coffee in the container. Add hot water and stir, then place the cylindrical lid on top and press down to apply pressure. "It combines the advantages of both a dripper and an espresso machine. By pressing 20g of finely ground coffee powder into 60cc of hot water, you can easily recreate the taste of espresso at home." The body is now transparent, making it easy to see the color of the liquid.
Aeropress Coffee Maker, Clear, W112 x D112 x H194mm. 12,000 yen. (Ogawa Coffee oc-ogawa.co.jp)
Released in Japan from the US in 2018, it has garnered attention for its sophisticated design and functionality. Many baristas have introduced it to their own establishments. "By opening and closing the valve at the bottom of the ceramic funnel, three brewing methods are possible: pour-over (percolation method), French press (immersion method), and cold brew (cold brew)." It also has a built-in smart scale and a dedicated app.
Goat Story Smart Coffee Dripper Gina / W163 x D135 x H345mm. 41,800 yen (WellRich goat-story.jp)
KETTLE
The amount of water and the temperature. How you pour it determines the flavor.
The key to brewing delicious coffee is to "adjust the exact amount of powder and hot water." "It depends on the beans, but the ideal ratio is roughly 14-15g of powder to 210-225g of hot water (powder:hot water = 1:15)." The spout of the kettle is also important. "Choose a kettle with a narrow spout, a gooseneck. By pouring in a thin line, the hot water will penetrate the powder evenly."
"I also use this kettle at æ (Ash), where I oversee the coffee. The touch panel is easy to see and easy to operate." Feedback from baristas around the world is used in the creation of the product, and it is often seen in cafes around town. The temperature setting range is also wide, from 40 to 100 degrees Celsius.
Brewista Artisan Gooseneck Variable Kettle / W150 x D290 x H195mm (Kettle). 1L. ¥27,830 (Spinbrewista.jp)
(Medium) bonaVITA Gooseneck Kettle
"This product is a favorite among baristas. The more you tilt it, the thicker the water comes out, making it useful for cupping. On the other hand, if you don't tilt it too much, the water will continue to come out in a thin stream, so it's also a kettle for beginners." Temperature can be set in 1 degree increments from 60°C to 100°C. It has a keep-warm function that keeps the water warm for up to 1 hour.
Bonavita Gooseneck Kettle / W143 x D285 x H190mm (Kettle). 1L. 20,680 yen (FBC International TEL: 03-3436-2575)
(Right) Fellow Stagg EKG
"Its simple, flat design means it can be placed anywhere. Also, by gripping the handle with your thumb, you can brew with one hand." The narrow, curved spout allows the water to pour out in a natural thin stream. The water temperature can be set between 57 and 100°C, and it is possible to keep it at that temperature for up to 60 minutes. A direct flame version is also available.
Fellow Stag EKG / φ145 x H175mm (Kettle). 0.9L. 25,960 yen (Kigu)
OTHERS
Don't let your guard down until the very end
If you want to make delicious coffee, you want to pay attention to the smallest details. "Pay particular attention to the scale. When buying beans, check with the roastery to find out the recipe that's best for those beans and the amount of water to pour at one time, and make sure to measure it carefully. This process determines the flavor." You'll also want to check out the highly sought-after combs and drip stands.
This scale is from Taiwan's Mx. COOL. "The touch panel can actually be stored inside. It's an interesting design that doesn't look like a scale." The display can be easily opened with a single button, while closing it protects the main body from impacts. Although it's compact and fits in the palm of your hand, the weighing surface is made of a matte aluminum alloy that can withstand high temperatures, and it can weigh up to 2,000g.
Katze / W120.5 x D120.5 x H21.7mm. 23,500 yen (Equal Coffee equalcoffee.jp)
"This scale, from America, is a big hit at æ. The touch panel display is easy to read, and best of all, it's so sensitive that the numbers change when the air conditioning is on." We record the extraction time under the same conditions every day in the app in pursuit of the ideal flavor." This scale is widely used by baristas, but because it announces the weight and time by voice, it's also suitable for coffee beginners to improve their hand-dripping skills.
Acaia Pearl Model S / W160 x D160 x H32mm. 32,670 yen (acaia official website jp.acaia.co)
Drip stands have been seen in many stores in recent years. They were developed by Sasa Sestic, the 2015 World Barista Champion, and others. "The trend in the industry is to cool the coffee. Some people freeze the beans because heat takes away the aroma. If you set the dripper on the top shelf and extract the coffee, the dripping liquid will hit the ice rocks (golden balls), lowering the temperature and locking in the aromatic compounds."
Nucleus Paragon V2 / W165 x D120 x H260mm. 19,800 yen (FBC International)
"A comb is a barista's work tool. The powder in the portafilter of an espresso machine is very fine, so the tip of the comb is used to even it out so that it doesn't clump." This comb can also be used for drip coffee. "After putting the powder in the dripper, if you smooth the surface with the comb, the hot water will penetrate even better." The handle is made of silicone. The tip of the needle is rounded. Thirty needles are included, so you'll never have to worry about having spares.
Barista Hustle Tool The Comb / D30 x H110mm. 7,810 yen (FBC International)
