Cheap, blade-based machines chop your beans into inconsistent chunks, but the Baratza Virtuoso+ uses two carbon-steel burrs to crush them into a uniform powder, while extracting more oil for enhanced flavor. Choose from 40 levels of coarseness to match your brew. The key to the Six-Cup Classic Chemex is its beaker-riffed design. Pour the water (heated to 204 degrees Fahrenheit) over your precious grounds, then watch them bubble up—or “bloom”—as they release CO2. The borosilicate glass won’t absorb aromas, so every batch tastes fresh.
This story appears in the Spring 2020, Origins issue of Popular Science.
