Oh, coffee, how we love thee, really, really love thee. Let me count the ways. Brewed coffee, pour over, French press, aeropress, cold brew, espresso, cafe au lait, latte, macchiato, Turkish coffee, affogato, espresso martinis…Whatever the brewing and imbibing method, we all owe a debt to Kaldi, the Ethiopian goat herder reputed to have first discovered the magical, energizing effect of this humble bean on his herd in 800 A.D. From the first coffee shop in Istanbul circa 1475, to the explosion of coffee-based beauty in scrubs, soaps, and body creams, our favorite caffeine delivery system is worthy of daily celebration and ripe for endless innovation.
The most interesting of those innovations eschew large brewing devices for analogue methods and artisanal blends, as seen in the popularity of French press and pour over carafes. This preference for low-tech methods might seem foreboding for lovers of espresso, the most difficult, if not elusive, coffee extraction to nail at home, until the Wacaco Nanopresso launched. Like a La Marzocco in the hands of a veteran barista, the portable, superlight – it weighs less than a 1 lb – handheld device uses steam and pressure to extract concentrated coffee goodness in a few seconds.
Perfect for travel, the office, and small city kitchens, the Nanopresso requires just hot water, finely ground espresso, and a few hand pumps for a crema-rich shot of caffeine. For Nespresso addicts, Wacaco also makes an adapter to pump the pre-filled pods.
In addition to standard black, it’s available in red and orange to appease the design-obsessed. With a selection of grinders, pour overs, and other accessories, Wacaco is like a candy store for java lovers.
In tandem with alternative brewing methods, these days it’s more common that serving up a perfect cup of coffee leans into sustainability and giving back to the community. The recently-opened NYC location of the European chain Café Joyeux specializes in fair-trade coffee with all profits dedicated to their true mission – training, employing, and supporting individuals with IDD (intellectual or developmental disability).
The artisanal blends, roasted in small batches at the midtown Manhattan cafe, are available as whole beans or ground for espresso, French press, and drip coffee. Café Joyeux blends include The Amazing, a medium roast for drip, The Radiant, a dark roast for espresso, and The Original, a nutty, chocolate dark roast recommended for cold brew. There’s also Nespresso-compatible pods of espresso artisanally roasted in France.
This American outpost of Café Joyeux, like the 19 locations in Europe, is staffed entirely by individuals with IDD. With a seasonal menu of croissants, quiches, salads, and Croque monsieurs – traditional and a vegetarian version – it’s a convenient place to stop for a quick French lunch and a café au lait while picking up a few bags of fair-trade coffee.
