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It’s coooold out, so how about a hot cup of tea? You might have seen several cast-iron teapots, as they aren’t too hard to find, especially considering all the variations on the traditional Japanese cast-iron pot. However, this Ciacapo fella is something surprising with its bold silhouette. Yep, it’s cast iron, so it will keep your team warm for hours (multiple cups at your desk, anyone?) and, for bonus points, it’s heavy enough to use as a door stop- if for some reason you need to use it as such. Expertly crafted, it’s more than fit for a modern kitchen and will last through years of casual, everyday use.
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Tea, anyone? Look like a grown up with this very proper, polished brass tea set by Tom Dixon. Rounded shapes made from spun brass are polished and then dipped in a warm gold wash to give each piece a subtle matte surface. The six-piece set includes a Tea Caddy, Jug, Milk Jug, Sugar Dish & Spoon and Tray (links & prices below).
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A fresh cup of coffee in just three minutes? Yep, that little wish just came true with the Impress Coffee Brewer Travel Mug by Gamila Company. Add your grounds and hot water and stir. Leave it for a few minutes and then gently plunge the reverse-flow filter into your brew; the grounds are filtered out and kept safe (at the bottom) for your perfect cup, ready to go. No filters, no mess, and the triple-walled design keeps your coffee hot just the way you like it.
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Another tea strainer. Aren’t you excited? I know how important it is to you, that perfect (elusive?) cup of tea, and Kinto has yet another option to consider. This stick-shaped tea strainer has a slidable side that allows you to scoop tea leaves directly without the use of a spoon. Slide the side back down to cover, and then place in your cup with hot water. The slidable part is easy to remove completely for cleaning.
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Coffee for one, coming right up. This all-in-one drip coffee maker and mug has all you need to brew a fresh cup, other than coffee and water, of course. A stainless steel filter (wash and reuse) rests on top of a double walled mug, and a nesting lid that fits both- to catch drips or keep your coffee warm. There’s also an option to add the Pot set (+$5).
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Another tea strainer? Yes, but this one has a mug and lid, so you have a single-serve service all in one. The glass is heat-resistant, as it should be, and the strainer and lid are in copolyester. The strainer is large enough to hold a generous amount of loose leaf tea and looks easy to clean as well. If pink ( or, as they call it, wine red) isn’t your thing, not to worry, as there is also gray, yellow, and navy.
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If you hadn’t seen the title, you could have used your deductive reasoning to figure out what function this little sphere fulfills. There are the small perforations at the bottom, a little handle/ring at the top, and the appropriately sized saucer. For anyone who’s ever handled loose leaf tea, it’s enough to sit up and take notice, as this strainer looks to be very easy to use and then clean once the tea has brewed.
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This kettle still wins top prize for its attributes, despite its exclusive price tag. It cooks on all heat sources- even on an induction range. There’s no cables or lime scale on heating coils, and when it needs a wash, just throw it in the dishwasher. The handle stays cool as well, so no worries about burning your fingers or hands. All that and it’s certainly easy on the eyes; if it fits your budget, it’s a no brainer.
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Come on, you knew there would be yet another tea kettle sometime soon. It’s sort of a favorite subject around here. This classic kettle is made of porcelain enamelware and features the requisite handle and spout (the ‘I’m a Little Teapot’ song should be playing in your head right about now…) and comes in the 5 semi-expected colors found in most kitchens.
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Flash sale sites are feeling a little old nowadays, but it’s nice to see there’s still a few tempting deals at wallet-pleasing prices. Gilt has a slight sale on the Chemex Coffeemaker along with 100 Prefolded Chemex Filter Squares. In my opinion, coffee from this thing actually tastes better than coffee from a machine, and it makes you feel a little like a chemist doing experiments with life-saving liquids (which, with coffee, may be the case in your household).

Available at Gilt Groupe, an invitation-based site, for a limited time.
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Shall we switch to loose leaf tea? This Tea Egg certainly tempts us to, as its two-part design allows for easy cleaning. Some swear that loose tea makes for a better flavor and some say it’s better for the environment as it cuts down on packaging; both points merit consideration, for sure. The color options of the Tea Egg also sweeten the deal (though it looks like A+R only has rose and blue, and Normann Copenhagen’s site seems to be having some issues).

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Like your espressos but hate your machine? Or, like your espressos but can’t be bothered to buy a machine? Take a look at this stovetop espresso maker and see if it doesn’t tempt you with the idea of a DIY espresso-driven bliss each and every morning. There are four sizes available (2-cup, 4-cup, 6-cup and 10-cup, all measured in tiny espresso cups, mind you, not standard baking measures) and a special filter in the funnel can be flipped to make half the amount if you should so choose.

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A little black and white geometry always catches the eye, and these cups from Ferm Living are no exception. However, upon first glance, a person might think ‘haven’t I seen these before?’ and that person might search their memory (and the internet) only to find an image of Masahiro Mori’s Mini Cups. Quite similar, indeed, yet there’s a sizable difference in dimensions. Ferm Living’s Geometry Cups are larger and more suited for water, tea, or coffee, while Mori’s Mini Cups are smaller and more fit for sake and spirits.
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A handy little tab on this mug keeps your teabag from falling into your cup. Pretty simple solution to an annoying little problem, isn’t it? Just tie your teabag around the tab and it’ll stay put while you pour, stir, etc. Might be a thoughtful gift for the tea aficionado in your life? Holiday season is just around the corner, if you can believe it.
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Apologies if you’re not fond of tea, because I sure am (as you will know if you’re a regular reader). Bodum brings us the Tea for One, a glass and tea strainer combined. The plastic filter sits inside the double walled glass, allowing your leaves to brew without escaping into the cup. Simply lift out the filter once the desired strength is reached and place it upon the lid/saucer.
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