Life's Too Short for Bad Coffee

I was raised with a traditional coffee maker, the kind that sits on the hot burner embittering the brew until the small amount left evaporates, the pot shatters and I'm off to the hardware store to buy another. This method virtually guarantees a very bad cup of coffee.

I've found that many of my colleagues in the food world choose the single-cup drip method when they home brew. It's the abacus of coffee making: retro, low-tech and dependable. In the era where coffee makers are priced as high as $20,000, I vote for simple.

You'll need:

1. Filtered water, and a heating source. My preference is an electric kettle, as it's faster than a microwave or a stove, and even if you don't have access to appliances, you can always find an outlet. Bed Bath & Beyond(BBBY Quote) offers over half a dozen kettles -- take your pick. ...