This Japanese Marbling Craft Kit is something both of our kids would love… and that John and I would also have so much fun using! So it really works for both lists. If you know anyone who is crafty and likes to make things, this would be such a hit. You might even get a marbled thank you card from them 😉
This “bucket list” water bottle comes with a sticker for every state, so the traveler on your list can track their journies. They also sell versions for National Parks, NFL stadiums, and MLB ballparks. John and I each have relatives in mind who would love this. Can’t say any more, because we don’t want to ruin the surprise.
I feel like the smell of bread baking in your house is up there as one of the most amazing scents – which is why this rosemary foccacia bread candle literally made my mouth water. Like, I want this candle for myself, and know that two of my besties would also be addicted. It comes in two sizes and as wax melts too. Such a good idea for that person who already has everything.
Gift Ideas For Kids & Teens
Ok, here we are at a board we love making every year, because it includes things we’re actually getting for our kids (and some items they already own and love). There are such cool things for kids and teeens these days, so let’s dive right in.
To save you from having to scroll up a ton, let’s zoom in on each thing on the list:
This intricate felt meat, cheese, and fruit platter is such a fun kids gift… and also I want one?! Like for real, let me play with this for an hour and I’ll be thoroughly entertained. Kitchens and play food for kids have just gotten amazing lately. Shh, don’t tell her but our niece is getting one of these.
This magnetic fidget toy had me at “like putty without the mess.” It comes in tons of surprisngly stylish colors, meaning it’s a great fidget for kids, teens, and even adults! Yes I’m adding the obligatory magnet warning here (def not for smaller kids or pets who might want to eat these!) – but for a tween’s desk… especially our 11 year old who loves to interact with things and create shapes – he’d love it!
Did I feel 1,000 years old when our daughter came home raving about the “vintage digital camera” she’d just bought? Yes, yes I did. But she and her friends are obsessed with these “old school cameras” – the grainy quality, the bad flash, and even the corded upload process! She has this exact one and it has held up really well, getting toted on trips, to the movies, to school on half days, etc. She really loves it.
This pop-up barn owl is such a cool gift for any smaller kids on your list… and also, who am I kidding… some adults would love this for their bedroom or office. Our smaller niece would watch this rocking from her crib with delight. And that price!! Actually I’d love to see a kids’ room with a bunch of these hung at diferent heights. Send me pics.
This vintage-style party raccoon shirt comes in 4 colors and sizes for kids and adults and let’s face it, we all know someone who loves a grilled cheese more than anyone else in the room. I have literally two different relatives who’d love this and wear it like a badge of honor.
Beat your teens at their own game with this “6-7” themed candle that is sure to make their eyes roll AND their rooms smell fresher. And yes, it’s intentional that it’s #6 on the list.
Our 15-year-old wears a charm necklace almost daily and this one has tons of fun charms to choose from – letters, animals, birthstones, sports, foods, and more. This is such a special gift to give or receive, and you can get more charms over time, which is a core childhood memory of mine.
We have lots of Wobaba outdoor toys (this is one of our faves) so we were excited to see their take on Bocce. The sand-filled balls are kid-friendly and great for yards, beaches, or sidewalks. These are definitely going to end up under our tree so we can try them out on the sand soon!
Warmies are heatable stuffed animals that are soothing for kids and adults alike. They come in tons of shapes and animals, but there’s something so charming about this plush grilled cheese sandwich. Yes, grilled cheese is becoming a theme of this year’s gift guide – but really, how comforting is a warm grilled cheese?
This clever makeup gift set comes in a little “sewing tin” complete with button shaped eye shadows and even a pin-cushion shaped blender! I love the idea of my teen opening this and thinking it’s biscuits or crackers and then realizing it’s full of makeup and just disguised as a kitchen item!
Here’s another fun gift set for teens (especially those who proudly wear their pimple patches in public – I wish that was trending when I was a kid!). This Starface gift set comes with 60+ patches, a lip balm, and a fuzzy makeup case.
Every family has at least one voracious ramen fan. At least, that’s true in ours. So here’s a fun way for your noodle-lover to sample authentic ramen flavors from different regions. You can choose from 5 or 10 item boxes, as well as spicy, non-spicy, or a mix. I actually think both of our kids would love the “choose your own Ramen adventure” aspect of a box full of different options to work their way through!
Our kids are both into journaling these days, so these Extraodinary Things To Cut & Collage books have been well-loved (and well-cut-apart). They’re packed with stuff both of our kids like, and use! Literally they get BEAT UP from use, which I love. Gift one with a journal, some scissors, and glue sticks to a creative kid that you know and love. You can even get both books as set!
For the teen who loves a spa day, this cooling gel face mask is a fun idea. And also, I, a full grown adult would love one too. Calming, cool, and sure to scare whoever walks in on you wearing it. Ha!
This colorful rope light is great for gamers or any other kid who wants to add some customizable color to their room – it can even be syned to music! Works great as a hidden accent light (think around a frame or under a desk). It also comes with wall clips to create a bendable piece of art.
This miniature microphone plugs right into the USB-C port on a phone or computer for kids to record videos, and both of our kids would absolutely LOVE it. They both enjoy making and editing videos, and I actually think they might both find one of these in their stockings.
We love a good twist on classic UNO (this one has been our fave so far). And this new Liar’s UNO incorporates poker-style bluffing that may force you or your opponents to draw cards if anyone gets caught! We love a small game like this that’s easy to bring on trips, and toss into the car if there’s going to be a lot of waiting around. And the price is great too.
This glow-in-the-dark shirt lets kids “draw” with light using a flashlight or the included torch light (it even comes clipped on a rope for convenience). I know at least three kids in our family who would flip for this, and would redesign their shirt at every family event. So fun!
These 500-piece Galison puzzles are our favorites to do with our kids, and we can’t wait to do this hilarious kitty one. It’s such a fun family activity over a holiday break. Just put a puzzle out on a table (preferably by a fireplace or in a cozy corner) and watch people mosey up and work on it over time.
This Etsy seller turns kids’ drawings into custom crocheted stuffies. I mean, talk about a memorable keepsake gift! Especially if one of your favorite little ones has made an iconic drawing. There’s a very old sketch of a UFO with a rainbow coming out of the bottom that my kids made that I’d love to get as a stuffed creation!
Our son loves these Mini Brand balls, especially the create kind. They’re literally interactive little kits that come with a few small parts and you combine them with some good old fashioned easy-DIY. For example, his blind bag had a beautiful tiny blue & white china bowl with dumplings and you add the dumplings to the bowl with a tiny spoon and then pour “resin” into the bowl, which hardens into “broth” in the sun. So cute!
As a gift, cash never fails. And snagging one of these sacarstic cash holders to spice up your monetary gift (cash not included, obviously) is a fun way to make them laugh. I love this idea for older teens who just want money towards thrifting or gas or new sneakers that they’re saving up for. It’s a fun delivery method for a tried and true gift (good ol’ cashola).
Gift Ideas $15 And Under!
You all know this is my FAVORITE board to make each year, because I love finding deals and figuring out ways to break out gifts across a group (for neighbors, friends, teachers, etc) that makes them super affordable per item. So some of these gifts have a higher ticket price than $15, but would actually create many gifts that can be dispersed to many people – always resulting in an under $15 total per gift.
Let’s look a little closer at everything in the board above:
Give the gift of a festive-smelling house with one of these ready-to-simmer stovetop potpourri packs. I would LOVE to receive this! Or buy this simmer pot supply kit that makes 10 baggies for less than $6 each! They’d make a great teacher, neighbor, or coworker gift! Literally the price is SO GOOD too!
I wear these fish earrings a lot, which come in gold and silver (mine are gold) and even with 6 piercings, they look great (I usually do small hoops in the other holes and the fish are the stars). They’re a good gold color, and not too heavy. Just delightful – especially since sardines and little fish seem to be trending right now.
This vintage pedestal mug says it all, amiright? I love this for a coworker stuffed with candy or Hershey’s Kisses. Or you could give it to a friend full of hot cocoa mix or fancy tea bags.
This cute cherry keychain has a secret superpower: it can conceal an AirTag too (not included). So it’s a fashionable & functional gift someone can put on their keys or purse. I love this idea for keeping track of things that sometimes go missing (like luggage!) or just adding cuteness to a bag or backpack.
So technically this is a set of shot glasses, but I think they’d work amazingly as cute little vases. I’d split the up and give a friend, teacher, or coworker one with a small flower or propagation cutting in them! This couldn’t be easier to execute (literally cut a few stems off your current pothos and put them into water in each little boot). Total cost: just $8 each!
This 5-pack of holiday syrups are a great treat for coffee, cocktails, or hot cocoa. It includes Macadamia Nut, Peppermint, Dark Chocolate, Toasted Marshmallow and Gingerbread. John would love something like this (he’s a novelty “try everything” person, so he would get such a kick out of customizing his coffee). Actually anyone you know who buys all the flavors of Oreos instead of sticking with the classics would likely love these (that’s also John).
For all of those Owala lovers, this tiny water bottle keychain acts as storage for Chapstick, cash, or other small items. Our daughter literally wants one (they’re SO CUTE!) and they come in tons of colors (check the seller’s shop for more). They’ve also got Stanleys, Yetis, and even KitchenAid mixers.
This fun sock shop seems to have every snack, drink, and candy under the sun… in sock form. And at this price, you can gift somone a whole “pantry-worth” or pair a set of socks with the same food item. I’d love Cheez-It socks with a box of Extra Toasty Cheez-its (they’re so good if you haven’t tried them!).
Everyone knows someone who loves to read – and this slim reading light is recharage, dimmable, and comes in a bunch of colors. It’s a great small item to pair with a book, cute bookmark, or gift card to a local bookstore.
Another great gift for readers is this stylish book tracker, which includes all sorts of fun ways to record the titles you’ve read (and want to read). You can also compile reviews, daily reading goals, and more. This would be a big hit for anyone who loves charts and visual ways to quantify things (like John!). Comes in a bunch of colors too!
This monogram necklace is sweet and pop-art-ish. It’s made for kids, but I think cool grown ups can definitely rock it too. It doesn’t take itself too seriously (each letter resembles a solid gold balloon letter) and at that price you can even get two or three with each kid’s initial and wear them all layered together.
This clever enamel pin turns whatever you’re wearing into an (unofficial) Pantone Color of the Day. So you know that we (your resident paint nerds) love that. I think on a backpack or even a blazer, it’s a great conversation starter. Just don’t tell me the color of the year is “hot dog.”
These natural car air fresheners come in a 3-pack with scents like amber, teak, pine, and “cabana.” They’re a cool alternative to those dangle-from-your-mirror trees, they’re made of sustainable wood with chemical-free natural scents, and they have great reviews.
This pack of NES catridge coasters features eight classic games from Donkey Kong, Zelda, and Duck Hunt. How fun are these for a coffee table to get the conversation going and reminisce about the 90s? My favorite game was Mario Kart by the way, thanks for asking.
This bamboo speaker acts as both a phone stand and a sound amplifier for a cool analog alternative to bluetooth speakers. You can also pay extra to get it engraved with a name or message. This is so cool for a workshop or office space – anywhere someone would want to listen to some tunes on something a little less expected than a high-tech device.
This pocket-sized dream decoding book is something I’d love to receive (it has a section on “dreams where you’re naked” that I need to consult asap). I definitely think tweens, teens, and many adults would be entertained to read the categories of dreams, and what they might mean. Anyone else ever had the teeth-falling-out one?
This kit that helps you grow six salsa ingredients is a great gift for any chef, teen with an interest in gardening or cooking, or tortilla chip enthusiast (hi, it’s me). I love the clever recycled packaging, the price is great, and it’s a unique and fun interactive gift that someone can open and actually have an experience with (and then eat). Love it.
Looing at that picture you probably thought these were real glazed donuts… well the big reveal is that they’re actually soap! It’s such a cute gift to get for neighbors and friends. And an entire dozen of these glazed donut soaps are just $12! Amazing.
I own and love these gold earrings and have had them a while without any issues. They don’t irritate my sensitive ears, they’re a nice gold color, and they look very cool indeed with that crisscross design. I love that half of them is that smooth solid gold color while the other half has tiny diamond-esque sparkles. I always get asked where they’re from when I wear them, and people are shocked at the price.
This 1000 piece puzzle is so much fun for any pasta enthusiast (hi, it’s also me). I love the color palette and this would be so much fun to do as a family becsause it’s challenging but also a really fun subject. And this is such a great price (many other places have it listed at over $26!).
Come on, you know someone who loves birds, their birdfeeder, birding, maybe they even have a pet bird. So… for that bird friend… I give you: these stunning bird playing cards. There is beautiful art on each one by reknowned artist Erikas Chesonis, along with the name of each creature (ex: mallard, osprey, blue jay, roadrunner). They’re great for everything from a game of solitaire to a rousing round of poker or 21 – but truly they’re art in their own right!
This adorable mini game of mini golf is so much fun for any age (ok, not babies, we don’t want them to eat it). But literally any teen or adult would take a few swings if that were on a desk or a counter. And that price makes it such a fun and inexpensive stocking stuffer. They also have bowling, football, and even pickeball versions!
I also included a few more interesting pieces in my suitcase – like a red tank top and a blue sleeveless top, along with a floral shirt, and a bolder leopard skirt and jacket. They added a little something extra to the other more neutral items I packed. From afar the collage of all my outfits might look somewhat drab, but up close a lot of items had more interest – like my plaid blazer that has brown, black, and bright blue streaks in it. Plus maroon! Literally every color of everything I packed basically.
While I went for some more interesting accent pieces, I aimed for “basic” when it came to my bags (like this oneand this one) and shoes (these are my exact black boots and my exact brown ones). Choosing something classic and not too wild for those two categories made them all interchangeable for the most part – which just made things super easy for me.
Oh and for a dose of the unexpected (in a very low stakes way, which also took up like zero packing room), I added in some green sunglasses (these are similar). They were a neutral enough tone that they worked with everything I had – and sometimes it’s nice to choose one accessory that doesn’t match anything else for a little bit of whimsy or surprise. (*She whispered “live a little” as she tucked her green glasses into her purse*).
If you want to test if your one little unexpected item works with everything else, just lay that item on the bed when you’re packing and you can pretty quickly see if it works or absolutely does not. I was pleasantly surprised to see that my green glasses looked good in the mix, so into my bag they went.
I also packed two different sets of gold earrings (the smaller chunky gold hoops that you see above and the larger gold hoops that you see below) just to give myself a few more options along the way.
Those earrings were both in my toiletry bag in a little pouch (I love using theseto stay organized). Otherwise, I had my default everyday earrings in my ears (for travel days and some days of the trip where I didn’t opt for my bigger gold earrings). This blurry cropped photo below shows you what my normal earring situation is when I don’t swap out the first hole for something that makes more of a statement:
Sherry loves a hot cup of pour over coffee, but I usually choose an iced *something* for my daily coffee. And most days it’s a cold brew that I make at home. For over 2 years now, I’ve relied on this cold brew maker to keep a delicious batch at the ready in my fridge. So I’ll quickly walk you through exactly how I make homemade cold brew, and why it’s my method of choice.
As we noted in our pour over coffee guide, Sherry and I aren’t expert baristas or even persnickety coffee connoisseurs – but we value a delicious and fresh tasting coffee that we can make at home. We both prioritize simple & straightforward brewing methods that can be successful without treating coffee like an intricate science. No shade if you have the time & energy to take coffee making to an olympic level, but this guide is for the average home coffee drinker who wants some good, reliable cold brew without stressing over the details.
Our Cold Brew Coffee Supplies
One of the best parts about making cold brew is it require very few supplies. In fact, apart from coffee grounds & water, this picture shows everything we use. And the cold brew maker itself is less than $25. We even got it on sale for $16 – and at the time of writing this, it’s marked down to under $14!
The cold brew maker itself includes everything you need, including a reusable filter. So it’s also a very sustainable system that creates no waste, apart from your used coffee grounds.
Cold Brew Coffee – Video Guide
This step-by-step video guide details how Sherry and I each make our preferred coffee. The cold brew maker tutorial starts at the 2:30 mark if you want to skip ahead!
Cold brew is a coffee-making method that is sometimes called cold water extraction or cold pressing. Like the names suggest, the main difference from other techniques is the water temperature. Instead of rapidly filtering hot water through ground coffee, cold brew involves steeping those grounds in cold or cool water for an extended time period – usually 12 to 24 hours. And obviouslly, the end result is best enjoyed cold or with ice!
Cold Brew vs. Iced Coffee
Cold brew is often confused with iced coffee, but the two are different process that produce different results. Iced coffee is brewed like regular coffee (using hot water) then chilled – either through refrigeration or pouring over ice. This achieves a faster result than cold brewing, but the melted ice can lead to a watery consistency or diluted flavor if you’re not careful.
Cold brew also tends to result in more caffeine and bolder, sweeter flavors. The prolonged brew time cuts down on some of the bitter or more acidic tastes in regular coffee, resulting in what many describe as a smoother and tastier result. And because larger portions of grounds are typically used for cold brew, the caffeine concentration is usually higher. That’s why some people will dilute cold brew with water before drinking, so you get more for your efforts.
Here’s why I make regular cold brew for my daily coffee:
I prefer iced coffee drinks vs hot ones
It’s easy to make (aka: hard to mess up)
It can be made in batches
It’s sweeter & stronger than iced coffee
Steps To Make Cold Brew At Home
Making homemade cold brew is crazy simple, especially because I use this pitcher that can make one big 52 ounce batch at a time. Just be sure to start your brew 12 to 24 hours before you plan to drink it (like the night before).
Assemble the cold brew maker
Add coffee grounds to the filter
Pour water over the grounds
Steep for 12 – 24 hours
Serve over ice
Add creamer to taste
Now let’s take a closer look at those steps.
1. Assemble the Cold Brew Maker
This cold brew maker has 4 pieces which easily fit together (and come apart for cleaning):
Handled Glass Pitcher
Reusable Mesh Filter
Lid
Twist-On Cap
To begin, place the fine mesh filter through the opening in the lid and snap it into place.
All pieces are dishwasher safe, so it’s also easy to dissamble and clean between batches.
2. Add coffee grounds
Now, pour ground coffee beans into the filter. Course ground coffee is typically recommended for cold brewing. However, I usually use pre-ground coffee from the grocery store, which typically comes medium ground. Just avoid fine gounds, which may lead to overextraction and increase bitterness. Fine grinds may also seep through the mesh filter, ending up in your brew.
I don’t measure out my grounds. I just fill the filter about 75% full. You can add more or less, depending on how strong you like your coffee. We’ll talk about coffee-to-water ratios more below.
3. Pour water over the grounds
Next, carefully pour water into the filter, full saturating the grounds. I use cold filtered water from my fridge dispenser, but room temperature water from your tap is fine too. I like to pour from my water bottle for better control (slower speed, less splashing, etc). You may need to pause occassionally to let the water filter through before continuing. Fill until the carafe is full or the grounds are fully submerged.
What’s the best coffee-to-water ratio for cold brew?
Most cold brew is made at a ratio between 1:4 and 1:8. This means 1 part coffee grounds to 4 to 8 parts water. This is best measured by weight (grams) but going by volume (cups, tbsps, etc) works well enough too. The lower the second number, the stronger your brew will be.
But again, I don’t measure anything. Partly because I’m not that picky and partly because this cold brew maker does the work for you. The filter holds 1 cup of grounds. The carafe holds 6 cups of liquid. So filling both creates a roughly 1:6 ratio, right in the middle of the recommended ratio range.
I suggest starting with this 1:6 ratio (everything full) and adjusting as desired with future batches. I’ve learned I’m happy only filling the filter 75% full. The cold brew is still plenty strong and I don’t have to buy coffee as often.
4. Steep for 12 – 24 Hours
Now, steep your brew for 12 to 24 hours, either at room temperature or in your refrigerator. I like to put mine in the fridge for convenience (it’s out of the way & ready to drink cold). Leaving it out at room temperature will speed up extraction, making it ready closer to that 12 hour mark.
Steeping too long can increase bitterness, so remember – it’s best to remove the grounds after 24 hours. To do this, just lift out the mesh filter and dispose of the grounds. When I finish drinking a batch, I usually start a new one right away so it will be ready the next morning at my usual time. Each batch I make, lasts about five days and then I make another batch (just remember to take the grounds out at the 12-24 hour mark so you’re not brewing it for 5 days – that would not taste good).
5. Serve Over Ice
Cold brew is considered a concentrate, so many people choose to dilute it before drinking. This can be done with water, ice, milk, cream, or a combination of those. Some even dilute it as much as 1:1 (one part cold brew, one part water). This is really just personal preference. I personally choose to just pour it over a glass filled halfway with ice, leaving room for cream.
You may want to give the cold brew a quick mix with a spoon before pouring, since the more concentrated liquid tends to sink the bottom.
6. Add creamer to taste
I like to add a couple of splashes of flavored creamer to my cold brew. Since syrups and sugars don’t dissolve well in cold liquids, I find this is the best way to add flavor & sweetness to cold brew. I usually buy Chobani Creamer, and this is my favorite flavor.
More Cold Brew FAQs
How many glasses of cold brew does it make?
I typically get about 5 servings out of one batch. You may get more or less depending on your drinking glass & how much you dilute the concentrate. The pitcher holds about 52 fluid ounces of cold brew. Remember: you don’t BREW it for 5 days, you just leave the coffee filter in for the first 12-24 hours, at which point the cold brew is ready to drink. So you’ll want to remove the coffee filter from the cold brew maker, and you’ll then have about 5 days of cold brew that’s ready to drink in the fridge.
How do you clean the cold brew maker?
All of the pieces are dishwasher safe, including the mesh filter. However, I typically hand wash everything as soon as I finish a batch. That way I can start a new brew right away without waiting to run the dishwasher.
What is nitro cold brew?
The term “nitro” refers to an extra step where cold brew is infused with nitrogen gas. The same cold brewing method is used, but the addition of tiny bubbles give nitro cold brew a smoother and creamier finish. Many compare it to the feel of a draft beer like Guinness (it even has a foamy top layer). That’s why you typically see it dispensed from a tap at a coffee shop. Nitro cold brew can be made at home, but it requires a special dispenser and nitrogren canisters – which can be costly and complicated.
What is cold foam?
Cold foam is a fluffy aerated milk layer added to the top of cold beverages like cold brew. It’s an alternate way of adding flavor, sweetness, and creamy texture to your drink. I heard someone joke that cold foam is just “rebranded” whipped cream and there’s some truth there – it tastes like a sweet marshamallow topping to me.
I make cold foam at home with this $9 milk frother. I just use my Chobani creamer, but you can also mix 3 tbsps of heavy cream, 2 tbsps of milk, and 1 tbsp of flavored syrup. Then froth it in a separate cup and pour atop your cold foam. We have also frothed vanilla oat milk and both Sherry and I think it’s delicious.
Want Hot Coffee Instead?
If you’re more of a hot coffee person, you can check out our guide to making pour over coffeeat home. Pour over can sound intimidating, but it’s super easy and experts agree that it produces a better tasting cup. We certainly love that it’s less bitter and more fresh tasting than any other homemade hot coffee we have tried.
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
We get a surprising number of questions about how we make our pour over coffee (and even requests for a video tutorial). We aren’t baristas by any means, but we love an easy, affordable, and delicious cup every day. So we’re sharing how our system checks all of those boxes – without ever tasting bitter or burned.
Pour over is known to make better tasting coffee with less equipment & waste than electric coffee makers, but the process can sound intimidating – especially for beginners! Honestly, pour over is only as complicated as you want it to be. So we’ll show you just how easy it us for us to make. I do it every morning in just a few minutes. And I truly think it tastes better than many fancy coffee shops – so it saves me money!
Our Coffee Supplies
This supply list looks long, but the actual coffee-making equipment is only the top 3 bullet points. Each is less than $20 and for hot coffee you really only need the first one! That’s the one I use every day – the rest is icing on the cake, depending on if you like other variations.
Coffee Supplies
Coffee Ingredients
*Brands like Chemex and Hario are probably most well-known for pour over, but their brewers cost around $50. The one we love is less than $20 and is going strong after almost 2 years of daily use!
**If you own a coffee grinder, you can certainly buy whole coffee beans instead. For simplicity’s sake, we prefer to buy pre-ground coffee at the grocery store or have it ground when we buy from a local coffee shop.
What is Pour Over Coffee?
Pour over is one of several coffee brewing processes (like drip, french press, etc) that can be done at home. Like drip coffee (which can be made by a plug-in coffeemaker), pour over involves hot water filtering through ground coffee into a pot below. However, pour over is a manual process that many believe delivers a better, more flavorful cup coffee (nothing sits there for a long time getting burned, so to me, it tastes noticebly fresher and less bitter). You really have to taste it to believe it! Once I did, there was no going back.
Basic electric coffee makers (like the kind you might see in a waiting room) typically can’t heat water as high and often soak grounds unevenly. This can lead to weaker or inconsistent flavors. And the ones that brew one big pot that sits there heating and heating for hours can taste bitter and overcooked. These machines can also be wasteful (ex: one-time use filters or pods) and hard to clean (plastic tubing inside can making them prone to mildew).
If these are your favorite ways to make coffee, please don’t take this as me coming for you. With coffee (and much of life) – to each his own! I’m just sharing why I love my pour over forever and always. No waste. Affordable. Easy. Delicious. And so simple to rinse. No tiny tubing or worries of mold hiding somewhere you can’t see.
Pros & Cons of Pour Over Coffee
One reason that coffee snobs (said with love!) swear by the pour over process is because it gives you greater control to achieve “the perfect cup.” You can fine-tune variables like water temperature, grind size, coffee-to-water ratio, and brew time. Personally though, that feels kinda complicated. And thankfully, we’ve found that we get a delicious result without stressing over the details at all.
We mostly prefer a pour over system because it’s affordable, compact, and easy to use. We’ve got a small kitchen, so this beats having a bulky machine that permanently lives on our countertops. And again, the brewing process can be as simple or intricate as you like. John made this bulleted list for you, because you know he likes data:
Pour Over Coffee PROS:
Better, stronger flavors
Affordable (less than $20!)
Compact & stylish
Reusable materials
Easier to clean
Pour Over Coffee CONS:
Not automated or programmable
Small learning curve to truly “master”
Only makes 1-3 cups at a time
No heating element to keep pot warm
Video Guide
Here’s a step-by-step, start-to-finish video of how I prepare coffee using our pour over coffee maker. After that in this same video, John also shows you how he uses his cold brew maker, if you’re interested in that. And stick around for the end if you want to see how easy it is to froth your milk. Legit fancy coffee house vibes from that simple trick.
Along with the video, we thought some photos would help. So here are the simple & straightforward steps we take each morning to get a great cup of coffee using the pour over method. It literally takes under 3 minutes after you have boiling water – and most of that is inactive time (just waiting for the coffee to slowly filter through. So you can pop some toast into the toaster, take your vitamins, or do whatever else you do in the kitchen while it works its way through.
Place the reuseable filter into the glass carafe
Add 1 scoop of ground coffee (the scoop comes with the carafe)
Slowly pour boiling water over the grounds
Allow the water to drip through
Pour the coffee, holding the cork collar
Add cream/milk and/or sugar to your liking
It really is that simple, but here is a bit more detail about each step.
1. Place the filter into the carafe
The reusable stainless steel filter is provided with the pour over maker and fits neatly into the glass cone at the top of the carafe. Some people will use a paper cone filter in addition to or instead of the metal filter. The paper absorbs more oils which can alter the flavor (often described as lighter-bodied or crisper). Paper filters make clean-up faster, but we like the ease and sustainability of the metal filter without the paper – which is simple to dump into the trash or compost bin and rinse clean. We think our coffee without the paper filter tastes great, and it’s one less thing to do/buy.
2. Add 1 scoop of ground coffee
Using the provided scoop that comes with the carafe, add 1 scoop of ground coffee into the filter. A general rule is 1 scoop for every cup of coffee you are making, but we often stretch it to 1.5 cups (sometimes I have one big one and a second smaller one). You can always adjust your coffee ratio to taste. If it’s not strong enough for you, add a more mounded scoop instead of a flat scoop, etc.
Note: We have the 34oz version which claims to make “8 cups of coffee, 4oz each” in the listing. I don’t know who considers 4oz to be a full cup of coffee (our mugs hold 12oz), so you’re realistically maxing out around 3 cups with this pour over.
We have had 6 people over and just made 3 batches (2 cups in each). It was all fresh and delicious that way and we were all chatting in the kitchen as it went.
What kind of coffee grounds should I use?
Experts typically suggest a medium to medium-course grind for pour over coffee. However, this is another thing you can experiment with based on personal preference. Since simplicity is a goal of ours, we buy pre-ground coffee (check the date and grab something recently ground – it still can taste so fresh). This is my favorite grocery store coffee. John likes to switch it up (or to grab whatever’s BOGO).
3. Slowly Pour Boiling Water Over The Grounds
Next we use our stovetop kettle to pour boiling water over the coffee grounds. Take this slowly as not to overfill or splash. Experts suggest a variety of pour techniques you can use to maximize flavor, like pouring in circles, swirling your filter around, or pouring in 3 phases to “bloom” the grounds before continuing. We’ve experimented with some of these, but our palettes don’t seem sophisticated enough to detect much flavor difference. So on most days we keep it simple and just make sure the grounds get fully saturated.
How much water should I use?
We aim to pour 12 ounces of water for every scoop of coffee (slightly less if we’re planning to add cream). However, most days we just eyeball it because it saves the step of measuring it out. But if you prefer to be exact, simply pour the water into your mug or a measuring cup before pouring it into the filter.
4. Allow The Water To Drip Through
It typically takes 1-2 minutes for the water to fully filter through into the bottom of the carafe. We don’t typically “babysit” our pour over maker at this point, and instead move on to something else for a few minutes, since this will also give time for the coffee in the bottom to cool to a drinkable temperature. Go take your vitamins and put on your earrings 😉
5. Pour The Coffee
Once the water has fully filtered through, put the filter aside and pour your coffee (we usually place our filter in our sink to let any water drain for a while and clean it out later by shaking the grounds into the trash or compost bin). The glass on the bottom will be hot, so just hold it at the cork collar. Makes it easy to grip too.
6. Add cream and sugar to taste
Most days Sherry drinks black coffee. But she will “treat” herself on weekends to a cup with one packet of Whole Earth sweetene and a bit of this coconut creamer. I can’t handle a black coffee so I typically add some of this creamer or sweetened vanilla almond milk. And if we’re feeling really fancy, we froth it using the process below!
Bonus Step: How to Froth Milk At Home
Sometimes to make our coffees feel a bit more like a storebought latte, we break out this $9 handheld frother. It’s super easy to use and turns any milk into a fluffy treat. This might be a weekend thing – and sometimes a just-because-we-deserve-a-little-treat extra step.
Pour a small amount of milk or milk alternative into a small dish. With the metal end of the frother fully submerged, hold the on button and move the frother side to side.
Once sufficiently frothed, carefully pour it into your coffee
Enjoy! If it’s not sweet enough, try adding sugar or sugar alternative to your milk before frothing. We both think vanilla oatmilk tastes like a sweet marshmallow topping without any need to add anything else.
How to Clean Your Pour Over
Cleaning our pour over coffee maker is a thankfully extremely easy. All parts are dishwasher safe, except for the cork collar and leather cord that holds it in place. Once you’ve removed those, you can simply put the glass carafe and metal filter through the dishwasher.
That being said, we typically just rinse & handwash both pieces most days. The cork collar is a little cumbersome to remove, so we save time by only dishwashing the pieces maybe once a week. Most days we do the following:
Is this more work than throwing out a K-cup? Sure. But it’s really not any harder or more time consuming than cleaning any other dish or pot in your kitchen. Gotta love a coffee maker that is literally just two parts that can be easily rinsed daily in the sink.
Why We Love Pour Over Coffee
You have made it to the longest and most detailed post that has ever been written about pour over coffee! Hopefully you can see why we choose it every day. Yes, it can be an intricate, finely-tuned process if you want it to be. But it can also be quick and straightforward too. I don’t think I would have stuck with this method daily for nearly two years if it felt complicated in any way.
Other Post You Might Enjoy
You saw some glimpses of our compact kitchen in this post, so be sure to check out some of the links below to see more photos. We’ve also linked some of our other favorite posts about how we save money:
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Anyone who knows me is typically shocked when they learn that I now have – and sleep next to! – an actual real-life cat. Even I can’t believe it. Because I definitely have had a lifelong cat allergy that is not mild. I’d actually describe it as “pretty severe” (once, while pregnant, it almost sent me to the emergency room). But if you follow me on Instagram, you know that we now have an indoor cat. And due to trying a whole slew of natural remedies and thanks to some cutting edge science, I no longer have any allergy symptoms at all!
So today I’ll share my personal experience about managing and essentially eliminating my cat allergy – including the products that have (and haven’t) helped. I’m not a doctor or a scientist, but I definitely tried a ton of solutions and I’m sharing exactly what worked, and what didn’t.
How Bad Is My Cat Allergy?
Just walking into a house with a cat would trigger extremely itchy eyes, full congestion, incessant sneezing, and sometimes even actual hives on my skin. Literally within minutes, I’d often become a puffy sniffly mess. It’s such an annoying allergy to have because it feels like allergens are everywhere (cats can reach so many surfaces! their microscopic dander is everywhere!) and I always felt like the weakest link. I’ve even had allergic reactions to hugging someone who has a cat while being out to dinner with them, or being in the car of someone who has a cat when the cat hasn’t ever been in that car.
But now, thanks to implementing a few changes (for me, the cat, and our house), I don’t have any discernible symptoms to living with a cat who sleeps on my head or neck every night. Wild, right? Let me be clear: my allergy is not cured. It is not gone. In fact, I’ve recently been in a house with other cats and still had mildly itchy eyes and a bit of congestion (you’ll see why I have allergies to other cats and not my own anymore a but further into this post).
John grew up with a cat and when we met, his parents and older sister still had one each. I wouldn’t touch the cats at all, but with cats, it’s often the house itself that I’d react to. So we have several stories from our courtship when I was trying to fend off a drippy congested nose with bloodshot itchy eyes AND the drowsiness of a Benadryl while trying to make a good impression on my future in-laws.
For years, I’ve just tried to avoid homes with cats when I can. And if I can’t, I usually don’t bother with allergy medications because they tend to make me weirdly drowsy. Instead, I wash my hands frequently while there, avoid touching my face, and call it a night if I’m getting too uncomfortable. I can’t recall a time I didn’t leave a house where a cat lived with very itchy eyes and congestion – except at one friend’s house, which I’ll get to in a second.
Mostly, I was just happily living my life as a dog person. Until recently…
Why Tempt Fate Now?
Cats have grown on me in recent years. Partly because of the stray kittens that found their way into our yard a few summers ago (who remembers Nickel and Dime?). Partly because of two charming outdoor cats that greet me at the same spot on my daily neighborhood walks (and literally walk with me – someone once asked if I had them on an invisible leash). And partly – no, mostly – thanks to the stray cat that decided to call our porch home a few months ago. Spoiler: it was Jennifur (aka Jenny from the Block).
On top of that, our daughter has had a couple of neighborhood cat-sitting jobs and is shaping up to be a cat person like her father. So when Jennifur seemed to “pick us” earlier this year (she slept on the egg chair on our front porch every night and sat by our glass door every morning, just waiting to be let in), it felt like a natural opportunity to have an actual pet cat. And as our family’s affection for Jenny grew, so did our desire to have her indoors.
How Do Cat Allergies Work?
Again, I’m no scientist, but I’ve learned that most cat allergies are triggered not by cat hair, but by a protein found in their saliva & skin called Fel d 1. This protein is transferred to fur during grooming, which can then become airborne eventually sticking to fabrics, walls, and even just lingering in the air.
That’s why preventing allergies isn’t as simple as “just vacuum up the cat hair” or “get one of those creepy-but-cute hairless cats.” So this is not a post where I tell you to clean your house more. Nope. That’s not going to do it.
5 Things That Helped My Cat Allergy
Before I dive into the five things that helped me go to virtually zero allergy symptoms with our cat, let me preface it by saying:
I don’t think everything on this list will work for everyone
I think it’s the combination of these tips that got me to my complete result
This doesn’t eliminate your allergy for all cats. It helps you to live with one specific cat… who just might change your life and turn you into a crazy cat lady
1. Pacagen Powder (For The Cat)
My top tip comes from that one friend whose house I could go into with two cats and not have a giant reaction. HOW? WHY? WHAT?!? So I probed… were her cats special allergenic breeds? Nope, her husband had a cat allergy, so she added this chicken flavored powder food topper and it made him a lot less reactive. What?! I was even able to sit on her sofa – in a house with TWO CATS for hours! – and only got slightly itchy eyes.
The powder is called Pacagen Cat Food Topper (this isn’t sponsored or gifted, I just ordered it as soon as my friend recommended it). The idea behind this food topper is that it reduces the cat’s production of that Fel d 1 protein that causes your allergies. And it’s safe and vet recommended with tons of five star reviews from other people who used to be allergic to their cats.
This is the same concept behind allergen-reducing food like Purina LiveClear. The only reason we picked the topper over the food was that it was specifically what my friend used and loved. I also like that it can be added to any food – wet or dry – so it is nice and flexible without requiring a diet change for your cat.
2. Quercetin Supplements (For Me)
I first heard of quercetin (I use this exact one) as a treatment for regular congestion allergies a few years ago, but had never tried it until a few months ago when Jenny moved inside. Quercetin comes from natural pigments found in plants and vegetables and is supposed to boost immunity and alleviate congestion. I was skeptical, but I’m convinced it’s the one-two punch of this & Jenny’s food powder that’s reducing my allergies the most. In fact I’m unwilling to stop one or the other to “test which one is working more” because my allergies alleviated fully when I started using them in combination.
Again, I’m not a doctor, so consult with one before you take anything new. I just take 2 quercetin supplements every morning with the rest of my vitamins and it helped resolve the last of my lingering allergy symptoms. For instance, I no longer get hives when Jennifur “bunts” me with her face (which still occurred a bit after starting the Pacagen). And some lingering occasional slightly itchy eyes dissipated too.
3. A Quality Air Purifier
I’m also sure our air purifiers help A LOT. I’ve heard from so many other cat owners who say they significantly help with their pet allergies. We got ours many years ago to help with my seasonal allergies, and they were a game-changer for that – so I shouldn’t be surprised that they also help filter pet allergies out of the air too.
We have a whole post about why we love them and how to use them. We currently have 4 in our house – 1 large one in our upstairs living room, 1 large one in our bedroom, and 2 smaller ones in each of our kids’ rooms.
4. Regular Vacuuming
Now, I said above that preventing an allergy isn’t as simple as “vacuum up the cat hair.” But I still think it can’t hurt that we run our favorite robot vacuum every single morning for a few hours on our first floor, which is where Jenny spends most of her time. I think that, in combination with our air purifiers, are existing routines in our house that help minimize my reaction for sure. But that being said, I was highly allergic to Jenny even with those two things going strong (the purifiers and the Eufy). It wasn’t until the Pacagen and the Quercetin that things began to shift to “zero symptom” territory.
5. Gradual Exposure
I have also heard that sometimes people can reduce their reaction to a specific cat by increasing contact gradullay over a long span of time. Our family did this with Jennifur – not just for allergy reasons – but also to give her time to get comfortable with us. It certainly could have also helped me acclimate to her and find the line of how much my allergy could handle, which typically can build up over time, just like being exposed to anything else very gradually over time.
Broadly, my slow exposure over many months looked like this:
Spending time outdoors (on our porch) with the cat nearby, no contact
Other family members make contact, washing hands immediately after
Letting Jennifur rub against my clothing, changing clothes right after
Making skin contact myself, washing hands immediately after
Letting Jennifur inside for brief exploratory visits
Inviting Jennifur inside for longer periods
Jennifur inside overnight, not in our bedroom
Jenny inside overnight, in our bedroom
Living inside full time, sleeping in our bed at my feet
Living inside full time, sleeping on my neck or head
John took the photo above a few months ago, before Jenny was brave enough to sleep on my head or neck like she does now. But even her first instincts of sleeping on a chair near our bed, which gradually led to her sleeping by my feet, and now has her sleeping on my head or neck = gradual exposure.
This slow and steady process was as good for Jenny’s comfort as it was for mine (she had run the streets for at least a year prior to adopting us and was pretty skittish around humans). I’d like to think it helped my body grow accustomed to her over time, almost like I was building up an immunity. It also created time for things like her food supplement to take effect.
Like I said upfront, I didn’t eliminate my allergy, I just have zero symptoms to this specific cat. I’m honestly pretty shocked that I no longer have any trouble with surfaces like upholstery or bedding that she lays on or grooms herself on. Even 3 months ago that would have led to a giant reaction that would last at least a full day.
What Didn’t Help My Cat Allergy
I also tried a few things to reduce my cat allergy that didn’t work for me at all… and two that even made it worse! I’m mentioning them below in case it’s helpful, although I fully acknowledge that something that didn’t work for me might work well for someone else. These are the three things I gave up on:
1. Dander Drops (For Me)
Someone had recommended these allergen drops to me. The reviews are very compelling (“it got rid of my cat allergy!“) and they just go under your tongue. They’re supposed to include mircrodoses of the allergen so that your body can acclimate to them. For me, unfortunately, they were counterproductive. After starting the drops, I started having bigger allergic reactions – even on days I had no contact with Jenny (she was still outside at this point). So like… to have a full cat allergy reaction without touching the cat who was outside… that felt bad. So I stopped. Maybe I needed to acclimate to them longer? Maybe they just didn’t work for me personally? Either way, I switched to the Pacagen and the quercetin and never looked back.
2. Dander Remover Wipes (For The Cat)
We also bought a pack of these dander remover wipes that are kind of like a wet wipe you use on your pet’s coat. These did help – especially when I was getting hives after face-to-face contact with Jennifur. But she didn’t always take kindly to being wiped down (especially on her face) and it wasn’t easy to make a routine of it. So we stopped using these mostly because they were too much trouble and other things I had added in were working well.
3. Dander Neutralizing Spray (For The House)
Pacagen also sells a companion spray that can be spritzed into the air or onto surfaces like furniture every 2-3 days. We bought it and the food topper as part of a “starter bundle” on their website, assuming it was a 2-part “system” that had to be used together. But since she was outdoors only for a while, we started her on the topper and saved the spray for the eventual day she’d come inside. Well, the topper worked so well… and when I eventually used the spray… I had a reaction to it. Stuffy nose, congestion. For sure it was the spray and not the cat. I tried it a few more times and it happened every time I used it. So it may work perfectly fine for others (who knows what I’m allergic to in the spray – it could just be a fragrance that irritates my nose), but for me the food powder is perfect and the spray is a no go.
Do I Still Have Allergic Reactions?
It feels insane to say no, because my greatest hope at the start of this process of trying to address my cat allergy was to “lessen it by maybe 50%” – but I can truly tell you that I’m very in tune with my allergy, and I’d definitely notice if I still had itchy eyes, hives, congestion, etc. There are 8 hour spans of sleeping with this cat basically on my face and… it’s wild: no symptoms at all. For sure I expect I’d have big and noticeable reactions to petting other cats though. Or even to being in houses with cats who aren’t on Pacagen powder, don’t have air purifiers, etc – even without touching them.
As a funny aside, throughout this process John has realized that he may have a small cat allergy as well. He noticed his eyes were itchy a couple of times after petting Jenny and then touching his face before her Pacagen powder kicked in. But now he has zero symptoms as well.
Bonus: How Has The Dog Adapted?
This isn’t an allergy question, but I know some of you are curious about how our chihuahua mix Penny has adapted to having a cat in the house. We describe their relationship so far as “awkward roommates.” Penny is definitely much more interested in trying to touch Jenny, but Jenny remains unconvinced. They love to keep an eye on each other, so they’re often in the same room or following each other around – but so far, there is definitely no snuggling.
We’re hoping someday we’ll get those cute pics of them curled up together, but for now we’re thrilled with their relationship. Penny has always expressed, let’s say, energetic curiosity towards the stray cats outside on walks. So we wouldn’t have been surprised if she chased Jenny or got in the cat’s face with more enthusiasm than the cat wanted. Obviously, we didn’t want Jenny spooked or Penny scratched, so we took things slow.
Luckily, their “courtship” went smoothly. They had several “supervised visitations” (Penny being held) both inside and out where they had a chance to sniff and just exist together. They ate near each other a few times (again, with Penny being held to make sure her enthusiasm didn’t get her in trouble) because we heard that’s a good way to introduce new pets to each other.
And now they happily hop up onto the couch or the bed on either side of me to hang out nearby (they do this to John and the kids too).
More Pet Posts
Our pets have always been a big part of our blog, so if you want you dive into some more dog-related (and now cat-related) posts, check out some of the links below:
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
I organize the Before & After series and cover DIY and design. I joined AT in October 2020 as a production assistant. I have an MA in Journalism from the University of Missouri and a BA in Journalism from Belmont University. Past editorial stops include HGTV Magazine, Nashville Arts Magazine, and local magazines in my hometown, Columbia, Missouri.
