I used to think my iced coffee problem was the ice. Turns out, the problem was the machine. For years I brewed a pot of hot coffee, poured it over ice, and watched the drink turn into a sad, watery puddle within five minutes. Then I spent three months testing the best iced coffee makers … Read more
I bought my first cocktail shaker set on impulse at a home goods store, used it twice, and threw it in the drawer. The lid leaked, the jigger bent, and I gave up on making cocktails at home for years. That changed when I started testing barware properly. Over the past three months, our team … Read more
I’ve spent the last three months testing the best glass drink dispensers on the market, pouring everything from iced lemonade to sun tea through spigots, dropping lids on tile floors, and scrubbing nozzles with tiny brushes. The short version: finding a dispenser that won’t leak, won’t crack, and won’t embarrass you in front of guests … Read more
When I hosted a backyard birthday for 40 guests last summer, I learned the hard way that not all beverage tubs are created equal. My cheap galvanized bucket sweated through my grandmother’s good tablecloth within an hour, and the ice had melted before the appetizers came out. That disaster sent me on a hunt for … Read more
If you’ve ever poured warm white wine at a backyard barbecue or watched a bottle lose its chill halfway through dinner, you already know why the best wine chillers earn their spot on the table. I started testing wine chillers after ruining a perfectly good Sancerre at a Fourth of July party. The ice bucket … Read more
I have spent more Saturday nights than I care to admit arguing with friends about margarita glasses. The right glass changes everything. After our team tested 15 different sets over six weeks of backyard parties, holiday gatherings, and one very memorable taco night, I can tell you which ones earn a spot in your cabinet. … Read more
I’ve spent the past three months testing the best champagne glass sets with my team of three testers and a rotating cast of friends at brunches, New Year’s parties, and one very memorable engagement celebration. We poured 47 bottles of sparkling wine across 8 sets, dropped glasses (accidentally), loaded them into dishwashers, and paid close … Read more
I spent the last three months testing 30 different wine glass sets at home, hosting tasting nights with friends, and even enlisting a sommelier friend to run blind comparisons with me. We poured everything from cheap grocery-store Cabernet to a 2018 Bordeaux that I had been saving. What I learned surprised me: the best wine … Read more
I remember the moment my tiny apartment kitchen hit a wall. The two upper cabinets were stuffed past their seams, and cans rolled out every time I opened a door. After three months of research, calling vendors, and living with six different freestanding pantry cabinets in my home, I wrote this guide to the best … Read more
I used to dread reaching into my cabinet for cumin. Half the time, I had to pull out three mismatched bottles before I found the right one, and a few ancient jars ended up expired in the back. After losing my patience one Sunday, I spent the next month testing spice rack organizers across every … Read more