BEST OVERALL

Thermapen ONE Instant Read Thermometer

The thermometer of thermometers is also the most essential grilling accessory for a very simple reason: It does something that the average griller simply cannot do on their own. “The key to grilling is to make sure you have control over your food temperature,” Downey says. “It makes it much easier to check the temperature of your meat accurately and quickly to ensure it’s thoroughly cooked and safe to eat.”

Rod Gray, CEO of the Kansas City Barbecue Society, says that Thermapens are ubiquitous in his world. “It was more durable, I know it was accurate for the most part, and it was really fast-reading,” he says of why he first started using them. “They’ve gotten even faster since I started,” he adds. “They’re the thermometer of choice for the barbecue circuit.”

BEST PEPPER MILL

Männkitchen Pepper Cannon

There are pepper mills and then there are Pepper Cannons. This aptly named tool allows for grinding pepper both finer and coarser than standard mills and has a base that can hold a third of a cup of pre-ground pepper. The killer feature, however, is the amount of pepper it grinds in one twist. It’s a lot — Männkitchen says you can pepper a side of brisket in 15 cranks compared to about 150 with a standard grinder. That all adds up to saved time, increased ease of use, and properly peppered food.

BEST TOOL KIT

OXO 13-Piece Grilling Set

There’s something to be said for accumulating a bespoke arsenal of grilling tools, but beginners will be plenty satisfied with this set from OXO. It comes with everything you might need to make a standard menu of grilled food, from a skewer set to a basting brush to a pair of long tongs, along with a silicone mat on which to rest them during cooking.

BEST BASKET

Grillaholics Grill Basket

A grill basket is the best way to cook small items that might otherwise fall between the grill grates. The perforated sides of this stainless steel version let in enough heat and flame to char what’s inside while the curved handles make it simple to pick up with heat-resistant gloves, empty onto a serving tray, and throw in the dishwasher once cooled.

BEST CUTTING BOARD FOR SERVING

John Boos 24 in. x 18 in. Rectangle Maple Cutting/Carving Board

“It’s sturdy, knife-friendly, and has that professional look that would make any grill master impressed,” Casey Bumpsteed, chef and editor of Ceramic Cookware Review, says of this maple model from industry leader John Boos. It’s reversible — one side is grooved for meat carving — and comes with the cream needed to keep it looking pristine for many grilling seasons to come.

BEST PRESS

Made In Grill Press

A grill press is a simple tool that increases the contact between food and cooking surface, leaving improved char marks, crispiness, and sear in its wake. This svelte Swedish model is made of stainless steel and comes with a handsome leather handle cover.

BEST CLEANING TOOL

GrillFloss

A worthy alternative to the steel brushes Phelps warns about is the GrillFloss, a scraper that can get the top and bottom of the grill bars clean without lifting the grate. And, once the grill is de-gunked, cleaning the tool is as simple as wiping it with a paper towel. In short, it makes the most annoying part of owning a grill a lot less annoying.

BEST TOWELS

Williams Sonoma Grilling Towels

Grilling is a messy business, so these sturdy cotton terry towels will come in handy whether it’s sooty heads, a sweaty forehead, or an oil-spattered grill that needs a wipedown. 

BEST INSTANT UPGRADE

Grill Grates

Phelps raved about these grill inserts, which sit on top of the cooking surface. “They work with your grill to create two different surfaces (flat or rails) and will also help you get the desired char on any protein being grilled,” he says. They also make flare-ups, a common beginner’s mistake that can dry out food, a thing of the past.

BEST GLOVES

Nexgrill Black and Red Heat Resistant Grilling Gloves

“It’s always a good idea to have a little extra protection between you and an open flame, especially when cooking on a charcoal grill,” says Downey. He recommends these gloves, which run 14 and a quarter inches long for full forearm protection. Plus, they feature a silicone top half that’s simultaneously temperature-resistant (up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit) and non-slip.

CELSIUS Sparkling Kiwi Guava, Functional Essential Energy Drink 12 Fl Oz (Pack of 12)

AQUAFIT Half Gallon Water Bottle, 64 oz.

YETI Slim Seafoam Rambler Colster Can Insulator

This slim YETI can insulator is perfect for taller, skinnier cans like hard seltzers and canned wine. It has a lock-and-load gasket that seals the can in place with a simple twist and it’s got double-wall vacuum insulation so the can stays cold.

GREAT FOR 16 OUNCE CANS!

YETI Tallboy Can Insulator

This tallboy Rambler from YETI is designed for 16-ounce cans of beer and spiked seltzer, and it also has a lock-and-load gasket for keeping those can in place. It’s made with thick gauge steel for durability and the Duracoat color on the outside is sturdy enough to resist chipping.

YETI Wine Tumbler

This wine tumbler is made specifically for smaller pours of beverages and cocktails, but functions exactly like YETI’s larger drinkware. It’s made of 18/8 stainless steel that’s puncture- and rust-resistant, and the double-wall vacuum insulation will keep your vino cold for hours.

YETI Rambler Stainless Steel Cup

The YETI Rambler includes with a sealed top and straw for easy sipping throughout the workday. It comes in over a dozen colors and has double-vacuum insulation for keeping cold beverages cold and warm beverages warm throughout the day.

YETI Rambler 30 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler w/MagSlider Lid

Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi

BEST OVERALL

Irving Farm Cold Brew Blend

As its name suggests, this light-medium blend is particularly well-suited for cold brew. The roaster recommends 18 hours of steeping time to fully bring out the chocolate, caramel, and fruit preserve flavors and “molasses tones” that make for a smooth, slightly sweet cup of coffee.

BEST DARK

Stone Street Cold Brew Reserve

If you’re partial to dark roasted coffee, this blend of supremo Colombian coffee beans from the New York-based Stone Street is a great one to brew cold. Its taste is heavy on the nutty chocolate, as is typical for dark roasts, with a particularly low acid content that’s perfect for a brewing method that tends to bring out acidity more than others.

BEST LIGHT

Partners Colombia Chiroso Honey

For a truly complex, unique cold brew experience, this single-origin coffee from one particular town in the Colombia Andes is hard to beat. Its taste is super sweet, with notes as varied as honeysuckle, cherry, and marshmallow.

BEST SACHETS

Partners Rockaway Cold Brew

The simplest way to make your own cold brew at home is with these pouches from Brooklyn-based Partners. Simply pop one into 22 ounces of water and remove it 20 to 24 hours later for a big jar of cold brew concentrate that you can dilute to your liking with water or milk.

BEST READY TO DRINK

Blue Bottle Coffee Cold Brew

If you can’t be bothered to brew your own cold brew, the number of ready-to-drink options is ballooning. Blue Bottle’s take on the trend is an eight-ounce can of organic medium roast coffee, a petite treat if there’s ever been one.

BEST ON TAP

Wandering Bear Extra Strong Cold Brew

This shelf-stable, ready-to-drink coffee comes in a massive 96-ounce-bag that’s encased in a cardboard box that sits snugly on a shelf in your fridge. The built-in tap makes dispensing easy, and it’s available in flavors including straight black, vanilla, caramel, and dirty vanilla chai. It’s the cold brew to buy if you’re entertaining a crowd.

BEST NITRO

La Colombe Nitro Cold Brew with Lemon

This is a crazy product: a can of exceptionally smooth nitro cold brew coffee combined with the juice of Sicilian lemons. The result is a refreshing, sweet beverage that you’ll be glad you have on-hand when you’re drowsy on a hot summer afternoon.

BEST DECAF

Irving Farm Decaf Backstrap

Like the best overall cold brew coffee, this decaffeinated coffee is a take on Irving Farm’s house blend. It retains the natural sweetness and smoothness of its relative while ditching the caffeine, removed using the chemical-free Swiss Water process. What’s left is a cup of cold brew that can cool you down without making you jittery.

BEST OVERALL

Fresh Roasted Coffee Unroasted Organic Sampler

Green coffee is something that should be approached with a certain attitude of exploration. That’s why this four-pack of beans from each of the four major coffee-growing regions is a good place to start. Having a pound each of four different beans means it’s possible to experiment with roasting the same beans at different times — and at different temperatures — in addition to comparing the taste of beans from different parts of the world.

BEST FOR BREWING RAW

Health Embassy Ground Green Coffee

Those who want a more traditional way to consume unroasted coffee should opt for this ground option from Health Embassy. Many green coffees come with a warning not to consume them raw, but Health Embassy provides specific instructions for how much coffee and water to use and how long to steep it.

BEST FOR HOME ROASTING

Lily's Coffee Unroasted Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Beans

Those familiar with the roasting process should invest in high-quality, single-origin beans like these from Abaya Woreda in the celebrated Yirgacheffe region of Ethiopia. Once roasted and brewed, expect floral notes, as well as notes of raspberry and peach, out of a cup of this coffee.

BEST POWDERED SUPPLEMENT

Micro Ingredients Pure Green Coffee Extract

Morning smoothies are a great way to consume fruits and veggies  efficiently, but they’re even better as vehicles for supplements to start the day. This powdered green coffee extract has natural caffeine and lots of chlorogenic acid — the ingredient that sets green coffee apart. As an alternative to smoothies, the brand suggests adding it to seltzer with grapefruit syrup.

BEST CAPSULES

Nature's Craft Pure Green Coffee Bean Extract

The easiest way to try green coffee for its potential health benefits, if not for the taste, is with these vegetable capsules, each of which contains 800 milligrams of green coffee bean extract. A pill a day contains more than enough caffeine and chlorogenic acid.

BEST OVERALL

Stumptown Coffee Roasters Holler Mountain

This is the well-balanced, medium roast coffee to keep in the pantry at all times. With flavors of citrus zest, caramel, and hazelnut, it will appeal to those who like fruity, sweet, and nutty coffees — a real plus if your French press is big enough to serve a group.

BEST FOR A CLASSIC FRENCH PRESS BREW

Partners Coffee Brooklyn Blend

If you’re looking for a flavor profile more traditionally associated with French press coffee, the chocolate, toffee, and dried fruit notes in this Brooklyn-roasted variety are for you. Bonus: when you order directly from Partners, you can choose a French press grind so your beans arrive ready to brew.

BEST DARK ROAST

Alma Coffee Ember

Canton, Georgia-based roastery Alma Coffee actually describes its Ember coffee as “extra dark.” That means it’s an exceptionally deep and complex brew that’s dominated by dark chocolate flavors that pairs nicely with sweet and nutty breakfast pastries.

BEST LIGHT ROAST

Blue Bottle Kenya Nyeri Thunguri Natural

Light roast might be a less traditional choice for a French press, but if you like some acidity in your coffee, it actually works pretty well — particularly when it’s this naturally processed Kenyan coffee with notable sweet, citrus, and cranberry notes.

BEST VALUE

Tim Horton's Whole Bean Original Blend Coffee

Sometimes a diner-quality cup of coffee is all you need, and this whole-bean bag from Tim Horton’s does the trick. Leave it in the French press for a bit longer for a thicker cup of coffee that you can balance out with two creams and two sugars for a DIY version of Timmy Ho’s signature “Double Double.”

BEST FOR CAFFEINE JUNKIES

Death Wish Colombian Blend

The aggressively named Death Wish Coffee uses a blend of arabica beans (for flavor) and robusta beans (for caffeine). This Colombian blend is at the higher end of the brand’s offerings, and it’s a great cup for those mornings that require an extra jump-start.

BEST DECAF

No Fun Jo Decaf Coffee

On the other end of the spectrum, those who like the taste but not the stimulation of coffee can have it all with this fair-trade, organic, and 100% Arabica offering. It’s decaffeinated using the Swiss water process, which the brand says removes 99.9% of caffeine gently and without chemicals.

BEST COLD BREW

Irving Farm Cold Brew Blend

A French press is a sneaky, clever way to make cold brew coffee at home because it’s an immersion brewer. Instead of waiting a few minutes for the grounds to steep in hot water, wait a few hours for a batch of cold brew concentrate. This blend from Irving Farm tastes of chocolate, caramel, and berries, a combination that makes for a smooth cup of cold coffee.

BEST OVERALL

Laird Superfood Organic Mushroom Coffee

Legendary big wave surfer Laird Hamilton’s side gig is a company that makes coffees, creamers, protein bars, and drink mixes laced with superfoods. That includes this medium-roast mushroom coffee, which combines an organic blend of chaga, lion’s mane, and cordyceps mushroom extracts with Arabica coffee.

The one caveat is that this coffee doesn’t come in a whole bean version, presumably so that the powdered mushrooms are integrated into the product more seamlessly.

BEST DARK ROAST

Four Sigmatic Organic Ground Mushroom Dark Roast Coffee

If you prefer dark roast, this blend from Four Sigmatic combines organic coffee with lion’s mane and chaga mushrooms. The flavor of the coffee has notes of dark chocolate and nuts, and it’s strong enough to mask the mushrooms. If you’re interested in the potential health benefits and not the taste of mushrooms, these are the grounds for you.

BEST INSTANT

Sun Alchemy Mushroom Coffee

Each of the dozen sachets in this package contains enough organic freeze-dried fair-trade coffee and lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, and cordyceps mushroom extracts to brew an 8-ounce cup. The individual dosing makes it dead simple to make, and it’s also very convenient to keep one stashed in your car or bag for when you want a cup of mushroom coffee while out and about.

BEST COLD BREW

CULTUREShrooms Mushroom Cold Brew Coffee

Cold coffee lovers can take part in the mushroom coffee trend with these 12-ounce, ready-to-drink bottles made in southern California (because of course they are). Lion’s mane, cordyceps, and turkey tail mushrooms are paired with coffees from Papua New Guinea and Guatemala for a taste that’s at once smooth and earthy.

BEST LATTE

Clevr Blends Coffee SuperLatte

Unlike most of the other products on this list, this powdered latte is more than just coffee and mushrooms. Oat milk and coconut cream powders, monk fruit extract, instant coffee, salt, three mushroom extracts, salt, and a probiotic are all present and accounted for, too. Simply add water, stir as violently as you’d like — bonus points if you use a frother — and you’re left with a sort of healthy instant latte.

BEST COFFEE-FREE

MUD\WTR :rise

The idea behind the brand was reducing the spikes of drinking coffee and sugar, which is why it has just 1/7 of the caffeine of a cup of coffee and zero sugar per serving. That being said, it also tastes good simply added to a cup of coffee if you’re not looking to give up your habit. Chaga, lion’s mane, reishi, and cordyceps mushrooms come together with masala chai, turmeric, cinnamon, and sea salt for a flavor that’s both spicy and earthy.