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This cheap Halloween decoration will terrify your neighbors


This cheap Halloween decoration will terrify your neighbors

What's scarier: a life-size plastic skeleton dangling on the door or a life-size animated poltergeist that appears to be floating in mid-air until it lunges right at you?

Exactly.

That's the kind of high-tech effect you should be thinking about this Halloween. And you can get one for surprisingly cheap: AtmosFX sells a variety of really cool Halloween-themed animations, with prices starting at just $6. (Want to test-drive one? Here's a limited-time freebie.)

These animations can work on a variety of surfaces, but I'm going to focus on the "hollusion," which I think is the coolest: It creates the aforementioned mid-air holographic effect. (See below for other options.)

What supplies do you need?

atmosfx-hollusion-materials

Got any of these lying around the house? Hang them up to create a holographic effect for your projection.

 AtmosFX

Here's the short-list of required items and the expected costs:

  • One or more of the aforementioned AtmosFX videos. ($6 and up.)
  • A projector. (Free if you can borrow one, at least $70 if you buy one.)
  • A large piece of semi-translucent material, like mosquito netting or a sheer curtain. (Price will vary depending on what you use.)

What kind of projector?

The big piece of this puzzle is the projector. If possible, borrow one from work, a friend, a neighbor, etc. It's only for one night, so you should definitely try to get a loaner if you can.

No luck? Consider buying one. You might be surprised to learn that for as little as $70, you can get a model that will work just fine for this task. That's because the requirements here are much lower than those of a home theater.

ozmer-mini-led-projector

You can get a Halloween-friendly portable projector for under $100.

 Ozmer

For example, the Ozmer Mini LED Projector normally sells for $90, but it's currently on sale for $76. (Ignore the rather misleading 1080p spec, which you'll see attached to a lot of projectors in this price range; it supports 1080p sources, but its native display resolution is actually just 800x480. That sounds low, but it's definitely sufficient for the Atmos animations.)

Whether you buy or borrow a projector, try to get one with built-in speakers. (The Ozmer has them.) The animations referenced here incorporate sound effects, and it's an added hassle to have to connect external speakers.

Setting up your space

AtmosFX sells a ready-made hollusion sheet, which you can hang in a doorway or set up outside, but it's currently sold out.

That's OK, because you can probably rig up something of your own. The company recommends bridal mesh, fine gauze, mosquito netting or scrim -- basically anything that's not super-visible when it's reasonably dark. I actually used an old sheer curtain that was lying around; it worked pretty well. A clear shower curtain might do the trick, too.

atmosfx-hollusion-ghosts

The sheer curtain I used here is barely visible, but the ghosts look great! The projector: a Tenker Mini with 854x480 resolution.

 Photo by Rick Broida/CNET

AtmosFX has a terrific how-to video for this, so I won't reinvent the wheel. I will say that there are tons of options for hanging your sheet in your yard, including the wood frame and archway mentioned in the video, but also hanging from a tree branch (provided you can secure the bottom to the ground so it stays taut) or building a freestanding frame out of PVC pipe.

How to play the animations

Normally, using a projector means connecting a laptop. But it's not exactly convenient to set one up in your yard. That's one reason I recommend a portable projector, as most models can utilize memory cards and flash drives -- no laptop required. In other words, just copy one or more of the AtmosFX animations to the card or drive, plug it into the projector and set the playback to loop mode.

Again, built-in speakers are great for this, but if they're not loud enough, consider connecting a portable, battery-powered speaker. (Most projectors have an audio-out jack, and most speakers have audio-in.)

Finally, give some thought to covering the projector, in part to help protect the illusion of the floating frights, and in part to protect it against the elements. (Here in Michigan, Halloween rain is all but guaranteed.) One good, inexpensive option: a clear plastic storage tote, turned upside down to cover the projector, with a hole cut in the side to allow the projection to pass through.

And that's it! Grab a spooky animation, feed it through a projector and point it at a translucent sheet. Now you've got a Hollywood-caliber decoration that's equal parts fun and frightening.

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ADT's LifeShield adds a video doorbell to its DIY security lineup


ADT's LifeShield adds a video doorbell to its DIY security lineup

LifeShield today added a new device to its DIY home security lineup -- the HD Video Doorbell. 

The new doorbell has the following key features:

  • 1080p HD resolution
  • 170-degree viewing angle
  • 30-day video storage 
  • Professional monitoring
  • Two-way audio
  • Motion-detection zones
  • People detection 
  • Compatible with Alexa and IFTTT

ADT acquired LifeShield in February 2019. LifeShield, a DIY home security company, continues to operate independently from professional firm ADT with its offering of DIY security devices and accessories. The hardware ranges from a central hub to motion sensors, door-and-window sensors, security cameras -- and the new HD Video Doorbell.

LifeShield is similar to DIY security company SimpliSafe. Both offer a wide variety of home security accessories, similar to a professional security firms, but without the contracts.  

The doorbell is available as part of a home security kit with a LifeShield hub, a keypad, two door-and-window sensors and one motion sensor for $345. It's also available for $200 as an add-on to an existing system. 

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Motorola Razr: 6 burning questions we still have about this foldable phone


Motorola Razr: 6 burning questions we still have about this foldable phone

The 2004 Motorola Razr is back for 2019, this time with a sexy foldable 6.2-inch screen that bends in half and a 16-megapixel camera for all your shots. After playing with it at Motorola's Chicago headquarters, I called it, "Streamlined. Utterly pocketable. Nostalgic, with a sharp futuristic edge." You might call it a flip phone for the modern age -- it even has a secret retro keyboard for nostalgia-seekers.

Motorola's Razr is the third major foldable phone on the market, after the Samsung Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X, which currently only sells in China. The Razr is also the first design of its kind, a tall, narrow vertically flipping device rather than a tablet replacement that opens up like a book. Motorola's success or stumbles with the Razr could help set the direction of foldable phones to come -- maybe even Samsung's future foldable clamshell, which the company teased at a developer conference last month.

We know a lot about the foldable Razr phone. How much it costs (a princely $1,500) and when it goes on sale (Jan. 9). How its specs stack up against the Samsung Galaxy Fold's and why Motorola wanted to make this foldable flip Razr in the first place. But there are some things we don't know, all of which will be critical to the phone's success. And since preorders in the US don't begin until Dec. 26, it will be a while before we find out.

Read: CNET's in-depth review of the Motorola Razr

How durable the foldable screen really is

The Razr uses a plastic OLED (P-OLED) display with a hard plastic coating on top. Plastic isn't as rigid as glass, which makes today's foldable phone screens more susceptible to damage. Early Galaxy Fold review units suffered from screen damage before Samsung was able to redesign the flaws.

Although Motorola claims its early work on a plastic hard coat for the screen puts it in a better place than Samsung, it isn't clear how well the Razr's screen will be able to sustain the stress of repeated opening and closing throughout its lifetime, and how well it can rebuff normal wear and tear by items coming into contact with the screen, even an accidental fingernail scratch.

If the battery life will truly last all day

Motorola claims that the foldable Razr's 2,510mAh battery will last you all day, but we obviously need to test it to find out, both in our lab and through day to day observation.

But even without testing, a 2,510mAh battery is quite small to power two screens, the camera and all the rest. As one comparison, the Samsung Galaxy S10E has a 5.8-inch screen and a 3,100mAh battery. As another, the (much larger) Galaxy Fold has a 4,380mAh battery.

Part of the problem is that the Razr's total battery capacity is divided into two parts. This design helps keep the phone balanced so one half isn't heavier than the other, but using two batteries is typically less efficient than one larger battery of the same capacity. This was the case with the Galaxy Fold, which ran for less time than expected for its battery capacity -- so we'll keep a sharp eye on the Razr's total battery life per charge.

How splash-proof the screen and body are in daily life

Motorola Razr Foldable Flip phone

The Motorola Razr has a 6.2-inch plastic OLED display.

 James Martin/CNET

The Razr isn't rated for waterproofing, but Motorola says it's splash-proof nonetheless. The foldable phone has been coated inside and out with nanocoating, which helps protect internal electronic components from water damage.

I'll want to see whether ordinary splashes and raindrops affect the screen and camera. The Galaxy Fold came with a long list of care instructions that highlight its fragility, including limited exposure to liquids, so this will be a real test of the Razr's mettle.

If and when Motorola will sell it in colors other than black

Right now the Razr comes in one color, "noir black". If demand is high enough, Motorola may work up a new tone. The first Razr came in a rainbow of eye-popping shades beyond its original silver. I'd love to see this foldable Razr similarly branch out.

How many times the Razr was folded during testing

Motorola isn't saying how many times its Razr was folded and unfolded as part of a stress test. Since in our tests the Galaxy Fold broke after about half the time Samsung said its test was rated for (100,000 folds versus 200,000 folds), our interest is high.

Nobody wants a $1,500 investment to fall apart over the course of a year or two, even though Motorola's warranty does cover a replacement.

Here's Motorola's statement on durability:

We didn't bring the new Motorola Razr to market until we knew it was ready. We have full confidence in the durability of the Flex View display, and based on our research, it will last for the average lifespan of a smartphone. We acknowledge this is a brand new technology and we are committed to continue improving as the industry evolves. Therefore, we've created a world class service package to make sure every Razr customer has an exceptional experience.

Motorola Razr

Are we looking at the future of phone screens?

 Juan Garzon/CNET

If it's worth buying -- and if so, for whom

You want to know, and so do I. Is the Razr a feather in the cap for collectors with means, or will it be a practical device for everyday people? This is unfortunately a question that only the review can answer, after extensively testing the screen, battery stamina, real-life pocketability and camera.

When the review phone arrives, I'll use the device as my one and only phone. Until then, I'll keep posting updates about the Motorola Razr as new information comes in. Feel free to share burning questions of your own in the comments section, or reach out to me at @jdolcourt on Twitter.

Motorola Razr

Motorola's $1,500 Razr goes on sale in December and arrives in January.

 Juan Garzon/CNET

Updated with new information about the January 9 sale date.

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Outdoor safety tips: 10 things you can do to protect your kids


Outdoor safety tips: 10 things you can do to protect your kids

American children spend over three times as many hours in front of screens as they do outdoors. As children get older, their screen time increases on average, too, giving them less time to spend outside. Yet research suggests unstructured, outdoor play leads to higher self-directed executive functioning in children. In fact, being outdoors and playing in nature are essential to a child's overall health and well-being.

But there's a reason many parents are hesitant to send their children out the front door: outdoor play is simply riskier -- at least on an immediate, physical level -- than watching TV. Luckily, a few simple tricks can help lower the risks to children associated with playing outside.

Use the buddy system

Depending on the ages of your children, independent play can be risky without parents around to monitor it. If a child gets hurt, they might not be able to reach help on their own. Having a buddy around while playing can keep both children safer.

Emphasize personal safety

Educate your children on personal safety, especially when riding bikes, skating and playing sports. Teach your children the importance of wearing a helmet and that it's non-negotiable. Elbow and knee pads and other sports-specific gear are helpful protective measures. Instilling the importance of protective gear and helmet-wearing at all times when they're young ensures they'll make safer choices as they gain more independence. 

Have a plan

In case of an emergency, you should already have a home safety plan in place. But do you also have a plan in place for your older kids as they gain more independence? When your children are old enough to leave your yard or venture away from your building, they should know what to do if they're hurt or need help of any other kind.

Talk through potential hazards with them, letting them ask questions along the way. Do they understand where to go, what to do and who to contact if something happens to them, a friend or even a stranger? Is there a plan B if you're not home, or if they can't reach you?

Chris Monroe/CNET

Use smart security as an extra pair of eyes

While many parents develop keen ears for hearing their child's distant cry -- including whether it's playful or genuine -- an extra set of eyes when the kids are outside can't hurt. Having an outdoor home security camera doesn't just protect your home; it can also give you another way to ensure child safety outdoors. Most smart security cameras can be monitored from smartphones, and some even boast smart features, like animal detection, facial recognition and person alerts, which can help give you more detailed notifications while your children play.

Remember road safety

Personal safety isn't the only thing kids should be educated about when they're playing outdoors. Many children are unaware of the surrounding dangers when outdoors until an adult explains it. Children walking and biking should know the rules of the road, including how to obey traffic laws and the correct traffic flow, like riding with the flow of traffic off to the right instead of against it. If your child has to walk a few blocks to get to the basketball court or nearest playground, do a trial run for their first time and help them navigate the roads -- using crosswalks and looking both ways for cars along the way so they know the right path to take.

Set up a kid-friendly zone

If you're lucky enough to have a backyard or other outdoor area for your kids to play, make sure it's kid-friendly by protecting against common hazards. Pools and hot tubs should be securely closed and locked to prevent accidental injuries or worse. Toys and playhouses should be checked for insect nests, snakes and other unwelcome critters (these will differ based on where you live).

Scan the yard for other potential hazards, like dead tree branches or poison ivy that may have creeped in from the neighbor's yard. If you have a trampoline or are planning to get one, know how to level it properly, especially if your yard is sloped.

For those who don't have a yard, it's important to create age-appropriate boundaries before children can safely play outdoors without an adult. There may be a creek nearby you want them to avoid, or a busy intersection they should steer clear of. Walk the boundaries, teaching them where they can and can't go along the way. If your apartment building has rules -- for instance, kids can play in the garden but aren't allowed to open the exterior door -- make sure your kiddos know the rules and can repeat them so you know they understand.

Keep track of the kids

A bit of freedom goes a long way toward unstructured play for your child's physical and mental growth, but you can't be everywhere with them. One solution is an age-appropriate tracker that can show you where they are, even without them checking in. (We recommend using these trackers only with the knowledge of your children.) You can use tracking services built into smartphones and watches, or use a separate device.

Remember medical considerations

Preparing a child with allergies or other medical issues for outdoor fun might take a couple of extra steps before they're ready to head out the door.

Make sure your children have any medication they need readily available, especially for serious allergies like bee stings. For children who need an inhaler, practice with them so they know when and how to administer their medicine on their own. If your child needs medication at a specific time, make sure they have an alarm set to come back home to take their medicine when needed, or have a system in place for them to safely take it while outside.

Even if your children don't have these concerns, that doesn't mean their friends don't. Check with parents of your children's friends to be sure you're not packing snacks that could lead friends to have serious allergic reactions.

David Priest/CNET

Encourage seasonal preparation

Children should stay well hydrated before, during and after outdoor activities -- especially when the weather is hot. Check on them every half hour to make sure they stay hydrated, and more often during hotter months. Know the signs of dehydration and have rehydration solutions like Pedialyte readily available in cases of mild dehydration.

In winter months, children should wear layers of warm, brightly colored clothes appropriate for the temperatures in your area. This way, they can remove or add layers based on temperature fluctuations, especially around dusk and dawn.

In general, asking what the kids plan to do before they leave for an hours-long play session is a good idea, too: if they say they're building a snow fort, you can remind them not to tunnel under heavy snow; if they say they're playing baseball in the street, you can remind them to watch for cars.

Set check-in timers

Kids can easily lose track of time when they're outside having fun. Help them remember to check in regularly by setting an alarm or reminder on their smartphone or tracker. You can also get an inexpensive smart speaker to set outside that will remind them to check in.

Conclusion

Encouraging outdoor play can have a lasting positive effect on your kids. But if you want to avoid any injuries worse than the usual bumps and bruises, following some safety tips can make a big difference. Make indoor and outdoor home security easier with some of these recommendations:

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MTV VMAs: Eminem and Snoop Dogg Perform as Bored Apes in the Metaverse


MTV VMAs: Eminem and Snoop Dogg Perform as Bored Apes in the Metaverse

The Bored Ape Yacht Club has made it to about a dozen celebrity Twitter accounts, a bizarre scene from the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and, now, the MTV VMAs. On Sunday, Eminem and Snoop Dogg, two well-known Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT holders, rapped their latest song literally as their Bored Ape alter egos.

The biggest collection in NFTs, the Bored Ape Yacht Club consists of 10,000 cartoon simeans. Owning a Bored Ape (they go from $150,000 up to over $1 million) grants you commercial rights to the depicted ape. Some have used those IP rights to write books, and celebrity Seth Green is using them to create a TV show. 

Eminem and Snoop Dogg became the first major music artists to harness their Bored Apes in a performance. The two rappers starred as their respective NFTs in the video clip to From the D 2 the LBC, their latest collaboration.

The pair's performance at Sunday's MTV VMAs echoed the video clip. It started with Eminem getting super high off Snoop Dogg's secondhand weed smoke -- high enough that they turned into their Bored Apes. Sunday's performance doubled as an advertisement for Otherside, a metaverse game developed by Yuga Labs, the team that created the Bored Ape Yacht Club collection last April. Otherside features little goblin creatures called Kodas, which had a prominent role in the background of Sunday's performance. 

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How to Get Shiny Meltan in Pokemon Go


How to Get Shiny Meltan in Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go's TCG crossover event ends at 8 p.m. local time today, June 30, which means time is running out to get a handful of special Pokemon -- including shiny Meltan. This shiny mythical Pokemon will be appearing (albeit rarely) until the TCG event ends, making this your last chance to catch one for the foreseeable future.

Unlike other mythical Pokemon, Meltan is primarily found by opening the Mystery Box -- a special item you can only receive by transferring Pokemon to either Pokemon Home or one of the Pokemon: Let's Go games on Nintendo Switch. Here's everything you need to know about how to catch Meltan.

What is Meltan?

Meltan is a steel-type mythical Pokemon that can only be caught in Pokemon Go. There are two ways to encounter Meltan: by completing the "Let's Go, Meltan" Special Research task line, or by opening a special item called the Mystery Box.

How to get the Mystery Box

Unlike most other items in Pokemon Go, you can't acquire the Mystery Box from the in-game shop. Rather, you must transfer one of your Pokemon from Go to Pokemon Home or Pokemon: Let's Go, Pikachu / Let's Go, Eevee to obtain it.

Once you've made your first transfer, the Mystery Box will automatically be added to your inventory. However, it has a few noteworthy restrictions. After you open the Mystery Box, it will remain active for 60 minutes, during which time Meltan will spawn on the map. Once the time has elapsed, the box will close, and you'll need to wait three days and make another transfer before you can open it again (although the wait period is often reduced during special events).

How to evolve Meltan into Melmetal

Another aspect that sets Meltan apart from other mythical Pokemon is the fact it can evolve. Once you've obtained 400 Meltan candies, you can evolve it into a powerful steel-type Pokemon called Melmetal. This evolution can only be triggered in Pokemon Go, so if you're hoping to use Meltmetal in other Pokemon games like Sword and Shield, you'll need to evolve Meltan before transferring it over.

Since Meltan has such a steep candy requirement, you'll need to catch as many of them as you can while the Mystery Box is open if you're hoping to evolve it. You can maximize you amount of candy you receive by feeding a Pinap Berry to a wild Meltan before catching it. You can also expedite the process by converting any Rare Candy you have into Meltan candy.

How to get shiny Meltan

Whereas most shiny Pokemon remain available in Pokemon Go after they've been introduced to the game, shiny Meltan only appears during special events like the Pokemon TCG crossover, so you don't want to miss your chance to catch one while you can.

Unfortunately, there's no real way to ensure you encounter a shiny Meltan, so whether or not you get one ultimately comes down to luck. Your best bet to find one is to open the Mystery Box as many times as you can during the event and catch every Meltan that appears. This will maximize your chances of coming across a shiny Meltan.

Best moves for Melmetal

Like many other mythical Pokemon in the game, Melmetal's move pool is fairly shallow. Your only option when it comes to Fast Attacks is Thunder Shock, making it the best choice by default.

The overall best Charged Attack for Melmetal is Hyper Beam, as it deals the most damage per second. Another good option, however, is the steel-type move Flash Cannon. Melmetal will receive a same-type attack bonus from the attack, but it takes longer to charge up than Hyper Beam.

Pokemon Go's TCG crossover is running until June 30, but there are more events happening in the game next month. You can see everything going on in Pokemon Go over the next few weeks in our July events roundup.

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Best Coffee Accessories for 2022


Best Coffee Accessories for 2022

For each coffee drinker, a "good" cup of coffee means something different. Coffee lovers may enjoy anything ranging from a lighter-bodied pour over made with meticulous timing and measurements to a cup of dark, almost chewy truckstop coffee. Even if you feel satisfied by your usual go-to cup of joe, the best coffee accessories can elevate your coffee to new heights. 

If you're willing to step (or even tiptoe) outside the comfort zone around your tried-and-true favorite brewing process, you may find that a perfect cup of coffee, or espresso, or iced coffee, or even instant coffee is within reach if you have just the right coffee accessory. 

Read more: The Best Coffee Grinder You Can Buy Right Now  

Amazon

The simplest and most effective change you can make to your coffee routine, regardless of how you brew, is to grind your own coffee beans. Conical burr grinders allow for more control over the grain size of your ground coffee than more common metal blade grinders. Something like this electric burr coffee grinder lets you easily switch between coarsely ground coffee and finely ground coffee, unleashing the flavor inside of whole beans for whichever brew method you choose. If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you could even try roasting your own beans for a freshly roasted cuppa.

Amazon

If you're traveling, this manual travel coffee grinder is small enough to bring to work or on vacation. Since it's completely hand-powered, there's no need to worry about having an outlet nearby. And this hand burr grinder goes well with other man-powered gadgets like your mortar and pestle, your hand-crank egg beater or your old-timey butter churn.

Amazon

A French press might be familiar to you, and you may already own one (or three -- seems like it's an easy gift!). But, if you regularly brew with an auto-drip coffee machine, you might want to bust out or buy a French press and enjoy an extra-flavorful beverage on the mornings when you've got a few more minutes to yourself. Grind your coffee extra coarse and bring out the French press to add a little romance to your usual coffee routine. Fun fact: You can also brew loose-leaf tea in your French press. Coffee and tea drinkers rejoice!

Pour-over coffee

If you've never tried pour-over coffee, either at a local coffee shop or at home, prepare for a completely different world of great coffee. Pour over methods release layers of flavor you never knew coffee could have: fruity, chocolatey, earthy, floral, juicy -- coffee drinks can taste like all of these and more without going to the coffee shop. At home, try brewing with one of these, which each require their own type of paper filter. You'll add a little extra time to your coffee ritual, but you will be rewarded with a cup of piping hot coffee that will have you savoring every precious drop of flavor. Pour-over coffee makers can also double as portable coffee makers. All you need is the accompanying hot water.

Amazon

This Japanese pour over dripper can be used with your mug for a single serving or placed above a large carafe for a big batch of several mugs of delicious coffee if you've got company (or it's just one of those mornings).

Amazon

With an eight-cup capacity, this classic pour-over maker has a chemical lab feel and is still a fine choice both aesthetically and functionally.

Amazon

For pour-over coffee methods, you'll want a good gooseneck kettle. Heat up cold water in something like this kettle, and the narrow spout will give you the control you need to distribute hot water over your coffee grounds (or tea), first to help "bloom" the coffee grounds, and then to evenly "pour over" the rest of the water.

Amazon

Take it a step further with this digital kettle, which allows you to select the appropriate temperature you need for your favorite coffee brewing method or loose leaf tea. The water will get hot quickly and precisely, setting you up for a superbly flavored cup of coffee or tea.

Amazon

If you've got the pour over and the kettle, and you're committed to seeing this brew process through to the end, then take the red pill and get yourself a kitchen scale, too. This digital kitchen scale will help you achieve the ideal ratio of beans to hot water, so that you don't end up with a coffee that is too bitter or too weak. Precision is essential to great coffee (And tea. And hot chocolate.).

Amazon

There are still other methods for brewing coffee -- and one of these is done via the wonderful AeroPress. Using these circular coffee filters, the AeroPress is small and lightweight, making it perfect for packing in your carry-on. It's kind of like the next step after the French press, creating a smoother cup of coffee by way of pushing the coffee through a paper filter. And, cleanup is even easier -- you're left with a puck-shaped cake of coffee grounds that you simply push into the trash (or into your compost bin) and then a quick rinse of the AeroPress sets you up for the next cup.

Amazon

Turn up the whimsy with this Bialetti stovetop espresso maker, preferably in a bright color. There is something very satisfying about watching coffee bubble up the spout and into the pour section of one of these portable espresso makers (also called a Moka Pot). As pretty as they are functional, these items are great to leave out as conversation pieces. Make coffee while camping by placing this coffee maker over your portable burner.

Amazon

This cold brew coffee kit with a Mason jar and stainless steel fine-mesh filter can take you there. The slower process unlocks milder, smoother coffee flavors, leaving you to add milk or sugar to your drink only if you're looking for some extra indulgence. 

Amazon

If you're really in the mood to treat yourself, this automatic pour-over coffee maker will do the trick. Take all the guesswork out of a perfectly crafted hot cup of delicious coffee -- this machine heats, times and pours the water for you so that you get the pour over flavor complexity without risking a case of barista elbow.

PS: The beans

All these gadgets will help you make a better cup of coffee, certainly, but to achieve a truly great brew, you have to start with a strong foundation: the coffee beans! When purchasing a bag of beans, look for a roast date within the last few weeks or sooner. Freshly roasted beans will get you the most flavor and keep your coffee fresh. A local coffee roaster will be your best bet but there are online options, too. Bags of Intelligentsia coffee smell amazing and give you a preview of the flavors you'll get in your brewed coffee, and some brands of coffee will even benefit a charity, as with Grounds & Hounds ("Every pound saves a hound!").

Whether you prefer specialty coffee, iced coffee, dark roast coffee or even anything a step above instant coffee, any of the above will help you explore new ways to enjoy great coffee. And for coffee enthusiasts, that's really what life is all about. As Johann Sebastian Bach said, "Without my morning coffee I'm just like a dried up piece of roast goat." Don't be a dried up piece of roast goat -- make a good cup of coffee.

More coffee recommendations

Originally published in 2020 and updated periodically.

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