This $25 gadget makes any coffee iced in under a minute, and it couldn't be easier to use
But making iced coffee with your home espresso setup can be tricky. For one, you need a lot of ice to keep your espresso and milk at that refreshing temperature, and if you're working with hot espresso, your ice will immediately melt on impact.
That will leave you with a watered-down espresso and a lukewarm iced coffee. No, thank you.
A lot of modern espresso machines come with fancy cold brew settings that will extract a colder espresso to prevent your ice from melting. Note, it's not cold when it's extracted, just the temperature of the water in your tank.
I've tested a lot of these machines, and the good news is, you don't need one. All you need is this $25 gadget that can turn espresso, Americano, and even hot tea into an iced drink in an instant.
The HyperChiller claims to be the easiest, most cost effective way to chill your favorite beverages. And it can chill more than coffee, too. Think tea, juice, even wine!
The HyperChiller is simple. You add water to an outer and an inner chamber, which sandwiches a middle basket in ice. So when you pour your drink in through the lid, it immediately chills it from all sides, bringing it to ice-cold levels in under a minute.
When you're done, simply pop the gadget back in the freezer to re-freeze your ice chambers.
My favorite way to use the HyperChiller is to immediately bring down the temperature of my double espresso before I pour it over some iced milk. But if you're partial to an iced Americano or even an iced tea, it will give your drink the same treatment, and it won't water it down.
Not only does this prevent your drink from becoming watery, the HyperChiller also allows you to extract espresso the way it's meant to be brewed.
There's nothing wrong with the cold brew coffee you'll get from machines like the Ninja Luxe Café or the Breville Oracle Jet, but the flavor will never compete with an espresso that's been extracted at high pressure and temperatures. That's where you get the dark, rich notes and gorgeous crema you're looking for in a great brew.
So when you extract a hot coffee the way it's meant to be brewed and then chill it, you'll get all the great flavors, but none of the hot temperatures that can hamper the taste of your iced coffee.
I exclusively use my HyperChiller for coffee, but the brand claims that it can chill any drink in a pinch. Whether it's a peach tea or a glass of chardonnay, you just need to pour in your drink through the lid, leave it to chill, and pour.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
03-08-2025
- Tom's Guide
I'm an ex-barista and this is why you need to stop ordering 'extra hot' coffees
Before I was a journalist, I was a Starbucks barista. I also worked at the U.K. chain Costa Coffee, and an independent artisanal coffee shop (which definitely taught me the most about the art of coffee). Now, I'm a home barista and a professional espresso machine tester — I've tested everything from the famous Breville espresso makers, to De'Longhi, to Smeg/La Pavoni, for the best espresso machines guide. While they're not the same as commercial espresso machines, they're just as fun. But one thing always confused me when I was a barista: the sheer amount of people ordering an 'extra hot latte', or an 'extra hot espresso macchiato', or, the most baffling, an 'extra hot Americano'. These things either don't or shouldn't exist, and I'll tell you exactly why. As much as coffee can be a creative hobby (inventing new drinks, making dragons out of latte art), it's just as much of a science as cooking or baking. After all, coffee is just modern-day alchemy, right? Espresso needs to be extracted between 195°F and 205°F (91°C to 96°C). If you're making an 'extra hot' black coffee, this means you should top up the espresso with 212°F water. Right? Wrong. Espresso is extracted at these temperatures because coffee burns at boiling. So if you're making Americanos with boiling water, you're setting yourself up for a bitter, unpleasant drink. It's not just espresso that can't be heated over 205°F. Milk shouldn't be heated above about 155-158°F. The general rule of thumb is that if you can't comfortably touch the milk jug any more, the milk's too hot. If you heat milk above this temperature, it will scald. Do you know what baby formula milk tastes like? Or rice pudding? Scalded milk tastes like that. It's gross. Extra hot coffee either a) doesn't exist (water cannot be heated over boiling, and too-hot espresso will taste bitter), or b) shouldn't exist (milk tastes nasty hotter than 158°F). (If you're curious about the beautiful espresso machine in this imagery, it's the near-perfect Smeg Mini Pro.) If you've got the chef's "asbestos hands" but in your mouth, you'll probably want your coffee a little hotter than standard. While it's true that if you want the best-tasting coffee, you shouldn't heat it above a certain level, but I understand you want coffee that suits your tastes. Or, in this case, temperature. So next time you go to a cafe, don't ask for an "extra hot latte." Ask the barista to heat up your cup beforehand, or buy yourself an insulated mug that will keep your coffee hotter for longer. I love my Yeti Rambler 14oz mug; it keeps my Americanos hot for hours. In the summer, it also keeps my iced lattes iced for the same amount of time! I use my Yeti Rambler travel mug every time I leave the house. Going to the library? Yeti Rambler. Going to a cafe? Yeti Rambler, put my drink in the cup, thank you. Going on a day trip? Yeti Rambler. It's so easy to clean (dishwasher safe!) and looks aesthetic. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
02-08-2025
- Tom's Guide
I've reviewed countless espresso machines this year — but there's only one you need to buy
I'm on a mission to try out every single one of the best espresso machines. I don't think I'm a crazy coffee lover until I start going through my list of dream espresso machines: like the more traditional Rocket espresso machines or Lelit espresso machines, the Breville Oracle Jet, or the as-prosumer-as-prosumer-gets Slayer espresso machines. But to get great coffee you need a great grinder, whether that's a Baratza Encore, Comandante hand grinder, or a budget Breville option. Thankfully, I've tested loads of 'em, too. But even though I review countless espresso machines, my heart always yearns for one. One small, unassuming, special little machine: the Breville Bambino Plus. Before I tell you exactly what machine I recommend for most people, there's a few details you should know about. Don't buy a budget espresso machine without checking for important features first. These features are integral to a good machine. You'll want a PID controller, which prevents your coffee from burning or tasting weak, a powerful steam wand, and single-walled portafilters (not dual). Thankfully, the machine I'm about to recommend has all three of these, and is under $500. Of course it's the Breville Bambino Plus. Every coffee I make on this machine is delectable, delicious, decadent. It steams milk like a pro. And it's just so easy to use. But I know espresso machines are a big purchase, which is why there are a few more things you should probably take into account before you buy one. Firstly, you'll need to come up with a budget. While some machines are as cheap as $150, they won't perform well without a good grinder — which start from about $150. Secondly, you'll need to think about your home. Do you have a small kitchen? Do you have a dedicated countertop for the espresso machine + coffee setup? Will the coffee machine be out all of the time? Thirdly, you'll need to figure out what you want in an espresso machine. Do you prioritize delicious espresso over milk texture? Or do you want to be able to pour Instagrammable lattes? Once you've got these figured out, you'll be able to choose an espresso machine with confidence. But, as I said in my headline, there's only one machine I would choose over and over again: the Breville Bambino Plus. If I spent the rest of my days waxing lyrical about this espresso machine, it wouldn't be enough. I need to praise this machine until I'm blue in the face — maybe that'll really get my point across. I adore the Breville Bambino Plus. This is my favorite espresso machine. Thanks to its built-in PID controller (that I talked about above), the compact size, 4-hole powerful steam wand, and attractive design, this is everything I could ask for in an espresso machine and more. Everything about this machine is perfect for me. Obviously, you may have different requirements, but for most people, I'll always recommend the Bambino Plus. The PID controller means every single shot is perfect. The steam wand can turn milk into delightfully smooth foam in under a minute. It's compact enough to fit in most kitchens. And it's beyond easy to use. Perfect for beginners, casual coffee drinkers, and enthusiasts alike. There's no doubt in my mind: this is the espresso machine for most people. If you adore coffee to a slightly dramatic extent, but your family members just want homemade PSLs in no time? Bambino Plus. Small kitchen but want great coffee? Bambino Plus. Lower budget but need something pro-level? Bambino Plus. What do you think? Do you agree with me? Which machine would you recommend instead? Let me know in the comments. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Tom's Guide
19-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
This $25 gadget makes any coffee iced in under a minute, and it couldn't be easier to use
It's iced coffee season. If a coffee doesn't clink when I stir it, I'm not interested. But making iced coffee with your home espresso setup can be tricky. For one, you need a lot of ice to keep your espresso and milk at that refreshing temperature, and if you're working with hot espresso, your ice will immediately melt on impact. That will leave you with a watered-down espresso and a lukewarm iced coffee. No, thank you. A lot of modern espresso machines come with fancy cold brew settings that will extract a colder espresso to prevent your ice from melting. Note, it's not cold when it's extracted, just the temperature of the water in your tank. I've tested a lot of these machines, and the good news is, you don't need one. All you need is this $25 gadget that can turn espresso, Americano, and even hot tea into an iced drink in an instant. The HyperChiller claims to be the easiest, most cost effective way to chill your favorite beverages. And it can chill more than coffee, too. Think tea, juice, even wine! The HyperChiller is simple. You add water to an outer and an inner chamber, which sandwiches a middle basket in ice. So when you pour your drink in through the lid, it immediately chills it from all sides, bringing it to ice-cold levels in under a minute. When you're done, simply pop the gadget back in the freezer to re-freeze your ice chambers. My favorite way to use the HyperChiller is to immediately bring down the temperature of my double espresso before I pour it over some iced milk. But if you're partial to an iced Americano or even an iced tea, it will give your drink the same treatment, and it won't water it down. Not only does this prevent your drink from becoming watery, the HyperChiller also allows you to extract espresso the way it's meant to be brewed. There's nothing wrong with the cold brew coffee you'll get from machines like the Ninja Luxe Café or the Breville Oracle Jet, but the flavor will never compete with an espresso that's been extracted at high pressure and temperatures. That's where you get the dark, rich notes and gorgeous crema you're looking for in a great brew. So when you extract a hot coffee the way it's meant to be brewed and then chill it, you'll get all the great flavors, but none of the hot temperatures that can hamper the taste of your iced coffee. I exclusively use my HyperChiller for coffee, but the brand claims that it can chill any drink in a pinch. Whether it's a peach tea or a glass of chardonnay, you just need to pour in your drink through the lid, leave it to chill, and pour.
