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WIRED
a day ago
- General
- WIRED
The Best Coffee Concentrates for the Fastest Caffeine of Your Life
Skip to main content Whether you're into cold brew, a frothy confection, or classic hot coffee, we've got a concentrated pick for every sipping style. All products featured on WIRED are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. When I started hunting for the best coffee concentrates, I was skeptical. Can a little jug of liquid or bottle of syrup really hold up to drip coffee or other methods of coffee making? Reader, it can. Our top pick, Javvy ($25), is affordable, tasty, and—most important—easy to use for all coffee drinkers. Read on to find the best coffee concentrates for your favorite ways to sip, fueled by (so much!) caffeine-filled testing. Be sure to check out our many related buying guides, including the Best Coffee Subscriptions, the Best Pod Coffee Machines, the Best Cold-Brew Makers, the Best Latte Machines, and the Best French Press. Photograph: Louryn Strampe Javvy (formerly Javy) was the first coffee concentrate I tried, and I still reach for it before all others. It's available in a mind-boggling array of flavors, and my favorite part is that the different flavors aren't super-sweet. The Caramel variety, for example, has buttery notes of caramel with very little sweetness. I rarely use sweetener in my coffee, so flavored blends are not usually my go to; Javvy managed to make me rethink that decision, and I'm reaching for Brownie Batter, Mocha, and Caramel Brûlèe without a second glance. I like the flip-top lid and the syrupy consistency of the concentrate. You need only a teaspoon or two for a full 8-ounce cup. The flavor profile of the Original is good, too, with a satisfying Arabica bean taste that almost made me forget I wasn't drinking freshly brewed. There was no bitter or funny aftertaste. I prefer my coffee cold, but I made this hot and it was tasty (if a tiny bit thin). Available Flavors 17 (plus limited-edition options) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 35 Caffeine per Serving 80 mg per tsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1-2 tsp. for 6-8 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 10 weeks once opened Photograph: Louryn Strampe If you like your coffee extra kicky, this concentrate is what you're looking for. It packs 150 milligrams of caffeine into a single tablespoon-size serving, but it doesn't taste too acidic or bitter. There's a nice jolt but not jitters or an overt shock to the senses. I also like the cork closure. The flavors are good, too—my favorite is Caramel, but there are lots to choose from. And the base coffee flavor is very unlike other concentrates—it's robust and rich, lending a fuller body (even diluted) than some others I tried. One note is that this must be mixed into 8 ounces of water, rather than 6. I personally think it's quite obvious that Jot and Javvy are very similar, and choosing between them should ultimately come down to what flavor sounds the best to you. Both products are fantastic and worth trying. Available Flavors 6 (plus limited-edition options) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 14 Caffeine per Serving 150 mg per tbsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 tbsp. for 8 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 2-3 weeks once opened If you know a thing or two about coffee, you might find the other brands recommended here too lowbrow. But can you out-taste a coffee sommelier? Kloo's coffee concentrates are curated by such tasters, also known as 'Q Graders,' and I couldn't stop saying 'Wow' out loud while I tested the brand's offerings. From the upscale, frosted packaging and shiny metal stopper to the included measuring jigger, I was impressed upon first glance. And once I mixed in a shot full of the extract-consistency liquid, the taste was somehow more impressive. Think nuanced, fruity flavors in the Ethiopia blend or nutty, berry notes in the Colombia blend. I am not a coffee snob—I do test pod coffee makers, after all—and even I could taste the difference here. This is not necessarily the most economical of options—one $33 bottle of concentrate makes 12 cups of coffee. Another note is that this has a shorter shelf life than some others we tested. But if you're a true coffee lover, this single-origin stuff is up your alley. Available Flavors 4 Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 12 Caffeine per Serving Unlisted Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 shot (0.75 oz.) for 7 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 3 weeks once opened Photograph: Louryn Strampe Cold brew is a notoriously tricky thing to make. It's not so much difficult as it is time-consuming. Once your grounds are wet, you need to let them steep for at least 24 hours. In a blind taste test, I don't think I could tell homemade cold brew from the kind made with Pop & Bottle Concentrate. It nails the mellow, smooth, slightly sweet flavor of true cold brew, and it takes seconds to make. It's a little less concentrated than other kinds I tried—one bottle gets you up to 16 cups of coffee—but it truly tastes like cold brew specifically and not just a coffee-flavored beverage. I found it tasted best diluted slightly more than the packaging calls for. I didn't care much for the beverage hot—it still reminded me too much of cold brew—but your mileage may vary there. Available Flavors 4 Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle 16 Caffeine per Serving 90 mg per tsp. Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1-2 tbsp. for 6 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated after opening; 2 weeks once opened Photograph: Louryn Strampe This concentrated Starbucks cold brew tastes exactly like what you'd buy in its stores. That is, delicious. You can finally be your own barista. The flavored varieties aren't too heavy-handed—I like the earthy notes in the Madagascar Vanilla and the creamy quality of the Caramel Dolce—and I like that this is readily available in most grocery stores. It isn't super-concentrated, so you might want to start with slightly less water than is called for, and the bottle is pretty big in my fridge. But if you know what you like and you like it, this is smarter than going to the Siren for a simple cup of coffee. Available Flavors 7 Cold, Hot, or Both? Cold Servings per Bottle 5 Caffeine per Serving 235 mg per 6 ounces Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 6 ounces for 6 ounces of water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated after opening; 2 weeks once opened Are you running a circus pie car? Do you have a family full of caffeine addicts? Do you drink the stuff all day? This giant jug of cold brew concentrate is the jug for you. It can make 32 cups of coffee! You can make it in a big batch or just dilute it as needed. The coffee is tasty, especially once you get the dilution dialed in right (like most other concentrates, I like mine slightly less diluted). There are notes of chocolate and a toasty nuttiness that go well black or with creamer. Available Flavors 1 Cold, Hot, or Both? Cold Servings per Bottle 32 Caffeine per Serving Unlisted Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 part concentrate to 4 parts water Storage and Shelf Life Keep refrigerated; 2 weeks once opened Photograph: Matthew Korfhage $79 $69 (13% off) Cometeer Cometeer's flash-frozen coffee pods (8/10, WIRED Recommends) are featured in our list of the best coffee subscriptions. Cometeer starts with beans from quality roasters like Intelligentsia or Counter Culture. It brews the coffee, then flash-freezes it into a little pod. You'll get the frozen pods and pop them in the freezer, where they'll keep fresh for months. To make it, just melt it and then mix with hot or cold water or milk. The aluminum capsules are recyclable. The coffee tastes excellent, with all of the guesswork taken out. You don't have to buy a bag of beans and go through the rigamarole of figuring out the perfect grind and extraction temperature—you literally just have to melt, dump, and stir. If you want good coffee but don't want to deal with a single bit of thinking to get it, this is a very safe bet. Available Flavors 50+ (varies by month) Cold, Hot, or Both? Both Servings per Bottle Each box has 8 capsules Caffeine per Serving Varies Concentrate-to-Water Ratio 1 capsule for 6 fl. oz. water Storage and Shelf Life Keep frozen; 1 day at room temp, 3 days in the fridge How We Tested & What's Up Next AccordionItemContainerButton During my testing period, I completely replaced my once- or twice-daily regular coffee habit with coffee concentrates. I followed the packaging instructions exactly. I made iced coffee with every candidate; I made hot coffee when the packaging said I could. I tried each variety black, with milk, and with flavored creamer. I tried the 'Original' blend when applicable, and a few flavored varieties as well. I looked for ease of use, caffeine content, dissolubility, and—above all—taste. I'll be testing more coffee concentrates from Chameleon Coffee, Dunkin', Explorer, La Colombe, and more. How Do You Use a Coffee Concentrate? AccordionItemContainerButton The packaging has instructions, which are very simple. Mix the concentrate (usually a teaspoon or a tablespoon) into your liquid of choice (hot water, cold water, milk, or a mixture; usually 6 to 8 fluid ounces. Six fluid ounces is 3/4 cup). Stir more than you think you need to. Then add flavorings, syrups, cream, or sugar to taste. You can add a bit more concentrate, but this will increase caffeine levels, and a little goes a very long way. Coffee concentrates can also be used to lend coffee flavor to other foods and beverages. Try mixing a little in your vanilla protein shake or ice cream sundae for a caffeinated kick. Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
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WIRED
2 days ago
- General
- WIRED
This Shark Steam Mop Vacuums and Sanitizes Too
To me, mopping is like filing my taxes or changing my oil. A necessary evil that I dread, a task that I procrastinate until I have no other choice. Luckily, I've been testing steam mops, which means I stopped mopping entirely in order to assess how well each model cleans. The floors of my 250-square-foot high-traffic kitchen have been … how do I put this … really gross. But so far, the Shark Steam Pickup 3-in-1 has ticked every box in what I'm looking for when it comes to an effective steam mop that can bust through shoe-sticking grime. Suck It Up Photograph: Louryn Strampe Putting the Shark Steam Pickup 3-in-1 together was easy. Slot in the handle and fill up the clean water tank, which holds 0.42 liters. Then plug the mop into a wall outlet (the cord is 25 feet long) and press the button to pick a steam level—there are Light, Medium, and Deep cleaning options. Tilt the floor cleaner head down to sit flush with your cleaning surface, and give it about 20 seconds to start generating steam. Then you're ready to go. As I mentioned earlier, I hadn't mopped for a month in preparation to test this, and I was surprised at how efficiently the Steam Pickup 3-in-1 worked. The built-in suction is probably my favorite feature of this mop, and it's also what sets it apart from some other hard-floor cleaners. It vacuums as it mops, which means you don't have to pre-sweep your floors beforehand. And it did this efficiently, too, picking up crumbs and stray hair with no issues. The head has two built-in lights that help illuminate anything you might've missed, which was really nice to have near the dark and scary corners near my fridge. And the steam it emits sanitizes your floors through the magic of high heat. This lightweight 7-pound mop has a built-in brush roll that scrubs as it goes. I encountered a few stuck-on messes, like a ketchup spill or shoe dirt in front of the kitchen sink, and this mop busted through all of them. There was only one time that I needed to help it out, and it was to peel a fruit sticker that was stuck to my tile floors. But once I peeled the sticker back a bit, the mop sucked it up like it did the rest of my messes. And it was much quieter than I expected throughout the whole cleaning process. Steam It Clean Photograph: Louryn Strampe Photograph: Louryn Strampe While this mop did manage to leave the majority of my floors sparkling clean, it did struggle a bit on the edges of my baseboards. I just let it steam over each section for a few seconds before moving the machine back and forth, and I switched up my cleaning paths and directions frequently. This helped the process go more smoothly. I didn't notice any excess water, aside from once when I picked up the machine and set it down with some force. (I just sucked up the spilled water.) It didn't leave any streaks or stickiness, and the vacuum function meant my floors dried quickly. All in all, it only took me 30 minutes to clean my disgusting kitchen floors. For maintenance cleaning, it took 10. Maybe I'll be a more frequent mopper thanks to this little gadget. When you're done mopping, the machine is also very easy to clean—which you should do every time you use the mop. Let everything cool off for two or three minutes, then remove the top cover of the cleaning head. There's a collection bin inside that sorts wet messes and dry messes into two different compartments. I just rinsed the whole tray out over my garbage disposal, but this feature is nice for separately dumping out crumbs into the trash and dumping liquid down the drain.
WIRED
30-05-2025
- General
- WIRED
Remove Body Hair From Everywhere With the Fur 2-in-1 Trimmer
My relationship with my body hair remains, as it has always been, complicated. The first time I ever shaved was when I was 12, and since then, I've run the gamut from regular waxes every six weeks to going months without removing a single hair. I'm all for the full bush in a bikini movement, but each person has their own routines and feelings about their body hair, and getting rid of it can be downright painful. And time-consuming. And expensive! Anybody who's done maintenance in their nether regions knows what I'm talking about. I've used razors, sugaring, waxing, and tweezing, but I'm relatively new to using trimmers. I'm working on a buying guide of the best options, and so far, the Fur Trim System has made my whole-body grooming routine a breeze. The Fur Trim System includes the trimmer itself, an adjustable guide, a razor cartridge, a razor refill, a charging pedestal, and a USB-A to USB-C charging cable that plugs into the included pedestal stand. It doesn't come with a wall adapter. It takes four hours to fully charge, which will get you 60 minutes of use. Upon the little blinking light turning solid, indicating a full charge, I decided to test the waters. I used this on my toes, my legs, my underarms, and my bikini area, and I was thoroughly impressed with the results. Trimming the Hedges The Fur Trim System is ridiculously easy to use. The handle has grooves and ridges that make it effortless to get a good grip, even under running water. The device has a built-in LED spotlight—press the button once for the light, and again to turn on the motor. I really liked this feature, since it made it way easier to see what the heck I was doing (and to spot any spots or stray hairs I'd missed). You can choose to use the trimmer with the guide off, which results in hairs around 1 mm long. There's also a guide that has 2-mm or 3.5-mm lengths—simply pop it on top of the trimmer and slide it until it clicks once or twice to select your setting. If you want to shave completely bare, you can swap the trimmer head for the razor blade head. You can use the razor with the light and/or vibration, or leave those settings off. The device is water-resistant and pretty easy to clean—just pop off whatever attachment you've got on and rinse them both. One minor quirk is that the trimmer's scooped underside can lead to water splashing everywhere if you're not careful (I learned this the hard way). But pay attention and it'll be fine, and your bathroom countertops will remain nice and dry. The device might need frequent rinsing if you haven't groomed in a while, but that's the case with any hair-removal gadget. Photograph: Louryn Strampe When I tested this trimmer, I hadn't shaved in six months. (Don't judge me!) I tested all three modes—the razor head, the trimmer, and the trimmer with the guard. The trimmer made short work of my underarms and legs, and it was easy to use in my bikini area too. I was nervous at first, but despite intentionally trying to cut myself, I didn't manage to. (Don't say I don't thoroughly test my gear, either!) I did snag a couple of hairs and catch my skin once or twice, but nothing resulted in blood or pain. As a relative beginner to using gadgets like this, I was pleasantly surprised, and I'm sure anyone with more experience would find that it works smoothly as well. My shower didn't look like that scene from Carrie , a fear that was thankfully short-lived.
WIRED
24-05-2025
- WIRED
The Best Coffee Pod Machines for Hot and Cold Brew
Photograph: Louryn Strampe The Keurig K-Brew + Chill can handle both hot and iced coffee. It has two tanks—a main water pitcher that it'll automatically pull from for hot coffee and as needed, and a chill tank that constantly runs to keep the water supply cold. The fan starts and stops on its own, and I didn't find the noise disruptive—it reminded me of a fridge running. It does have a quiet mode that significantly reduces the noise, but note that the water takes longer to get cold if you use that setting. I filled mine with cold tap water, and it took about an hour to get fully chilled, though Keurig says room temperature water takes about six hours. In any case, this machine is great if you prefer iced coffee. Keurig has had iced coffee pods on the market for a while, but usually they're brewed with less-hot water. You still have to add ice, and it isn't immediately chilled like what you get with this brewer. There are a few different buttons—you can choose between hot or cold, choose your coffee size, and choose to make it stronger. I compared hot and cold coffees using the same K-Cups, and they were both equally strong. This brewer uses MultiStream technology, which basically means it saturates the grounds in the K-Cup evenly to ensure full flavor extraction. The machine can brew cold and hot cups back to back, but the cold brews will get less and less cold unless you give the tank time to cool down again. Indicator lights will let you know how charged the chill tank is. Cold brews came out at about 50 degrees Fahrenheit and rose up to around 65 degrees after five back-to-back brews. This machine does have some quirks. One minor detail that irked me is that the chilled-water tank can only be filled from the back side of the brewer, which means depending on your kitchen cabinet configurations, you might have to pull it away from the wall to refill it easily. It's not the biggest deal in the world, but it is something to note. This brewer would take up a lot of room if you've got limited counter space. And it runs a rinse cycle after every cold brew, which takes about a minute and a half and is quite noisy. The rinsewater drains into the drip tray and it takes five cold brews to fill the tray up. The tray has a little floating indicator to let you know when it's time to dump it out. This machine isn't going to be ideal for everyone, especially if you don't really love iced coffee. But if you like cold coffee that isn't diluted, it's definitely worth checking out. Photograph: Louryn Strampe I was really annoyed when I realized that Nespresso sent me this brewer in black. Champagne problems, I know—but this brewer comes in so many delightful colors, from deep red and orange to pastel lavender and pink. It looks cute on your countertop with its little rounded figure and relatively short stature. The Vertuo Pop+ can handle all Vertuo coffee pods. The pods are aluminum and can be recycled by ordering free recycling bags or taking them to a drop-off location. To brew, simply open the machine by twisting the lock on the lid, choose a capsule, and press the button. You can physically move the adjustable drip tray between two ladder-like rungs on the front of the machine. There's also a companion app that gives you maintenance alerts, video walk-throughs, and easy pod reordering. Closing and locking the machine, or pressing the coffee button while the machine is locked, will start a heating cycle that takes about 30 seconds. The machine automatically recognizes the capsule you insert, and it extracts brew size based on the capsule as well. For example, espresso capsules will brew 1.35 ounces, double espresso capsules brew 2.7 ounces, and coffee capsules brew 8 ounces. This is different from other machines where you select the capacity you want. In the app you can make minor tweaks, such as making espresso shots shorter or longer. You can press the coffee button to end brewing early (a very handy trick if you accidentally use a 6-ounce mug for an 8-ounce brew, which I may or may not have done.) The machine has a waste basket that'll automatically collect spent capsules. I'm not a huge fan of Nespresso's flavored coffee and espresso capsules, simply because I would rather make traditional coffee and then add any whimsical flavorings later to suit my tastes. But if you prefer your coffee with a side of caramel or gingerbread or almond or some other decadent altering, there are many flavored options for you. With plain old coffee and espresso capsules, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the body and mouthfeel of the drinks. Technically, these espresso pods are not making espresso. But it's a darn close espresso-like beverage, and you can get it without needing an entire separate machine with a tamping weight and a portafilter and a pressure gauge. And the coffee is on par or slightly better than other machines I've tried, with a nice acidic bite that isn't too watered down. If convenience is what you seek, this do-it-all machine is worth a look. I was sent the bundle that comes with an optional milk frother. I like having the option, but be aware that it will take up another wall outlet. But the Aeroccino was easy to use—pour in your milk of choice and press the button. It'll heat and froth your milk automatically—it takes about a minute and it's whisper-quiet. Every Nespresso capsule I've tried has featured a thick layer of crema, and having whipped, thick milk on top of it made my average cup of coffee a more elevated experience. Brew capacities 1-12 ounces Available colors 14 Dimensions 8.6"D x 14"W x 10.4"H Warranty 1 year Recycling information Capsules are recyclable
WIRED
30-04-2025
- Business
- WIRED
Factor Meals Have Gotten Much Better. Now to Ditch the Microwave
Factor's selling point over other ready-to-heat meal kits has always been twofold. One is that its meals are friendly to keto and other versions of high-protein and carb-conscious diets. The other is that its microwaveable meals have never been frozen, leaving open the possibility for actual texture in one's meal—a light crispness to the green beans, say. Or the grill char and soft give of a medium-rare filet mignon. But in past years, those two selling points seemed to interfere with each other. Factor, noted my colleague Louryn Strampe in her 2024 assessment (6/10, WIRED Review), fell prey far too often to the porridgy and cauliflower-heavy 'mush-on-mush' school of carb-avoidant fare. The food failed on texture, she wrote, in somewhat more colorful terms. But ever since HelloFresh bought Factor, the menu has been slowly evolving to heartier fare with more chew and snap. Starches now veer to potato wedges, coconut lime rice, or al dente forbidden rice. The green beans, too often overdone even at restaurants, had a surprising and welcome tautness. (One can see this evolution by looking at old menus through the magic lens of Wayback Machine.) Over time, Factor has evolved into the best ready-to-heat meal delivery service I've so far tasted. Mitigating Factors Photograph: Matthew Korfhage But this isn't to say Factor has solved the issues inherent to ready-made delivery meals. There's the cost, of course, more than most could afford as a full substitute for cooking: A full week of lunch and dinner for one would run about $170, with shipping. And pre-cooked meals will never quite be as good as fresh-prepared meals: It will always be a balancing act to avoid the twin terrors of sogginess and rubberiness in reheated food. And for every crisp green bean or air-fryer charred broccoli, there's a limp zoodle.
