Coffee on the table! Design without sugar

You can celebrate without a special occasion. At FA, we don't want to wait for Coffee Day
(which we only celebrate on 29th September!). Autumn is slowly chasing summer away; holidays have just ended, and so have vacations. We know perfectly well that it's much harder to get up for work or classes in the morning. That's why we're starting our coffee deals at FA right now.

When it comes to coffee and design, Italians certainly know a thing or two.
The Alessi brand is a living legend of design, whose products are renowned worldwide and enjoy unwavering popularity. For lovers of exquisite design who can't live without coffee, we've prepared something extra!

For lovers of a slightly bolder design, mornings will be brightened by the original Pulcina coffee maker. It was created through a collaboration between Alessi and illycaffe. This partnership aimed to optimise the shape of the coffee maker to improve the organoleptic properties of coffee brewed in a Moka pot type vessel. Experts from Illy's R&D Laboratory investigated what changes needed to be made to reduce the so-called 'Stromboli-volcano effect' (well-known to users of almost all coffee makers on the market).

Every piece of porcelain is beautiful, but white porcelain is definitely the most stunning!
Especially as it contrasts so strikingly with coffee as black as night. We love porcelain for its plasticity, elegance, and universal beauty (examples include antique porcelain sets that still look amazing today). And when we talk about coffee, we love it most in porcelain cups!

Mind you...

...in the competition for the most beautiful word in the world, Poland was represented by the modest and small "filiżanka" (cup), but a mug wins out in terms of the amount of coffee it can hold!
That's why our coffee deals just had to include charming Alessi porcelain mugs.

In FA's coffee deals, Alessi takes precedence. However, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a cuppa alongside designs from other brands.
After all, simply savouring coffee is the final stage of a rather complex process. Even its storage requires appropriate measures, such as airtight containers. A practical measuring spoon would be handy for measuring coffee. And the tastiest milk is well-frothed milk...

Changeable like a woman! Coffee takes on many different forms. Its Italian incarnations are the most well-known: Latte, Cappuccino, Frappe, Americano... However, behind the names you can read on the menu of any respectable cafe, lies a story known only by a few. Do you know who composed a cantata in honour of coffee? Or how much a kilogram of the world's most expensive coffee costs? And why coffee lovers should thank goats? You'll find the answers to these intriguing questions and other curiosities in a special FA Magazine article: Black Gold... Coffee. Test what you know and learn more!.

Bean by bean, step by step

It's better to grind your own coffee than to buy ready-ground – that's an undeniable fact. Fortunately, we don't have to use stones for this. A practical grinder with a crank or an electric one will do the dirty (literally!) work for us.

The stage after grinding the beans is the most important.
It's not just an espresso machine that guarantees good coffee. We have many alternatives – French press plungers, slow coffee makers like drippers, Moka pots (for induction, steel, aluminium, Italian); you can also prepare Turkish coffee or simply pour hot water over popular "instant coffee."

Brewing coffee without an espresso machine is no problem – you just need the right tools and to put your whole heart into the process.

Want to become the best barista among your friends? From FA Magazine, you'll learn how to brew coffee correctly and discover some tricks to make it easier.

In a cup, in a glass, or in a mug?
Coffee can be served in several ways depending on its type and personal preferences.

A cup – this is the first vessel that comes to mind when thinking about coffee. A cup is an obvious choice for Espresso. It suits practically every type of coffee.

A glass – works well for serving iced coffees (frappe) and all varieties of Latte. It should be tall and narrow!

A mug – no cup or glass can replace a mug of coffee that you take with a book under a blanket. A mug is perfect for everyday black or white coffee.

Even if you only tolerate black and bitter coffee, your home can't be without a milk jug and sugar bowl. It's worth stocking up on this dynamic duo for your guests. You can opt for a ready-made set or assemble it separately.
The important thing is that your coffee guests don't have to ask for sugar or milk!

Coffee kept in its bag quickly loses its aroma. That's why, after purchase, it's worth transferring it as soon as possible... well, where exactly? A coffee container must meet several conditions. First and foremost, it must be airtight. Secondly, it should be attractive (after all, coffee is always close at hand, meaning somewhere visible).

Glass, ceramic, steel, tin... the material isn't as important as making sure the container stands out. Mornings are tough enough as it is, so why make them harder by searching for coffee?

For some, coffee is their whole world (or at least a large part of it). Such incorrigible coffee enthusiasts can't imagine life without their daily dose of caffeine in the form of a small black coffee. In fact, they're interested in coffee in every form and at any time of day (and night).

If you're looking for a gift for a coffee lover, you have a really wide field to play with. The cult of coffee is deeply rooted in our daily lives.
Drinking coffee is a ritual that begins in the kitchen but ends in the living room, bedroom, garden... Appropriate accessories will make savouring that small black coffee even more enjoyable.

Coffee in the fresh air tastes best. A practical and stylish thermal mug is an essential companion for a day spent away from home. Every coffee lover will appreciate a gift in the form of a portable thermos.