For the better part of twenty years, I used an old Italian style Bialetti Moka pot espresso maker. I loved it’s simplicity, the coffee strength, the classic design. Heck, that thing is in MOMA.

How long it took to brew depended on the stove I used, but after a few tries with a new stove, I could set a timer precisely, go about my morning routine, and then pull the coffee off the stove as the timer chimed in concert with the Bialetti’s gurgle.

The coffee was strong. Bitter, perhaps, but made a strong cup of joe. Routine delivers comfort.

The biggest downside: I didn’t love the grounds still in the Moka pot’s coffee strainer after knocking it out over a trash can. I could rinse it out, sure, but then I’ve got grounds in the sink, down the drain, and that just seems like a future buildup problem for the pipes & disposal.

In the Airstream, where the drain and plumbing requires constant care, I was constantly in a search for a better technique to limit the damage of grounds into the sink. As much as I’m a creature of habit, I needed to get over my resistance to change.

Pour-overs with disposable filters were the right direction, but I consume too much coffee for one-by-ones to be efficient enough. And I never really loved the fancy-pants coffee pour-overs I’d get in SF or NYC, so I was skeptical that I’d be happy.

Enter the Chemex: a six-cup pour-over that looks like a million bucks. (Also in MOMA.) I was shocked at how good the coffee tasted: none of the bite I was used to, it delivers a smooth tasting cup every morning. It takes a little more work than the Bialetti, but it gets the job done, and I’m not sure I’ll ever go back.

I’ve been impressed at how well it cleans out; it looks better than any of my glassware even after 18 months of hard use. And it can sit on the gas stove directly to reheat the coffee that’s cooled! Just be careful you don’t light the leather lace on fire. Whoops; good thing it’s basically just a leather shoelace.