It’s the middle of 2025, and I’m still whipping up dalgona coffee with my now crusty old milk frother. In fact, I made a cup just now while writing this article.
I love myself a good drink – whether it’s coffee, tea, or something in between. Making one has become part of my daily routine for a few reasons: It perks me up, it’s a form of self-care, and it grounds me when I’m anxious (shout-out to my therapist for that tip). Plus, it’s a fun way to get creative and try new recipes.
And since 2020, the height of the dalgona coffee’s fame, I’ve been adding and upgrading things in my own “home café” to elevate and expand my own experience. This year, I’m adding a few things to my coffee setup, and I’m also revisiting my cold brew tea kit because TikTok is apparently into cold brew teas now, too.
Dalgona era and coffee pods
My go-to coffee prep before the pandemic happened was using a French press. I liked my coffee mapatang, ‘yung tipong ipaglalaban ka. When lockdown restrictions happened, though, and we were all bored in the house, in the house bored, I fell in love with the cleaner taste of pour-over coffee and bought myself a kit that had a reusable stainless steel filter.
- Get a pour-over coffee set
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I tried different kinds of recipes, and at one point would even cook oranges in brown sugar and add them into my coffee.
Then I started making dalgona coffees with a pinch of salt (yes, it makes a huge difference), which was a lot of fun. Eventually, I started having regular cravings for espresso-based drinks, but didn’t want to spend on daily Starbucks runs. So I bought coffee machines instead.
My two biggest additions to my budding home coffee corner at the time were a B Coffee Co. The Freshman Machine and another espresso machine from Lazada.
- Get The Freshman Gift Set by B Coffee Co.
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I’m a huge B Coffee Co. fan. I’ve convinced several people to get one because it was a more affordable way to enjoy good espresso-based drinks without having to learn how to operate an espresso machine yourself. They’re simple, easy to use, and compatible with Nespresso pods, which are recyclable.
I bought The Freshman Machine in 2021 and still use it today. I’ve only had to send it for repair once (my bad, I jammed a capsule), but the whole process was seamless.
My 2025 upgrades
It’s been a while since I last made changes to my coffee corner, and B Coffee Co. sent us a few new things to test out.
First is B Coffee Co.’s The Neo, which is a more affordable coffee machine. And since my current capsule coffee maker is still very much alive and kicking, I won’t be changing machines just yet. That said, I still think The Neo is a good buy if you don’t have a machine yet.
There are a few differences between The Neo and The Freshman. The Neo is a much larger machine (though it’s still pretty slim and sleek) and can hold up to 900 mL of water in its reservoir. The Freshman is more low-key and feels more solid, but can only hold up to 700 mL of water. The Neo has two brew options: espresso and lungo. The Freshman, on the other hand, can brew in three different quantities: ristretto, espresso, and lungo.
- Get The Neo by B Coffee Co.
🛒 https://invl.me/clmslo3 - Get B Coffee Co. capsules
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What I am adding to my collection is the handy B Coffee Co. milk frother, the different capsules they sent (my personal favorite is the Colombia), and their caramel sauce, chocolate sauce, and vanilla syrup.
TikTok’s cold brew tea trend also got me thinking: what tea upgrades could I make? I now use a sealed glass jar to cold brew loose-leaf or bagged tea with citrus. Online, people add fruit, herbs, and more. My current favorite? Ceylon or tropical tea with candied lemons.
- Get this matcha tea set
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If I want something creamier, though, I recently bought a matcha tea set as well as some ceremonial grade matcha from The Superfood Grocer that I mix with almond milk. While this is a more difficult way to prepare tea, it’s still a fun and relaxing experience and an opportunity to take a longer screen break. I love the whisking sound and how green the tea looks in the bowl, and of course, the refreshing taste of a creamy matcha drink.
For me, the taste is just one part of the joy of making coffee or tea. It’s also about building moments of calm, joy, and creativity into my day. So here’s your sign to treat yourself – whether it’s a new frother, syrup, or tea set. Small rituals make a big difference, and your home setup deserves a glow-up. – Rappler.com
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