Kitchen

2 I Am Not a Preachy Bag

This may come as a shock to some of our readers, but it has to be said: Bringing your own bags to the grocery store does not afford you any special status among your fellow human beings. It’s just the right thing to do. When we see shoppers carrying around canvas totes emblazoned with preachy boasts about their material composition or ability to feed starving children, we just want to run these people down with a cartload of stewed tomatoes. Shop responsibly without bragging with this heavy-duty tote by nJoy Designs ($67. Njoydesigns.com). Stitched from water-resistant oilcloth in aggressively cheerful patterns, nJoy’s bags are flashy and eco-friendly without the smug self-satisfaction. (BW)

3 Best Thing Since Hot Water

You may be crazy about hot tea, but when it comes to brewing, you’re a mess. You can’t tell an oolong from a lapsang souchong, and you’re just as likely to scald or understeep as you are to get it right. Fortunately for you, there’s the FineT Gourmet Tea Machine ($299. Kitchen Kaboodle, 404 NW 23rd Ave., 241-4040). This sleek chrome-and-glass appliance takes the guesswork out of infusion, with settings for every kind of leaf. (JM)

4 You Decant Go Wrong

Elegant design doesn’t have to be expensive. This lovely wine carafe ($30. Life + Limb, 1716 E Burnside St., 233-4738) from Swedish manufacturer Sagaform costs less than The Best of Mr. Ed and combines utility—a wide base to aerate the wine and a round oak stopper to keep it fresh—with great looks. (BW)

5 Industrial Press

Here’s the problem with French presses: Yeah, they make great coffee, but your kids are certain to destroy the glass carafe before you get to make a single cup. We’d like to see them try to break the Frieling stainless-steel thermal French press ($59.95. Kobos Coffee, 2355 NW Vaughn St., 222-2302, and other locations), an elegant and, more importantly, very durable coffee press. The double-walled body keeps your coffee warm, and the stainless steel resists the lingering odors that plague plastic presses. (BW)