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Let’s face it: most, if not all, of the people who work here at The Verge are gadget fans. Most of these gadgets, like headphones, smartphones, laptops, speakers, and all the other electronic toys we love to play with, are considered tech. However, there are some really cool, fun, and useful gadgets that we don’t usually think of as tech.
So, for this article, we asked the staff to come up with their favorite gadgets that don’t have Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or an app. Some of the ideas they came up with are on the border between tech and non-tech. For example, where do espresso machines fit in? But hey, let’s not pick and choose. Here are the most important things to us in the kitchen, around the house, and in our own lives.
Breville Barista Express kitchen tools
I put off getting a home espresso machine for a long time, but I finally did a few years ago, and now my only regret is that I didn’t get one sooner. I love my espresso machine. It’s not fancy, but that’s fine with me. My model has a built-in grinder, and I keep Olympia Coffee Big Truck in it. It’s easy to use, reliable, and clean, and it always makes good espresso. I’ve used it almost every day for three years, and it’s still in good shape. I’m not very good at making latte art, but that’s on me, not the Barista Express. —Reviewer Allison Johnson
Hario V60 Coffee Dripper Decanter
I’ve fallen in love with Hario’s V60 drip coffee makers over the past year. But I didn’t get one of their decanters until last Christmas. They are big enough to make two or even three cups of coffee at once. You put a paper filter in the plastic funnel at the top, add water, and then pull the funnel out to pour your delicious brew from the glass decanter.
I’m not going to say it’s as easy as using a coffee machine or even an Aeropress, and you should be ready to use scales to get the right amount of coffee to water. But if you like the routine of making coffee and want something a little less expensive than a Chemex, the V60 is a great choice. — Jon Porter, reporter
Kitchenaid Fresh Prep Slicer / Shredder Attachment
Kitchenaid stand mixers are known for being reliable and having a classic look, but I think the attachment system is their best feature. And the Fresh Prep shredder is my favorite attachment. It lets me quickly and easily turn a two-pound block of cheese into a simple topping for nachos, casseroles, and other dishes. If you shred a lot of vegetables, cheese, or anything else, and you’re still using a standard box shredder, please do your arms a favor and get this attachment — if you have a Kitchenaid, that is.
The price is the only bad thing about this gadget. The Fresh Prep kit is actually very affordable; I got mine on sale for around $40. It comes with a slicer that I’m pretty sure I’ve never used. But there’s no way around the fact that it connects to a big, $300 mixer that most people won’t use often enough to justify how much space it takes up on the counter. If you already have one, though, the shredder is a great tool to add to your collection. (And if you don’t have one, you can buy a manual version on Amazon. I don’t know how good they are, but at least they should protect your thumbs from the bite of the box grater.) — Mitchell Clark, a journalist
Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker
I love my Zojirushi Micom rice cooker a lot. Forget about soaking your rice for 30 minutes before cooking it, and forget about scraping burnt rice from the bottom of your pot. Do you know what I love to do? I wash my rice the night before, set the Zojirushi’s timer, and wake up to perfectly cooked rice that stays warm until I’m ready to eat. I can cook up to 5.5 cups at a time, which is great for making fried rice the next day. It can cook brown, white, long-grain, and short-grain rice, among others. It can also make oatmeal and porridge well. It can do almost everything that a pressure cooker can. I can use this to hard boil eggs, bake a cake, make soup, and steam vegetables. I spent a lot on a fancy Zojirushi with multiple settings, but there are plenty of cheaper options that take up a lot less space than an Instant Pot. Also, when it’s done cooking, it sings “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” to me. Why wouldn’t you love it? Reviewer Victoria Song
MegaPro’s 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver
It is a screwdriver, yes. Yes, I know that you can buy screwdrivers from many different brands, even multi-bit ratcheting screwdrivers. On my workbench, I have five different ones. But when I met the MegaPro, I knew I’d never need to buy a sixth.
It is light and strong, easy to hold, and easy to change the direction of the ratchet with one hand. It has a long, thin shaft that reaches farther and more reliably than my other drivers, and it has a hidden stash of bits under the rotating cup on the end, which is fun to open. Double-sided bits that don’t need to be squeezed or pinched to get out of that handle, and a shaft with a long enough bit cavity that I can fit impact driver extensions or even my right-angle attachment. I’ve never used the square bits, but the mix of Philips, Torx, and flat bits is great. Oh, look, they also sell a “automotive” version that can hold 12 single-sided bits that are one inch long and has a magnetic end to hold screws. It looks like I’ll be buying that one next to replace my other, less good drivers. Senior Reports Editor Sean Hollister
Cartman Sport Aluminum Shovel
Miniature utility shovels that fold up don’t sound like they would be very useful until you own a two-seater car that gets stuck in mud all the time. After spending many snowy mornings using whatever I had on hand to try to get my car out of its parking spot, I decided it was time to look at my options. I couldn’t sell my car for a cheaper one that would be better for the cold winters in the Midwest. But a small shovel that folds up easily for storage and lets me get my car out of snow or mud quickly is a good compromise. — Kaitlin Hatton, e-commerce social media manager
Folding Saw Bahco Laplander
Five years ago, I had to buy a folding saw before I could join the search and rescue team where I volunteer. Before that, I had always thought that the simple hatchet was a more useful outdoor tool. I could use it to smash firewood until my arms got tired and I almost fell over after fewer swings than I care to admit. When I bought Bahco’s cheap folding saw, that all changed.
Since then, I’ve grown very fond of the small gadget. The seven-inch serrated blade folds into the handle and flips out in an instant, so I can quickly cut through everything from wood to plastic without having to use other tools. I’ve found that it works faster and better than an axe, and since I’m not swinging it around, I don’t have to worry about my less-than-perfect accuracy. It even has a safety lock on the handle, so I can throw it in my backpack without worrying about it tearing up my gloves, expensive rain jacket, and the rest of my SAR (search and rescue) gear. It’s a nice tool for a more refined time, and I’m all for it. — Brandon Widder, senior editor at Commerce
Leatherman’s Wave Plus
I’m not a big fan of tools or knives, but I can’t stop using my Leatherman Wave Plus multi-tool. My wife gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago, and I’ve used it nearly every day since then.
It has 18 tools, which is more than I really need, but the locking straight knife (great for opening cardboard boxes), needle nose pliers, and mini screwdrivers are the ones I use the most. The Leatherman is always the first tool I reach for to get the job done, whether I’m breaking down boxes from Amazon, Target, and Walmart or putting in a new smart light switch in my wall.
It’s also a great thing to do when I’m sitting at my desk because it’s so satisfying to unfold and fold back up again and again. Just be careful not to pinch your fingers. I’ve done that before and probably will do it again. — Dan Seifert, co-editor-in-chief
Things about you
Keychain Thinoptics Reader
If you live long enough, it’s likely that you will need reading glasses at some point. I got to that point a few years ago, and I didn’t want to. Once I realized that I was squinting way more than was healthy for me, I gave up and bought a pair of reading glasses. But that brought a new problem: I kept losing the things, forgetting to put them in my bag, or leaving them in taxis. Until I got a pair of ThinOptics readers for myself.
Because they are made of plastic, you can’t really call them glasses. They have no earpieces and sit on your nose like Ben Franklin’s glasses. But when folded, they fit into a small, flat case with a small keychain loop that I can hang in my backpack. So, if I forget my glasses at home, sit on them, or (as happened once) leave them on the subway, I always have a way to read my Pixel phone or my Mac Pro screen without having to squint desperately all day. — Barbara Krasnoff, reviews editor
Clippers made of black steel by Kiya
Listen, every few days you cut your fingernails. Why not clip your nails in the most pleasant way possible? The famous Japanese brand Kiya clippers are made of steel and make clean cuts. The plastic shell will also catch most of your hair trimmings. Keep your hands clean! — Kevin Nguyen, editor for features
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