This is not your typical luxury gift guide. At a basic level, I believe that cookware should be practical, but there's nothing quite as practical about a diamond-encrusted salt and pepper shaker or a Dolce & Gabbana refrigerator. I think. While such products exist, they are not a good example of what true high-end kitchen equipment looks like. What do we mean by true high-end? I'm talking about something that's expensive because of its features, not its looks.
I've been testing kitchen tools and appliances for four years now, and I've found a lot of things that I think are pretty luxurious. These items are expensive because of their craftsmanship, rarity, historical significance, or technical complexity. Think of it as much an exercise in digital window shopping as a display of niche, big-ticket kitchen items that are essentially “utilitarian.”
Some of these items are tools we actually use and recommend as worthwhile splurges. Others are things only eccentric, food-obsessed hedge fund managers might want. If you've ever wondered what the most expensive coffee grinders and trash cans look like, you'll find out below.
Photography: Travis Rainey, Prop Styling: Wilder Davies & Elizabeth Coetzee
The most luxurious pots and pans
Hestan titanium skillet
Hestan bread, Hestan bread in my hand, who is the most beautiful cook in this country? The titanium layer in Hestan's Nanobond cookware not only makes it more scratch resistant than stainless steel, but also gives the pan a lasting true mirror shine. I've been cooking with this skillet for over a year now, and even with a little smear of the pink stuff, it still looks like it came straight out of the box.
Smithey cast iron skillet
Smithey isn't the only brand that makes high-end, vintage-style cast iron, but their pots and pans are some of the most well-made and visually impressive I've ever come across. . The brand maintains high production standards, and its pots have smooth, refined flavors that continue to evolve as you cook and use them. As a testament to its quality, each loaf comes with a lifetime warranty.
Mauviel copper cookware
Mauvielle is one of the world's oldest cookware manufacturers, famous for its copper pots and pans associated with French haute cuisine. Copper cookware is highly responsive to heat, making it suitable for cooking methods that require quick and precise temperature control, or for dishes that may overcook. This 16-piece set of his includes several saucepans, two skillets, a sauté pan, a rondeau, and a stockpot, all with polished brass handles. If you don't want to buy the full set, Mauviel also sells individual items.
Photography: Travis Rainey, Prop Styling: Wilder Davies & Elizabeth Coetzee
Small but important kitchen goods
black rain pepper mill
This pepper mill is actually one of Epi's kitchen MVPs, and my editor Noah Kaufman is a fan of this device because it produces tons of pepper with the click of a button. I am professing to be. A pepper mill costs a few hundred dollars, but if you've ever worked on a recipe that calls for more than a tablespoon of freshly ground black pepper, you'll appreciate it.
alessi cheese grater
“Hey, isn't this just a designer cheese grater?” Yes, but there's more to it than that. The Todo grater is impressive, but its long shape has a purpose. Alessi says one swipe produces a complete piece of cheese. Cheese freaks may disagree on this point, but don't worry.
Jacob Bromwell Flour Sifter
Jacob Bromwell invented the world's first flour sifter in 1819, and its sturdy and reliable design has remained largely unchanged. They last for generations, so if you're unlucky enough to inherit one, you can always buy a new one and pass it on.
17th century Italian mortar
I may have just gone on first dibs on this one to find the oldest and most expensive mortar for sale. But hey, this one has proven long enough to produce a dynasty's worth of pesto, and that's something. Please note that the $5,900 price does not include the pestle.
Yanagiba knife
A Yanagiba knife is an elongated style Japanese knife that is used for skinning fish and precisely carving fish. This special knife is forged using traditional methods and made from Tamahagane, a high-grade Japanese steel that has historically been used for sword making.
Photography: Travis Rainey, Prop Styling: Wilder Davies & Elizabeth Coetzee
some smart home appliances
Vipp pedal bin
Although Vip cannot claim to have created the original footbox, that honor goes to Lillian Mohler Gilbreath. But the iconic rendition of Vip, designed by Holger Nielsen for his wife in 1939 for use in hair salons, helped popularize the now ubiquitous design. Very few trash cans can claim to be on display at MoMA. You can do this.
Lello 4080 Musso Lussino 1.5 Quart Ice Cream Maker
Lello is considered one of the best home ice cream makers and is our top favorite among the ice cream makers we've tested. Equipped with its own compressor, there is no need to freeze components overnight. Just pour the base and enjoy restaurant-quality ice cream in less than 30 minutes.
GE Opal Ice Maker
This appliance deserves to be on the list. Because it exists purely for people who are passionate about nugget ice cream and will spend hundreds of dollars on it. and You have to sacrifice a large amount of counter space to always have counter space at hand.
Hobart N50 Stand Mixer
Hobart was the original manufacturer of the KitchenAid stand mixer until 1986, and some might argue that these machines are “true” KitchenAids. This brand caters to the commercial demographic, but if home bakers with money to spare want to experience this professional mixer, they can purchase the 5-quart model.
stealth nitro x
BlendTec, a blender famous for being able to blend iPads, also makes a version that does just that, but is quieter. BlendTec claims this blender is quiet enough to carry on a conversation while it's running, which just shows me that BlendTec doesn't come from a family of yellers.
Ohnivolt 12 electric pizza oven
This is Ohni's most expensive pizza oven and the only pizza oven that runs on electricity. Oprah loves it, and so do our producers at Commerce. You might also like outdoor pizza if you have the money but don't have enough outdoor space for an oven.
steak locker
Who dry ages meat at home? Who are you? How did you get to the point where this is something you own and actually use? Email me.
aga oven
The Aga Oven is so iconic that there is an entire genre of British literature called the Aga Saga. They are notorious for requiring huge amounts of energy since they are technically always on. But as long as you can afford to pay your utility bills, people swear that once you cook with radiant heat, there's no going back.
Photography: Travis Rainey, Prop Styling: Wilder Davies & Elizabeth Coetzee
Coffee equipment for serious connoisseurs
Coffee mill
As a non-coffee drinker (other than the occasional latte), I can't really explain why a coffee grinder would require such advanced technology. But I've met so many opinionated coffee drinkers that I'm not surprised by the existence of coffee like this. In the field of state-of-the-art coffee equipment, Weber's workshop cannot be more highly advertised.
mini portable roaster
Can a 30-pound machine that requires a gas connection really be called a mini? or portable? Who says that! I also can't imagine what it's actually like to roast coffee “on the go” or why you'd want to do it, but I don't think it matters what you do with the coffee beans.
Mini marzocco espresso machine
You might recognize this as the machine that runs your local third-wave coffee spot. If you can afford to have one at home, you could probably hire a live-in barista to make your espresso.
