10 Accessories That Will Take Your Coffee Cocktails To the *Next Level*

Much like coffee dessert recipes, coffee cocktails literally have no downsides. They give you energy, they’re delicious, and they’re boozy. What more could you possibly want? But there’s more to coffee cocktails than just drizzling some whiskey into your coffee to make it Irish (okay, that’s actually totally legit, but…). If you want to make some next-level coffee recipes, here’s what you need to have in your cupboard.

JavaPresse Manual Coffee Grinder

First things first: If you want *fabulous* coffee but you aren’t using freshly ground beans, you don’t stand a chance. This ergonomic and uber-chic coffee grinder is the way to go.

Califia Farms Black and White Cold Brew Coffee

This insanely yummy creation features cold-brew coffee mixed with almond milk, making it a dairy-free, pre-prepped coffee cocktail mixer. Read: A must-have.

International Delight One Touch Latte Vanilla Frothing Creamer

Talk about a genius product! With this simple creamer, it just takes seconds to turn your coffee cocktail from flat to frothy.

Taketa Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Believe it or not, cold brew coffee isn’t just regular coffee that’s gone cold. It’s literally brewed in your fridge, and this is the perfect apparatus to help you do it.

Monin Pure Cane Syrup

An oldie but a goodie. Simple syrup is a sweet liquid composed of cane sugar, making it the perfect mix-in for sweetening your coffee.

Norpro Lemon Lime Slicer

Sure, you’re probably not going to pair lemons or limes with coffee cocktails. But you know what citrus fruit DOES often garnish these kinds of drinks? Oranges.

Coffee Joulies

These ingenious stainless steal coffee “beans” will keep your bevvie at the perfect temperature. Add them to a cuppa when it’s too hot, and they will bring the temp down, while simultaneously storing the heat inside them and releasing it back into the coffee as it cools, keeping the temperature stable. Mind. Blown.

Jameson Irish Whiskey

Like we said, simply adding some whiskey to your coffee is a perfectly fine choice. It’s called an Irish coffee, and it’s *fantastic*.

Handpresso

Ever wish you could make espresso while out and about? Perhaps while standing outside at a cold parade, longing for an Irish coffee? This handheld espresso machine allows you to do just that.

Capresso frothPRO Automatic Milk Frother

Why yes, there is a difference between a latte and a flat white. It’s all about the frothiness of the milk, and if you like your coffee cocktails as frothy as possible, this is going to be a life-saver.

A Fresh paint color can be the dramatic upgrade you need to fall in love with your kitchen again. Four years ago, I painted my kitchen cabinets with Benjamin Moore's Adriatic Sea, and while I still like the color I'm ready to go more earthy in my aesthetic. "The biggest trend we’re seeing for kitchens and kitchen cabinets is homeowners looking to add more color and turn away from all-white kitchens and gray kitchens/kitchen cabinets," says Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams Director of Color Marketing.

Thinking beyond white these days, many designers are finding unique ways to pair color with stone and natural woods. "Lately, I’ve been captivated by the power of contrasting materials and colors to transform this essential room," says Amr Samaha, founder of LA-based Samaha Studio. "In our latest project, we’ve paired the timeless elegance of French white oak cabinets with a striking maroon paint." Here's a peek at Amr's design and several other designer picks for the best kitchen cabinet colors this year.

Samaha Studio

Amr's bold choice of a maroon hue adds warmth and depth, creating a kitchen that is both sophisticated and inviting. Try Farrow & Ball Preference Red No.297, Benjamin Moore Classic Burgundy, or Clare Paint Vintage to get the look. Always test a sample to make sure the color suits your specific lighting situation.

"The maroon hue does more than complement the natural wood — it elevates the entire space, turning it into a focal point that’s as visually stunning as it is functional. By embracing contrast, we’ve crafted a kitchen that not only looks beautiful but also feels like home," he says.

Sherwin Williams

"I love Sherwin Williams Dark Knight," Lauren Reyes says, principal designer + owner LA-based LVR Studios. "We’ve used this for my own kitchen’s cabinetry – it’s not a typical navy blue like we’re used to seeing as it has rich hues of dark blues and greens."

Farrow & Ball

Another favorite is Farrow & Ball’s Joa White, a light and clean taupe. "It's a nice way to achieve a “white” kitchen, but a lot warmer and very sophisticated feeling," Lauren says.

Sherwin Williams

Sue recommends Sherwin Williams'Thunderous SW 6201 for an earthy nature-inspired look. I think this is my pick too! "Dark yet calming, it is ideal for this space since it complements natural elements like wood and metal very well," she says.

Sherwin Williams

Sue is also a fan of the wine-colored trend. She recommends Carnelian SW 7580. "To add some drama and mystery into a kitchen, this deep saturated violet with warm red undertones is a beautiful choice. Although it might seem like a bolder choice, it’s easy to pair with clean neutrals, thanks to its muted tone."

Farrow & Ball

Amanda Leigh at House of Rolison seconds the redder tones for a warm and stimulating color. Her favorite? Benjamin Moore Nicholson Red. "We love coordinating a cabinet color to the vein of the slab we choose. It helps marry the materials we use without being too coordinated," she says.

Amanda's other favorite is also in the greige family, Farrow and Ball's Drop Cloth.

Whearley & Co

If you want to lean more green in your greige, Whearley & Co.'s Cooking Apple Green is a lovely neutral with a bit more tint.

Sherwin Williams

Sue adds to her fave list Sherwin Williams Color of the Year for 2024: Upward SW 6239. "This light and breezy blue that creates a beautiful coastal chic vibe to an all-white kitchen. Homeowners can take this aesthetic one step further by adding wooden accents to the space."

Theresa Butler Interiors, Marc Mauldin

Theresa Butler, principal and founder of Theresa Butler Interiors in Atlanta recently refreshed a 15-year-old kitchen with its original cabinets using Benjamin Moore Advance Paint in Marine Blue (on island) and London Fog (in cabinets).

Theresa Butler Interiors, Marc Mauldin

Theresa also used Benjamin Moore White Dove to refresh this traditional kitchen.

Benjamin Moore

Theresa also recommends Benjamin Moore Stratton Blue (a muted blue-green shown above), a soothing Ocean Air, and Peale Green, an earthy forest green, for kitchen cabinets. Love the idea of forest green too!

Lowe's

Something in the Ocean Air family is the Tranquil Waters Tintable Cabinet Paint from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines.

Have a passion for home decor? Check out our Home page and Pinterest page for more home decor inspiration!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead image by Sherwin Williams

The Wicked moviepress tour has been a truly beautiful thing to witness. Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo have cried in almost every interview because of how much they love their characters and each other, and it seems like working on this project really did heal something in them. So, after the sincerity of their interviews, I was really taken aback when I learned Dax Shepard had Cynthia Erivo on his Armchair Expert podcast...and chose to ask her about going to the bathroom?

Keep reading for what Dax Shepard had to say and, like me, wonder why he asked it in the first place.

On an episode of his Armchair Expert podcast, Dax Shepard asked Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo if her famously long nails make it difficult to wipe when she goes to the bathroom. “I knew you would ask that,” Cynthia responds, saying “no one’s afraid” to ask such an intimate question.

“My answer is that nobody uses just their fingers to wipe their backside,” she says. “You use tissue, correct? And you wipe!”

When he asked if she was annoyed or offended by the question, Cynthia admits she's "annoyed by it."

“I'm, like, 'Come on, guys,' ” she says. “But I get it, but it's also, like, ‘I'm a functioning adult, and I've never walked around smelling like, you know…'"

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

The actress has proved she's nothing if not honest this fall, going viral for saying "thank goodness" the actresses who auditioned with her for Glinda didn't land the role and for vocalizinghow much a fan edit of the Wicked movie poster offended her (she later admitted she should have texted her friends instead of posting on social media).

Now, this question was very weird to me for a few reasons. Not only does it have nothing to do with the film, but Dax asking Cynthia about her bathroom habits gives me a similar feeling to the one I got watching that male interviewer ask Scarlett Johansson about her underwear during Avengers: Age of Ultron press. Just...what is the reason? Plus, the fact Cynthia has also been vocal about how much she values her nails as a part of Black culture only makes the question (and the fact the nails feel like, no pun intended, the butt of the joke) weirder.

"Here’s the thing," Cynthia tells Dax before switching topics. "There are people who do not have nails who need to check how they’re wiping." Get 'em girl!

What did you think about this Armchair Expert interview with Dax Shepard and Cynthia Erivo? Let us know in the comments and read up on The Latest Wicked: Part Two News!

Prior to becoming a mom, I never drank coffee on a daily basis. I didn't get the hype surrounding it because eating a hearty breakfast used to give me all the energy I needed to tackle my day. If you listen closely, you can hear my mom-coded chuckle.

Though I used my Keurig here and there...I fell into the daily Starbucks habit that I haven't quit been able to shake yet. The tasty drinks felt much easier to grab and go, instead of dropping in a pod and adding creamer, hoping for that barista-made flavor. However, I finally found something that makes me feel like I'm my own at-home barista: the Ninja Espresso Machine!

What is the Ninja Espresso Machine?

Amazon

This Ninja coffee maker is a 3-in-1 machine that allows you to make espresso, classic drip coffee, and cold brews! It goes the extra mile by letting you make the following of each:

  • Espresso — double shot or quad shot
  • Drip Coffee — classic, rich, or over ice
  • Cold Brew — cold pressed expresso or cold brew coffee

Depending on your mood, you can brew anywhere from 6 to 18 oz. drinks. It's like the grandmother of coffee makers IMO — she really can do it all, and then some!

What kind of features does it have?

Jasmine Williams

What features doesn't this Ninja coffee maker have is the better question. My favorite feature so far is the weight-based dosing that helps the machine determine what you'll need for the perfect cup of coffee. What does that mean? It has a built-in scale that does the heavy lifting for you, showing you the recommended setting you need by detecting the weight of the beans before grinding.

It also has a hands-free frothing option that rivals the skills of Starbucks' baristas with its Barista Assist Technology. The four frothing features are:

  • Steamed milk
  • Thin froth
  • Thick froth
  • Cold foam

I've tried the steamed milk and cold foam options so far, and they're AMAZING. I think that's the best part of making coffee now!

Is it hard to put the Nina Espresso Maker together?

Jasmine Williams

This is probably the heaviest coffee maker I've ever had, but it doesn't bother me. I bought my fiancé a Nutri Ninja Personal & Countertop Blender last year, so I'm familiar how sturdy their products are.

However, I want to mention how heavy it is so you're not surprised when you're taking it out of the box! It took two people to slide it out in my experience, so make sure you have someone to help you. If you don't care about keeping the box the Ninja Espresso Maker comes in, you can just cut it open to make it easier for you.

Putting this machine together is simpler than it looks, though. It comes with additional pieces like the assisted tamper, a funnel (to ensure you have the right amount of ground coffee), two baskets (to determine what type of coffee you want to make: quad shot espresso, classic, cold brew, or cold-pressed), and the portafilter (AKA the longer piece which serves as the main handle when you're grinding the beans and ready to brew your coffee). Thankfully, comes with the double basket installed already.

How much counter space does it take up?

Jasmine Williams

The Ninja Espresso Machine doesn't take up as much space as I thought it would — and that's great because I live in an apartment, so that real estate is very limited in my kitchen. I was able to place it on the smaller counter by stove and still have room to place my coffee essentials next to it. But if you want to create a coffee corner, I definitely suggest placing it on a longer surface.

Do I need to use pre-ground coffee or whole beans?

Jasmine Williams

This is a great question! I usually skip the instructions when putting something together (that rushed mom life, you know?), but decided to because I didn't want to mess anything up.

It's easy to reach for pre-ground coffee, but this machine specifically requires whole beans because of the grinder feature. If you're worried about added time from the grind, don't — it really doesn't take long for the beans to be ground!

Do I have to use whole milk for the frother, or can I use something plant-based?

Jasmine Williams

You can actually use both! The cool thing about the Nina Espresso Maker is you can change the settings to whole or plant-based milk when you want to use the frothing feature! I just prefer to stick with unsweetened almond milk because it doesn't irritate my digestive system and has 0 grams of sugar in it!

Final Thoughts:

Jasmine Williams

The Ninja Espresso Maker has converted me into a coffee drinker who doesn't have to leave her house for the latest Starbucks fall drinks — or at least not all the time. 😉 The included QR code on top of the machine helped me see step-by-step installation and brewing guides, so that's a welcomed bonus that continues to make regular use so much easier.

I will say that you have to test the hardness of your water and run a pre-cycle before using the machine. A water test strip is included in the box, and this process takes a couple of minutes to do. Once you're ready to run the pre-cycle, fill the water reservoir on the side is place a 10 or 12 oz. cup under the portafilter and press brew. When the cup is full after a few minutes, dump the water in the sink and you'll be ready to brew your first cup of espresso, classic brew, latte, or ice coffee!

Ultimately, while I don't care for drinking espresso, that feature works for my Domincan fiancé — it's perfect for getting him that shot of flavor and energy some he craves in the morning. Otherwise, for all other coffee-making endeavors, I give the Ninja Expresso Maker a 5 out of 5 rating! It really has something for all coffee lovers, and it takes than less than five minutes to have a cup of cold or warm deliciousness! BRB while I brew something for my Gilmore Girls rewatch...

Shop The Ninja Espresso Maker

Amazon

Ninja Espresso Machine

Follow our Amazon storefront for more kitchen finds!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Header image via Amazon

I literally can't believe I'm writing this, but after a year of keeping up with all the biggest and best 2024 movies, I'm here with a final installment: December movies! This year has had some truly remarkable flicks (Challengers! Wicked! The Fall Guy!) and we're truly going out with a bang. While you're keeping up with all the best December TV shows coming out, here are the best December movies coming next month.

Keep reading for all the new December movies to add to your watchlist in 2024.

Y2K — In Theaters December 6, 2024

A24

Remember that Y2K crisis at the turn of the millennium? This December movie, which follows two high school juniors who crash a New Year's Eve party, reimagines it as a full-blown disaster — blood, guts, and all.

Y2K stars Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison, The Kid Laroi, and Fred Durst.

Mary — On Netflix December 6, 2024

Netflix

Get a new look at one of the most famous women in the world when Mary drops on Netflix next month. This movie will give you a whole new look at the titular heroine's life — from being forced into hiding to running for her life, all to protect her baby son from a murderous king.

Mary stars Noa Cohen, Ido Tako, Stephanie Nur, Susan Brown, Ori Pfeffer, Eamon Farren, Hilla Vidor, Mili Avital, Gudmundur Thorvaldsson, Dudley O’Shaughnessy, Keren Tzur, Mehmet Kurtulus, Mila Harris, and Anthony Hopkins.

Nightb—ch — In Theaters December 6, 2024

Searchlight Pictures

Another December movie that will have you looking at motherhood differently is Nightb—ch, which follows Amy Adams character's life as she becomes a mother...and becomes convinced she's also turning into a dog.

Nightb—ch stars Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Arleigh Patrick Snowden, Emmett James Snowden, Zoë Chao, Mary Holland, Archana Rajan, Jessica Harper.

F Marry Kill — On Digital December 6, 2024

Lionsgate

We all know dating apps can be a really horrifying experience, but when true-crime lover Eva starts to believe one of her three dates could be the “Swipe Right Killer," she finds herself in a life-or-death situation.

F Marry Kill stars Lucy Hale, Samer Salem, Virginia Gardner, Jedidiah Goodacre, Brendan Morgan, Brooke Nevin, and Bethany Brown.

A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter — On Netflix December 6

Mike Coppola/Getty Images for iHeartRadio

If you're still singing "Nonsense" by Sabrina Carpenter, then this December movie (er, holiday special) is for you. Not only will the popstar perform tunes from her fruitcake EP, but she'll be joined by special guests as well!

A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter stars, you guessed it, Sabrina Carpenter.

Maria — On Netflix December 11, 2024

Pablo Larraín/Netflix

Angelina Jolie's newest film follows iconic performer Maria Callas. After a glamorous, albeit difficult, public life, Maria moves to Paris for some quiet — and must confront her identity, her past, and her future in the process.

Maria stars Angelina Jolie, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Valeria Golino, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Haluk Bilginer.

Kraven The Hunter — In Theaters December 13

Jay Maidment/Sony

Despite the fact it's coming out around the holidays, Aaron Taylor Johnson's new December movie is not for kids. The flick follows the titular Kraven as he morphs from the son of a gangster to the brutal and fearsome villain comic fans know so well.

Kraven the Hunter stars Aaron Taylor Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger, and Russell Crowe.

Carry On — On Netflix December 13

Netflix

One TSA agent is in for a less-than-jolly holiday when he's blackmailed by a traveler hoping to bring a very dangerous package into the airport on Christmas Eve.

Carry On stars Taron Egerton, Jason Bateman, and Sofia Carson.

Mufasa: The Lion King — In Theaters December 20

Walt Disney Pictures

Not only is this Lion King sequel giving us a brand new look at a classic story, but it also marks Blue Ivy Carter's acting debut! The movie tells the story of how Mufasa began his journey as an orphaned cub and how a run-in with royal heir Taka changed everything.

Mufasa: The Lion King stars Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Aaron Pierre, John Kani, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, and Blue Ivy Carter.

Babygirl — In Theaters December 25

A24

Nicole Kidman's new December movie will add some spice to your holiday, thanks to an affair with her character's much-younger employee. Is it getting hot in here?

Babygirl stars Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas.

A Complete Unknown — In Theaters December 25

Macall Polay/Searchlight Pictures

If you're still laughing about the Timothée Chalamet lookalike contest, then you'll definitely want to show up to see this flick, which stars our favorite Timmy as Bob Dylan during his historical move from folk to rock'n'roll.

A Complete Unknown stars Timothée Chalamet Monica Barbaro, Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, Boyd Holbrook, and Nick Offerman.

Let us know which December movie you're most excited for on Instagram!

Nicole Kidman is, as the kids say, mothering. She's giving fans plenty of movies and TV shows to pick from while we wait for the next seasons of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect StrangersA Family Affair, Expats, The Perfect Couple (and the AMC intro, of course). Her newest movie Babygirl comes from A24, and the steamy drama is mixing work and pleasure. Pour yourself a glass of wine for this one, folks.

Scroll down to learn more about Babygirl — and to watch the HOT new trailer!

What is the plot of Babygirl?

A24

Babygirl Plot

In Babygirl, Nicole Kidman plays Romy, a powerful CEO struggling to hold her perfect persona together. Her marriage to Jacob has never provided with much pleasure, despite the fact he's caring and artistic. But when Romy meets a young intern named Samuel, and feels immediately drawn to him, the two begin a torrid affair.

And filming scenes with Harry Dickinson got so intense, Kidman said she literally had to take breaks. “There were times when we were shooting where I was like, ‘I don’t want to orgasm any more,'” she told the Sun. “Don’t come near me. I hate doing this. I don’t care if I am never touched again in my life!”

But the fact the movie was made by women empowered Kidman — and gave her a sense of freedom. "Doing this subject matter in the hands of the woman that wrote the script, that's directing it and is a really great actress herself — we became one in a weird way, which I'd never had with a director before," Kidman says in a statement. "When you're working with a woman on this subject matter, you can share everything with each other.”

"I really decided in the beginning, I want to make a sexual film, just as sexual as all these films that I've always admired so much," adds writer-director-producer Halina Reijn, "but now I'm going to do it completely through female eyes. What does that mean and what does that look like?”

When is the Babygirl release date?

A24

Babygirl Release Date

Babygirl made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival, but you can watch the movie in theaters December 25, 2024.

Who's in the Babygirl cast?

A24

Babygirl Cast

The cast of Babygirl includes Nicole Kidman, Harris Dickinson, Sophie Wilde, and Antonio Banderas.

What has Nicole Kidman said about making Babygirl?

Amy Sussman/Getty Images

In an interview with Vanity Fair, Nicole Kidman revealed Babygirl is the most "exposing" film she's done because she's “made some films that are pretty exposing, but not like this.”

“It left me raggedm" Kidman says. "At some point I was like, I don’t want to be touched. I don’t want to do this anymore, but at the same time I was compelled to do it...This is something you do and hide in your home videos. It is not a thing that normally is going to be seen by the world.”

“I felt very exposed as an actor, as a woman, as a human being,” she continues. “I had to go in and go out like, I need to put my protection back on. What have I just done? Where did I go? What did I do?”

What does babygirl energy mean?

A24

"Babygirl" is a term of endearment that's usually applied to a man (you've probably heard it describe Pedro Pascal or Paul Mescal). When someone is giving babygirl energy, they're kind, cute, and disarming. And considering Babygirl plays with power dynamics, we could be guessing who the "babygirl" in question is up until the very end.

Watch The 'Babygirl' Trailer Here!

www.youtube.com

- YouTube

There were SO many moments that made our jaws drop here:

  • The thumb in the mouth
  • The pink skirt moment
  • NICOLE CRAWLING ON ALL FOURS?!
Yeah, this is one you won't wanna watch with your parents, friends. 🥵

Are you looking forward to seeing Nicole Kidman onscreen again? We might have to wait until December to see Babygirl, but there are plenty of incredible Fall Movies coming our way.

This post has been updated.