The Verge’s favorite non-tech gadgets

Illustration by Kristen Radtke / The Verge

Most, if not all, of the people who work here at The Verge are gadget enthusiasts. There are some really interesting, fun, and useful gadgets out there that we don't know about.

We asked the staff to come up with their favorite non-tech gadgets that don't have an app. Some of what they came up with sit on the border between tech and non-tech, where do espresso machines belong? Let's not be picky. The kitchen gear, home tools, and personal items are what we most treasure.

Kitchen gear

Breville Barista Express

I had been talking myself out of buying a home espresso machine, but I finally got one a few years ago, and the only regret I have is not buying one sooner. I like my espresso machine. It isn't really fancy, which is fine for me. My model has a built-in grinder that I keep in my truck. It is simple, reliable, easy to take care of, and makes good espresso. I have used it for three years now and it is still strong. My latte art skills are not up to par.

Hario V60 Drip Coffee Decanter

I have fallen in love with Hario's V60 coffee makers. I finally got one of their decanters last Christmas, which is big enough to make two cups of coffee in one go. You put a paper filter into the plastic funnel at the top, pour some water, and then lift out the funnel to pour your delicious brew from the glass decanter.

If you want to get the proportion of coffee to water right, you should be prepared to use scales. The V60 is a great option if you like the ritual of making coffee and want something that is more affordable than a Chemex.

A two-in-one coffee maker. It has a silicone band for easy handling and pouring.

• $26 at Amazon
• $34 at Walmart

Kitchenaid Fresh Prep Slicer / Shredder Attachment

The attachment system is the greatest utility of the Kitchenaid stand mixers. I love the Fresh Prep shredder because it lets me quickly and easily turn a two-pound block of cheese into an easy topping for casseroles, and more. If you frequently find yourself turning mass amounts of vegetables, cheese, or anything else into shreds, and you are still using the standard box shredder to do it, please do your arms a favor and pick up this attachment.

The price is a downside. It's very reasonable for the Fresh Prep kit, which comes with shredders and a slicer, and I got mine on sale for around $40. It hooks onto a $300 mixer that a lot of people won't use often enough to justify how much counter space it eats up. Adding the shredder to your arsenal is worth it if you have already got one. There are actually manual versions on Amazon. Mitchell Clark is a news writer.

The KitchenAid Stand Mixers can be used to slice and shred food.

• $49 at Amazon
• $49 at Walmart

Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker

I love flipping my Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker. Forget soaking your rice for 30 minutes before cooking, and don't remove burnt rice from the bottom of your pot. Do you know what I enjoy doing? I woke up to a pot of perfectly cooked rice that stayed warm until I was ready to eat, after washing my rice and hitting the schedule button on this Zojirushi. I can make fried rice the next day if I cook up to 5.5 cups at a time. It can handle many types of rice, including brown, white, long-grain, and short-grain. It is even good at making oatmeal. It can do anything a pressure cooker can do. I can make soup, bake a cake, and steam veggies with this baby. I spent a lot of money for a fancy-pants Zojirushi with multiple settings, but there are plenty of affordable options that take up less space than an Instant Pot. When it's done cooking, it sings Twinkle Little Star to me. Victoria Song is a reviewer.

The rice cooker and warmer comes with a steaming basket to double as a steamer and a cake menu setting to bake cakes.

Home tools

MegaPro 13-in-1 Ratcheting Screwdriver

It is a screwdriver. I am aware that you can buy screwdrivers from any number of brands. There are five different ones on my workbench. I knew I wouldn't need a sixth when I met the MegaPro.

It's light and strong, comfortable and easy to change the direction with one hand, with a long narrow shaft that reaches farther and more reliably than my other drivers, and a satisfying-to-open hidden stash of bits beneath its rotating cup on the end. I can fit impact driver extensions or even my right-angle attachment with double-sided bits that don't need to be squeezed or pinched to get them out of that handle. I've never touched the square bits, but it's got a great mix ofPhilips,Torx and flat. They also sell a version that holds 12 one-inch single-sided bits and has a magnetic end to hold on to screws. Sean Hollister is the senior reports editor.

The screwdriver shaft has six sizes of star screwdriver bits.

Cartman Aluminum Sport Shovel

If you own a tiny two-seater car that gets stuck in muck with shocking regularity, then a small collapsible utility shovel isn't very useful. I decided it was time to explore my options after spending many snowy mornings trying to dig my car out of its parking spot. I didn't want to sell my car for a more reasonable one that was better suited for midwestern winters. A shovel that collapses easily for storage and allows me to quickly rescue my car from snow or mud is a good compromise.

The shovel can be adjusted from 25 to 32 inches.

Bahco Laplander Folding Saw

Five years ago, I had to purchase a folding saw in order to join the search and rescue team I volunteer with. I had always considered the hatchet to be a more versatile tool for the outdoors, something I could use to hit firewood until my arms tired and I nearly fell over. I picked up Bahco's budget-friendly folding saw.

I have become enamored with the little device. The seven-inch blade folds into the handle and flips out in an instant, allowing me to tear through everything without having to use additional tools. I don't have to worry about my less-than-ideal precision since I'm not swinging it around. It has a lock on the handle so I can throw it in my backpack and not have to worry about it shredding my gear. Brandon Widder is the commerce senior editor.

Leatherman Wave Plus

I'm not much of a tool person or knife person, but I love my Leatherman Wave Plus multi-tool. I received it as a birthday gift a few years ago from my wife, and it has been used every day since then.

The locking straight knife, needle nose pliers, and mini screwdrivers are the only tools that I really need, but they are what I use all the time. The Leatherman is the first tool I use to get the job done, whether I'm breaking down boxes from the weekly arrivals from Amazon, Target, and Walmart or installing a new smart light switch in my wall.

It's a great tool when I'm sitting at my desk and it's really satisfying to repeatedly unfold and fold closed. I have pinched my fingers while doing that and will probably do it again in the future.

Personal items

Thinoptics Keychain Reader

If you live long enough, it is very likely that you will need reading glasses. I hit that point a few years ago. I bought a pair of reading glasses after I realized that I was squinting way more than was healthy for me. I kept forgetting to put the things in my bag or leave them in cabs. I had a pair of ThinOptics readers.

They can't be called glasses because they're made of plastic. They don't have earpieces, they sit on your nose like Ben Franklin's. They are folded up into a small case with a small loop that I can hang in my backpack. When I leave my glasses at home, or accidentally sit on them, or leave them on the subway, I know that I always have a way to read my phone or computer screen.

Kiya Black Steel Nail Clippers

You clip your fingernails every few days. You can have the best fingernail-clipping experience. The Japanese brand of Kiya clippers are made of steel and have a plastic shell. Kevin Nguyen is features editor.

A traditional watch

I love watches more than any other non-tech item. I can't help but think about, read about, or even write about watches as my small collection remains mostly humble and devoid of any luxury extravagance. Traditional watches are a mostly unnecessary tool these days, but they are one of my favorite ways to add to my outfit or mood. I like the craftsmanship and design of all kinds of watches and the way they tell interesting stories.

My gold G-Shock? If I want to feel flashy, I wear a black denim jacket and a pair of Dr. Martens boots. I have two-and-a-half other G-Shocks, one of which is my wife's Pokemon one. I like their looks. What is my name? It's my first automatic mechanical diver that isn't too big on my dainty wrist and has as many stylings as the amount of NATO straps I throw at it. Is my F-91W worth fifteen dollars? It's so simple, but it has a history. The Timex Marlin was a manual-wind model. It reminds me of some of the classic Timex watches my dad owned.

Watches are illogical purchases that bring me years of joy and emotional value.