Stirring sticks are commonly made of either bamboo or plastic, with bamboo being the most frequently used option; wooden sticks, by contrast, can alter the flavor of the coffee. While a wide variety of materials and shapes are available on the market, the most important factor is matching the stick to your stirring technique. Bamboo sticks should be rinsed with hot water both before and after use to remove surface coffee oils and residual flavors, as well as to preheat the stick. New coffee pots often come with a stirring stick included. Some coffee enthusiasts even craft their own unique stirring sticks, resulting in a diverse array of shapes and designs-ranging from the conventional to the truly eccentric.
