Trying to figure out what home coffee accessories you need for the most amazing coffee bar?
I have every accessory coffee tool you need for great home brewing reviewed in this article!
Enjoying your favorite cup of latte, cappuccino, or any other barista-grade caffeine drink every day can cost a lot at the end of the month.
Also, getting your favorite drink in the comfort of your home in the morning is so much more enjoyable than rushing to a crowded coffee place minutes before you have to be at the office.
And, brewing your own cup of perfect coffee is a wonderful way to start off the day on a cheerful note.
In this post, I will tell you what accessories to need to brew that perfect cup.
Why Does One Need Coffee Accessories?
If you already have an espresso machine, chances are you tried making every drink it can brew.
Yet, to make barista-grade coffee drinks at home, you will need some accessories in addition to your coffee maker.
The choice might differ based on what brewing method you choose and what kind of coffee making equipment you have. In any case, if you want to make a perfect cup of coffee, you will need more than an espresso machine for sure.
The choice of accessories meant to help you brew that perfect cup is huge.
If you crave for a perfect cup of espresso, the right accessories will help you to:
- monitor and adjust your brewing parameters perfectly
- improve your coffee brewing experience
- clean and maintain your espresso machine
What Coffee Accessories for Home Can You Get?
Coffee Grinder
While some coffee accessories are optional, others are absolutely irreplaceable.
If your espresso brewer is not equipped with a grinder, you absolutely need it. Every coffee lover knows that to get the best taste and flavor of a caffeine drink, one needs to ground the beans right before use.
This way, you will extract the most flavor, taste and caffeine out of your beans and get to enjoy it right away.
Otherwise, your drink will hardly ever score above average, because ground coffee starts losing its properties within an hour from grinding.
Buying pre-ground coffee and storing it for a long time will result in moisture, carbon dioxide and oxygen getting into it and messing with the taste and flavor.
Natural coffee bean oils are quite volatile, so they start to vanish pretty soon after grinding.
When getting a coffee grinder for home, you would want to consider the following criteria: size, material, price, operation noise level and efficiency.
What to learn more about the best coffee grinders for home brewing?
I've specifically some of the best coffee grinders here.
Most households would opt for a compact yet sturdy multifunctional grinder that can cope with nuts, seeds and other grains when needed.
Coffee Tamper
Coffee tamper is one more accessory every coffee lover needs at home.
To brew a perfect cup of coffee at home, you will need to tamp your espresso like a skilled barista. This requires technique and practice, but also a solid tamper.
The goal is to create a coffee pellet through which hot water will be pressed through the coffee evenly.
The following video will help you tamp your coffee at home like a pro.
The right pressure is a formula for the success of a true espresso.
Partly, the pressure is caused by the water going through the coffee in your machine. Yet, it’s also important to pack your coffee well so that the water goes through them with even more pressure.
Of course, you could try to tamp your coffee with any improvised materials. I should warn you that the results would never be as good as with a tamper and you risk to make a mess of your kitchen.
What’s more, uneven tamping will inevitably result in uneven extraction and watery coffee taste.
When it comes to purchasing a coffee temper, there is a wide range of products to choose from.
You can find coffee tampers in different sizes, shapes, weights and colors. There are a lot of affordable yet durable options for your household without any trouble.
Scale
If you don’t have a kitchen scale yet, it’s about time to get it and stop asking Siri how many spoons of every ingredient you need.
A kitchen scale is a multi-purpose device you will need for many cooking occasions, but I’ll tell you why you need it for your coffee.
As a beginner barista, you might struggle to choose the right amount of coffee you need to make a perfect cup of espresso. With the help of the scale, you will be able to reach consistency and precision with every cup.
Some coffee enthusiasts would argue that you don’t need a scale since you can measure a dose volumetrically.
It is true, but only for cases when you use the same coffee beans blend of the same brand. Otherwise, the weight you get will be different every time.
...And more Accessories For Your Home Coffee Bar Setup
There are many more coffee accessories that can make a life of a beginner home barista easier and more fun.
You can get a special thermometer to measure the coffee brewing and milk frothing temperature. You might also need a timer to measure the extraction time precisely.
Tip: never extract for more than 30 seconds, otherwise you will end up with a poor tasting drink.
A tamping mat might be a good accessory for a perfectionist.
A coffee grinder cleaning brush will be of great help as well.
Some dosing tools for convenience wouldn’t hurt.
Storage is perhaps the most important thing for your home coffee bar. Food grade, coffee storage canisters will help keep your coffee fresh and free of mold, pests and other nasties.
And the last, but not least - getting the appropriate coffee cups and glasses will make your coffee rituals even more enjoyable.
Top Picks For Coffee Bar Accessories
Coffee Bar Products Reviewed
When shopping for a coffee grinder for home, you are probably looking for the most versatile product that would take up the least of your counter space. KRUPS F203 Electric Spice and Coffee Grinder could be the appliance you are looking for. The stainless steel blades of this grinder can cope with nuts, spices, seeds and herbs.
Pros:
- Multi-purpose
- Sturdy construction with durable elements
- Lid-activated safety switch
- Maximum aroma and taste extraction
- Grinding customization
- Capacity: up to 3 ounces of coffee at one go
- Uniform grinding
- Requires little counter space
- Lightweight
- Easy to operate
Cons:
- Only works on 120V per US’s standard
- No color options to choose from
- Not comfortable for storing the ground coffee inside for later use
When you pay for premium, ground and whole beans, you want them to stay as fresh as possible for as long as possible. For that, you need an opaque, food-grade, airtight container that won't let bad things in and good things out of your coffee.
Pros:
- Coffee spoon holder
- Truly airtight
- Commercial Grade, antibacterial
- Easy open and close
Cons:
- It's pricier than other coffee canister accessories on the market, but honestly you get what you pay for!
Tamping your ground coffee at home with some improvised means can result in a bad mood and a messed-up kitchen space.
To avoid it, you better get a high-quality coffee temper just like RSVP Terry’s Dual Sided Espresso Tamper.
The reason why I paid attention to this particular product is because it is suitable for home use but also perfect for professional baristas. What's more, it's a steal for the price.
Pros:
- High-quality aluminum alloy
- Suitable for home and professional use
- No coating, no harmful chemicals
- Suitable for tamping pastry
- Consistent tamping
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
- Larger side does not fit in some coffee machines
A scale is an indispensable helper in every household, whether you are a professional chef or a weekend kitchen warrior.
With this Digital Food Scale, you dose your grounds precisely every time easily and quickly with this affordable, durable and stylish digital kitchen tool.
Pros:
- Inexpensive everyday food scale
- Small and portable
- High-contrast LCD screen
- Automatic calibration and shutoff
- Smooth plastic surface
- Straightforward and stylish design
- Easy to operate and clean
- Tare/Zero function for weighing ingredients in a bowl
- Easy battery change
- A part of every purchase helps the Global Orphan Project care for children in need.
- Friendly support team
Cons:
- Battery drains quickly
- No decimal points in grams
When choosing tools for home barista, you should think of getting some dosing tools as well.
Of course, you can use your regular teaspoons. But having a doser scoop for espresso makes things easier and more enjoyable.
Espresso Supply Stainless Steel Doser Scoop is the right tool you need to add some convenience and style to your coffee brewing ritual.
Pros:
- Long handle and flat bottom
- Wide and easy to hold handle
- Great for scooping coffee and tea of every box
- Durable material (stainless steel)
- Easy to measure and dose coffee for any drink
- Does not band
- Dishwasher safe
- Affordable price
Cons:
- Sharp edges
No matter what coffee grinder you get, you will still need to clean it. Most of the coffee grinders are not washable and can easily be scratched with a hard sponge.
With the help of this coffee grinder cleaning brush, you will be able to clean any coffee grounds residue from the blades safely and quickly. The brush has a wooden handle for comfortable grip.
Flush it quickly after use and let it dry completely before the next use. With this brush, you will never have to poke the old coffee grounds from under the blades again.
Pros:
- Natural long-lasting fiber bristles
- Sturdy and well-made
- Comfortable round wooden handle
- Safe for the grinder blades
- Suitable for pasta makers
- Bristles do not fall out
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
You need precision when it comes to water temperature for great coffee. Precision and control
This pour over stovetop kettle includes a great thermometer to ensure your boiled water is the right temperature for your coffee brewing. The vertical spout also makes it easy to control the water pour.
This is another great, durable product by Coffee Gator, and it's a staple in any home brewing station.
Pros:
- thermal jacket keeps your hands safe
- stainless steel is easy to clean
- works on any stovetop
- precise, quality thermometer
- Solid vertical spout and lid construction
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
- Not electric