Coffee is dear to many, and making your coffee every morning can be more satisfying than buying it from a nearby café, especially for baristas. But what coffee tools do you need to brew the kind of coffee you desire? As a home barista, the most essential thing you need is a reliable coffee grinder and fresh bean storage. Additionally, for those who need equipment to help them make espresso, a scale, a tamper, and a milk frother should be on the list. Choosing the right coffee tools to make a perfect cup of coffee can be stressful. While these tools are expensive to acquire, having them without the right barista experience can be frustrating. But with the right knowledge and tools, making coffee at home is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Let’s look at what you need to know before buying home barista tools, and we will guide you on those that will help you get a quality cup of coffee every morning.
What to Consider
Getting barista coffee tools can help you upgrade your morning cup, but there is much to consider.
The Type of Brew You Want
Different home baristas have varied preferences and determine the type of barista coffee machine they need. While some will focus on getting a machine that keeps their budget low and routine coffee-making simple, some want to make espresso drinks, so they require a few more coffee tools. Understand all the tools needed to help you make the type of brew you prefer. If you wish to take a French press brew every morning, you do not need a tamper; you must have a reliable grinder to get a fresh cup of coffee every morning. If you plan to use pre-ground coffee, you must have an airtight container to keep your ground coffee fresh. Your decision will be determined by the type of setup you are looking for and the style of coffee you prefer.
Your Barista Knowledge
Making yourself a cup of coffee at home is essential, but you need the right knowledge. There are numerous coffee tools on the market, all requiring different knowledge. Some are easy to use, while some are hard and require specialized knowledge. Some novice baristas get drawn to machines beyond their expertise, which can frustrate them. It can also cause them to incur heavy costs. Luckily, there are different brands and coffee-making experts who can help you learn to make coffee and enjoy the process. For experienced baristas, getting specific tools to help you make the type of coffee you need every morning is the right decision. Know your skills and the accessories that can help you reach your goals as a home barista.
Budget
Knowing how much money you want to spend on a coffee-making machine will guide you. Espresso machines are expensive, but plenty of affordable brands exist. While considering the budget, consider the functionality and quality of the tools you get to avoid frustrations. Do window shopping to explore all the brands and prices?
Different Types of Essential Coffee Tools for a Home Barista
Most of the coffee tools we will look at here are essential for people with a home barista machine.
Grinder
Fresh beans are a must for those who need the best coffee, regardless of the type of brewer used. You should not just get any grinder if you want quality and consistent coffee flavor. Burr grinders are the best option. When choosing a grinder, it would be best to focus on quality, consistency, and reliability. One of the factors home baristas consider is the ability of a grinder to make espresso or a French press. There are coffee machines with inbuilt grinders.
Scale
A coffee scale is a must, regardless of the brewer you have in your home. They help you measure the amount of coffee you need and also help you utilize the precision required to set your espresso shots. This way, you can balance the coffee and water needed correctly, just like those baristas in cafes.
Shot Cups and Milk Pitcher
They help you make lattes easily. Consider getting a stainless steel pitcher for milk steaming. Glass shot cups, which have measurements and pour spouts marked outside them, help you take control of the number of shots you need.
Tamper
A tamper helps you pack coffee grounds evenly to achieve quality shots. It is only required by those with espresso machines at home. A tamper mostly helps to make rich and robust shots of coffee. A palm tamper is a better choice than a traditional tamper for beginners. It is easy to use and utilize, and helps beginner baristas get smooth and even-tamped fresh grounds.
Milk Frother
For those who love milk coffee, you must have a milk frother. Selecting the right milk frother can be daunting, especially since there are too many options. You need to know the amount of milk you will froth to see the type of frother you need. However, most milk frothers offer similar results, so you can choose the one that suits your budget. You can also fail to buy it if your coffee-making machine can steam milk.
Storage Bins
It would make no sense to grind your coffee beans and then fail to retain their freshness. Keeping your coffee beans fresh is best to getting quality flavor in your cup. The best way to do this is to have a storage bin that can be tightly sealed to prevent the flavors from escaping. The bins should be stored away from the sun and where the temperature is consistent so that the aroma remains intact.
Being a home barista is tricky, but also the best way to ensure you make the desired cup of coffee whenever you want. You at least need to understand your budget, level of barista knowledge, and the type of coffee you will be making before choosing coffee-making tools. Choose those that will not give you a hard time to use, especially if you are a beginner barista. Some essential coffee-making tools are a tamper, storage bin, milk frother, scale, grinder, and milk pitcher. These tools allow you to enjoy morning tea without running to the neighboring cafe.
