Coffee Tools Every Home Barista Should Have in Their Kitchen

Millions of people from all over the world brew coffee as part of their daily routine. With the proliferation of automatic coffee machines, it is easier now more than ever to make a great cup of coffee at home. But for those who want to learn and master coffee brewing, an automatic machine just won’t cut it. If this is you, then you need to invest in some coffee tools to take your brewing to the next level.

You will find an assortment of coffee tools and accessories on the market. These tools, when used appropriately, will help make your coffee-loving life complete. What’s more, they can help you perfect your morning brew.

Here are some coffee tools every home barista should have in their kitchen.

Coffee bean grinder

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Next to the coffee machine, the coffee bean grinder is one of the most essential coffee tools every coffee lover should have in their home. In fact, grinding is an important step to making the perfect cup.

You need to keep in mind that different brewing methods and extraction require different grind size. You can’t just choose one grind size and use it for different brew methods. For instance, espresso requires a fine grind size, while French Press and cold brew requires coarse grind size. You need to use the right grind size in order to extract the perfect amount of flavor from your coffee. This is the problem with buying pre-ground coffee. Plus, it gets stale much quicker than whole beans.

It is also important that your grounds are uniform or consistent. Otherwise, some of your coffee gets under extracted and some over-extracted. If you are in the market for a coffee bean grinder, opt for a burr grinder. It gives you the flexibility to grind the coffee beans to the fineness or coarseness that best suits your brew method. What’s more, it grinds beans to a uniform size of particles.

The Rancilio SD Rocky Coffee Grinder, Breville Smart Grinder Pro, Capresso 565 Infinity SS Grinder, and the Baratza Virtuoso are great options if you are looking for the best burr coffee grinders.

Kitchen timer

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A kitchen timer is a necessary tool for every home barista out there. Why? Because timing is everything when pulling an espresso shot. The ideal time you’re looking for is between 20 to 30 seconds.

Grab a timer and time your shot. This is an important step you need to take if you want to learn how to pull the perfect shot. Start the timer once the pump starts, and end when the pump stops. If extraction happens under 20 seconds, that means your coffee grind is too coarse. You need contact time to bring out the complexity and sweetness of the coffee. So if it comes out too quickly, your espresso won’t taste good. Meanwhile, if extraction happens over 30 seconds, it means your coffee grind is too fine. Adjust the grind size accordingly to achieve your target yield.

Remember, the coarser your grind size, the faster the flow will be. The finer the grind size, the slower the flow will be.

Water filter

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They say the quality of ingredients you use will be reflected in the end product. Most people go out of the way to get the best quality coffee beans possible. Unfortunately, most people fail to realize that coffee has 2 ingredients – coffee and water.

Water is the main ingredient in coffee. In fact, it makes up 98% of the drink. It has a significant impact on the brewing cycle and will have a direct effect on the taste of your beverage. If the water tastes bad, then your coffee will taste bad too.

Water also contains vast minerals that can make the water hard. Although water hardness is necessary for the best flavor, water that is too hard can be bad for your coffee machine. To ensure consistently great-tasting coffee and protect your espresso machine from damage, we recommend using water that is moderately hard. If your water is hard, you can use a water filter to soften it a bit.

The Brita 10-Cup Water Filter Pitcher is a great option for every coffee lover out there. It features filter-as-you-pour technology that eliminates the need for a traditional reservoir. You’ll get a glass of great-tasting filtered water in a jiffy.

Digital kitchen scale

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If you are a budding home barista, you might be confused to find a kitchen scale on the list. Precision and consistency is the key to making that perfect cup.

Professional baristas follow a coffee to water ratio. This is especially important since they need to make sure that every cup of coffee comes out perfectly. Most coffee lovers, however, would use a tablespoon to scoop out the correct amount of coffee. Others would just eyeball it. If you do, then you’re a victim of inconsistent coffee. One day, you make great-tasting coffee, the next day, it’s sour. On the third day, it’s bitter. What seems to be the problem here? It’s the water to coffee ratio. It keeps changing every single day; thus, the difference in the coffee quality.

If you want to keep your morning cup of coffee tasting just as good as the last time, we highly recommend that you get a digital kitchen scale. It is one of those coffee tools you that will take your brewing to a whole new level. Measure the weight of your beans, as well as your water.

Thermometer

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Using freshly ground coffee beans, getting the right grind size, and figuring out the right water to coffee ratio are just some of the few things you need to nail down in order to ensure a good cup. Getting the right water temperature is also a part of ensuring that you end up with the best coffee possible.

195 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit is the ideal temperature range for hot brewing. It makes the best, most balanced coffee. The water is hot enough to extract water carefully, but not too hot that it’s uncontrollable. If the water is lower than 195 degrees, extraction will take longer than expected; hence, resulting in underdeveloped coffee. Remember, the hotter the water is, the more quickly it extracts.

Final thoughts

Home baristas who are looking to improve and master their coffee brewing will need to invest in the right coffee tools and accessories.

You will need a coffee grinder to ensure that you grind your coffee beans to the fineness or coarseness that best suits your preferred brew method and extraction. A water filter is also needed if you have hard water to soften the water a bit. Not only will it result in good-tasting coffee, it can also protect your coffee machine from damage. Don’t forget to get yourself a digital scale to accurately weigh your beans and water. Remember, getting the right coffee to water ratio results in a consistent brew. Most importantly, you need a thermometer to ensure that you nail the coffee brewing temperature. By investing in all these coffee tools and accessories your end result will be a delicious, rich coffee.