Similar to freshly baked bread, a hot cup of coffee fills the senses with a strong aroma and mouth-watering flavor. To find and grind the beans, to achieve that exquisite crème, there is passion behind the process as well. As a result, it is but understandably so that to dive into the coffee world is somewhat intimidating and confusing with all the equipment and accessories needed. But fear not, we have rounded up the basic equipment you will need for your coffee addiction.

Coffee Bean Canister

Whatever kind of coffee beans you prefer, it is always best to use fresh beans for the best-tasting coffee. The four main enemies of your beans are air, moisture, heat, and light. You may easily preserve the flavor and freshness of your coffee beans before grinding and brewing by storing your beans at room temperature in an opaque, airtight container to keep their freshly roasted flavor for as long as possible. Although coffee beans can look attractive, stay away from clear canisters since they can cause your coffee’s flavor to suffer. There are canisters that are specifically marketed for storing coffee beans, but you can just use any airtight or vacuum container.

Digital Food Scale

You need to go beyond eyeballing a few cups of water and measuring your grounds with a huge scoop if you want to upgrade your brewing. To ensure a consistent bean-to-water ratio, you should instead use a digital scale that can account for weights as little as one-tenth of a gram. Depending on your brewing method, the ideal coffee to water ratio varies from 1:12 to 1:17, according to professional baristas. You can be sure that you are using the correct amount of water and ground coffee every time by weighing them.

Coffee Grinder

One of the essential components of a home coffee setup is a great grinder. Even many coffee experts agree that the most crucial piece of coffee equipment you can own is a dependable grinder. And when it comes to grinding beans, you can either go manual or electric. A manual coffee grinder is ideal for coffee lovers who want a more hands-on approach to their brew. It takes about a minute to grind, which is sufficient enough to give you the impression that you earned your coffee. On the other hand, if you want a less labored approach, you can opt to get an electric grinder instead.

Coffee Maker

There are A LOT of different types of coffee makers depending on how you want to make your coffee, but we’ll categorize it into three for easier understanding: electric, manual, and stovetop. Electric coffee makers are the most convenient amongst the three for obvious reasons. One of the most widely used types of electric coffee makers are drip machines due to a combination of their simplicity of use, low cost, durability, and capacity to swiftly make coffee for one to four coffee drinkers at a time. On the other side of the expense spectrum is an espresso machine. The electric espresso machine is one of the more expensive varieties of coffee makers. While home espresso machines can be more expensive and labor-intensive than other types of household brewers, they can be worth it to the most ardent espresso drinker if you master your technique and can produce rich, excellent shots of brew like your favorite coffee shop. A few other electric coffee makers are thermal coffee makers, percolators, and siphon coffee makers.

For manual coffee makers, we have french press, aeropress, cold brew, and vietnamese. Both the French press and aeropress are simple to use, simple to clean, and portable enough to be brought on trips. Cold brew coffee, also referred to as “cold water extract,” can be diluted and served over ice or heated like regular coffee. The brew it produces is reputed to be less acidic than that of other kinds of equipment. The vietnamese coffee maker might be ideal for you if you want your coffee sweet and iced. To make the ideal cup of rich, sweet iced coffee, condensed milk, cream, and sugar are frequently added to Vietnamese coffee.

Last but not least, for stovetop coffee makers, the Moka pot is an easy and affordable substitute for a full-fledged home espresso machine. When combined with creamers, flavored syrups, or frothy steamed milk, it makes a thick, savory coffee that is rich and flavorful. This kind of coffee maker brews quickly and creates coffee that is similar to espresso.

You may read our Guide to Selecting an Espresso Coffee Maker for more tips and recommendations.

Milk Frother

For homemade lattes, cappuccinos, and macchiatos, a frother is great if you enjoy your coffee with a thick layer of decadent foam. Your drinks will appear and taste like they were created by a skilled barista, but in the convenience of your own home, by using a milk frother to add a coating of froth. Speaking of being your own personal expert barista, milk frothers are an excellent method to satisfy your daily coffee cravings at home. Making drinks at home is just as good as ordering them somewhere else, but it also saves you time and money.

Mugs

Depending on how you want to drink your coffee, you’re obviously going to need to pour your coffee into something after making them. But if you want to drink your coffee directly from the coffee pot, who’s to judge, right? To each his own. But, seriously, it would be of great convenience and to avoid confused looks to drink coffee on a mug or a travel mug. And while you’re at it, pick one that’ll make your coffee drinking experience fun and tasteful, but also, practical and functional.

When it comes to preparing coffee, there are a ton of options available – as we have enumerated a few above in the types of coffee makers you can choose from, from pour-over setups to bean samplers to machines that will keep the coffee flowing. It is best and practical to decide how you want to drink your coffee before purchasing any equipment to ensure that you have the appropriate setup. To some, drinking coffee has become a lifestyle while others are just in it for necessity – long hours of work with little to no work-life balance. Whatever is the reason behind your coffee addiction, it is necessary to know what will work best for you not only to avoid inconvenience and waste of money, but to also make your coffee experience a fun and exciting one.