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Coffee can get pricey, quick.
Sure, theyre nice to have, and theyll improve the flavor of your coffee, however incrementally.
To help you out, Ive compiled a list of the five coffee accessories I cant live without.
Everything on this list is just $113 (combined!)
and many are often on sale who said coffee has to be an expensive hobby?
Its extraction time and volume.
Most at-home espresso machines dont have integrated dosing and timing systems, so we need to do it ourselves.
You should be aiming for a 1:2 for a standard shot and a 1:3 for a lungo.
So for 18g of coffee in your portafilter basket, youll want around 32g of espresso.
Which, with a coffee scale, it’s possible for you to monitor to the 0.1g.
This KitchenTour scale is fantastic because of its 0.1g precision and easy-to-use timer.
Vacuum seal for freshness
Coffee beans are only at their prime for around seven days after roasting.
If you want to lengthen their freshness, youll want to get a decent vacuum seal canister.
I use the DeLonghi vacuum canister that came with my DeLonghi La Specialista Opera coffee machine.
Theres a dial on the top of the canister so you could mark what day you sealed the beans.
Time to tamp
Tamping your espresso is integral to a nuanced and complex shot.
Ideally, you want to be tamping your coffee with 30 pounds of pressure.
Youve got the standard flat tamper, which is what Ill recommend here as its easier for beginners.
One thing you better be aware of is the diameter of your portafilter basket.
Most at-home espresso machines use 51mm-58mm baskets.
So if your machine has a 51mm portafilter, you obviously wont be able to use a 58mm tamper.
This simple tamper is designed to replace the flimsy tampers some espresso machines come with without breaking the bank.
Knock it off
Forget running to the trash after every espresso shot.
When youre finished, you’re free to easily compost or trash the spent coffee.
The best thing about this knock box is that its dishwasher safe.
But thats just me I try not to use the dishwasher at all.
Coffee for lazy days
Cant be bothered to make an espresso but still want a great coffee?
The V60 dripper is a fantastic little gadget that looks inconspicuous but is actually delicious.
In my4 star review of the V60, I praised its ease of use and easy maintenance.
I love this dripper because of how simple it is to master youll be experimenting in no time.
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