Making coffee is both a ritual and, at the same time, an ordinary action. People know a vast number of ways to make coffee. From discovering the exceptional properties of ground grains, people do not get tired of experimenting with this drink. They come up with all the new cooking options that maximize their taste. Every coffee lover sooner or later thinks about how to start conducting coffee experiments at home. This was especially facilitated by the pandemic when favorite coffee shops closed. Here is everything you should know about home coffee bar accessories.
List Of Coffee Accessories For Home
It should be noted that any espresso machine today is perhaps the best choice in terms of taste, coffee aroma, and the price of the device itself. In addition, such machines are quite easy to clean, and the quality of brewed coffee does not change from year to year. Now the choice of coffee equipment is very wide: for home, for office, differ in functionality, productivity, and reliability. Let’s list the devices that are still indispensable reliable options.
Coffee Machine
This is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “making coffee at home.” Coffee machines are different - from fully manual to super-automatic. Manual ones require coffee skills, some physical strength to take care of the machine. Therefore, it is not ideal for the home coffee bar accessories list.
Super-automatic machines are compact. They are cleaned without the operator’s help and have an in-built coffee grinder and milk foamer. These aggregates are traditionally considered the most comfortable for home. But, on the other hand, a super-machine has one significant disadvantage - high price. Therefore, you need to buy a coffee machine consciously if:
- you drink coffee every day;
- you do not have time for manual brewing methods;
- there is little free space in the kitchen.
Then the super-automatic coffee machine will become your new friend.
How To Choose Espresso Machine For Home?
The main thing when choosing a device is your taste preferences. If you like filtered coffee, it is best to buy a drip coffee maker. For espresso, and if you like to make different coffee drinks from it, an automatic espresso machine will be a good choice. Siphon or geyser models are suitable for those who prefer strong coffee.
Power is another main characteristic of home coffee bar accessories. Power affects the taste of the finished drink. In this case, it is worth considering how strong and rich the drink should be:
- low power (up to about 800 W) prepares stronger, richer, slightly bitter, real coffee;
- high power will make the drink faster, and respectively, it will not be so rich, weaker in taste.
Heating or automatic maintenance of temperature.
The built-in coffee grinder will help grind grains to the necessary size to prepare the tastiest coffee. However, this option considerably increases the cost of the coffee machine.
The timer will help to prepare a drink always on time.
Thanks to the water indicator, it is possible to achieve an ideal ratio of grains and water.
These are not all options that are important to consider, so when choosing a particular type of espresso machine, it is worth reading its technical parameters to make sure that the coffee machine will benefit your home.
A quality espresso machine, even the simplest, can make excellent coffee. So you decide if you want to spend more money on a device with a timer, auto power-off, and other useful but optional features.
Automatic Drip Coffee Maker
Another good option for home coffee bar accessories is a drip coffee maker. The principle of its work is simple: in a special compartment in the form of a funnel, you put a paper filter and fill the required amount of ground grain. Then pour water and press the button. The water heats up, fills the funnel, and flows through the grain into a small kettle. In 3-5 minutes, you get a rich coffee prepared by the method of pour-over.
The option with a drip coffee maker is suitable if you have a small budget and drink coffee every day, but you have little knowledge in brewing. The standard recipe for drip coffee is 60 grams of ground beans per 1 liter of water. If you want a more decadent drink, you can add a little more grain, and if more watery - more water.
Pour Over
This is a ceramic funnel with spiral walls and a thin paper filter. The method was invented in Japan in 1908. For a long time, it was considered the best way to make coffee in the Land of the Rising Sun, and in recent years it has gained popularity around the world.
The main feature of the pour-over is the funnel angle of 60°. According to many experts, you can use any type of coffee for your drink, but Arabica is the best. Both mono-varieties and blends of Arabica are suitable for brewing.
The whole process of brewing in a pour-over is as follows:
- Take 17 grams of medium-roasted coffee and 240 ml of water heated to 91-94 ° C per serving. The grains must be medium-fine, like coarse salt.
- The pour-over is placed on a mug or jug, and the filter is placed inside. With this method, the dishes must be heated and, at the same time, moisten the filter with water so that the drink does not acquire a paper taste.
- Ground coffee is poured into a filter, leveled, and slightly moistened with water (about 20 ml). Wait 30 seconds, then pour the remaining water into a thin stream. Pouring is performed in circular motions, trying not to touch the walls of the funnel.
- When all the coffee is in the jug, the pour-over is removed, and the drink is poured into cups. This method is primary, but nothing stops you from experimenting with both coffee varieties and brewing time.
French Press
The French press is often used to brew tea, but if you are looking for alternative ways to make coffee, add this device to your home coffee bar accessories. The French mechanism was invented in 1920 by the Melior Company. It is a narrow and tall glass vessel with a piston inside. The piston’s end is a filter that allows you to clean the drink from the sediment.
To brew coffee this way, follow our instructions:
- Remove the piston cover from the French press.
- Fill with coffee and water.
- Close the lid and leave to infuse for about 4 minutes.
- Press the piston to lower the filter and squeeze the coffee grounds.
- Pour the drink into cups through a special spout on a French press without removing the cover.
Before brewing this way, it is desirable to cover the glass flask with hot water so that the cooling of the drink is not too fast. Ready-made coffee should be consumed immediately after brewing, as the glass vessel cannot store heat for a long time.
There are many recipes for the French press and opportunities for experiments with grinding, grammage of ground coffee, the amount of water, and brewing time. The most popular recipe is 6 grams of coffee per 100 ml of water. It is recommended to brew for about 6 minutes.
Coffee Grinder
The coffee grinder should be purchased when you know a lot about brewing and want to adjust your recipes. Coffee grinders are different:
- manual, when you turn the handle and grind coffee on your own;
- electric, where you just press a button, and the process goes without your direct participation.
The price depends on the type of machine, so focus on your budget and what is potentially more convenient for you. Important note: it is worth paying attention to devices with metal mills.
How To Choose A Coffee Grinder?
The size of a coffee grinder
Electric coffee grinders can be very small or large, similar to a medium-sized stationary blender. The size of the gadget depends on its power and the capacity of the coffee bean bowl, so it is worth deciding in advance which solution suits you the most:
- small that is enough to make several cups of drink;
- large models easily process several hundred grams of coffee beans at a time.
The first option is a must-have for your home coffee bar accessories. It is suitable for everyday use, as a small coffee grinder provides the daily amount of ground coffee needed for a family. The large grinder of several, and the second is more suitable for offices, cafes or shops, and places where coffee is taken daily by large numbers of employees or visitors. If you still want to buy a stationary coffee grinder for home, we recommend choosing small models that are quite compact but powerful.
Grinding degree adjustment
The most straightforward coffee grinders of the budget segment do not provide the ability to adjust the grind, but more advanced models are usually equipped with this option. Adjustable fraction coffee grinders allow you to grind coffee beans following any coffee recipe. The grinding setting can be smooth or step, automatic, manual, or electronic, depending on the model. More advanced models can provide up to several dozen grinding steps.
Design and additional options
Let's start with the additional features of coffee grinders. The simplest models usually do not provide any special features. They have only the ability to turn the device on and off. More advanced gadgets are a bit more expensive, but they also have more interesting functionality.
Scales
It is necessary to control the amount of grain and water you use in the brewing process. It is not necessary to buy scales like a barista in a coffee shop - for home, and ordinary kitchen scales are perfect.
Kettle
It is also an important option for your home coffee bar accessories. You need a kettle with the ability to set the heating temperature for manual brewing methods. But it is also worth buying it only when you decide to dive more seriously into the art of making coffee. For starters, the most common kitchen kettle is suitable. You just heat the water to a boil, then remove the lid and give the water 2-3 minutes to cool.
Hand Cappuccino Maker
This device is necessary only if you like coffee drinks with foam and warm milk or cream, and you want to learn how to make such a drink at home.
Coffee Storage Container
You may have heard that coffee is best stored in the refrigerator. This is a mistake. There are temperature differences, light, and, what is most harmful, foreign odors. The fridge will quickly spoil even the most expensive and high-quality grain.
How to store coffee beans
Properly stored, grain coffee keeps it fresh for one to two months after roasting. It is most often stored in bags, jars, or plastic containers.
Packages with a ziplock and degassing valve are best for storage. They are opaque, protected from moisture and air, and the valve allows you to remove carbon dioxide emitted by freshly roasted grains.
You may add ceramic and glass jars with airtight lids to your home coffee bar accessories. Their advantage is that these jars, like bags, protect the coffee from moisture and odors. The disadvantage is that there will always be air inside - this means that the pot will continue oxidative processes, and coffee will lose its freshness.
The coffee devices will do your job in brewing coffee. All you have to do is decide the type of coffee you like. There is a lot to try and experiment with here. Make your daily routine bright, atmospheric, and enjoyable. Every day will be memorable with the perfect home coffee and your gatherings with friends and family at home - better.