Some of Our Favorite Barista Tools
Stepping up to a brand new machine can be both exhilarating and also slightly intimidating. If you haven't come from a barista background (or even if you have), the first experiences can be exciting, challenging, and even frustrating. However, with a bit of practice, and the help of a few accessories and tools, the experience can be one you'll look forward to every morning.
Choosing the right espresso machine is an important decision, but what about the accessories? Here is a short list of must-haves. Not required, of course, but they certainly are the icing on the cake.
Scales
Coffee is precise. Finding the proper ratio between coffee and water and repeating that result every time is a difficult thing to do, especially without a scale. The Acaia Lunar is our favorite here at Clive. It's on the pricier side but worth every penny. For something a bit more affordable, we love the Timemore Nano Scale.
Tampers
First, finding a tamper that feels just right in your hand and aids in achieving that nice consistent tamp is key to great espresso.
For a nice introductory tamper at a great price, we like the LUCCA Espresso Tamper tamper which has a heavy duty stainless steel base that will cover the coffee and sit flush with the sides of the portafilter basket. The handle is smooth and the combination of steel with black matches most of our favorite machines.
If you are looking for something a little more unique, the handcrafted Clive Tamper offers a variety of gorgeous woods that can be matched to all our machines that offer custom wood options made right here in our wood shop in Portland, OR.
Last but not least, we've become big fans of the Saint Anthony Industries Levy tamper and Wedge distribution tool. These depth-calibrated tampers can be adjusted to ensure a level tamp of the same depth every single time. They're made in the USA and their heavy industrial feel is balanced with the walnut inlay on top.
Tamping Mats
Having a clean, dedicated space for perfecting your tamp is a huge benefit. We love the grippy and sound-damped surface created by the Cafelat Corner Tamping Mat. It also protects your counter and portafilter, keeps excess grounds in a central spot, and is easily removable for a quick rinse in the sink.
Knock Boxes
Next, the stainless steel Motta Knock Box is a beautiful solution for removing spent grounds from the portafilter on a sound damping rubber surface (carefully protecting your portafilter from scratching), while also matching the polished stainless steel on your machine.
Cups
When it comes to serving that fine shot of espresso, a quality demitasse, cappuccino or latte cup can further enhance the experience. We love Ancap cups for their classic white simplicity and styling. If you want something modern with a bit more weight, you can't go wrong with the Fellow Junior 2.3 oz cups. In matte black or white with a stunning copper bottom, these are ones you won’t want to put away in your cabinet. For something with a truly unique design that's also made here in the USA, we recommend the notNeutral Vero glasses.
Frothing Pitchers
Rhino and Cafelat offer affordable 12oz and 20oz frothing pitchers. These pitchers are made with high-quality stainless steel and the perfect narrow spout that offers the control needed to pour proper latte art such as hearts, rosettas, and tulips with silky smooth microfoam.
Cleaning
Lastly, we recommend picking up a bottle of Urnex Biocaf Espresso Machine Cleaner and any of our grouphead brushes. Cleaning the grouphead will ensure your machine is well cared for and that you will continue to have optimal flavor for years to come. The Pallo Coffeetool Three In One Group Brush also includes a poker to keep your steam wand clean.