There’s always room to up your game, and there are plenty of additional tools to help you make the best espresso possible. These are all pre-brewing tools that will set you up for the perfect brew.
Fellow Atmos Coffee Bean Canister ($40): Vacuum canisters are a great way to store coffee beans. By evacuating all the air in the chamber each time it is closed, Faro Atmos slows down the breakdown of the flavorful oils and chemicals found in freshly roasted beans.
OXO Conical Burr Grinder ($100): This is one of our top picks in our best coffee grinders guide and is perfect for espresso. Espresso requires a fine, even grind that can be easily ground with a burr grinder. Make sure to clean the burrs from time to time. Oxo makes maintenance easy with bean bins that can be easily disassembled without any hassle.
Bottomless Portafilter ($50): Nothing improves the experience of watching your espresso brew like a bottomless portafilter. It’s not because the coffee tastes better. The more you become aware of your mistakes and contradictions, the better you will become. Bottomless portafilters are difficult to handle, and if the grind is off or you grind too much, you can use a bottomless portafilter to watch the espresso cover the bottom of the filter and pour into your cup. However, be sure to double-check the area around your espresso machine’s group head (where the filter is attached). There are many standard sizes, so you’ll need to order the right one. The most common are 53 mm and 58 mm, and nearly all bottomless portafilters come in each of these sizes.
Crema Distributor & Tamp ($39): Once you’ve loaded the powders into the portafilter, the next step is to tamp them evenly and firmly. You should apply approximately 30 to 40 pounds of pressure. You can use a scale to accurately judge the feeling, but I think it’s better to apply pressure with just your upper body and take the shot out to see how it goes. If it’s too bitter, you’ve beaten it too hard. If there is too much moisture, you may not be tamping hard enough. A distributor (also called a leveler) makes it easy to get a flat surface for tamping. This has a tamp on one side and a distributor on the other, so just flatten the beans, flip this tool over, and give them a good whack. Be sure to get one that fits the perimeter of your machine’s portafilter.
Duralex Picardy Shot Glasses, Set of 6 ($20): These are generally my favorite shot glasses, but they also make great espresso shot glasses. It’s tall and wide enough to form a nice, airy crema on top, and it’s made of tempered glass. Since it is glass, it can withstand heat. It’s also perfect for serving small drinks such as macchiatos, which are espresso topped with a little foam.
