5 Essential Barista Accessories
Making a great cup of coffee requires a fair amount of knowledge and a bit of kit. But you shouldn’t just be relying on your espresso machine and grinder to do all the work; yes they might be the workhorses of your coffee shop (not to mention your staff, obviously!) but there are some other items of equipment that you’ll need to knock together some seriously cool coffees and make the somewhat tedious cleaning process that bit easier.
So without further ado, here’s a list of five of the best barista tools that will seriously take your coffee output to the next level.
Tamper
Tampers are used to pack the ground coffee into a tight puck.
If you don’t tamp your coffee, or do it incorrectly, then the water will haphazardly flow throughout the filter basket which will result in an uneven extraction which can affect the crema, taste and quality of your espresso – and nobody likes bad coffee!
There are a number of things to consider when choosing your tamper, with the most obvious one being its diameter. The majority of standard group handles have a width of 57mm, though a few popular smaller espresso machines have handle sizes of 53mm, so remember to check before you buy.
Another aspect to keep in mind is its overall design. If your baristas are going to be working in a fast-paced environment, then it’ll be imperative to purchase a tamper that has been ergonomically designed. We recommend buying a tamper that has a shaped handle and a solid metal base.
You can also get dynamometric tampers. These spring-loaded tampers can help regulate the amount of pressure used to compact the puck, ensuring consistency across the board. Some versions can even be altered.
You might be interested in: Anodized Aluminium Tamper (£19.99 – pictured), Aluminium Tamper (from £14.99), Dynamometric Tamper (£39.99)
Thermometer
Milk should, generally, be heated to around 65°C – any higher than that and you begin to run the risk of burning and ruining its flavour. Some baristas prefer to utilise a bit of guesswork here, but in our experience, it’s always better to rely on some empirical evidence from a thermometer.
Modern day barista thermometers have been specially designed for the coffee shop trade and a number of them come with a clip, enabling you to attach them to the side of your frothing jug.
Some can even be adjusted.
Two sizes available, prices start at £9.99.
Caffeine Wrench
Why use a number of different tools to perform simple maintenance on your espresso machine when just one will do?
The Pallo Caffeine wrench is affectionately known as the Swiss Army Knife of the barista world and it’s easy to see why. This multi-faceted little gadget is packed full of useful little features that make going through some routine cleaning tasks that bit easier.
You can use it as a wand tip wrench, filter basket pry, screwdriver, bottle opener, scraper and so much more. It really is a gadget that no coffee shop should be without!
Equip your baristas with the Caffeine Wrench for £6.99
Grounds Cleaning Brush
It’s an inevitable formality, but ground coffee can (and most likely will) get everywhere. Ergo, cleaning surfaces and your grinder can be a nightmare.
To make things easier, it’s important to have a cleaning brush to help your team with this most arduous of tasks.
There are few specific brushes available, each with a different bristle composition. Some, with metallic bristles, are suited to clean grinder burrs, whilst softer brushes are perfect for use on counters and other work surfaces.
Brush up your skills with either the Light-haired Brush (pictured) or the Grinder Teeth Brush (both £3.50)
Shot Glass
Volume does matter.
Etched shot glasses are used by many a barista to check that everything is running smoothly in the extraction phase. If your espresso hits the mark, then you know that everything is working together in perfect harmony. However if it doesn’t, you’ll know that something is amiss.
The best shot glasses have etched markings, enabling you to quickly check espresso volumes. Another thing to look for is the composition of the glass itself.
Measure the perfect shot with our lined Pyrex glasses (£2.50 each)