Who doesn’t want to enjoy barista-quality coffee at home. Imagine savouring a café style beverage without waiting in long a queue or having to part with an eye-watering sum of money. It may sound too good to be true, but it’s not, and it’s easily done. If you’ve never home brewed coffee before and are just starting out, it pays to choose the right gear.
Here’s a helpful guide to the best coffee equipment for beginners, because we at Inglewood Coffee Roasters want you to enjoy the process as well as the taste.
Key Equipment to get Started
Below are the essential pieces of equipment to get any beginner started on their coffee making journey.
Equipment: Coffee maker/brewer
Why it Matters: This turns your beans and water into a drink.
Beginner Friendly Options: French press, Pour-over drippers, Moka pot and Espresso machines
Equipment: Grinder
Why it Matters: The quality of the grinder determines the extraction quality.
Beginner Friendly Options: Burr grinders are best for producing quality grounds.
Equipment: Scale
Why it Matters: Your coffee & water need to be measured to get repeatable results.
Beginner Friendly Options: A simple digital scale accurate to 0.1-1g is enough.
Equipment: Kettle
Why it Matters: Needed for pour-over or any method for which pouring slowly/precisely matters.
Beginner Friendly Options: A gooseneck kettle is ideal, but a regular kettle can also get the job done.
Equipment: Filters and accessories
Why it Matters: Help to refine flavour and make clean-up easier.
Beginner Friendly Options: Paper or metal filters, and a milk frother if you plan to enjoy milk-based drinks.
Recommended Brewers for beginners
Here are some specific coffee makers well-suited for those just starting out.
- French Press – inexpensive and gives rich flavour with minimal fuss.
- Pour-over setup – affordable and easy to use, giving you control over variables like water temperature and pour speed.
- Moka Pot - good if you like a strong, espresso-style coffee but don’t want the price tag of an espresso machine.
- Espresso Machine (entry-level) – provides good espresso shots and has automatic milk frothing.
A Simple Starter Setup Idea
Making quality coffee at home doesn’t have to be expensive. You can build a solid beginner setup, without breaking the bank:
- A pour-over dripper or French press
- A burr grinder (electric or a good manual)
- A digital scale
- A kettle
- Good quality fresh beans
- Airtight container (for proper storage of beans)
With these pieces of equipment, you can make excellent coffee, discover what you like (strong or light, clean or rich), and then decide what to invest in next (e.g. espresso machine, better grinder, etc.).
Common Pitfalls &Tips
Even the most experienced of coffee enthusiasts can slip up and make a mistake when brewing at home. Here’s what to avoid and what you should make a habit:
- Buying an espresso machine that has a cheaply made grinder is a frequent mistake - a poor grind ruins espresso.
- Many cheap machines or tools can do the job, but extremely low-quality equipment may produce low quality coffee, which can be frustrating and lead to discouragement.
- Keep things clean! Clean filters, clean grinders, and descale machines - flavour suffers fast.
- Experiment! Taste your coffee, try different beans, adjust grind size or brew time. You’ll learn more by doing than just reading.