Whether you're an aspiring barista, or you just want to make your own cappuccino at home, this guide is for you. I've covered the basic tools any coffee lover would need in the list below.
You may want some items, all of them, or maybe none and you just get a better idea of what to look for. These are all Amazon links, and I may earn a small commission from your purchase (it does not affect your buying price).
So here's my top picks for the Essential At Home Coffee Guide ! (in no particular order)
Espresso machine to last you for decades
Breville BES870XL Barista Express Espresso Machine, you can find it on Amazon here.
If you're looking for a big espresso machine, this the one you'll fall in love with. It's got everything, and a bit more.
Integrated burr grinder - check !
Dose control grinding - check !
Grind size dial - check !
Milk frothing wand - check !
Double show brew - check !
It's a big machine, yessir, and it'll brew like it's nobody's business. Due to the well thought-out settings and integrated mechanisms it's durable, and the kind of machine you'll find yourself brewing with for the next 20 years or so.
French press to get a more flavorful coffee
Bodum Chambord French Press Coffee Maker, 51 Ounce, 1.5 Liter, you can find it on Amazon here.
Possibly the best French press out there, this Bodum beauty can fit 51 oz of cofffee ! It's elegant, simple to use, and you can easily see when the coffee is done.
Remember to keep the 4 minute timer on, and you'll always have a great coffee with this one.
Only the beaker, filter and plunger are dishwasher safe.
Cezve/ibrik for Turkish coffee
CopperBull 15 oz Cezve/Ibrik for Turkish coffee, stovetop pot. You can find it on Amazon here.
If you're in love with more exotic coffee styles, then you have to try the Turkish coffee ! And do it the right way, with an original Turkish coffee pot, made of thick and heavy copper.
Use the finest ground coffee you have an brew a concentrated liquor to remind you of hot, sandy nights.
This cezve can brew up to 15 oz of coffee, which is more than enough in Turkish coffee cup sizes - they take theirs very small and concentrated, like an espresso.
Important: if you have an induction cooker, check to see if it's compatible with copper. Some aren't and accidents may happen.
Chemex for the best pour-over
CHEMEX Pour-Over Glass Coffeemaker - Classic Series - 8-Cup. You can find it on Amazon here.
If you've found yourself to be a pour-over coffee enthusiast, then you'll definitely know that Chemex is the only way to go. This version brews up to 8 cups, and comes packaged on its own.
Chemex filters can be found on Amazon here, a 100 filter/pack deal.
Aeropress for a quick espresso
AeroPress Coffee and Espresso Maker with Tote Bag, 1 to 3 cups per press. You can find it on Amazon here.
Want some espresso, but don't want a big machine ? No worries, the AeroPress offers an experience incredibly similar to espresso. It may be a little different, but boy des it pack a caffeine punch !
The best part is you can take this little press with you wherever, as it's light, travel-friendly, and doesn't need to be plugged in. As long as you have hot water, you're good to go.
Cold brew jar, for hot summer days
Cold Brew Coffee Maker - Glass Pitcher, Stainless Steel Spout, Removable Filter (1 Gallon). You can find it on Amazon here.
Do you love cold brew ? Of course you do, it's the only thing that beats the summer heat if you're a coffee lover ! And I know you may be sneaking some cold brew in the cold season as well, I'm not here to judge.
As any cold brew fan knows, it takes a long time to brew so the wait needs to be worth it. Meaning there better be more than 1 cup of ice cold coffee waiting for you in the fridge after 16 hours of waiting.
Luckily for you, this bad boy is a 1 gallon jar. Allow for the ground coffee and the filter, and you've got a little over a 64 oz of coffee waiting for you, as cold as it gets.
Moka pot for creamy coffee
Bialetti Express Moka Pot, 9-Cup, Aluminum Silver. You can find it on Amazon here.
If all you're looking for is a nice cup of coffee that still has some kick, then you'll love this Moka pot. It's got crema, it's got body, and it's got a whole lot of flavor.
You're going to get one of the most authentic Italian cups of coffee with this Bialetti Moka pot, and it can brew up to 9 cups ! Keep in mind that Moka cups are smaller than standard American cups. This one brews up to 18.5 oz of coffee.
Nespresso machine
Nespresso Essenza Mini Original Espresso Machine by De'Longhi, Red. You can find it on Amazon here.
If you're in love with Nestle's line of coffee then you'll definitely wat their line of coffee cup machines. Convenient, compact, and very quick. Just pop the the coffee cup in the machine, press the on button, and brew your very own espresso.
Keurig K-cup machine
Keurig K-Classic Coffee Maker, Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Brewer, 6 to 10 Oz. You can find it on Amazon here.
If you're more of a Keurig kind of person, then you may like their coffee maker better. It can brew any cup size between 6, 8, and 10 oz with a single button. Just pop the coffee in, push the button, and you're good to go.
Basic coffee maker, but with a few fancy options
Ninja CE251 Programmable Brewer, with 12-cup Glass Carafe. You can find it on Amazon here.
If take a gander at my site, you'll notice that I'm in love with coffee makers. They're kind of old school, but charming in their own way. Just like coffee cups, you can simply push a button and go about your business for the rest of the morning. When you come back to the kitchen the coffee is ready and waiting.
This particular model from Ninja has a programmable brewer, meaning you can set it up the night before and it will brew you coffee right as you wake up.
It can brew up to 12 cups, so if you have a big family (or lots of friends) and need a whole pot of coffee at once, it will help you out.
At-home roaster, roast your own beans
Fresh Roast SR540 at home coffee bean roaster. You can find it on Amazon here.
If you'd like to get the freshest possible coffee, then you're going to have to roast and grind it yourself. An at home roaster like the fresh roast will help you roast up to 4 oz of beans in one go. It has 9 levels of heat and fan strength, and a real-time temperature display so you know that's going on.
Gooseneck electric kettle
Bean Envy Gooseneck Pour Over Coffee Kettle - 40oz/1.2L. You can find it on Amazon here.
If you're making pour over coffee, or French press or AeroPress then you'll definitely need this gooseneck kettle. Why ? Because it's very easy to control, and has a built-in thermometer so you know just how hot the water is.
And for pour-over coffee a gooseneck spout gives you the best water control possible.
Burr grinder for that perfect grind size
OXO 8717000 BREW Conical Burr Coffee Grinder. You can find it on Amazon here.
A burr grinder is what you're going to need if you want to grind fresh coffee. The burr is superior to the blade, because it can grind evenly and bring everything to the same size. A blade grinder will give inconsistent results, and you'll often end up with varying sizes each time.
Kitchen scales w/timer for the perfect pour-over
Hario V60 Drip Coffee Scale and Timer. You can find it on Amazon here.
Whether you're making pour over or just want to get the perfect dose of coffee for a shot of espresso, you're going to need a kitchen scale. If precision if what you're after, then weighting and timing the coffee is a good way to go.
And yes, it does have a built-in timer, just perfect for pour-over, which needs to be timed a little differently then other coffee methods.
Milk frother for perfect lattes
Miroco Milk Frother, Electric Milk Steamer (hot and cold). You can find it on Amazon here.
Practicing latte art ? Then a great milk frother is what you'll need. It can watm the milk, froth it hot and froth it cold. What else do you need ? It honsetly sounds like an even better idea than using the wand on an espresso machine.
Coffee travel mug, from basic to glittery
Civago 20oz Tumbler with Lid and Straw, Powder Coated. You can find it on Amazon here.
Need your coffee on the go ? The you're going to want a good travel mug. This one is stainless steel, double walled, insulated, and comes in a wide array of colors.
The straw it comes with is reusable, so if you ever want to sip on your coffee with a straw there's no point in buying an entire pack.
