Unless you are one already, you’ll probably never pull a perfect espresso or make latte art every morning like a pro. And that’s alright. However, your curiosity about the tricks, techniques, and simple tools that can make your coffee look like it’s been prepared by a cold-blooded professional will never die.  You can enjoy coffee in different styles with different coffee appliances and accessories. I have compiled a list of what to buy as a coffee beginner.

The five items are the basic requirements for making cafe-quality coffee from the comfort of your home.

1. Hand Grinder

Triple Tree Hand Coffee Mill

A decent hand grinder, though not the best tool you could have in your coffee-making shtick, is a great thing to own. You know why? Because it guarantees freshly ground coffee (better than Supermarket pre-ground coffee or worst yet, instant coffee).  A high-end hand grinder will give you flavorful and rich coffee grounds suitable for different drinks including espresso. Many people seem to enjoy hand grinding but I am not a big fun as it always leaves me with a sore arm. 

Nonetheless, a hand grinder’s biggest perk is easy portability. Most brands have a convenient size that wouldn’t crowd your kitchen and you can easily fit in your travel bag. 

The triple tree hand grinder is a great beginner option. It is relatively inexpensive and incredibly easy to use. Its conveniently long steel hand saves you some effort. Moreover, the adjustable grind control allows you to grind for your brew of choice.

The Triple tree hand grinder has a ceramic burr which is a fine quality as it wouldn’t alter your coffee beans’ quality with heat. 

In addition to the already mentioned fine qualities, the Triple Tree Hand Grinder has the added attraction of a cool, aesthetic build. Plus, it comes with convenient accessories; a brush, a scoop, and glass jars that allow you to brew and enjoy your favorite coffee anywhere. Cleaning the cute little thing is breezy. can quickly disassemble it into parts for easy washing.

2. A Moka Pot

Bialetti Moka Express

You have a decent grinder that can give you a good enough grind, though not for pulling traditional espresso, but for coffee half as strong as espresso. Even though espresso is not the pinnacle of coffee brewing, it is the method that extracts the most flavor and character from coffee beans. As a beginner, you should aim at getting the most out of your beans, especially if you want to try different coffee drinks. A fine grind, and percolation are what you need  to extract as much flavor from your beans. The best beginner-friendly percolation tools that will apply adequate pressure to your coffee ground and extract the most flavor are the aeropress and moka pot. 

You have probably heard somewhere that an aeropress can make espresso – It can’t. Espresso is very specific and only an espresso machine can produce the necessary concentrations and pressures required to pull a perfect cup. A moka pot will give you strong coffee that is textured and intense with a thick mouthfeel that espresso often has. It is a versatile, and sometimes tricky brewer. The big challenge with the brewer is that it can get super-hot, allowing incredibly hot water to pass through the coffee, resulting in a bitter taste. 

To curb bitterness, you can quickly rinse the pot under a cold water tap to cool it down immediately and stop the brewing process.

The Bialetti Moka Express is a premium Moka pot. With the right technique, it will give you the best tasting cups. The Bialetti build quality is solid. It comes with an ergonomic handle and an easy to clean material that is suitable for various heat sources (gas, induction, and electric stove tops). According to the manufacturer, a simple rinse with water will sufficiently clean the pot. This confirms the misconception (probably invented by a lazy person) that leaving a coffee build-up on the pot enhances your drinks’ flavor with more usage. The build-up is simply dirt. I recommend giving the pot a thorough wash after every use for the best coffee-making experience.

The Bialetti Moka Express comes in different sizes. You can go for the cheaper 1 cup or 3-cup size if you are on a tight budget. However, if you are seeing a future in hosting and wowing guests with trendy coffee drinks, then go for the 6 or 9-cup model.

The Best Moka Pot Brewing Technique

Step 1: Put boiling water in the base of the Moka pot.

The pot will bring the water’s temperature down to the lows of 90 degrees Celsius which is perfect for putting on the heat and beginning the brewing process. You can boil the water in the base of the unit from the start but let it cool a bit before beginning the brewing process so you can get a more suitable brewing time and temperatures for ultimate extraction.

Step 2: Fill up the basket to the brim.

The standard brewing ratio for Moka pots is 10:1 brewing ratio. the ratio varies according to the roast level of your beans. 

Step 3: Puck prep.

Tap the coffee in the basket to settle it down. You can use a needle distribution tool to distribute the coffee grounds and to remove any existing clamps.

Step 4: An aeropress filter.

Place the filter underneath the top part of the Moka unit. it will add an extra layer of filtration giving you a cleaner cup and a slightly better extraction. You can wet the filter with a little water to keep it in place when prepping your pot.

Step 5: Brew

Begin the brewing process and keep all your senses alert to avoid the angry, hot sputtering phase in the end caused by uncondensed steam from the boiler passing through the coffee. When you hear the first bubbling, quickly run the pot under cold water to stop the brewing process, unless you like bitter coffee.

Handheld Milk Frother

BBKeeplax Milk Frother Handheld Foam Maker

A handheld milk frother is a must-have if you love lattes, café au laits, and cold foams like the trendy Dalgona. A high-quality milk frother will quickly aerate milk or cream to give you a dense, café-quality micro-foam that you can use to make a wide variety of milk-based coffee drinks. The BBKeeplax is a wildly popular handheld milk frother with a 4.6-star rating on Amazon. Its popularity is for all the right reasons.

For starters, the frother comes in an ideal multi-functional design. It is incredibly lightweight and has a comfortable handle that makes one-hand operation a breeze. The lightweight build also makes it a fantastic portable choice. Moreover, the frother comes with two stainless steel replacement whisk heads for whipping cream and whisking eggs. Besides enjoying a delicious creamy texture in your coffee drinks, hot chocolate, or milkshakes, you have added convenience for your baking.

The BBKeeplax frother is suitable for different scenes. Its long-lasting built-in 1200 mAh rechargeable battery will last through your camping or traveling escapades. You can also take it to the office, and if the battery runs out, you can quickly recharge it with a USB cable.

4. An airtight canister

Phosphene Coffee Canister Airtight 16OZ

 A dedicated coffee canister is the only way to keep your coffee beans fresh for long. The Phosphene coffee canister checks out in all aspects. It is carefully crafted with top-quality, food-safe, stainless steel metal. Its flip-top lid is also made with high-end BPA-free plastic.

Besides its rugged build, the Phosphene coffee canister has a unique design that will keep your coffee beans fresh. It has a one-way carbon dioxide valve that will keep air out and prevent your coffee beans from getting oxidized.

Another mind-blowing feature is the numerical day and month tracker on the lid. You can set the storage and expiry dates to track the freshness of your beans without referring to the packaging.

The premium quality spoon attached to the canister is a thoughtful convenient addition. You don’t have to fumble for a spoon to make a cup of coffee whenever you want. What’s more, the spoon is a perfectly measured portion for more precise brewing.

5. Subscription coffee

Driftaway Coffee

The most underrated thing a coffee novice can get is a reliable coffee subscription. As mentioned earlier, good coffee begins with great beans. A coffee subscription is the ultimate coffee-beginner essential as it offers the rare chance of enjoying the most delicious, exotic coffee flavors. The Driftaway coffee subscription is among the best-rated on the market. The Brooklyn-based roaster has gotten mad rave since it started offering personalized coffee subscriptions in 2014. They are a top favorite for many extra-picky coffee lovers because they deliberately cater to customers’ preferences.

Driftaway’s coffee is subjective as they offer sampler kits with profiles ranging in roasts and origins. Each subscription begins with a sampler kit with four coffees to learn your preferences and plan your future shipments. Best of all, you can customize your subscription by choosing delivery frequency, subscription duration, and amount of coffee to suit your needs. Basically, you would never run out of coffee mid-month.

All the coffee at Driftaway comes from different origins and is rooted in sustainability and social consciousness. The coffees are single origin, and there aren’t any blends or decaf options.

When it comes to taste and flavors, there is something for everyone. Your subscription will begin with a tasting kit with four flavors; fruity, classic, bold, and balanced. The fruity roast is the lightest and originates from African countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, and Tanzania. You will love its vibrant floral, honey, and citrus notes. Read my article on the Best Kenyan Coffee to have a more comprehensive understanding of the flavor profiles.

The Classic roast is Driftaway’s medium roast and is smooth and savory. It originates from South American countries like Brazil and is a prime choice if your love a sweet flavor. You will love its cocoa and nuts notes.

The balanced roast is a light-medium roast with sweet chocolate and citrus notes. The beans originate from Central American countries like Nicaragua and Guatemala.

The bold roast lives up to its name as it is Driftaway’s darkest roast. The beans originate from different places, including Uganda and Peru, with a sweet fruity flavor with nuts and chocolate notes.

FAQs

1. What do I need to make a coffee station?

The most basic constituent of your coffee station should be high-quality coffee beans stored in air-tight canisters. Other items to add to the station include your coffee machine of choice, a mug rack for displaying mugs, spoons, sweeteners, and decor for an aesthetic appeal.

2. What do I need to make a coffee travel kit?

A complete coffee travel kit constitutes an airtight storage container, a hand grinder, a travel kettle, a travel mug, a coffee maker, a thermos, and a carry case.

Coffee-Beginner Essentials: In Sum

Coffee for beginners can be tricky as everyone wants you to try everything. Whether you have established your preferences or not, you can have the best coffee at home if you have high-quality coffee beans and equipment. The five items listed in this guide are all you need to make the best black or iced coffee for a beginner. Some items, like the BBKeeplax hand frother and the Triple tree hand grinder, are portable. You can bring them along when you travel to places with no coffee shops nearby.