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Espresso Accessories 101



You've just got your espresso machine and grinder setup, but you're not quite ready to start brewing your espresso yet. Your machine may come with its own tamper and portafilter, but there are a few knick-knacks you may or may not need on your arsenal to begin crafting your liquid gold. Some are absolute necessities, and some are just an aid in your espresso workflow. Either way, these accessories strive to improve your coffee experience in their own special way!


In this blog, we will be giving you a brief run-through of typical accessories found on most coffee bars, along with some honorary mentions.


These will be the accessories covered:

  1. Scale

  2. Tamper

  3. Distributor

  4. WDT

  5. Honorary Mentions


1. Scale



In our humble opinion, a scale is a true necessity and absolutely not optional.


If you want to get serious about your espresso, having the exact amount of ground coffee is one of the variables in deciphering the same delicious shot each time. It also prevents you from wasting your precious coffee beans as you’ll know how much you’re using to the gram.


Other than measuring the ground coffee, it can also help to measure your espresso output/yield along with the time taken.


Some scales we have in-store are the Eureka Presica Smart Coffee Scale, the Fellow Tally Pro, and the all-time barista favourite, the Acaia Lunar.






2. Tamper



The tamper also falls under the category of absolutely necessary when it comes to accessories.


Without tamping your coffee grounds, the brew water would flow right through the portafilter, causing channeling, inconsistent extraction, making your espresso sour. It could also spurt out of the portafilter and make a mess!


The machine you purchase will most likely include a tamper already, but different tampers bring different things to the table.


For example, the Force Tamper allows you to apply consistent pressure without having to calculate how much force you're putting in, and a more high-tech option like the Puqpress Mini gives you the same pressure each time without the risk of tamping at an incorrect angle.





3. Distributor



Also known as a leveler, a distributor helps you to even the bed of coffee grounds.


Instead of using your fingers or a spoon to even it out if the ground coffee is accumulated unevenly, a distributor creates a flat surface within the portafilter basked, giving you the perfect starting to point to tamp.


Some levelling tools are adjustable, which allow you to set the depth according to your coffee dosage and portafilter size.


You could potentially skip this step in your workflow altogether, but we believe that it's incredibly useful for bringing out more balanced flavours in your espresso by ensuring consistent water flow during the extraction.


Our favourite distributors include the Pesado Gravity Distributor, the Rocket Espresso 2-in-1 Tamper & Leveler (which already has a built-in tamper to kill two birds with one stone), the Saint Anthony Industries BT Wedge Distribution Tool.






4. WDT



Short for Weiss Distribution Technique, a WDT tool (a.k.a a declumper) uses needles to break up coffee clumps. It was named after John Weiss, the man who developed the technique for grinders that produced excessive clumps which affected espresso extractions.


Rather than investing in a whole new grinder, using a WDT tool is a cost-effective and simple way to improve your shot in less than 10 seconds.


The BH Tools AutoComb is the most well-known WDT tool used by baristas in cafes, competitions and even at home. Other effective WDT tools include the Pesado Clump Crusher and the BH Tools

Comb.






5. Honorary Mentions


There are a few notable coffee accessories that deserve a mention, which can elevate your shot but maybe in a slightly different way.



A shot mirror is one of these things. It allows you to watch your extraction to see if there's any chanelling or blockages without having to squat down and stare into the grouphead, where the espresso could potentially spurt in your face. Did we mention it looks absolutely cool too?


Some espresso machines like the Slayer Single Group and Slayer Steam Single have built-in shot mirrors at the drip tray, but an external shot mirror is a great way to catch all angles of your liquid gold.



Another accessory when it comes to espresso can also be a vacuum-sealed coffee container. While storing coffee in the bag it came with is completely fine if you finish it quickly, a coffee container would be your best option if you don't plan to finish it any time soon.



The Fellow Atmos Vacuum Cannister keeps air out of your coffee and prevents oxidation that leads to dull-tasting coffee. A sealed container also helps to maintain the vibrant aromas and taste that makes freshly-roasted coffee enjoyable.




 

There are definitely more coffee accessories that can be found in the specialty coffee sphere, from puck screens to 3D printed accessories specially designed to fit onto your espresso machine or grinder.


We believe these are the basics from which you can start to notice subtle changes in your espresso's taste, consistency and brewing process. As always, do reach out to our friendly sales specialists if you have any questions about these accessories!


Want to start building your collection of coffee accessories for your coffee bar? Check out our website today and enjoy free shipping on all deliveries until 6 April 2025!



 
 
 

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