If you love to drink coffee but feel that your preparations at home never turn out well, you will be interested in reading this article. Here you will find a guide to achieve better preparations with the help of the right tools.
Below, you will find a complete kit to prepare coffee. Besides, being a beginner will give you more options to learn, experiment, and progress in the brewing technique as time goes by. This kit consists of the following:
- Coffee maker
- Grinder
- Kettle
- Scale
- Water filtering pitcher
- Good quality coffee
I chose these tools thinking about their functionality, ease of use, and low cost. Let’s see what each consists of and how they can enhance your preparations.
The coffee maker
This is one of the main tools in the basic coffee brewing kit. If you are a beginner, I have two alternatives that suit you well: the Aeropress Go and the Hario V60. Whichever you choose will help you learn about the two main methods for extracting coffee, the immersion method with the Aeropress or the drip method with the Hario V60.
However, I have to say that my favorite of the two is the Aeropress. Its versatility makes it very suitable for those just starting in coffee. It is small, light, sturdy, easy to transport, and easy to use.
The Hario V60 is an easy-to-use and maintain the tool, ideal for those just starting in the world of coffee. In addition, its plastic version is light and robust, making it easy to transport and shock resistant. The materials with which it is manufactured allow a better heat transfer, and it is a coffee maker that uses less water for preheating.
The disadvantage of both coffee makers is that they only can prepare up to 7 ounces of coffee, that is, a single cup. This can be a problem if you need to prepare more coffee; however, looking at the positive side, you will be forced to make several preparations, giving you more experience and skill.
The grinder
The grinding of the coffee is a determinant for good preparation, which is why deciding which grinder to buy to make coffee at home can be complicated.
In my case, I would prefer not to have any and let them grind it in a nearby coffee shop or invest in a high-quality grinder that will last for many years and serve various brewing methods. However, these options are not feasible for everyone.
With this in mind, and looking to create the habit of grinding your coffee for each brewing method, I recommend buying an economical grinder such as the Hario Mini Plus hand grinder. With it, you can grind fresh coffee just before brewing and experiment with different grind sizes and brewing recipes.
The kettle
An electric kettle with a gooseneck is an excellent choice for brewing coffee at home. Although it can be expensive, it is worth it because it offers precise water temperature control. An inexpensive alternative is the Hario water pitcher, which costs about $18.
There are several reasons why I would recommend this kettle:
- First, if you prefer to brew light roast coffee, it will provide you with the right temperature for brewing this type of coffee.
- In addition, the nozzle allows you to practice the precision and hand movement necessary to acquire a good coffee preparation technique.
- Finally, measuring the amount of water before brewing will help reduce the recipe’s complexity when you are just learning.
The scale
The scale is important for accurately measuring the ingredients needed to make coffee. The TIMEMORE model costs around $47, making it the most expensive item on the kit list. However, if you have the budget, it is an excellent choice as it allows you to accurately measure both weight and time on the same device.
While it is a high investment, it is also expected to be a long-lasting tool and will not need to be replaced anytime soon, which justifies the additional investment. Although, if you’re looking to save a little on the budget, this scale would be the first item you might want to rule out.
Pitcher for filtered water
A filtered water pitcher is a tool that helps us to improve the quality of water for our preparations; remember that with good water, we can get delicious coffee. Tap water can have an unpleasant taste due to the presence of lime and chlorine, but with this tool, you will be able to reduce these elements and significantly improve the taste of your coffee.
I can recommend some pitchers, such as Brita or BWT, which are well-known. Still, there should be many other brands available, which, although they present some differences, their functionality should be quite similar.
One drawback of using this tool is the recurring Cost of filters that need to be replaced. However, if you have no luck with tap water at home, it is worth acquiring a filtered water pitcher, as it will significantly improve the quality of your coffee.
Good quality coffee
The use of good coffee is essential to obtain good preparations since the coffee’s quality directly affects the final beverage’s flavor and texture.
Good coffee has a more intense and complex flavor, with notes of fruits, flowers, spices, and chocolate; in addition, it has fewer defects and a higher acidity, which helps to balance the flavor of the coffee. On the other hand, when we use low-quality coffee, we will obtain a beverage with a flatter flavor and without nuances.
So, if you want exquisite drinks, do not hesitate to include an excellent coffee in your kit.
Conclusion
In summary, if you are a beginner and the coffee you prepare at home does not turn out very well, do not hesitate to acquire a kit to prepare your beverages, such as the one I suggest in this article.
Undoubtedly, it is an excellent investment that will allow you to enjoy a better quality coffee and experiment with different preparation methods and recipes. It will be very useful in perfecting your brewing technique.
