Coffee experts share 15 tools that will help you brew a better cup — starting at $17

“This is how I brew coffee every morning at home,” says Dave’s Coffee founder Dave Lanning. “Designed in Chicopee, Massachusetts, by a coffee-loving chemist, the Chemex makes the perfect cup of coffee while providing a Zen-like ritual.” The easy-to-use coffee maker is made from borosilicate glass and can be safely placed in the dishwasher. Barista and New Jersey Coffee School instructor Katie Rogers is also a fan of this brewer. “If you want simplicity that also doubles as a statement piece, a Chemex is a great way to brew,” she says, adding that you can “craft a unique cup of coffee” because pour-overs allow you to control the brew rate and temperature. You’ll also want to buy the Chemex filters, Rogers notes.

If there’s one tool that’s worth the splurge, both Perry and Lanning agree it’s a burr grinder. “My number one recommendation for anyone willing to invest a little money in their coffee experience is a good quality burr grinder,” Lanning says. “You’ll be amazed at how much better your coffee will taste when you make the effort to grind right before brewing.” Lanning also adds that it’s best to avoid blade-style grinders, which chop rather than grind. He says this is because “you have no control over the grind’s coarseness," and you won’t get “uniform chopping," which can cause your coffee to lose flavor or taste bitter.

Luckily, you can avoid that by using a burr grinder, like this one. “An all-in-one electric grinder that’s reliable and affordable is hard to come by, but the Baratza Encore ESP provides a lot of options in terms of grind size, especially for espresso,” Rogers says. “It has conical burrs, which are essential if you’re looking to make a balanced shot of espresso and will help elevate your filter coffees as well. With a little trial and error, you can grind your own beans at home to your liking.”  

“A good scale is going to be super helpful,” Rogers says. “Having used (and killed, RIP) many scales in my eight years as a barista, I can say there are some features I appreciate: Multiple units of measurement [and] chargeable with a built-in timer are just a few of my non-negotiables the Greater Goods Premium Coffee Scale delivers.” Available in three colors, the scale lets you pick between six units of measurement and has a removable silicone cover that is dishwasher-safe. It also happens to be our pick for the best coffee scale.  

Lanning and Teoh both recommend this canister from Atmos for storing your coffee. “Air is the enemy of coffee!” Lanning says. “Keeping your coffee beans, especially ground coffee, in an airtight container is crucial. Oxygen will start robbing the flavor and making your coffee stale within hours if you don’t protect it from exposure to air.” 

Perry recommends using these mineral blend sticks to improve the quality of the water you use for brewing, and Teoh seconds this. “Water is one of the main ingredients in coffee (other than coffee, of course), so investing in good quality water will get you to a good start,” Teoh says. “Third Wave Water has these mineral packets that you add into distilled water to create a water that can brew good-tasting coffee.” The mineral sticks come in a 12-pack, won’t expire and help reduce bitterness.  

“After all the effort you put into brewing the perfect coffee, you’ll want to make sure to enjoy it at the right temperature,” Lanning says. “Believe it or not, the flavor of your coffee changes as it cools. The ideal temperature, in my opinion, is right around 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where the acidity shines and the flavors sing.” This 25-ounce double-walled canister has a twist and pour cap, plut it's leakproof and BPA- and lead-free. It will also keep your beverages hot for up to 28 hours or cold for up to 90 hours.  

“We love this one for its ability to make cafe-quality cold brew coffee at home,” Perry says. “The resulting cold brew concentrate is the perfect foundation for making iced and blended frozen coffee drinks, a nice treat during warm summer weather.” This easy-to-use brew system allows you to make enough coffee concentrate to create up to 25 drinks.  

“A scale is the key to getting repeatable, consistent results by controlling the exact amount of ground coffee used,” Perry says. “Models like the Escali Arti allow you to precisely measure down to the single gram, and offer a tare feature so you can weigh coffee in a container, such as the portafilter of your espresso machine.” This scale allows you to measure up to 15 pounds and has an auto shut-off feature, so you don’t run out of battery. Plus, Perry adds, “the glass top makes cleanup easy.”

“A good gooseneck kettle allows you to control your water flow rate with ease,” Teoh says. “Making sure that the pour-over that you make is consistent every time!” Available in four colors, our pick for the best splurge-worthy kettle boils water quickly and has an LCD display. Rogers also recommends it. “If you’re going to do a pour-over, you’ll need a kettle, and a Fellow electric kettle will look great next to that Chemex,” Rogers says. “You can set the exact temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius and have the kettle hold at that temp. They look stunning, and with plenty of styles and colors, there’s sure to be something for every home.” Other kettles the experts we spoke with recommend are the Hario V60 Buono Electric Drip Kettle and the Brewista Artisan Electric Gooseneck Kettle.  

“It can be hard to know what drip coffee brewer to have at home, with so many options on the market,” Rogers says. She notes that this Bonavita coffee maker is under $200 and is certified by the Specialty Coffee Association, which means that it meets all of the association's requirements. “Some of these, like the Moccamaster, reach upwards of $400 and you won’t find anything on the list cheaper than the Bonavita,” she says. The 5-cup drip coffee maker can reach up to 205 degrees Fahrenheit, has a double-walled carafe and is made from stainless steel. 

“This is a special paper filter with fast-flowing technology, allowing you to extract better and giving the coffee more body,” Teoh says, adding that the papers are available in a cone or flat-bottom shape. “It is used by a lot of coffee competitors to yield a tastier brew.” Made in Barcelona, these conical filters are available in two different sizes and can be purchased in packs of 50 or 100. 

“WPM steam pitchers are my favorite mid-range-price steam pitchers,” Rogers says. “Made with latte art in mind, these are pitcher[s] you can feel great purchasing. I personally have three and can’t say enough great stuff about them.” This round-spout pitcher that Rogers has is made from uncoated stainless steel and has a slanted top. If you’re a beginner, she recommends looking for a pitcher with a narrow spout in addition to a slanted top since it’s “best for control and definition.” 

“If you are making espresso at home, a coffee distributor can help prevent channeling and ensure even extraction, giving you a delicious shot of espresso with every single extraction,” Teoh says. This tool is available in two different sizes and made from stainless steel and wood. 

“The April Brewer is a pour-over device that brews with clarity and precision and is used by many of our employees in their own homes,” Perry says. “[It] combines high-quality paper filters with a unique design to limit contact and evenly distribute water, making it easy to produce a single cup of pure, delicious coffee. A great starting point for experimenting with pour-over coffee.”

Lanning recommends this scale from Acaia, which he says is “made for coffee enthusiasts.” Available in three colors, including classic white, the scale comes with a heat-resistant pad and a USB-C charging cable. It has adjustable brightness levels and a flow-rate indicator, so you can see your pouring speed in real time. “This sleek scale will not only weigh your coffee and water to exacting standards, it will also time your brewing so you can shoot for that perfect four-minute extraction time,” he says.