Espresso Machine Essentials: Must-Haves and Nice-to-Haves
What you need beyond the espresso machine
Buying an espresso machine is the big step, but it's only half the setup. Whether you have a Gaggia Classic Pro, a Sage Barista Express or Bambino, or a DeLonghi Dedica, the right accessories make the difference between a decent shot and a great one.
This guide splits the kit into two groups. The must-haves are what you need to make good espresso every day. The nice-to-haves add finesse and keep your coffee station tidy, and you can add them over time.
The photos in this guide and on our site feature the Gaggia Classic Pro. If you're still choosing a machine, read our Gaggia Classic Pro review.
Before you start: your grinder and basket size
Two things shape almost every choice below: your grinder and the size of your basket.
Your grinder
Espresso needs a fine, even grind, and you'll adjust it often. Pre-ground coffee is usually too coarse and goes stale quickly, which makes a good shot hard to get. If your machine doesn't have a built-in grinder, budget for one made for espresso before any of the accessories in this guide.
Your basket size
Tampers, puck screens and portafilter holders come in sizes to match your basket. Measure across the inside of yours, or check your machine's manual. As a guide:
|
Machine |
Basket size |
|---|---|
|
Gaggia Classic Pro |
58mm |
|
Sage Barista Express and Bambino |
54mm |
|
DeLonghi Dedica |
51mm |
Check your exact model, as sizes can vary between versions.
Some machines come with a pressurised basket, which has a double wall and is built to be forgiving. It makes dialling in matter less. Many home baristas switch to a standard basket once they start weighing their shots.
The must-haves
1. Coffee scales
Scales are what make dialling in possible. Espresso is about ratios: how much ground coffee goes in, and how much espresso comes out. Weigh both, and you can repeat a shot you like or change one thing at a time when you don't.
A common starting point is a 1:2 ratio. For example, 18g of ground coffee in and about 36g of espresso out, in roughly 25 to 30 seconds. From there, adjust the grind and the ratio to suit your taste. Less espresso out gives a stronger, more intense shot. More gives a lighter one.
What to look for in espresso scales:
- 0.1g accuracy, so small changes show up
- A built-in timer, so you can weigh and time the shot together
- A slim, flat design that fits on the drip tray under the portafilter
2. A proper tamper
Tamping presses the ground coffee into a firm, even puck. If the puck is uneven, water finds the weak spots and rushes through them. That's called channeling, and it gives you a shot that tastes sour, bitter or thin.
Most entry-level machines, including the Gaggia Classic Pro, come with a light plastic tamper. Many don't fit the basket closely, which makes an even tamp harder. Without a consistent tamp, dialling in is guesswork, because you can't tell if a change in your shot came from the grind or the tamp.
Our spring-loaded tamper helps you press with the same pressure every time. It comes in 51mm, 54mm and 58mm.
3. A barista cloth
A cloth is the simplest item on this list, and you'll use it with every coffee. Wipe the steam wand straight after steaming, before the milk dries on, and purge it with a short burst of steam. Wipe the basket dry before adding fresh coffee, and clean up the drip tray and counter as you go.
Keep two cloths if you can: one for the steam wand, and one for the portafilter and prep area. Our barista cloths come in a pack of two.
4. A milk jug (if you drink milk coffee)
If you drink your espresso straight, skip this one. If you make lattes, flat whites or cappuccinos, a stainless steel milk jug is essential. It gives you room to steam and a spout to pour from.
Our 600ml milk frothing pitcher has a built-in thermometer, so you can see when to stop. Overheated milk tastes flat. Fill it to just below the spout, as milk expands when you steam it.
The nice-to-haves
Once the basics are sorted, these tools add consistency and keep your coffee station tidy. None of them are essential, so add them as you need them.
WDT tool
If your grinder leaves clumps in the coffee, a WDT tool is worth having. Its fine needles stir the grounds in the basket before you tamp. That breaks up clumps and spreads the coffee evenly, which helps reduce channeling. Our WDT tool comes with a magnetic holder.
If grounds cling to your grinder and spray across the counter, static is the cause. A light mist of water on the beans before grinding helps. This is called the Ross Droplet Technique, or RDT, and our RDT spray bottle is made for it.
Puck screen
A puck screen is a thin metal disc that sits on top of the coffee before you brew. It keeps grounds off the shower screen inside your machine, so there's less to clean. Our puck screen comes in 51mm, 54mm and 58mm.
Portafilter holder
A portafilter holder gives your portafilter a set place on the counter. Our wooden tamper station also holds it steady while you tamp, with space for your other tools. If counter space is tight, a magnetic portafilter holder takes up less room.
Knock box
After each shot, you knock the used coffee puck out of the portafilter. A knock box gives it somewhere to go, so pucks stay out of the sink. Ours come in two shapes, oval and straight-sided, each in three sizes.
Brush and dustpan set
Grinding and dosing leave fine grounds on the counter. A small brush and dustpan set for coffee grounds sweeps them up in seconds. Ours has soft horsehair bristles and a magnet that keeps the brush and pan together.
Espresso machine essentials: FAQs
What equipment do I need for an espresso machine?
Beyond the machine and a grinder, the essentials are coffee scales, a tamper that fits your basket, and a cloth for cleaning. Add a milk jug if you drink milk-based coffee.
Do I need coffee scales for espresso?
If you want consistent shots, yes. Weighing the coffee in and the espresso out is the simplest way to repeat a shot you like and fix one you don't.
What size tamper do I need?
Match it to your basket. The Gaggia Classic Pro uses 58mm, the Sage Barista Express and Bambino use 54mm, and the DeLonghi Dedica uses 51mm. If you're not sure, measure across the inside of your basket.
Is a WDT tool worth it?
If your grinder leaves clumps, yes. It's a cheap way to get a more even puck. If your grounds come out fluffy with no clumps, you can skip it.
Start with the essentials
Scales, a tamper and a cloth, plus a milk jug if you drink milk coffee, will make the biggest difference to your shots. Add the nice-to-haves over time, starting with a WDT tool if clumping is a problem.