Barista at Home: The Basics

Dean Cartwright

08th Feb 2021

3 minutes for reading

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With many workers forced into home working due to the pandemic, it’s no surprise  there has been an uptick in home coffee consumption. And as people have become used to brewing up regularly throughout the day, some have wondered how they can improve the experience.

If you’re exploring the idea of becoming a barista at home, here are a few of the basic tools and supplies you will need:

Home barista tools

A true home barista will need to invest in, and learn how to use, an espresso machine. While you could buy a drip coffee maker and produce a decent enough filter coffee, the skill of a barista is all about the espresso!

Unless your espresso machine includes an integrated grinder, you will also need a coffee grinder to create that fine espresso grind. The grinders with burrs tend to produce a more even grind than those with blades.

A barista thermometer is essential for ensuring your water and milk is at the recommended temperature. This is 90-97°C (water) and 60-63°C (milk).

A water filter is also recommended. Baristas tend to use filtered water because tap water is often acidic which can ruin the subtle flavour profile of a good quality brew.

Don’t forget espresso shot glasses! These not only add to the authentic barista vibe, they are an invaluable aid to calibrating your machine and becoming an expert in measuring out your shots.

Home barista supplies

The most important supply for your home barista stock cupboard is, of course, high quality coffee beans. This translates to SCA-grade coffee beans as only these guarantee the superior flavour and aroma of speciality coffee.

Any barista worth their salt will work only with coffee beans. Once ground, beans lose their flavour and aroma within around fifteen minutes, so stock up on speciality coffee beans and grind them afresh for each brew. Every region of every country produces coffee with a unique flavour profile so be adventurous and widen your horizons.

Whole dairy milk is best for lattes and cappuccinos, especially if you are planning on learning latte art. However, if you need to use a dairy-free alternative, look out for a barista-specific one.

Once you have the basic tools and supplies you need to get started, you can begin your journey into the wonderful world of the home barista. From learning how to measure the perfect shot to mastering the intricacies of espresso art, you have a challenging but fun road ahead of you.