The Brewista Milk Frothing pitcher advertises a maximum capacity of 24 ounces, but its 3.3-inch chamber is great for smaller drinks that require more aeration and less steam-wand submergence. The spout is great for latte art, and the durable exterior can take a beating when you’re smacking it against the counter to even out bubbles in the milk after steaming. The exterior temperature gauge is a cute gimmick that’s OK as a rough visual guide if your ears and fingers aren’t used to knowing when milk is steamed to the correct temp, but it’s no substitute for a proper thermometer if precision is key.
Nail Milk Temperature
Decent Espresso
Digital Milk Thermometer
Speaking of proper thermometers, the milk thermometer from Decent Espresso is a refreshing feat of no-nonsense engineering in a world where bells, whistles, and bullshit abound. At checkout, you select Celsius or Fahrenheit, and in a few days, the simplest and most accurate thermometer you’ll ever use magically arrives at your doorstep. The interface is simple: hold the on/off button to turn on, use the plus and minus buttons to adjust the temperature at which the thermometer beeps at you, then hold the on/off button again to turn it off. The silicone sleeve is durable and quite good at keeping milk out of its electrical innards, and it’s easy enough to peel away when it’s time to change the battery. I’ve used this thermometer almost daily for over a year and that time has yet to come, but when it does, a pair of LR44 batteries is easy enough to find on Amazon or at your nearest Target.
Clean Up Fast
SearchPean
Mini 4-in-1 Compressed Air Duster and Vacuum
Searching for a small rechargeable hand vac is an onerous task now that every corner of the internet is inundated with weird drop-shipped junk. Given the name of this item, I’m not convinced it’s exempt from this categorization, but it’s held up quite well against six months of daily use that includes rigorous grinder vacuuming and general tidying up of the surfaces in my workspace. The transparent filter attachment keeps grounds, whole beans, and other pieces of particulate matter out of the motor, and the USB-C charging is fast and efficient. The rear end of the vacuum blows compressed air and can be used to inflate rafts and air mattresses, as a nice added bonus.
Store Your Portafilter Properly
Raxichet
Magnetic Portafilter Holder
Prior to going all in on a dedicated espresso station, my Casabrews 5700PRO was crammed into a corner of my kitchen just barely big enough to fit it, a knock box, and a couple of other small tools that often got lost behind the machine. To save on space, I installed this handy little set of silicone-coated arms that stick to the side of your machine with either a magnet or a stick-on magnetic base if your machine is made of plastic. It stores my portafilter upright at an angle, which helps it dry after I finish using it. I like it so much that it survived the move to the larger workspace, which stays tidy and aesthetically pleasing thanks to nifty little tools like this one.
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