Here’s how to get barista-level beverages without having to change out of your pajamas.
Here at KCM, each of us has an area of expertise or two (or three, or four). To provide the best possible shopping advice, we’ve mined our community to bring you recommendations from staffers who moonlight as product experts. In the latest installment of our series, From Someone Who Would Know, former associate account director Aneri Desai gives us the lowdown on making an at-home coffee bar. From her favorite brewing tools to making your setup aesthetically pleasing, this gear will have you feeling like you’re in your favorite café, without having to step out of the house or change out of your pajamas.
I’ve loved the ritual of making hot coffee and tea since I was a kid. Back home in Atlanta with my parents and sister, whenever someone would stop what they were doing to make a cup of coffee or tea, it signaled a break for all of us — it was time to relax for a bit. As a child I just observed the ritual, but as I got older, I’d join my family in having a cup of coffee or tea, relishing the time we got to unwind together.
When I left home after college, I yearned to find the same sense of community and comfort I had during those moments my family and I made coffee together. I found that in local cafés, eventually becoming a regular at a select few. Knowing that I had somewhere to go where I could always get my favorite drink, sit at “my” table, and chat with the same baristas was comforting. But once the pandemic hit and my go-to coffee shops closed temporarily, I had to revert to making my own caffeinated concoctions. And even though I wasn’t surrounded by my family, I still found myself enjoying the routine of making my own coffee every morning.
The problem with being your own barista is that you only have yourself to blame if the coffee comes out bad. And I have high standards when it comes to my morning beverage — I’ve never enjoyed anything that was brewed via a plastic cup or with month-old grounds from the corner store. Yes, I take this art pretty seriously.
If you want to create a coffee routine for yourself, I’m happy to lend my expertise.
It starts with the source: The coffee industry doesn’t have a great reputation for treating farmers and workers with respect, so when I buy a bag of beans I ensure that they’re harvested and made with ethical practices. This takes some extra research, but I want to support roasters that treat employees with respect and pay fair wages. I also like coffees with complex flavor profiles — any old instant variety simply won’t do.
After research and practice — including a period in which I tried my hand at latte art (where the hearts turned out more like foamy circles than anything else) — I got good enough to warrant setting up an at-home coffee station so I could become my own favorite barista. After 10 years of drinking coffee and being forced to practice brewing during the pandemic, I’m confident that I’ve perfected the at-home coffee bar, which saves me money at cafés and allows me to create any drink I want, whenever. Here’s what you’ll need to build one for yourself.
Pour-Over Coffee Maker
Food 52
I use a pour-over coffee dripper to make my morning cup — unlike drip coffee, a pour-over requires constant attention. You have to pour water into the filter by hand, ensuring it evenly wets the grounds to get the coffee to “bloom.” This releases the flavors and ensures your cup isn’t too bitter (and it smells divine). The water will slowly drip into your mug below, creating a perfectly extracted, flavorful coffee.
Gooseneck Kettle
Barista Warrior
As you’re pouring water over the grounds, you’ll want to move your kettle in a circular motion to ensure even water distribution. Having a kettle with a gooseneck allows you to precisely pour an even stream — and it looks cool on your coffee cart when it’s not in use.
Pour-Over Coffee Filters
Grove Collaborative
Whether you’re making drip coffee or something more complex, you’ll need a filter to ensure you don’t get any grounds in your cup while brewing. These are cone-shaped to fit inside a pour-over, so they won’t move around as you add water. I like these because they’re chlorine-free and unbleached, so they won’t add any funky flavors to your cup of joe — and they’re also 100 percent compostable.
La Colombe Coffee
La Colombe
Everyone has their specific coffee preferences, but I love everything La Colombe roasts. Light, medium, dark, or decaf: They make it, I’ll drink it. I can count on the flavors to be consistent, even if the bags are roasted on different days, and they’re a company I feel good supporting. The brand donates to Feeding America, amplifies organizations that support social justice, uses sustainable roasting and packaging practices, and more.
Metal Coffee Stirrer
Amazon
Did you know that mixing creamer into your coffee with a wooden stir or silver spoon can actually change the taste of it? I can’t explain the science behind it, so I’ll let you read about it instead. To keep that from happening, I use these thin stainless steel stirrers that fit in any kind of coffee cup and are dishwasher-safe for easy clean-up.
Milk Frother
Amazon
I’ve tried myriad frothers (to give a latte that signature milky foam), but I’ve always had issues with the battery or functionality. I finally settled on the Aerolatte, because it’s dependable, doesn’t rust, and is easy to store. Plus, unlike some other frothers I’ve tried, I can always count on this one to create the perfect, frothy foam The company also has amazing customer service, and they’ll even give you a new frother if yours ends up being defective.
Burr Coffee Grinder
Fellow
You might think that smashing and mashing your coffee beans any old way would be fine, but the size of your coffee grounds can definitely affect your brew. If you’re using a French Press or pour-over method, you’ll want roughly ground beans, while brewing espresso requires a very fine grind. You can control the size and texture of your grind with a burr grinder, which uses two zig-zag plates to grind the beans — as opposed to a blade, which just chops them.
Flavor Syrups
Amazon
If black coffee is a bit too bitter for your palate, adding a flavored syrup can help sweeten it up (and allows you to recreate drinks from your favorite coffee shops). This sampler was actually gifted to me by a former coworker, and I’ve been hooked on this brand ever since. They’re the same syrups used at some of my favorite cafés, so if it’s good enough for the pros, it’s good enough for me. It comes with amaretto, caramel, vanilla, French hazelnut, and Irish cream flavors, all of which are pretty versatile and can be mixed if you’re feeling adventurous.
Station Organizer
Amazon
There’s nothing worse than dragging yourself out of bed in the morning and having to scramble to figure out where your filters are, what you did with the coffee maker, and if you have any clean mugs left. That’s why having an organized coffee station is key. Ensuring that my station is organized means I can easily create a morning cup without having to think too hard. This wooden holder is small enough to fit on most countertops, and has a spot for both your coffee maker and filters.
