19 Best Coffee Accessories to Buy in 2020, According to Kitchen Experts

Our top-performing coffee grinder produces evenly ground coffee, from fine to very coarse, which is crucial for maximum flavor extraction. (Uneven coffee grounds means brewing at different rates, which could lead to weak coffee.) The hopper holds 3/4 pounds of coffee beans, so you won’t have to refill it often. It's also tinted for UV-blocking and has an air-tight lid to help preserve the beans.

This blade grinder from Hamilton Beach also came out on top in our tests. Blade grinders in general require a little learning curve to master, but they're smaller, more compact, and a fraction of the price than burr grinders. This one has a removable grinding canister, which makes filling up your coffee basket easier than ever. 

According to expert baristas, the perfect coffee-to-water ratio ranges from 1:12 to 1:17 depending on your brewing method (our favorite is 1:16 for the French press). Weighing your ground coffee and water guarantees that you get the right ratio each time. Most coffee-specific scales go down to three decimals (they are also a lot more expensive), but we recommend this highly rated food scale that goes down to 1 gram since it’s well-suited for making consistently perfect coffee at home.

French press lovers know the perfect water temp is essential for brewing the perfect cup. Coffee grounds can scald if the water's too hot, which make the results taste bitter, or under-extract if it's cold, which makes it taste weak. In our thermometer tests, the Thermapen Mk4 delivered fast, accurate results. The probe folds in for storage and can be used for everything from liquid to thick meats. 

A gooseneck design gives you command of where and how much water dispenses on the ground coffee so it can saturate uniformly and ultimately brew better. This ergonomic electric kettle from OXO heats water to the exact temperature you set it to, and the hold mode sustains that temperature for up to 30 minutes. That way, the water doesn’t have to be reheated while you’re working on a second pour-over. An easy to use knob controls it all, making this kettle a joy to use.

This nonporous wooden spoon is for French press lovers, especially those with glass carafes that would shatter if forcefully knocked with a metal spoon. Once the saturated coffee grounds float to the top creating a “crust,” you can safely use this spoon to stir it without fretting over potentially breaking the carafe. It won’t chip, crack, absorb odors, and it can take heat up to 350°. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe. 

If you belong to the group of people that orders your coffee with a rich layer of luscious foam, this frother is for you. With the touch of a button, it can quickly froth milk (and even our editor’s go-to: OATLY! oat milk) for both hot and cold drinks; plus, its compact sleek frame will look chic on any home coffee station. 

Your coffee subscription starts with a tasting kit of four single-origin beans (the company knows the farmers!) so that going forward, you only receive coffees that match your taste preference. We love that you can either get whole beans or ground coffee that is custom ground to complement the way you brew. Grind size matters because different brewing methods extract flavors at different rates. Our favorite part? The beans are roasted right before they are mailed out (freshly roasted beans are more flavorful) in 100% compostable pouches.

This knock box was a game-changer in our espresso maker test. It saved us many drippy walks to the garbage pail where we would inevitably get used coffee grounds everywhere, every time. (Not to mention the many times we had to fish the filter out of the trash.) Position it next to your espresso maker or coffee maker and use it to empty your grounds as needed. It's great for the occasional espresso drinker or the one making shot after shot for a party. 

Would you buy a brush from a company that has been making high-quality brushes for over 75 years? We would! We love the long and soft bristles of this brush, for cleaning hard-to-get places in your espresso machine or coffee grinder.

This 14-oz ceramic-coated cup will maintain the coffee temperature of your choice from 120ºF to 140ºF for one hour and 20 minutes, according to the manufacturer, or all day when stored on the charging base. When we tried it, we particularly liked the matte feel, the large shape of the handle, which was easy to grab and hold, and how the mug stayed cool to the touch even though our coffee was hot. The mug is available in white and also a ten-ounce size. 

We love a good mug as much as the next person. These in particular stand out for their neutral design. Plus, the generously proportioned handle make them comfortable to pick up. They’re microwavable, dishwasher-safe, and lightly glazed (to prevent scratching). They can even stack up for storage, a big plus!

This 16-oz travel mug stands out for its slim design. It's easy to hold, doesn't spill or leak, and has an easy to use button that must be pressed for you to drink. Aside from keeping our coffee hot for hours, we appreciate that both the container and lid are dishwasher safe with a built in mechanism that allows all the nooks and crannies to get cleaned. 

These straws are resistant to heat, which allows them to be used with both hot and cold drinks. Use them in addition to a lid for extra spill protection. 

We know not everyone drinks milk or sugar with their coffee anymore, but sugar bowls still appeal to us for their easy accessibility, especially when the large container is stored on the top shelf of our pantry. We like options with lids to help keep the sweet stuff fresh and critters out. The tray is functional, too, and, not to mention, cute! Both containers are dishwasher safe.

Oxygen and light are coffee beans' worst enemies – they cause oxidation and diminish its flavor. That's why you need this vacuum-sealed and opaque container. It's designed to to keep your coffee beans fresh and flavorful with an indicator that lets you know that all the air has been removed.  

This part handy coffee scoop and part freshness-seal clip is genius! First you scoop ground coffee using the spoon, and then you seal the bag with the built-in clip. We love that it is long enough (seven and one-half inches) to easily access the bottom of a coffee bag and clip the entire width of the bag.

We use these air tight containers in our Kitchen Appliance Lab to store our espresso pods and tea bags, but they can be used for any treat on your coffee bar. We like that they're clear so we can see inside and have a large opening for easy retrieval. 

For maximum storage, go ahead and set your Keurig or favorite single-serve coffee maker right on top of this K-Cup organizer that can store up to 36 of them. It’s available in three stylish colors (red, black, and grey). Have an abundance of K-Cups? The drawers can be stacked on top of each other for even more storage.