How to buy your first set of coffee equipment if you don’t have a big budget?

“What was your first coffee set?”

Many friends gave a variety of answers: some dug out (now idle) fully automatic coffee machines, quite retro (but difficult to use) bean grinders, various filter cups, and even Turkish coffee pots that they once bought out of curiosity...

Oh, I thought this kind of grinder was retro back then, don't buy it

Looking back, I also went through the stage of being a coffee novice. At that time, information and resources were far less abundant than they are now . With only a little bit of [Merchant Description], I bought some miscellaneous equipment and started my journey of hand brewing .

Some of the equipment was neither practical nor a waste of money . The key point was that the coffee produced was not tasty at all . I once wanted to give up.

What is the best coffee equipment worth buying in the world?

To me, there is no best tool in the world, only the one that suits you best. Some people like to tinker with things, while others regard laziness as the primary productive force; some are willing to spend a lot of money to collect various tools, while others like to master a tool until they are proficient in it.

In today’s article, I want to put aside all the flashy gimmicks and let you buy the most suitable coffee equipment within your budget !

Find a set of hand-washing equipment that you can like for a long time

I have tried all kinds of drip coffee bags and have tried them all at the boutique coffee shops near my workplace and home. Every time I see the barista pouring water and brewing coffee at the bar, I still feel itchy .

Hand pouring is a fun and ritualistic thing no matter how you think about it, but... I'm afraid it's difficult.

Indeed, uncertainty is the challenge of hand brewing, but it is also the most interesting part of it . The water temperature, the coarseness of the coffee powder grinding, and the brewing strategy can all be adjusted according to your preferences. The most important thing is that you can choose your favorite coffee beans .

The equipment is not as complicated as you think: hand brewing kettle, filter cup, filter paper, electronic scale, sharing pot (can be replaced by a larger cup), and if you want to be more advanced, you can add a coffee grinder .

Hario Hand-Pour Combo

Suitable for: coffee lovers who love to play and think

Sense of ceremony: ★★★★★

Laziness level: ★★★

Deliciousness: ★★★★★ (or... ★)

It is no exaggeration to say that 90% of professional baristas in the world are using the V60 filter cup .

We interviewed many coffee experts, who constantly advanced (buy, buy, buy) and upgraded, and after going around in circles, we found that this is still their favorite set.

The most classic V60 filter cup, highly playable and very practical.

The resin material of the filter cup is very light and shatterproof , and will not produce odor during the brewing process. The golden 60-degree angle of V60 prolongs the time for water to flow to the center , making brewing easier to control.

In addition to the bright red, there is also this versatile white.

A steady and continuous stream of water is crucial to the success of a cup of coffee. The Penguin Custom Edition hand-poured kettle has a 90-degree vertical water flow, which makes the water injection very stable. The kettle is light in weight, so novices will not shake their hands.

After the coffee is ground into powder, the precious flavor will disappear within a day or two , and hand brewing will lose its greatest significance.

Nowadays, many coffee sellers provide grinding services, but we still highly recommend that you buy a coffee grinder.

If you have a limited budget, I recommend you to buy this Hario hand-cranked grinder. The frosted texture handle + ceramic grinding center is smooth and labor-saving, non-slip, and can be put into a bag and taken out.

One-stop package for beginners

Hario filter cup, grinder, sharing pot, hand brewing pot, measuring spoon, filter paper

I can’t live without coffee every day, and I don’t want to buy anything big in a small space

Are you like me, unable to work without caffeine in the morning? You risk being late for work and rush to the chain store to buy a cup of coffee. Drinking coffee in the morning is more like a routine than a pleasure.

But! This is not how the American TV series I watched before were played. Isn't this the scene that often appears? The protagonist walks to the kitchen with sleepy eyes, picks up the American coffee pot, pours himself a cup slowly, and reads the newspaper while drinking . This is the correct way to open the first cup of coffee every day.

The kitchen of "Friends" also has a white American machine

When they are not at Central Perk, they like to sit here and drink coffee.

Melitta Americano Coffee Machine

Suitable for people: People who can’t live without coffee

Sense of ceremony: ★★★

Laziness level: ★★★★★

Deliciousness: ★★★★

Before I met Melitta, I never thought that I could own an American coffee machine.

Don’t feel bad about spending money! You can save a lot of coffee by drinking less chain store coffee for a week. Put the prepared coffee in a thermos and bring it to work.

The volume is smaller than that of a household electric kettle , and it can be placed in a mini kitchen. The amount produced at one time is enough for 2 people to share.

How small is it? Compare it with the palm-sized iPhone X

The most important thing is that the operation is simple and error-free. After getting up, put the coffee powder into the filter cup, add water (cold water is fine, no need to boil water) to the transparent water tank, and press the red button! Done! When you finish brushing your teeth and washing your face, the coffee is already waiting for you to drink.

The filter cup + sharing pot can be used separately for hand brewing. Spend the price of one machine and get 2 kinds of utensils

You mean cleaning? Throw away the coffee powder and filter paper, and rinse the filter cup and base pot with water. Be lazy as long as you can.

I don’t want to buy a hand brewing device, but I still want to taste the flavors of various coffee beans.

I am so envious of the taste of various coffee beans. But hand brewing is not very friendly to people like me who are clumsy. Is there an easier way ?

The French press takes the lead in terms of convenience, ease of cleaning, richness, and shopping index .

Rivers French Press

Suitable for people: lazy people, clumsy people

Sense of ceremony: ★★★★

Laziness level: ★★★★

Deliciousness: ★★★★★

How simple is the operation? Pour coffee powder into the pot, add hot water, wait four minutes, press lightly, and a cup of coffee is ready. As long as you know how to pour hot water, you can make a perfect cup of coffee .

The fact that it has won the favor of Mr. Cha means that it is more than that. The production principle of the French press can release the oil to a great extent and highlight the personality of the coffee . In other words, if your beans are of good quality, the coffee you make will be of master level .

Is it a cheating existence?

Maruyama Coffee House in Japan, which only sells high-scoring coffee beans from a single origin, uses a French press.

Compared to ordinary French presses, Rivers has designed many thoughtful details.

The design of the piston and the cup wall is very smooth . Every time you press it down, it will poke the strange G-spot deep in your heart where your obsessive-compulsive disorder is cured.

There is also a filter on the spout to block more fine powder.

One machine has multiple uses and can also be used to make tea.