Espresso Gadgets, Tools & Upgrades - Which Do You Really Need?

[@darrenhawkes598]

Oh man! This was your most informative, & funniest one yet, more like this please Kev! Best channel on YT by far.

[@chryseass.5143]

One of your best videos, Kev! Thoroughly entertaining as well as concise and informative!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks so much :-)

[@NoZenith]

Thanks. This was reassuring! Try not to overdo it right now and I find I definitely need a dosing ring even without WDT and a stiff fine brush specifically for the group head

[@Coffee_Kev]

Glad you found my post helpful :-)

[@NoZenith]

@@Coffee_Kev I actually hadn't thought about a brush for the group head until I watched your video so, definitely helpful in a couple ways (I'm going to need to clean it in the near future and there are no coffee supply stores near me so I'm going to have to wait for it to be shipped haha. Would suck to have to wait when I need it) Do you have a specific brush you recommend? I've been researching and some of those shaped brushes for getting up and around the group head look really awesome but they're not for the Breville groupheads. Thanks again. Even your content not about what I specifically have invested in is pretty interesting I think I've officially watched over half of your videos and I'm trying to work through your entire catalog. Sent some of your Bambino Plus stuff to a couple friends and I think I've got another friend hooked on your videos haha

[@Albertojedi]

Mr. Kev surely knows his espresso game. I love his videos.

[@trishl9132]

Excellent! Very entertaining & very funny 😂

[@martyhopkirk6826]

Thanks for the episode of Carry On Brewing, Kev!😊

[@Coffee_Kev]

Anytime Marty :-)

[@CooKopite]

Cracking video and aesthetically pleasing studio might I add. Myself being a greenhorn whom would like to get started in home brewing found this very informative so thanks for that. Currently in Cyprus for the foreseeable and everyone is coffee mad out here. I will heed your advice and buy the essentials.

[@moose99moose]

Agree entirely about adding water. After grinding (Niche Zero) it just takes about 30 sec for the static to dissipate of its own accord,

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks for that, I wonder how long it takes for the static to dissipate on on other machines?

[@baileyjohnson1503]

This was so enjoyable to listen to, I loved it!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Glad you liked it :-)

[@NickBachicha]

Thank you for the recommendation on the RDT method. I feel like it’s become popular because it looks good on camera.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Glad my video helped Nick!

[@mikeh2613]

Another great informative video covering everything any ‘home barista’ in training needs to know. Nasty scar, wear it with pride! Hit by a board? Keep ‘em coming, Kev and thanks 👍

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks Mike :-)

[@tonilavender6483]

Wow what a video! Thanks Kev I learnt loads from this 👍

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks, I'm glad yo have found my video helpful :-)

[@A2an]

You were bitten by the fin on the surfboard or the steamer on the espresso machine 😂 Nice video 👍😊

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks :-)

[@DigitalicaEG]

What do you think of the grinder that is built into the sage/Breville machines? Is it worth upgrading it to something like the timemore sculptor 078S if I’m still going to be using the same machine to pull the shots (at least for a while until I feel like upgrading the machine as well)? I maxed out the potential of the machine with all the upgrades and looking to take it to the next level

[@kitcraft9516]

Scale, grinder, tamper, brush and rag. I need those things. A leveler and bottomless portafilter assist me in making more consistent shots, noticeably so. WDT and RDT are nice, but I can live without them. A knock box is amazing for keeping the counter/floor cleaner. I don't use a tamp mat. I have two and I just don't use them. I want a tamp station, to hold the portafilter in place (and my acc's) because I think it will help with workflow and organization. I would like to try a puck screen to keep the shower screen cleaner too. The dosing ring helps but I don't "need it". I dislike my IMS basket because honestly, its fussy. The one from Breville just works. The jug that came with my Bambino plus is just fine and my hand works as a thermometer. When it's too hot to hold, it's hot enough for me, lol. (PS: I suck at latte art anyway.) That is what I have learned about my setup, so far, anyway. One thing I do want to upgrade is my grinder. I use a Kingrinder K6 hand grinder and while it works fine, it is rough cranking out 6-8 shots a day for my wife and me. Anyway, nice video, as always. Thanks for sharing.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Thanks for that :-)

[@johne7100]

The extra I'd like would be a spout for the Sage/Breville PF that doesn't dribble and pour K-legged. Sometimes it even manages to miss the cup on one side.

[@moose99moose]

Great run-through, however, the question is not really "do you need it": the question is really "can I have one please?" 🤣🤣

[@Coffee_Kev]

Haha 😂

[@bernardvantonder7291]

Counter, a deeper better basket and puck screen made a day and night difference on my Breville Bambino.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Which basket did you go for?

[@savrah]

Man your English is perfect.

[@TheKefun]

Thoughts on needing a dosing cup?

[@tankeryy1566]

what about dosing cup?

[@Bestco-coffeetoolsmaker]

Looks cool🎉

[@s96822]

been making espresso and capuchino for more than 3 decades. IMO better and easy to learn steaming milk by listening and feeling the vessel. have played around with some of the accessories but found them to just consume time. easy to learn how to fill pf evenly and tamp without the toys. a dosing ring can be helpful and I switched to a bottomless pf because in theory if the shot does not touch the spout (more metal) you get more crema. weighing beans per shot better for commercial setting. at home you can eyeball it and make very good shots. i refuse to learn latte art because it is just cosmetic and does not effect taste though it may look nice at barista contests.

[@simonhopkins4878]

Nice one Kev, or should I say “Sid “this sounds more like “carry on coffee… “Who’s going to play Babs…

[@Coffee_Kev]

Haha :-)

[@AndyFerdean]

You injured yourself by hitting a coral? I don't know. Thanks for the video! Great info!

[@AndyFerdean]

I just bought a Bambino + Smart Grinder Pro and I'm kind of a novice. Thanks!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Haha, nah, that would have been way cooler. I was skim boarding, at Saunton Sands in Devon. I just slipped backwards just before I came to a stop, like slipping on a banana skin, and the way my hand hit the compacted sand under a few inches of water, caused the damage, the scar is from the operation to put the pins & plates in. Oops.

[@manjurani8018]

Were you in Legoland by any chance on 4th May?

[@Coffee_Kev]

No, sorry, it wasn't me, I hope you had a great time!

[@RafaelCC20]

Jugs for milk! 😂😂😂

[@MrMarcusWWW]

Did I miss the Tamper bit?

[@Coffee_Kev]

1m 10s in mate:-)

[@henrykg]

Oh, I have everything :-( Even the scale - but it is not needed for espresso. It's good for drip to avoid overflow, but for espresso? You see in the cup how much coffe you have. If machine has the timer then it is enough. WDT, RDT and pf rings I do not use since I changed grinder to Sette - not a perfect grinder with perfect direct coffee distribution.

[@richardhatfield2648]

How did you keep a straight face saying ‘wetting your beans’ 😂

[@Coffee_Kev]

Haha, I'm a professional................ 😜

[@TamerRashdan]

The British sense of humor

[@RafaelCC20]

The best!

[@michaeljones1836]

Grinder bellows in the vid but not commented?

[@Presso99]

my advice is to start with a good grinder so that you won't upgrade it later.

[@Coffee_Kev]

Investing most of your budget into the grinder is very good advice in my opinion, for anyone starting out with a relatively decent budget. The quality of the grinder is hugely under rated. This is only really relevant to people who have a slightly healthier budget though, to be fair. Mosy people start out with a budget that doesn't really make this an option.

[@Kassem_Bagher]

No thanks, I’m sticking with the drive through coffee!

[@casperdegroot]

I know what happened to your arm! You scraped it on a starbucks plastic straw!

[@Coffee_Kev]

How did you guess!

[@SouhaybAcoudad-jx4rw]

أيمكنك وضع الترجمة للعربية نحبك من المغرب ❤ 🇲🇦

[@madmax875]

Did I miss tampers themselves?!

[@Coffee_Kev]

Hi If you go to 1:12 you will see that I discuss tampers. Cheers Kev

[@kimbridge5592]

surf board fin

[@trishl9132]

As I know exactly what happened to your arm would it be cheating if I announced it on here? I don't think anyone would actually guess correctly 😂

[@aarontaylor6285]

All that expensive s**t... Tell about that to first random Italian barista and he'll just roll his eyes. Some of them do not even use tamper and the coffe is absolutely great. Every freaking time :D