Buying
The Espresso Accessories Worth Buying
Most "essential accessories" lists pad out with items that do not change your shot. These are the ones that do, and why the rest can wait.
A grinder is not really an accessory
If your machine does not include one, a dedicated grinder is the single highest-impact purchase you can make alongside it — see our guide on why the grinder matters more than the machine. Everything else on this list matters only once grind quality is already handled; buying a scale or a fancy tamper before a proper grinder is solving a smaller problem before a bigger one.
Between the two dedicated grinders we cover, the Baratza Encore ESP is the sensible entry point for a first dedicated grinder, and the Eureka Mignon Specialita is the upgrade once you have confirmed, through real use, that stepped adjustment or slower grinding is an actual limitation rather than a hypothetical one.
A scale makes your recipe repeatable
Espresso ratios are defined in grams of dose and yield, not cup lines. A precise scale with a timer turns "it tasted about right" into a number you can repeat and adjust deliberately, which is the basis of every dial-in guide on this site. Unlike a grinder, a scale is inexpensive enough that there is little reason to delay this purchase regardless of which machine or grinder you choose.
What we deliberately left off, and why
We did not include tampers, portafilter accessories, or cleaning products here, not because they are unimportant, but because the right choice for each depends on your specific machine's portafilter size and construction — see our dedicated guides on choosing a tamper and portafilter sizing instead of a generic pick that might not fit your machine at all.
A sensible purchase order for a new setup
If you are assembling a full setup from nothing: machine first (with or without a built-in grinder), a dedicated grinder second if not included, a scale third, and only then the smaller accessories — a tamper sized to your basket, a WDT tool, and cleaning supplies once you know your actual maintenance routine.
What we would buy first on a tight budget
If you can only afford one of the two picks here right now, buy the grinder — a scale can be substituted temporarily with careful attention and a consistent scoop technique, but no substitute exists for a grinder that cannot produce a consistent, fine, even grind in the first place.
Revisiting this list as your setup matures
A buyer starting with the Baratza Encore ESP and a scale has a complete, capable setup for a long time — the Eureka Mignon Specialita is worth revisiting specifically once you have hit a real, felt limitation with the entry grinder (see our best grinders guide), not on a fixed schedule.
Our picks in this guide
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need both a grinder and a scale?
If your machine has no built-in grinder, yes to both — the grinder determines your grind quality, and the scale makes your dose and yield repeatable so you can actually dial in a recipe.
Which grinder should I start with?
An entry dedicated grinder like the Baratza Encore ESP is a reasonable starting point; consider a grinder like the Eureka Mignon Specialita once you have hit the adjustment limits of an entry grinder.
Is a coffee scale really necessary, or just nice to have?
It is close to necessary if you want to reproduce a good shot on purpose rather than by accident — see our guide on dose, yield, and time for why the ratio matters.