Any true coffee lover knows the value of having a machine in your own kitchen — the convenience of not having to wait in line to pay $6 for a latte is worth the often steep one-time price of a home coffee maker. But what if I told you your morning cup of joe could be even better with a couple affordable upgrades?
Just like there are accessories to enhance the experience of using an air fryer, there are also plenty of doodads that can take home-brewed coffee to the next level. Want perfectly foamed milk for a cappuccino? There’s a tool for that. Need a neat way to dispense of used grounds? There’s a container for that. Wish your mug wouldn’t cool down quite so fast? There’s a gadget for that.
We rounded up some of the most useful products a coffee connoisseur may want to have on hand. Most of these only cost about as much as a few cups of barista-made brew, but they should pay dividends down the line. If you’re ready to say “hello” to better-tasting, easier-made and ultimately cheaper coffee, keep on scrolling.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
If you’re a slow drinker but hate sipping on lukewarm or cold coffee, a mug warmer like this one by Mr. Coffee can be a game-changer. The warmer, which has 4.2 stars across over 57,000 ratings on Amazon, is a compact 8.6 inches long and can heat up your cup of joe (or tea, or hot cocoa or soup… do you see the vision?) in just a couple of minutes. It’s incredibly simple to use, with just an on/off switch to operate and an indicator light to let you know when your drink is hot. This is one of those inventions you’ll soon wonder how you went this long without.
Promising review: “I’m guilty of always preparing my coffee, doing a million other things, and once I get back to it, its super cold, so this warmer helps. It’s very durable, and will get the coffee HOT, (depending on th emug of course) FYI the glass insulated cups dont work with this, but regular ceramis/porcelain coffee cups or even aluminum one will!” — Maria M.
In a previous story, two U.S. Barista Champions — Morgan Eckroth and Laila Ghambari — recommended these Third Wave Water mineral packets for coffee nerds.
“These mineral packets are mixed with distilled water and are crafted specifically for coffee,” Eckroth said. “They’re fantastic if you live in an area that has particularly soft or hard tap water. Of note, there are several different packet types for different roast levels and brewing methods.” We’ve linked the medium, light and dark roast profiles below, but Third Wave Water makes options for espresso, cold brew and more.
“With coffee being 99% water, it’s a simple way to make a significant improvement to your brew,” Ghambari said.
We’ve previously covered the benefits of reusable K-cup coffee pods like this set of three that comes with a scoop, for owners of Keurig machines. You’ll be producing less waste by not using as many single-use pods, and you can expand your coffee horizons beyond what’s available as a K-cup. The pods have a universal fit that works with most Keurig models, as well as some Cuisinart, Breville and Mr. Coffee machines — check the product images for a full list. The accompanying scoop holds exactly 2 tablespoons, the exact right portion, to make filling the pods easy-peasy.
Promising review: “We have tried 4 different brands of K-cup reusable pods. None of them clean like these. It takes almost no time to rinse them out. They last a long time. First set lasted three years with daily use by three big coffee drinkers! This is our second set. Highly recommend. The scoop was a great bonus. No more spilling the grounds when filling the pod.” — JA
This bestselling Zulay milk frother is reviewer-beloved and great for making lattes, cappuccino and other coffee drinks at home. It can froth milk in seconds, and can be cleaned just as quickly (just run the whisk part under hot water and turn it on). Included with the frother is a stand for easy storage. The frother comes in a bunch of colors and is made of stainless steel.
Promising review: “Frothing is at full force here, yet compact. Just the right amount of power for my home. Built to last, doesn’t compromise coffee taste, but it enhances it. Great product, would gift to someone else.” — Quincy Davies
If you have an espresso machine, getting a knockbox will make your cleanup process so much easier. This one by Dreamfarm, which is HuffPost editor-recommended, has a shock-absorbing steel bar with a rubber sleeve so you can bang your used grounds into it without making a ton of noise or mess. It can fit right on the drip tray of most espresso machines and is even dishwasher-safe.
Promising review: “I purchased this knock box years ago and it has been a quiet, steady, reliable partner in the kitchen ever since. Very sturdy – it is still in tip top shape, easy to clean and does the job well. It is rare to buy something these days that you know will last – but this an exception. Well worth the money.” — Moshi Mom
This espresso distributor tool can be used to get rid of clumps in your coffee grounds and comes with 10 needles, as well as 10 extra needles if you ever need to replace any. The removable design of the needles allows you to add as few or as many (up to 10) as you want, giving you a bit more flexibility than other stirrers. The tool also comes with a stand so you can easily store it upright on the counter when it’s not in use, keeping the area safe from the sharp needles.
One of the simplest ways to up the quality of your coffee? Make sure your machine is clean. Get rid of mineral buildup inside the machine (aka scale) with a descaler like this 8-ounce bottle of Nuvera liquid coffee maker cleaner. This works on all types of coffee makers, according to the brand, and can work a little harder than soap to get rid of lime buildup for a better taste.
Promising review: “Life saver! A few months ago any drinks I made with my nespresso tasted off. I thought it may have been my taste buds until someone recommended I descale it. There isn’t a Nespresso boutique near me, nor did I want to pay for shipping to receive the Nespresso descaling kit, so I decided to give this a go. I’m so happy I did because my coffees taste back to normal. It made a world of difference. Not to mention the great price. I will definitely use again.” — Selena
Affresh tablets for cleaning dishwashers and washing machines are beloved by HuffPost readers, but did you know they make tablets for coffee machines too? You can descale your machine monthly by filling the reservoir with water, dropping one of these bad boys in and running one or two brew cycles (depending on the type of machine you have). Then refill the machine with just water to run one or two more cycles, and rinse the machine. Cleaning has never been so effortless.
Made to fit both #2 and #4 cone-shaped coffee filters, this minimal bamboo holder is both a practical storage piece and a funky-looking piece of decor for your coffee counter. The bottom legs have a curved design that can keep them from scratching your countertop, and this will save you from having to wrestle with your box of filters to just get a single one out each time.
Clip the 5% off coupon for a discount applied at checkout.
Promising review: “I ordered this for my #4 melitta filters. I’m so glad I did! It holds the filters upright and it is now simple to grab just one! I had been so tired of trying to pull out one filter and getting 6, then 6 more fell out of the box. Something so simple, but so irritating!” — iwiggy58
This canister by Airscape, a Planetary Design brand, has a plunger lid and two-way valve to keep out air, which can extend your coffee’s shelf life and preserve its flavor. You can get medium (64 ounces) and small (34 ounces) sizes at Amazon, or medium sizes at Williams-Sonoma or Crate & Barrel.
If you’re a fan of using flavored syrups in your coffee, you can make sure they’re always readily on hand with this set of two syrup dispensers. These come in two sizes and three colors, and you can get a pair with or without a tray. You can also get them as a set of four. Each dispenser comes with a blank label, and the set also includes some designed labels with common syrup flavors.
Don’t forget to clip the 10% off coupon for a discount applied at checkout.
Another option, if you want to try a bit of everything when it comes to coffee syrups, is a flavoring collection like this one that comes with five 50-milliliter bottles so you can flavor your coffee with caramel, amaretto, hazelnut, Irish cream or vanilla. The little glass bottles add a chic touch to any coffee cart or counter space, and these can let you sample flavors without committing to a huge amount.
Promising review: “After seeing last month’s bill for cafes, I knew something needed to be done. I ordered the tasting pack of coffee syrups to see which ones I preferred and they’ve been great. I love frothing a teaspoon or two with oatmilk and adding it on top of my cold brew. It’s easy to customize the level of sweetness and the flavors are perfect.” — Ellen Dubs