Coffee accessories that earn their counter space

Every kitchen has one: the gadget bought in a burst of enthusiasm that now lives behind the toaster. Coffee gear is especially good at this. There's always another scale, another kettle, another tamper promising a better cup.

Some accessories really do help. In our view a burr grinder changes a home cup more than any other single purchase. A gooseneck kettle makes pour-over easier to control. A simple scale takes the guessing out of ratios. Other things mostly help your photos.

This section sorts the two. We'll look at grinders, scales, kettles, storage, espresso tools and home coffee bar setups, with a clear eye on price and how often you'd really use each one. Expensive doesn't automatically mean better, and we'll say so when it doesn't.