Noah’s Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Home Espresso

If you’re just getting into espresso, this guide is for you. These are the exact tools I’d recommend if I were starting fresh today. The goal here is to help you build a reliable setup that fits your budget and gives you a great experience from day one. Whether you’re working with $200 or closer to $700, there’s an option that will get you pulling tasty shots at home.

You can find everything mentioned in this article on my Curated Amazon List

Whether you’re pulling your very first shot or just looking to upgrade your setup, these are the tools I’d reach for every time. If you have any questions or need any specific advice, feel free to DM me on Instagram @noahsterncoffee or shoot me an email. I’m always happy to help.

Step 1: Pick Your Machine

There’s no one perfect espresso machine. What matters is finding the right balance of features, price, and workflow that fits your needs. Here are the three machines I recommend the most for beginners, depending on your budget.

Breville Barista Express

This machine has everything built in. Grinder, steam wand, and a solid espresso system all in one. The Barista Express is one of the most popular beginner machines on the market, and for good reason. It’s simple to use, but still gives you the ability to grow. I used this machine for years and still recommend it as one of the best all-in-one coffee machines you can buy. 

Ideal for: Someone who wants an all-in-one solution and doesn’t mind the slightly bigger footprint.

Breville Bambino Plus + Baratza Encore ESP

The Bambino Plus is a big step up in terms of milk steaming power and build quality. It heats up fast, fits well on a small counter, and creates really nice textured milk. Since it doesn’t come with a grinder, the Baratza Encore ESP is the perfect match. This combo gives you more control over grind size and overall workflow. Another benefit of this is that if you ever wanted to upgrade the machine or the grinder, you can do so independently. Whereas with something like the Breville Barista Express, you are tied to it being an all-in-one. 

Ideal for: Someone who wants to take milk drinks seriously and start learning proper technique.

Casabrews Ultra

This is one of the best espresso machines you can get in the ~$170 range. The Casabrews Ultra is compact, has a decent steam wand, and gives you a real espresso experience without breaking the bank. If you’re looking to dip your toes in and keep the total setup under $400, pair this with the Baratza Encore ESP grinder and you’re good to go. 

Ideal for: Someone who wants to start learning espresso at home without spending too much.

Step 2: Add Some Accessories

Once you’ve picked your machine and grinder, a few key accessories will make your espresso workflow smoother and more consistent. These aren’t just “nice to haves” — they’re tools I use every day. I’ve listed them in rough order from most to least useful, based on my own routine.

If you’re using either of the Breville machines, look for 53mm or 54mm accessories (they’re sometimes labeled differently depending on the company, but both sizes work). If you’re going with the Casabrews Ultra, you’ll want 58mm accessories.

Tamping Mat

This is one of the most overlooked tools, but I’d argue it’s essential. A tamping mat protects your counter, gives you a stable surface, and creates a more professional workflow. I use a compact one that fits even in small kitchens. Here is the one I recommend.

Normcore Tamper

Tamping is all about consistency. The Normcore tamper has a nice weight to it, fits most 54mm or 51mm baskets perfectly, and helps create a level surface every time. It’s a small investment that leads to better extractions and fewer channeling issues. I’ve had the best results with this one.

Puck Screen

A puck screen is a small metal mesh disc that you place on top of your espresso puck before locking in the portafilter. It helps distribute the water more evenly across the puck, which can reduce channeling and lead to more consistent extractions. It also keeps your group head cleaner, since it acts as a barrier. Not essential, but definitely helpful. This is a three pack that I recommend. 

Dosing Ring

A dosing ring is a simple tool that sits on top of your portafilter to keep coffee grounds from spilling over the sides when you grind or use your WDT tool. It helps keep your counter clean and your doses consistent. It’s one of those tools you don’t think you need until you start using one and wonder how you ever went without it. This is the one that I use.

WDT Tool

WDT stands for Weiss Distribution Technique. It’s a simple tool that helps break up clumps of coffee after grinding. When you stir the grounds in your portafilter with a WDT tool, you’re evening out the density and making sure water flows through your espresso puck more evenly. It’s a small thing that makes a big difference in how your shots taste. This is my favorite WDT.

Fellow Atmos Vacuum Canister

If you’re buying nice coffee beans, you’ll want to keep them fresh. The Fellow Atmos is a vacuum-sealed canister that helps prevent oxidation and moisture from getting in. That means your beans stay flavorful longer. I like the clear version so I can see what’s inside, but they also make a matte black stainless version that blocks out light completely. These come in both manual and electric. I personally only have the manual ones and they have held up great over the last few years. 

RDT Spray Bottle

If you’re single dosing your beans (meaning you weigh out each shot before grinding) you’ve probably noticed that static can make a mess. A quick spritz of water on the beans before grinding helps eliminate that. All you need is a small spray bottle and one light mist per dose. It’s optional, but super helpful for keeping things tidy. This is the one I have been using for almost 3 years.

Step 3: Get Good Coffee

The best gear in the world won’t matter if you’re starting with old or low-quality beans. One of the simplest ways to level up your espresso is to use freshly roasted coffee… ideally roasted within the last 30 days.

I personally use Trade Coffee for a lot of my beans. It’s a subscription service that curates great roasters from across the country, so I’m always getting something fresh and well-suited for espresso. But honestly, the best place to start is your local coffee shop. Ask them what they brew or recommend for espresso, and look for a medium to dark roast to begin with. These tend to be a bit easier to dial in and give you that rich, balanced flavor most people are aiming for. If you are looking for a roaster to order from, I always recommend Coffee Bros and their espresso blend.

Fresh beans, good grind, solid gear. That’s the foundation.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this guide helped make your espresso journey a little less intimidating and a lot more exciting!