I'm ready to buy my new machine and grinder.

Please check my list and let me know what other useful items I might need:

EDIT: Based on suggestions within this thread, referenced threads, and pm's, I now have the following, which I'll continue to edit as it grows or changes. New or changed items bolded.

Vibiemme Domobar manual Super HX, plumbed rotary pump type
Mahlkönig K30 Vario Compak K-10 WBC grinder
Bottomless portafilter (to help me develop technique and skill)
Tamper, mild convex style (Any brand suggestions?) Artazza Rosso Macchiato 58mm convex
Good coffee (Black Cat, Espresso Toscano, and Hairbender to start with)
Black bar towels
Small 100 gram scale for weighing doses
Orphan Espresso 58mm portafilter dosing funnel
Rubber tamping mat
Latte art pen
Grouphead brush
small brush for brushing grinds in the K-10
Monin Dark Chocolate Syrup
Milk, even though I don't drink it


I already have a knockbox, several sets of demitasse and cappuccino cups, frothing pitchers, thermometers, citric acid.

I am sourcing components for the filtration/softening system separately.

I would like to buy from merchants who support this site, and I see a list of them in the Resources section. If anyone has any particular recommendations based on their experiences, I'd appreciate hearing it.

Thanks!

Ah, I found this!

What are "must have" accessories for new espresso machine

After owning a K30, I personally feel that it's overpriced(for the home user). The Baratza Vario yields a very similar grind, has timed dosing, and is more counter-friendly. If you're gonna spend big $$ on a commercial grinder - why not pop for a 68mm conical like the K10, M7 or Doge Conico?

~j

Thank you for that feedback about the K30, and for the alternative suggestions, Jackson. Here are some reasons for my K30 selection: The reported higher noise of operation of those units (and most grinders) you mentioned relative to the K30 was one factor. Another was price. I didn't check that exhaustively, though, so it bears further investigation. The K30 can be had for $1595 new. Another was the reported speed, the time it takes to grind a double dose. The K30 is quite fast. The fact that the K30 is doserless. The physical size of the grinder, especially height.

I did not consider the Baratza Vario, so I will take a look at it. Also, I just found this thread that looks informative, so I will take some time to read it: Titan Grinder Project: Can it Beat the Mazzer Robur?

For the amount of money I'll be spending on any of the commercial grinders I think it is worth revisiting my choices and doing some additional comparisons. Thanks again.

I also found this very detailed post by peppersass (Dick Green) that greatly aids in understanding the issues in the doser vs doserless debate. I found it very educational. It is also, along with jammin's post in this thread, causing me to rethink my selection of the K30 Vario for a grinder. I may end up going with the Compak K10 WBC instead.

Got milk?

I posted the list of items I use every day in What accessories does every home setup need?

Eric, yes, milk is a must. How else might one practice latte art!? And there are people in my house who will drink it. There's no accounting for taste, they say. But I did add a latte art pen to my list.

Chris, good link. There were a few cleaning tools I hadn't thought of. And dedicated towels, black perhaps, used only for espresso cleanup seem like a good idea. I keep citric acid on hand for various other uses, so I can use that for descaling. What is it that differentiates a product like Dezcal from citric acid? Both are for descaling, no?

I ordered the Vibiemme Domobar Super HX and Compak K-10 grinder from 1st-line today, along with a few other odds and ends. Hopefully I'll be enjoying some fine espresso in about a week. I'm really looking forward to it. Meanwhile, I'm putting together the parts for my filtration system.