What is your most unexpectedly useful accessory?

November 17th, 2021, 7:25 am

I was wondering, amongst all the expensive gadgetry people accumulate, whether there are any accessories that you've grown to really depend upon?

Mine are:

A rubber bar mat (supposed to use it for making cocktails) - it has proved really useful in protecting all my glassware, portafilters etc. etc. It's helped me avoid a divorce because it stops spills spreading and the little ridges let you rest puck screens and various small filters (e.g. metal aeropress filters) vertically so they can dry off.

Metal Chopstick - I find myself using this *all* the time for stirring, digging out discarded puck screens in my knock-box, tissue on the end to help clean the hard to reach bits on my shower screen and quite a few uses I've probably forgotten ...

Anyone else got little helpers they didn't realize would prove to be so useful when they first got them?

Best,

Paul.

November 17th, 2021, 7:44 am

My coffee tasting wheel. Really helps me learn to taste coffee.

November 17th, 2021, 7:48 am

I'm already on edge when someone says "ooh, that's nice" after I've painstakingly made them the best coffee I can.

Learning all the terms on your wheel might send me over the edge!

#4: Post by **michael** » November 17th, 2021, 8:31 am

I got some bar mats this fall, very good, let me make less of a mess

Also like the cafe latte corner tamping mat

#5: Post by **lancealot** » November 17th, 2021, 8:38 am

Pallo brushes.
Grey microfiber cloths.

#6: Post by **jbviau** » November 17th, 2021, 8:43 am

I no longer use the Eva Solo brewer, but the plastic stirrer that it came with gets daily use. It's perfect! pic: https://www.coffeegeek.com/wp-content/u ... spoon2.jpg

Ever Meister had a related discussion on Twitter a while back that might be worth looking through:

#7: Post by **JohnB.** » November 17th, 2021, 8:59 am

The Rocket Air Blaster & the Acid Brushes I bought a gross of back in 2013.

November 17th, 2021, 10:14 am

jbviau wrote:I no longer use the Eva Solo brewer, but the plastic stirrer that it came with gets daily use. It's perfect! pic: https://www.coffeegeek.com/wp-content/u ... spoon2.jpg

Ever Meister had a related discussion on Twitter a while back that might be worth looking through:

That looks great, now the task is to track one down without having to buy the brewer!

#9: Post by **yakster** » November 17th, 2021, 10:24 am

The rocket blower and the Aeropress funnel.

November 17th, 2021, 11:46 am

A 2nd pitcher to pour steamed milk from one to the other to 'tame' the steamed milk that would otherwise not be quite as perfect for pouring latté art.