A home espresso machine needs a tamper, a dosing funnel and a distributor sized to its basket, plus a knock box, a milk pitcher and a scale with a timer. Coffee & Cream stocks all of them, with the basket-sized tools in 51 mm for the De'Longhi Dedica EC685 and the HiBREW H10B, and in 58 mm.
Start with the basket size
The tamper, funnel, distributor and puck screen all have to match the basket diameter. The De'Longhi Dedica EC685 and the HiBREW H10B both take a 51 mm basket. The IKAPE Kapo K1 on our portable espresso machines page also uses a 51 mm basket.
For the De'Longhi Dedica Duo EC890, the Arshia EM270-3215, the LePresso Retro Coffee Machine, the LePresso Retro Espresso Boiler Machine and the Arzum OKKA Solo M, check the manual or measure the basket rim before you buy a tamper. See the machines in espresso machines.
We also stock a 58 mm set for machines with a 58 mm portafilter. That includes the MHW X-Press58, a cordless 58 mm espresso machine we sell, and E61-group machines, which we do not sell. The set is the MHW-3BOMBER YU Series Magnetic Dosing Funnel 58mm or the MHW Magnetic Dosing Ring Matte Black 58mm, the MHW CD Wood Lid Coffee Distributor 58mm, the MHW Impact Tamper 58.35mm Silver Black and the Stainless Steel Coffee Portafilter Screen Filter 58mm. The MHW Bottomless Portafilter E61 58mm fits an E61 group only. We do not stock 54 mm tools, so none of the tampers, funnels or screens in this guide will fit a 54 mm basket.
Dosing funnels and a scale
A dosing funnel sits on the portafilter so the grounds stay in the basket while you grind. For 51 mm baskets, the Muvna Espresso Dosing Funnel 51mm uses 8 to 10 rim magnets and an aluminium body that holds even when you turn it over. The iKape V2 Espresso Magnetic Dosing Funnel 51mm also has 8 to 10 magnets, centres itself on a 51 mm portafilter, and uses a raised wall to catch stray grounds. With the iKape Espresso Dosing Cup 51mm, you grind into the cup, flip it onto the 51 mm portafilter and lift the cup off.
Weigh the dose and the shot on a scale with a timer. The Digital Coffee Scale With Timer reads to 0.1 g, has tare, a backlit LCD and auto-off, and includes 2 AAA batteries. The MHW-3BOMBER Formula Smart Coffee Scale (black or white) reads 0.1 g from 0.3 g to 2000 g, has a drip mode and an espresso mode, and starts the timer when it senses water flow. The MHW Cube Coffee Scale 3.0 Micro is 85 x 85 mm and 138 g, so it sits on the drip tray. It has manual, V60 and espresso modes, and it times the shot in espresso mode. Grinders are in coffee grinders.
Coffee distributors and WDT tools
After the dose, break up clumps and level the bed before you tamp. The Gravity Coffee Distributor 51mm has a self-levelling base and no depth setting. Give it a few turns, then tamp. The MHW-3BOMBER WDT Espresso Distribution Tool has SUS304 needles with 0.25 mm tips plus 4 spares, an aluminium handle and a magnetic stand that protects the pins. It works on espresso and on drip coffee.
Espresso tampers
For the Dedica EC685, the H10B and any other 51 mm basket you have measured, use a 51 mm tamper. The Espresso Tamper 51mm Black has a stainless steel base and a rounded black handle. The Wood Tamper 51mm has a flat stainless steel base and a wood handle, and it is the step up from the plastic tamper packed with many machines. The Professional Hand Tamper 51mm is the later upgrade. A spring sets a constant pressure, an alignment collar rests on the basket rim, and the depth is adjustable.
Puck screens, baskets and bottomless portafilters
A puck screen sits on top of the tamped puck and keeps the shower screen cleaner. The Stainless Steel Coffee Portafilter Screen Filter 51mm is 1.7 mm thick, in food-grade stainless steel, with a 150 micron multi-layer filter. The iKape V2 Espresso Puck Screen 0.8mm 51mm is 304 stainless steel and thin, so it takes little headspace.
On the Dedica EC685, the 51mm Bottomless Portafilter has a stainless basket and a black handle, so you can watch the flow. It also fits the De'Longhi Dedica EC680, EC785, EC820, EC850 and EC860. The MHW BEP Butterfly Filter Basket 2.0 51mm is a double-layer precision basket with 745 laser-etched holes, sized for a 12 g dose, and it fits 51 mm portafilters. The DeLonghi 2-Cup Easy Clean Filter Basket DLSC401 is stainless steel and dishwasher-safe, for the Dedica EC680 and EC685, the EC860 and the ECP series. The De'Longhi Easy Clean Filter Basket 1 Cup is a single-cup basket listed for the Dedica EC680 and selected ECP models. Baskets are not universal, so confirm the machine model first. For shot length, see espresso, lungo and ristretto.
Knock boxes
A knock box is where the used puck goes, so you are not banging the portafilter on a bin. The Knock box For Espresso Machines, Black is compact ABS with a removable silicone bar and a rubber grip ring on the base. The Stainless Steel Espresso Knock Box has a stainless body, a shock-absorbing knock bar and a non-slip base. The iKape V2 ABS Knock Box uses a solid 10 mm knock block instead of a bar, on a wide non-slip base.
Milk pitchers
Pick the pitcher by the drink, and fill only to below the spout so the milk has room to grow. A 350 ml pitcher is for one cappuccino or flat white, and the Stainless Steel Milk Frothing Pitcher 350 ml is 304 stainless steel with a laser-engraved ml scale inside. The MHW Flagship Milk Pitcher 400ml Black is the next size up, in SUS304 with a latte art spout.
For two drinks, use 550 to 600 ml. The Milk Jug Stainless Steel Milk Pitcher 550ml is 304 stainless steel, with a measurement scale inside, and it is dishwasher-safe. At 550 ml it makes 2 cappuccinos or 3 small ones. Do not fill it above where the spout begins. The MHW GT Milk Pitcher 600ml comes in glossy and matte black, both with a U-shaped spout for latte art. Pitchers from 350 ml to 600 ml are in milk pitchers, and drink ratios are in latte, cappuccino and Spanish latte.
The Arzum OKKA Solo M has its own 0.3 L milk container, so a pitcher is optional on it. The Dedica Duo EC890 has a LatteArt steam wand, and both LePresso Retro machines and the H10B have steam control, so use a pitcher with them.
A starter kit, then the upgrades
For a home machine with a 51 mm basket, start with these:
- A 51 mm tamper: the Wood Tamper 51mm or the Espresso Tamper 51mm Black.
- A 51 mm dosing funnel: the Muvna or the iKape V2.
- A distributor or WDT: the Gravity Coffee Distributor 51mm or the MHW-3BOMBER WDT.
- A knock box.
- A 350 ml pitcher if you steam milk for one drink, or the 550 ml jug for two.
- A scale with a timer, so the dose is in grams.
Buy these once your shots come out the same day to day:
- The Professional Hand Tamper 51mm, for constant pressure.
- A 51 mm puck screen, 1.7 mm or the thinner 0.8 mm iKape, to keep the group cleaner.
- The bottomless portafilter for the Dedica EC685, to watch the flow.
- The MHW BEP 12 g precision basket or the DeLonghi DLSC401 2-cup basket, to replace a tired stock basket.
- The MHW Cube Coffee Scale 3.0 Micro, which sits on the drip tray if the counter scale does not fit under the cup.
- The Large Rubber Silicone Bar Mat For Coffee Machine, non-slip rubber that catches spills and protects the counter.
Two small extras, if you want them: the MHW-3BOMBER RDT Spray Bottle Black 10ml puts a light water mist on beans before grinding, and the Coffee Art Pen (stainless steel, 13.5 cm) draws in milk foam.
Cleaning
The MHW Elbow Espresso Cleaning Brush is a curved PA and PP brush. The MHW Coffee Blind Bowl Blind Filter Basket 58mm is SUS304 and made for backflushing, to clear coffee oils. It fits 58 mm portafilters only, and we do not stock a 51 mm blind basket. Backflush only on a machine with a three-way valve, and check your manual before you do it.
For limescale, use a descaler. The illy Descaler for Espresso Machines and Dr. Neu DECALK 3-in-1 150ml are in accessories. DeLonghi SoftBalls Anti-Limescale Spheres and De'Longhi EcoDecalk Descaler are in descaling solutions.
FAQ
What size espresso tamper do I need?
Match the tamper to the basket. The De'Longhi Dedica EC685 and the HiBREW H10B take 51 mm, so use the Wood Tamper 51mm, the Espresso Tamper 51mm Black or the Professional Hand Tamper 51mm. The MHW Impact Tamper 58.35mm is for 58 mm baskets only, such as the MHW X-Press58. We do not stock 54 mm. For the Dedica Duo EC890, Arshia EM270, LePresso Retro and Arzum OKKA Solo M, check the manual or measure the basket rim.
What are the espresso tools called?
In workflow order: a dosing funnel or dosing cup, a distributor or a WDT (needle tool), a tamper, a puck screen, a knock box, and a milk pitcher. A scale with a timer sits under the cup for the dose and the shot. A bottomless portafilter and a precision basket are upgrades to the parts the machine already has. A cleaning brush, a blind basket (58 mm only, and only if the manual allows backflushing) and a bar mat look after the machine and the counter.
Which accessories does a small home espresso machine need?
If the basket is 51 mm, as on the Dedica EC685 and the H10B, get a 51 mm tamper, a 51 mm dosing funnel, a 51 mm distributor or a WDT, a knock box, a milk pitcher and a scale. Leave the 58 mm funnels and the 58.35 mm tamper for a 58 mm machine, and the E61 portafilter for an E61 group. Measure first if the manual does not state the basket size.
Where can I buy coffee tools in Egypt?
Coffee & Cream sells the tampers, funnels, distributors, knock boxes, pitchers and scales in this guide, and delivers across Egypt. Orders reach Cairo and Giza in 1 to 2 business days and other governorates in 2 to 4 business days. You can pay cash on delivery or by card. Fees are on the shipping policy.
Shop the tools
Most of the tampers, funnels, distributors, puck screens, knock boxes, scales and the bar mat are in accessories. Milk jugs from 350 ml to 600 ml are in milk pitchers. Ground coffee for the portafilter is in espresso ground coffee, and beans are in whole coffee beans.