Are you trying to lower your food and drink expenses, which include regular trips to the coffee shop? You're not alone. With coffee prices reaching an all-time high, more people are choosing to invest in brewing equipment at home as a practical, money-saving strategy.

If your homemade coffee isn't tasting as rich as the shop-bought variant, don't despair. Even former baristas often struggle to achieve the perfect home brew without the right equipment and know-hows. We've gathered top coffee-making hacks and gear recommendations from seasoned baristas and coffee experts to help you yield a better brew.

Laila Ghambari, a 20-year veteran in specialty coffee, notes a common mistake: not correctly measuring coffee before brewing. According to Ghambari, a precise coffee to water ratio (1 part coffee to 15-17 parts water) is essential for achieving a specific quantity and strength of taste. A reliable food scale like the Escali Arti, favored by 2-time U.S. Barista Champion and Klatch Coffee CEO Heather Perry, offers accuracy in measure.

Many people quickly grab a bag of pre-ground coffee beans for convenience, but this often leads to less flavorful home-brewed coffee due to oxidation, which degrades the beans’ aromatic oils, says Dave Lanning, owner of Dave’s Coffee. He warns against cheap blade grinders that only chop beans inconsistently, leading to over- and under-extraction. For a tastier cup, Lanning recommends a burr grinder like the Baratza Encore for uniform grinding, or having your beans ground at the coffee shop and directly storing them in an airtight container.

Storage matters too. Coffee beans are susceptible to light and oxidation, causing stale and flavorless java over time. Lanning encourages investing in a Fellow Atmos airtight coffee canister to maintain optimal freshness.

Properly frothing milk can also enhance your cup, says Kat McCarthy, a Professional Level Barista at Lavazza. If you don't have a steam wand, an automatic milk frother like the Bodum Bistro Electric Milk Frother can simplify the process and delivers excellent results, says Shonali Paul, founder of Paul John Indian Caffeine Company.

The quality of water used in brewing could heavily affect your coffee, says Perry. She recommends investing in a carbon filter or using Third Wave Water, which treats tap water to meet the Specialty Coffee Association's high standards.

Finally, regular cleaning of espresso and coffee machines, plus accessories like portafilters and grinders, are imperative to maintain your cup's quality. Perry advises a thorough rinse after descaling.

For those looking to elevate their espresso game further, Perry recommends an automatic tamp like the Likarva tamper, which consistently presses down coffee grounds for a high-quality espresso each time.