Barista Tools for a New Café: Tamper, Knock-Out Drawer and the Essentials
Last updated: October 2026
In 30 seconds:
- A new café needs six small items beside the machine and grinder: tamper, knock-out drawer, milk jugs, scales, cleaning brush with backflush powder, and cloths.
- A barista kit comes free with our coffee machines, so check what is in it before you buy anything extra.
- The Fracino tamper is from £49.99. Knock-out drawers start from £199 (under-grinder) and from £279 (high-capacity).
- Biggest mistake: buying a drawer that does not fit your counter, or mounting it on MDF or chipboard.
Planning the full setup? Start with our electric coffee machine buying guide for coffee shops, then come back here for the small kit.
Most new café owners spend weeks choosing the machine and minutes choosing the kit around it. Then opening day arrives and there is nowhere to knock out a puck.
The standard barista kit for a UK café is a tamper, a knock-out drawer and a few milk jugs. Add scales and cleaning gear, and you can serve a steady queue from day one.
Who is this for? First-time café, kiosk and coffee-van owners who are fitting out a counter on a budget. If you already run a shop, use it as a gap check.
What will it cost? Budget about £250 to £330 for a tamper and one knock-out drawer from us. Jugs and cleaning gear are extra and cheap.
The barista tools checklist
- Tamper. Presses the grounds flat so water flows evenly.
- Knock-out drawer. Catches spent pucks under the counter.
- Milk jugs. Two or three, in different sizes.
- Scales. Weigh every dose until your team can do it by feel.
- Group-head brush and backflush powder. For the daily clean.
- Cloths. One for the steam wand, one for the counter. Never mix them.
Tamper: the one tool you hold all day
Quick specs
- Product: Fracino stainless steel tamper
- Material: stainless steel
- Price: from £49.99
Why it matters: an even, level tamp gives an even shot. A cheap, wobbly tamper is a common cause of uneven extraction.
Check before you buy: the tamper must match your portafilter basket size. Measure the basket first.
See the Fracino stainless steel tamper — price and stock →
Knock-out drawer: keep the counter clear
After every shot, the puck has to go somewhere. A knock-out drawer sits under the counter, so you knock the handle out and the grounds drop away. Our Fracino knock-out drawer guide shows how one looks in use.
Quick specs: under-grinder drawer
- Size: 80 mm high × 240 mm wide × 430 mm deep
- Material: stainless steel, with a removable tray
- Price: from £199
Best for: small cafés, kiosks and vans with one grinder and limited space.
See the under-grinder knock-out drawer — price and stock →
Quick specs: high-capacity drawer
- Top tilting drawer: 313 mm high × 383 mm wide × 260 mm deep
- Lower sliding drawer: 306 mm high × 383 mm wide × 420 mm deep
- Waste bag: the lower drawer takes a disposable bin liner
- Price: from £279
Best for: busy cafés with a 2-group machine, where pucks stack up fast.
The honest warning: the high-capacity drawer must sit on solid timber or a metal frame. Do not fit it to MDF or chipboard.
Under-grinder or high-capacity: which one?
| Under-grinder drawer | High-capacity drawer | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £199 | From £279 |
| Height | 80 mm | 313 mm top + 306 mm lower |
| Width | 240 mm | 383 mm |
| Fitting | Sits under the grinder | Mounted under the counter |
| Best for | Small shops, vans, kiosks | Busy 2-group cafés |
Milk jugs, scales and cleaning kit
- Milk jugs: buy two sizes. We do not stock them, so get them from a catering supplier. Learn the pour with our guide to steaming milk and pouring microfoam.
- Scales: weigh the dose in and the shot out. It is the fastest way to find a bad shot.
- Cleaning gear: a group-head brush and backflush powder. Do the clean every day.
Biggest mistake: buying the kit last
Order the knock-out drawer and tamper while you plan the counter. The drawer needs cut-outs, a solid frame and a clear spot near the grinder. Fitting it after the worktop is in costs far more.
Once the kit is in, dial in your grinder with our step-by-step grinder dial-in guide. Still choosing a grinder? See the coffee grinder buying guide for coffee shops.
Frequently asked questions
What barista tools does a new café need?
At minimum: a tamper, a knock-out drawer, two or three milk jugs, scales, a group-head brush and backflush powder, and cloths. These cover dosing, tamping, milk, waste and daily cleaning. Add extras once you know your menu.
Do I get barista tools with a coffee machine from MobCater?
Yes. A barista kit is included free with our coffee machines. Ask us what is in the kit for your model before you order, so you only buy the gaps.
How much does a barista tamper cost?
The Fracino stainless steel tamper is from £49.99 at MobCater. Match the tamper to your portafilter basket size, because a loose fit leaves grounds uneven at the edge.
Do I need a knock-out drawer?
Yes, if you serve more than a handful of coffees an hour. It stops pucks piling up on the counter and speeds up service. It also keeps wet grounds out of your bin area.
Which knock-out drawer is best for a small café?
The under-grinder drawer is the best fit for most small cafés. It is only 80 mm high, 240 mm wide and 430 mm deep, and it is from £199.
When do I need the high-capacity knock-out drawer?
Choose it for a busy 2-group machine. The tilting top and sliding lower drawer hold far more spent coffee. It is from £279 and needs a solid timber or metal frame.
Can I mount a knock-out drawer on MDF or chipboard?
No. The high-capacity drawer must be mounted on solid timber or metal. MDF and chipboard are not recommended because they can flex and loosen under repeated knocking.
Do you sell milk jugs?
No. We do not stock milk jugs, so buy them from a catering supplier. Get at least two sizes, because a small jug gives better microfoam for single drinks.