Baristas need multi-tools, too, especially if they like to tinker around with the machines they use to make all those delicious brews. And while there’s a good load of options out there that could suit most coffee enthusiasts, the Victorinox x La Marzocco Barista Tool is specifically designed for the guy working the espresso machine at your local cafe.
Billed as “a pocket knife designed to enhance your coffee experience,” the Swiss Army multi-tool is equipped with specialized tools included specifically for working baristas. Need a tool to remove the steam wand nozzle? This has it. How about a spatula for leveling grounds and sweeping off excess coffee? There’s a tool for that, too, along with a few more everyday items.
The Victorinox x La Marzocco Barista Tool looks like any standard Swiss Army knife. You get that classic design, with the outfit’s signature red cellidor scales and a smattering of tools that flip out from the sides. It’s sized for carrying in a pocket, whether on your pants or on your apron, coming in at 3.6 x 1 x 0.9 inches (length x width x thickness) and weighing 4.8 ounces. According to the outfit, there’s a total of 19 functions here, so this is the kind of multi-tool you can use not just at the coffee shop, but a whole host of places you visit throughout the day.
Of course, the main selling point are the barista tools. The main addition here is the coffee spatula, which you can use to level coffee grounds on the portafilter, stir those same grounds in the water if needed to help extraction, scrape out excess grounds, hold back excess milk foam, and even stir ingredients to properly finish off that iced coffee drink. There’s also a 12mm nozzle remover for taking off the steam wand tip for cleaning or replacing. Do note, this tool is specific to the steam wands on La Marzocco’s coffee makers, so while it might work with similarly-sized wands from other machines, that won’t always be the case.
The Victorinox x La Marzocco Barista Tool only comes with those two as specialized tools, while the rest are, pretty much, standard multi-tool fare you will find in other collections. Of course, they specifically chose ones here that will prove useful to baristas and home coffee enthusiasts, so those in that demographic should find this extremely handy. Specifically, they threw in two blades (one large, one small) for various slicing and cutting tasks, a can opener with an integrated 3mm slotted screwdriver, a 1.5mm mini-driver, a 0.5-inch Phillips driver, a combo tool (reamer, punch, and sewing awl), a corkscrew, combination pliers, toothpick, and tweezers. There’s also a key ring for hanging it off your bag, keychain, or lanyard.
This is a classic Swiss Army Knife, by the way, so there’s no one-handed deployment for any of the tools. Instead, it’s old-school, requiring you to hold the frame with one hand while pulling each individual tool out. Neither of the two blades are lockable, either, so careful about using them when slicing tougher stuff.
The Victorinox x La Marzocco Barista Tool is slated to come out soon, priced at $145.
