The syrup starter kit
Everything you need for the first batch, nothing you don't.
Links open amazon.com
Syrup-making gear we actually like
Two things make the syrup: a pot and a bottle. The rest makes it faster, prettier and easier to give.
Shortcuts
Kits
Home café · Good
Café-style drinks on a budget: froth, pump, pour.
Links open amazon.com
Home café · Better
One-touch milk foam and a tidy syrup station.
- Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother
- Nespresso VertuoPlus by De'Longhi with Aeroccino Frother
- Coffee Syrup Bottle Rack Organizer
Links open amazon.com
Home café · Best
Real espresso at home to go with your syrups.
- Espresso machine
- Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine (BES870XL)
- Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine (ES601)
Links open amazon.com
Gift a syrup
Pretty bottles, tags and boxes for homemade gifts.
- 8.5 oz Swing-Top Glass Gift Bottles (12-pack)
- Kraft Paper Gift Tags with Twine (100-pack)
- Kraft Bottle Gift Boxes with Window
- Brother P-touch PT-D210 Label Maker
- Mini funnel
Links open amazon.com
Home bar starter
The tools that make syrup-sweetened cocktails easy.
Links open amazon.com
Sugar-free syrup kit
Crystal-free, keto-friendly syrups for January and beyond.
Links open amazon.com
Soda station
Syrup + bubbles = homemade soda, no cans.
Links open amazon.com
Orgeat & nut syrup kit
Almond (or pistachio) syrup for tiki drinks and lattes.
Links open amazon.com
Cake-soaking kit
Moist layers, clean crumb coats.
Links open amazon.com
Gifts for the syrup maker
Treats for the person who always brings homemade syrup.
- Cocktail Smoker Kit with Torch & Wood Chips
- Aarke Carbonator 3 Sparkling Water Maker
- Nespresso VertuoPlus by De'Longhi with Aeroccino Frother
- The Aviary Cocktail Book
- 3-Tier Metal & Glass Bar Cart
- Coupe Cocktail Glasses (set of 4)
- Wintersmiths Phantom Clear Ice Maker
Links open amazon.com
Essentials
Bottles & Storage
Homemade syrup keeps for weeks in the fridge when it's sealed tight. These are the bottles and jars we reach for to store it, pour it and give it away.
Our pick
Our pick
Otis Classic 16 oz Swing-Top Glass Bottles (6-pack)
Airtight swing caps keep syrup fresh for weeks, and 16 oz holds a full batch. Spare gaskets, labels and a marker included.
Best for Storing and gifting any syrup
Budget
Budget
Ball Regular Mouth 16 oz Pint Mason Jars (12-pack)
Tough, heat-safe glass you can pour hot syrup straight into. Lids seal tight and replacements are sold everywhere.
Best for Big batches and everyday storage
Ball Wide Mouth 16 oz Pint Mason Jars (12-pack)
The wide opening makes it easy to pack in fruit, herbs or peels for infusing, then pour through a strainer.
Best for Fruit and herb infusions
OXO Good Grips Chef's Squeeze Bottles (12 oz + 16 oz)
Thick and thin tips for drizzling caramel or chocolate syrup over lattes and desserts, with measurement marks on the side.
Best for Sauces, drizzles and latte art
Upgrades
Home Coffee Bar
Your vanilla, caramel and pumpkin spice syrups deserve a proper latte. From a handheld frother to a real espresso machine, this is the gear that turns syrup into café drinks.
Glass Coffee Syrup Dispensers with Pumps (16.9 oz, set of 2)
A pump gives the same dose every press, so every latte tastes the same. Glass washes clean between flavors.
Best for Home coffee bars
Coffee Syrup Bottle Rack Organizer
Holds a row of syrup bottles upright with labels facing out beside the coffee maker. A tidy coffee bar in one piece.
Best for Organizing a coffee station
Budget
Budget
Zulay Kitchen Handheld Milk Frother
A battery wand that whips milk into foam in seconds for syrup lattes and cold foam. Costs less than two café drinks.
Best for Lattes and cold foam on a budget
Nespresso Aeroccino3 Milk Frother
One button makes hot foam, hot milk or cold foam. Add syrup to the cup first for café-level drinks with zero technique.
Best for Foolproof hot and cold foam
Essentials
Pots & Kitchen Tools
A small heavy-bottomed saucepan does most of the work. Add a few tools for zesting, crushing and blending and you can make every syrup on this site.
Our pick
Our pick
Cuisinart Chef's Classic 1.5 qt Stainless Saucepan with Lid
The right size for a 1-2 cup batch. Stainless won't react with citrus, and the aluminum base spreads heat to avoid scorching.
Best for Every stovetop syrup
Upgrade
Upgrade
All-Clad D3 Stainless 2 qt Saucepan with Lid
Fully clad tri-ply heats evenly up the sides, ideal for caramel and rich syrups where hot spots burn sugar. Lasts a lifetime.
Best for Caramel and rich syrups
ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 Instant-Read Thermometer
Fast, accurate readings take the guesswork out of caramel and keep tea or flower steeps below bitter temperatures.
Best for Caramel and temperature-sensitive steeps
Microplane Classic Zester/Grater
Lifts just the fragrant zest, not the bitter pith, for brighter citrus syrups. Also grates fresh ginger and nutmeg.
Best for Citrus and ginger syrups
Essentials
Measuring
Syrup is all about ratios. A scale makes 1:1 and 2:1 batches exact every time, and a good measuring cup handles the rest.
Our pick
Our pick
Escali Primo Digital Kitchen Scale (11 lb)
Weighing beats cups for sugar, so 1:1 and 2:1 syrups come out exact every time. Tare button and 1 g precision.
Best for Exact ratios, every batch
Pyrex 3-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set (1, 2 & 4 cup)
Heat-proof glass with a spout: measure the water, microwave a quick syrup, then pour it straight into the bottle.
Best for Measuring, microwaving and pouring
Budget
Budget
OXO Good Grips Mini Angled Measuring Cup
Read tablespoons, ounces and milliliters from above. Handy for measuring syrup into coffee or drinks without a jigger.
Best for Small, precise pours
Pyrex 4-Cup Glass Measuring Jug
Pour hot syrup from the pot into the jug, then from the spout into the funnel. Heatproof glass and clear markings make filling 100 bottles fast.
Best for Filling bottles in batches
Upgrades
Cocktail Tools
A jigger, a shaker and a citrus press are all it takes to turn a bottle of syrup into proper sours, mojitos and Old Fashioneds.
Our pick
Our pick
OXO SteeL Angled Measuring Jigger
Angled ounce and tablespoon markings read from above, so you pour exact syrup doses without crouching to eye level.
Best for Measuring syrup into drinks
Gift idea
Gift idea
Mixology & Craft 16-Piece Cocktail Shaker Set
Shaker, double jigger, bar spoon, tongs and more in one stainless kit: everything needed to put your syrups to work.
Best for Starting a home bar
Upgrade
Upgrade
Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Weighted Shaking Tins (set of 2)
The tins pro bartenders use: they seal fast, never stick and chill quickly. A big step up from a three-piece shaker.
Best for Upgrading from a cobbler shaker
OXO SteeL Muddler
The nylon head presses mint and citrus without scratching glass. Also bruises herbs before you steep an herb syrup.
Best for Mojitos, smashes and herb syrups
Upgrades
Soda & Sparkling
Fizzy water plus an ounce of homemade syrup is real craft soda for pennies a glass. These carbonators make it a daily habit.
Our pick
Our pick
SodaStream Terra Sparkling Water Maker
Fizz tap water in seconds, then stir in an ounce or two of fruit or herb syrup for homemade soda at a fraction of can prices.
Best for Homemade sodas every day
Upgrade
Upgrade
Aarke Carbonator 3 Sparkling Water Maker
Stainless steel, no electricity, and it takes standard screw-in CO2 cylinders. The soda maker worth leaving on the counter.
Best for Design lovers and big gifts
Drinkmate OmniFizz Sparkling Drink Maker
Unlike most soda makers it carbonates any drink, so you can fizz lemonade or syrup-and-water directly into craft soda.
Best for Carbonating juice, lemonade and cocktails
Essentials
Straining & Pouring
For clear, seed-free syrup and no sticky spills: fine strainers, cheesecloth, and funnels sized to fit bottle necks.
Our pick
Our pick
Cuisinart Fine Mesh Stainless Strainers (set of 3)
Three sizes cover everything from a small tea steep to a big fruit batch, and the fine mesh catches seeds and spice bits.
Best for Every infused or fruit syrup
Norpro Stainless Steel Mini Funnels (set of 3)
Narrow stems fit swing-top and dropper bottles, so you can fill without sticky spills. Stainless handles hot syrup.
Best for Filling bottles cleanly
Budget
Budget
Regency Wraps Ultra Fine Cheesecloth (9 sq ft)
Line your strainer for crystal-clear syrup from berries, ginger or herbs. Unbleached 100% cotton you cut to size.
Best for Crystal-clear syrups
Ellie's Best Pro Quality Nut Milk Bag (12 x 12 in)
Squeeze every drop from blended almonds for orgeat or from mashed fruit. Reusable fine nylon mesh that rinses clean.
Best for Orgeat and pulpy fruit syrups
Gifting
Labels & Gift Packaging
Label every bottle with the flavor and date, and dress up the ones you give away. Homemade syrup is one of the easiest, best-loved gifts you can make.
Our pick
Our pick
8.5 oz Swing-Top Glass Gift Bottles (12-pack)
About a cup of syrup per bottle is the ideal gift size, and a 12-pack covers neighbors, teachers and the office.
Best for Holiday syrup gifts
2 Inch Round Printable Sticker Labels (sheets)
The label maker prints to this size. Sticker sheets that run through a home inkjet or laser printer.
Best for Printing the free bottle labels
Budget
Budget
Reusable Chalkboard Jar Labels with Chalk Marker
Write the flavor and date on every bottle, then wipe and reuse. Waterproof vinyl survives fridge condensation.
Best for Labeling bottles and jars
Kraft Paper Gift Tags with Twine (100-pack)
Tie one to each gift bottle with the flavor, date and a serving idea like "2 tbsp in hot cocoa". Rustic and cheap.
Best for Gift bottles
Gifting
Home Bar Gifts
Gift ideas for the syrup maker or cocktail lover in your life: the things that make a home bar feel special.
Our pick
Our pick
Cocktail Smoker Kit with Torch & Wood Chips
Smoke an Old Fashioned sweetened with your demerara or cinnamon syrup. Theatrical, easy and a much-loved home bar gift.
Best for Gifts for whiskey lovers
Upgrade
Upgrade
3-Tier Metal & Glass Bar Cart
A rolling home for bottles, glassware and your syrup lineup. The upgrade that makes a home bar feel finished.
Best for Setting up a home bar
Gift idea
Gift idea
Coupe Cocktail Glasses (set of 4)
Stemmed coupes make a daiquiri or lavender gimlet look as good as it tastes. A classic, giftable set.
Best for Shaken drinks and gifting
Gift idea
Gift idea
Libbey Rocks Glasses (set of 4)
Heavy-bottomed glasses for an Old Fashioned over one big cube.
Best for Whiskey and Old Fashioned drinkers
Gifting
Craft Syrups & Bitters
No time to make it? These ready-made syrups, bitters and cherries are worth buying, and they make easy gifts for anyone who mixes drinks.
Gift idea
Gift idea
Liber & Co. Cocktail Syrups (3-pack)
Real-fruit syrups from an Austin bar-syrup maker. They work in cocktails, coffee and soda water alike.
Best for Bar-quality syrup without the cooking
Gift idea
Gift idea
Small Hand Foods Orgeat
The almond syrup many tiki bars pour into a Mai Tai. Orgeat is fussy to make at home, so a good bottle is a treat.
Best for Tiki and Mai Tai fans
Gift idea
Gift idea
Pratt Standard Classic Cocktail Syrup Set
A boxed trio of classic cocktail syrups with recipes, ready to wrap.
Best for Classic cocktail fans
Gift idea
Gift idea
Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic Syrup
Tonic syrup made with real quinine. Add gin and soda water for a proper G&T, or soda alone for a bitter spritz.
Best for Gin and tonic drinkers
Ingredients
Sugars & Sweeteners
The sweetener shapes the syrup: clean cane sugar, toffee-ish demerara, floral honey, or allulose for a sugar-free batch that won't crystallize.
Our pick
Our pick
Wholesome Organic Cane Sugar (10 lb)
Fair Trade organic cane sugar that dissolves clean and tastes bright. A 10 lb bag makes about 20 batches of classic syrup.
Best for Classic and flavored syrups
Demerara Raw Cane Sugar (2 lb)
Big crystals with toffee and molasses notes make a rich amber syrup that shines in Old Fashioneds and tiki drinks.
Best for Demerara and rich syrups
Wholesome Allulose Zero-Calorie Sweetener
Allulose dissolves like sugar and resists crystallizing in the fridge, which makes it the best base for sugar-free syrup.
Best for Sugar-free and keto syrups
Lakanto Classic Monk Fruit Sweetener (1:1 Sugar Substitute)
Measures cup-for-cup like sugar. Its erythritol base can recrystallize when chilled, so blend it with allulose for syrup.
Best for Sugar-free syrups
Ingredients
Botanicals & Flavorings
The vanilla, spices, dried flowers and flower waters we trust. Buy them once and they last for dozens of batches.
Our pick
Our pick
Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract (4 oz)
The baker's benchmark. A splash finishes vanilla, caramel or chocolate syrup with rich, rounded flavor.
Best for Vanilla, caramel and chocolate syrups
Grade A Madagascar Vanilla Beans (10 pods)
Split one pod into a batch for real vanilla bean syrup with the little black specks. Grade A pods are plump and oily.
Best for Vanilla bean syrup
Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste (4 oz)
Bean specks and deep flavor by the teaspoon, no pod splitting. The shortcut to vanilla bean syrup and cake soaks.
Best for Vanilla bean flavor without pods
Frontier Co-op Organic Lavender Flowers (1 lb)
Food-grade organic buds. A tablespoon steeped off the heat gives floral, not soapy, lavender syrup, and 1 lb lasts ages.
Best for Lavender syrup
Upgrades
Ice & Freezing
Big cubes for slow-melting drinks, and small trays for freezing syrup in ready-to-use portions.
Our pick
Our pick
W&P Peak Silicone Ice Cube Tray
Also the best way to freeze syrup in small portions so you thaw only what you need. Flexible silicone pops cubes out clean.
Best for Freezing syrup portions
Tovolo King Cube Silicone Ice Molds (2-pack)
Big 2-inch cubes melt slowly, so an Old Fashioned or iced latte sweetened with your syrup doesn't water down.
Best for Stirred drinks and iced coffee
Upgrade
Upgrade
Wintersmiths Phantom Clear Ice Maker
Directional freezing in a home freezer makes crystal-clear large cubes, the bar-quality finish for spirit-forward drinks.
Best for Showpiece cocktails
Upgrades
Iced Tea & Lemonade
Simple syrup was made for cold drinks. Pitchers, a party dispenser and a serious citrus press for summer by the gallon.
Our pick
Our pick
Takeya Flash Chill Iced Tea Maker (2 qt)
Brew hot, pour over ice, shake: iced tea in under a minute without dilution. Sweeten with hibiscus, peach or mint syrup.
Best for Iced tea by the pitcher
Glass Beverage Dispenser with Spigot (2 gal)
For parties: a big batch of lemonade or punch sweetened with your syrup, self-serve. Glass shows off colorful fruit syrups.
Best for Parties and showers
Upgrade
Upgrade
Breville Citrus Press Pro (800CPXL)
A motorized press with a lever arm juices a bag of lemons in minutes, for lemonade by the gallon and citrus syrups.
Best for Lemonade and citrus by the gallon
Gifting
Cocktail Books
The books that taught us the most about balance, technique and what to do with a fridge full of syrups. They make great gifts, too.
Our pick
Our pick
Death & Co: Modern Classic Cocktails
500+ recipes from the New York bar, with the specs, syrups and technique behind them. The modern home bar bible.
Best for Anyone serious about cocktails
Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions
Teaches six root cocktails so you can invent your own. Ideal once you have a fridge full of custom syrups.
Best for Creating your own drinks
The Bar Book: Elements of Cocktail Technique
Jeffrey Morgenthaler's technique manual on juicing, carbonating, shaking and ice. It makes every syrup drink better.
Best for Learning technique
The Joy of Mixology (Revised and Updated Edition)
Gary Regan's classic sorts drinks into families, which makes it easy to see where a new syrup can slot in.
Best for Understanding drink families