Baking Equipment

Bread Matters exists to help people to enjoy real bread. The best way to do this is to make your own.

Novice, regular home baker or artisan, you’ll know that having the right tools makes all the difference. I know, having started a small bakery from scratch in the 1970s. I had to make do with ancient second hand equipment to start with and I even built a wood-fired oven because the power supply in the village wasn’t robust enough. During 35 years of making my living by baking real bread, I worked out what tools helped produce the quality I aimed for without replacing or devaluing the hand work that makes for real satisfaction - tools for conviviality, in Ivan Illich’s words.

So, here is a selection of things to help you produce really good bread. I use (or have used) many of these items myself, so I am happy to discuss their finer points.