A digital scale. Non-negotiable. Cups are a lie in bread baking. $15.
A bench scraper. Cheap, invaluable, does five jobs. $8.
A round or oval banneton. Structure for the final proof. $15–20.
A Dutch oven. Traps steam for the first half of the bake — the single biggest factor in a great crust. $60–80.
A lame or clean razor blade. For scoring. $10.
Skip: proofing boxes, dough whisks, dedicated bread ovens. You don't need them yet.