Best Espresso Grinders: 4 Picks for Home Baristas
Four espresso grinders for home use, from an affordable all-rounder to a quiet Italian flat burr grinder, with who each one suits.
Home espresso, explained plainly
Plain-English guides to home espresso machines: how they work, how to look after them, and which ones are worth the money.
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Espresso Machines
Buying guides sorted by budget, boiler type and skill level, so you can narrow the field before you spend.
Reviews & Comparisons
Model-by-model breakdowns and head-to-head comparisons of the machines people actually shortlist.
Espresso Guides
How espresso machines work, what the jargon means, and how to get a better shot from the machine you own.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Descaling, backflushing, gaskets and water: the routine jobs that keep a machine running for years.
Grinders & Accessories
Tampers, filters, grinders and the small tools that make more difference than you would expect.
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Accessories Machines Best Espresso Machines Under $1,000: 5 Picks Compared
Five espresso machines under $1,000 compared by heating system, build and ease of use, with a clear recommendation for each type of home barista.
Machines Best Prosumer Espresso Machines: One Pick for Each Type
The best prosumer espresso machine in each category, single boiler, heat exchanger and dual boiler, and how to decide which type you need.
Guides Espresso Drinks Explained: Latte, Cappuccino and More
What is in each espresso drink: latte, cappuccino, flat white, macchiato, cortado, americano and mocha, with ratios of espresso, milk and foam.
Guides Espresso Grind Size: How Fine to Grind and How to Adjust
How fine espresso should be ground, what it should look and feel like, and a simple method for adjusting your grinder until the shot tastes right.
Accessories Espresso Machine Accessories: The Ones Worth Buying
The espresso machine accessories that genuinely improve your coffee, with one recommended pick in each category and the ones you can skip.
Maintenance Espresso Machine Not Pumping Water? 7 Fixes to Try
Why an espresso machine stops pumping water and how to fix it: air locks, tank seating, blocked baskets, scale and a failing pump, in order of likelihood.
Reviews Eureka Mignon Grinders Compared: Which Model Should You Buy?
The Eureka Mignon espresso grinder range compared: Notte, Silenzio, Specialita and Zero, with the differences that matter and who each suits.
Guides How Does an Espresso Machine Work? A Plain Walkthrough
What happens inside an espresso machine between pressing the button and coffee hitting the cup, explained part by part without the jargon.
Maintenance How to Clean an Espresso Machine: Daily, Weekly and Monthly
A simple cleaning routine for home espresso machines: what to do after every shot, once a week and once a month, and what each step actually prevents.
Guides How to Dial In Espresso: A Step-by-Step Method
A clear method for dialing in espresso: set the dose, choose a yield, adjust the grind by time, then fine-tune by taste. With a troubleshooting table.
Guides How to Grind Coffee Beans Without a Grinder: 5 Ways
Five ways to grind coffee beans with ordinary kitchen tools, which brew methods each grind suits, and why none of them work well for espresso.
Guides How to Make Espresso Without a Machine: 3 Methods That Work
Three ways to make strong, espresso-style coffee without an espresso machine, using a moka pot, an AeroPress or a French press, with honest expectations.
Guides How to Use a Breville Espresso Machine: First Shots to Milk
How to use a Breville espresso machine such as the Barista Express or Bambino: first setup, grinding, dosing, pulling a shot and steaming milk.
Guides How to Use a De'Longhi Espresso Machine (Stilosa, Dedica)
How to use a De'Longhi pump espresso machine such as the Stilosa or Dedica: priming, choosing the filter, pulling a shot and frothing milk.
Guides Is an Espresso Machine Worth It? An Honest Cost Breakdown
Whether a home espresso machine is worth buying: the real costs, how long it takes to pay for itself, and who should and should not get one.
Guides Types of Espresso Machines: Which Kind Is Right for You?
The main types of espresso machine explained: manual lever, semi-automatic, automatic, super-automatic and capsule, with who each one suits.
Guides What Is Espresso? A Clear Answer Without the Jargon
What espresso actually is, how it differs from regular coffee, what goes into a shot and why it tastes the way it does.
Guides Why Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Causes and How to Fix Each
Sour espresso almost always means under-extraction. Here are the six common causes, in the order to check them, and the fix for each.
Latest articles
Guides Baratza Encore and Encore ESP Grind Settings for Espresso
Which grind setting to use for espresso on a Baratza Encore ESP, why the original Encore struggles with espresso, and how to adjust from there.
Accessories Best Bottomless Portafilters by Machine Size: 4 Picks
Four bottomless portafilters matched to 51mm, 54mm and 58mm espresso machines, with how to check the fit and what a naked portafilter shows you.
Accessories Best Espresso Cups: 3 Picks for Your Machine
Three espresso cups compared on material, size and heat retention, with the cup sizes that fit under an espresso machine and suit each drink.
Accessories Best Espresso Grinders: 4 Picks for Home Baristas
Four espresso grinders for home use, from an affordable all-rounder to a quiet Italian flat burr grinder, with who each one suits.
Machines Best Espresso Machines Under $1,000: 5 Picks Compared
Five espresso machines under $1,000 compared by heating system, build and ease of use, with a clear recommendation for each type of home barista.
Machines Best Prosumer Espresso Machines: One Pick for Each Type
The best prosumer espresso machine in each category, single boiler, heat exchanger and dual boiler, and how to decide which type you need.
Guides Espresso Drinks Explained: Latte, Cappuccino and More
What is in each espresso drink: latte, cappuccino, flat white, macchiato, cortado, americano and mocha, with ratios of espresso, milk and foam.
Guides Espresso Grind Size: How Fine to Grind and How to Adjust
How fine espresso should be ground, what it should look and feel like, and a simple method for adjusting your grinder until the shot tastes right.
Accessories Espresso Machine Accessories: The Ones Worth Buying
The espresso machine accessories that genuinely improve your coffee, with one recommended pick in each category and the ones you can skip.