Reviews

Whether you’re an espresso connoisseur or you are just starting your espresso journey, our expert baristas, review the best espresso makers, grinders, coffee beans and other geeky gear to keep you highly caffeinated on any budget. We have reviews for super-automatic and semi-automatic espresso makers and accessories. We also review the best equipment and accessories to get your grind down to a science and help bring your espresso game to new levels.

Oily Coffee Beans – Are They Good Or Bad?

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shiny coffee beans texture background

I’ve heard different opinions on oily coffee beans throughout my love affair with coffee. Some people love their beans to look oily, some never buy beans that have oil on them, but most people couldn’t tell me why they didn’t like the oily beans. There is sometimes a negative association with a shiny coffee bean, … Read more

Mantis Espresso WDT Tool Review

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espresso wdt tool

As an espresso geek, I’m always on the lookout for ways to make the perfect cup of coffee. The WDT tools I owned were okay, but I never owned one to get me excited. I know… It’s a raking tool, and you only use it for a few seconds a day. Well, I like beautiful … Read more

Bottomless Portafilter – Why Do You Need One and Where To Buy It?

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Pulling an espresso shot with a bottomless portafilter

The pursuit of the perfect espresso shot is a non stop race.  Professionals and enthusiasts alike try to improve the extraction down to the finest details. No wonder there are so many tools and accessories for espresso brewing, espresso lovers are truly passionate. One of these espresso tools is the bottomless portafilter. In this page … Read more

Decoding Espresso Roasts: Finding the Perfect Match

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Espresso coffee beans light to dark roast

Making espresso is half science half art. You use science to guide your extraction, and use intuition to improvise, and create unique experiences, beyond the rigor of science. One of the most asked questions when I was working as a barista was: “Which roast is best for espresso?” And the question makes sense because espresso … Read more

Lavazza Dek Decaffeinato: A Complex and Affordable Decaffeinated Coffee Blend

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lavazza dek decaf espresso beans

Lavazza Dek Decaffeinato is one of the best decaffeinated coffee blends for those who look for a flavorful decaf option for their espresso shot. As a big roaster, Lavazza has more resources than small artisan roasters.  This is why they can decaffeinate their beans in a healthy way while maintaining a great flavor. If you … Read more

What Is Single Origin Coffee and Why Is It Better?

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woman harvesting coffee beans

You may have heard the term “single origin” being used by your favorite barista while they’re whipping up your creamy cappuccino, and you might not have paid much mind to it. But what does it mean? And should you care? The coffee industry has become increasingly complex as more and more baristas are taking their … Read more

The Best WDT Tool on the Market

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distributing coffee grounds with fusedline wdt

If you are looking to improve your espresso shot and get consistent results every time, you need a WDT tool. It’s not even a debate, there is concrete evidence that the Weiss Distribution Technique slightly improve the overall quality of your shots, but more importantly, it brings consistency from shot to shot. You might have the … Read more

The Best Coffee Canisters for Coffee Storage

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coffee beans in airtight glass jars

Storing coffee properly is one of the best things you can do to improve the taste of your espresso, or coffee. There is nothing worse than a flat shot of espresso, especially when you paid a decent amount to get great quality beans. So to pay for that single origin, and to end up with … Read more

How To Store Coffee Beans for Great Espresso Shots

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coffee storage container

Storing coffee is probably one of the least understood topics. Yet coffee storing is equally important, especially when we buy the stuff in 2 pounds bags. If roasting, grinding, and brewing have evolved into great sciences, storing is still debated and there is a lot of bad information and a lot of half information. In … Read more

Espresso Knock Box – The Best and the Cheapest

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espresso knock box line up

The espresso knock box is one of those devices that you never miss if you haven’t used it before, but once you get used to it you can’t live without. OK, it’s a trivial plastic box, you might say, what’s the fuss about it. Yeah, you are right, a cheap plastic bin to dump your … Read more

Semi Automatic Espresso Machines

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Faema E61 Legend semi-automatic espresso machine

One of the most sold types of espresso machines is the semiautomatic espresso machine. This is the perfect choice for espresso enthusiasts who aim to learn and experiment with coffee – it allows them to play with different recipes to create their favorite popular espresso drinks. There is also the inexpensive semiautomatic, which is the … Read more

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Review

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Rancilio Silvia espresso machine

is one of those machines that stirs up heated discussions. The machine is a collection of high-quality components that you only see in more expensive machines, yet some home baristas are reluctant to buy it. Our aim to inform you and make you confident in your machine purchase. We want you to make the right decision with the help of our articles and our Espresso Machine buying Guide.

This review will show you what makes the Silvia special, and what are the little annoyances that home baristas wish Rancilio would fix. 

Rancilio HSD Silvia, targets the home brewing sector, the espresso enthusiasts that love to tweak their espresso to perfection.

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DeLonghi Esam-3300 Magnifica Review

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delonghi magnifica esam 3300 review

The DeLonghi Magnifica ESAM3300 is a super-automatic espresso machine, that is affordable, reliable, and easy to work with. Any DeLonghi Magnifica will turn you into a home barista without the skills and knowledge you need if you buy a semiautomatic. This Delonghi Magnifica might not have the bells and whistles of the more expensive machines, … Read more

Best Coffee Beans for Espresso

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arabic coffee

Would you believe me if I said I found the best beans for espresso? Would you believe me? Do not believe me or anybody for that matter. Of course, I can recommend you some fantastic espresso blends. It’s impossible to choose between two great blends when you have so many choices. Every blend offers something … Read more

How to Choose Coffee Beans for Espresso

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Cappuccino and other espresso drinks

Choosing the coffee beans for espresso is a matter of personal taste. But the truth is that we can’t make espresso with any beans as we please. So if we say we can use any coffee beans to make espresso, it is true, but only partially. But we will show you how to choose a … Read more

Nespresso Vs Espresso vs Illy IperEspresso

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large realistic size of nespresso vs espresso final

If you are looking to get the best shot of espresso, you probably want to compare the most popular options on the market: traditional espresso vs Nespresso. Even the most passionate Nespresso critics have tasted it, at least to satisfy the curiosity. Let me introduce another competitor in your comparison, Illy IperEspresso. Why talk about … Read more

Best Cheap Espresso Machines

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For a coffee lover on a budget, buying an espresso machine might be challenging. As a beginner barista, you have limited knowledge in the field. How do you choose the best cheap espresso machine? What are the criteria that separate a good espresso maker from a bad one? We will try to familiarize you with … Read more

Lavazza Crema e Gusto Review – Italian Espresso Coffee Beans

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lavazza crema e gusto italian

The Lavazza Crema e Gusto espresso blend is ideal for the no nonsense coffee drinker who likes the traditional flavors of espresso. To enjoy this coffee you don’t need to be a coffee snob. We can forget the frills and pomp of specialty brewing, and go back to drinking espresso from the good old days … Read more

Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine Review

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Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine

When it comes to machines, it’s fairly difficult to pick something if you don’t have any brewing experience. Most semi-automated espresso machines need personal adjustments, which makes it difficult if you don’t have the knowledge.

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Getting The Best Espresso Machine

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Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine

A traditional cup of is the dark liquid we are all used to, milder and without any extra. An , on the other hand, is more concentrated, aromatic, and with an extra layer of foam covering the top. If you want to buy your own to create countless espresso drinks and become a home barista, this page has all you need.

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