What Is Single Origin Coffee and Why Is It Better?

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

How To Store Coffee Beans for Great Espresso Shots

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

Semi Automatic Espresso Machines

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

What Is the Best Espresso Extraction Temperature?

espresso machine displaying the water temperature in the boiler.

extraction is a precise process, where multiple brewing variables are finely adjusted in order to obtain a great cup of . Brewing temperature is one of the important variables, and if we don’t handle it properly our espresso might be ruined, or just average.

In this post we are going to look at how the brewing temperature can change the flavor of the espresso, and how ca we teak the temperature in order to perfect our shot.

The information in this post is intended for the advanced barista, who wants to finely tune their shots.

Lelit espresso machine with PID showing 94 degrees Celsius - 201 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Rancilio Silvia vs Gaggia Classic Pro – A Classic Review Comparison

rancilio silvia vs gaggia classic pro

If you are looking for a mid-range semi-automatic espresso machine, for your morning coffee fix, there are a lot of options. However, the Gaggia Classic and Rancilio Silvia are a lot of times compared. There are other machines within the same price range, however, these two coffee machines are the best rated by customers. This … Read more

What Is Espresso Crema?

freshly pulled espresso shots with crema

Espresso crema is the thick, golden-brown foam that sits on top of a freshly brewed espresso. It is made up of coffee oils, coffee solids, and bubbles of carbon dioxide gas. Crema is important because it adds bitterness and body to the espresso, and it also helps to protect the coffee from going stale. Crema … Read more

Mr. Coffee Café Barista Espresso Machine Review

MrCoffee Cafe Barista pulling shots

We are reviewing her the from Mr. – the Cafe ECMP1000. 

We all like affordable stuff – but unfortunately, the cheap stuff also come at a great price: their quality. At least, that’s what happens 80% of the time. There are some cases when you can actually get high quality for a low price.

Granted, it’s likely that with low-budget makers, you won’t get the quality brought by the high-end ones. Still, some can actually bring you close enough to the result so that you won’t even need a professional espresso maker.

Let’s see if the Café Barista by Mr. Coffee is a suitable choice for a budget espresso machine.

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Espresso Terms and Definitions

person holding tray with drinking glass and coffee cup

Espresso Lingo and Glossary – Espresso Drinks, Espresso Machine Parts, and Espresso Brewing Terminology If you are passionate about espresso, and you want to learn more about espresso, you need to know the espresso lingo. If someone mentions an espresso machine part in a context, and you don’t know what that is, then the discussion … Read more

Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine Review

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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How to Pull the Perfect Espresso Shot

perfect espresso shot pulled with bottomless portafilter 3

Making great espresso is not easy. Chasing the perfect shot, sometimes referred to as the God shot, is a race that requires patience, knowledge, skills and good equipment. Let’s not forget great coffee beans. Yes, the perfect shot of espresso is not impossible. It is within any home barista’s reach but you will need a … Read more

Nespresso Vs Espresso vs Illy IperEspresso

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

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

Extraction and Espresso Brewing – A Guide to Coffee Perfection

just before pulling espresso shot

If you are interested in perfecting your making skills and technique, you need to understand the science behind it. The science behind espresso brewing is called extraction.

is the process of dissolving ground in water. This chemistry concept is important in because it determines how good your coffee is.

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Best Latte Cups and Mugs for the Home Barista

barista creating latte art in a latte cup

If you are looking to buy the perfect latte cup, or mug, this article is the perfect starting point. We show you here how to choose a latte cup or mug, based on your needs, and we give you a few great product suggestions. There are many types of coffee: neat espresso, Americano, cappuccino, drip … Read more

5 Great Cappuccino Cups – How to Buy a Cappuccino Cups Set

Cappuccino cup and saucer

My wife asked me a couple of days ago to find her the best set on the market. Kind of a tall order, but hey, I didn’t want to disappoint her.

The set was going to be a gift for a close friend of her. I knew what I needed to find, so it looked like it was going to be a quick job. Material, size, form, I knew all of that, it just had to match my wife’s taste. You’ll see how a seemingly easy task turned up to be a very difficult one. I’ll tell you the story, and you’ll find out how I picked my cappuccino set, and in the process, you’ll learn what to look for when you are shopping for cappuccino cups.

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How To Make a Triple Shot Espresso

triple espresso normale in demitasse

Do you like to start your day with a triple espresso shot? If so, then it is important that you know how to make this delicious drink correctly. This blog post will teach you how to make a triple espresso shot! And before you say: “I know how to pull a shot.” let me tell … Read more

How to Make Espresso With an Espresso Machine – A Definitive Guide

Freshly brewed espresso shot

Everyone loves espresso coffee. No matter what we do to make our cup of joe at home, nothing seems to compare to a beautiful, strong, crema-topped espresso, which we get in our favorite coffee shop. But wouldn’t it be lovely to be able to recreate this at home?  The process for how to make espresso … Read more

What Is a Dead Espresso Shot and How Does It Taste?

pulling espresso shot with lelit ana

If you landed on this page is probably because you heard discussions about ‘dead espresso‘. You probably got worried about it, and are now thinking: “Am I letting my espresso die?” The good news is you probably don’t! But stick with me, and you’ll that as legitimate as it sounds, a “dead espresso” is just … Read more

Gaggia Brera Espresso Machine Review

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

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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