All Reviews

Every guide we've published, newest first.

The Best Home Espresso Machines for Daily Shots and Easy Cleaning

2026-10-06

A home espresso machine is a maintenance contract with a pump attached. Six machines worth comparing for daily shots, milk frothing, and a descale you will actually do.

Best Espresso Machines for Small Kitchens: 5 Picks Worth Comparing

2026-10-06

A countertop-first look at five espresso machines for small kitchens, plus the one maintenance part that keeps an older machine alive, sorted by footprint, grinder needs, and how painful the cleaning really is.

Best Espresso Machines for Small Kitchens and Coffee Counter Gifts

2026-10-06

A compact guide to espresso machines for small kitchens, comparing the De'Longhi Classic and the XIXUBX 3.5 bar machine alongside a handheld frother, a bottle chiller, and a paperback for slow mornings.

Best Espresso Machines for Home: 6 Picks From Budget to Tinkerer

2026-10-06

The right espresso machine for home depends on how much you want to tinker, how much counter space you can spare, and whether you also want a pot of coffee. This roundup compares six machines and accessories, from a compact tinkerer's classic to a slim budget option.

Best Espresso Machines for Home: 6 Picks Worth the Counter Space

2026-10-06

Six espresso machines for home, from a compact 20-bar unit to a fully automatic Philips with the LatteGo milk system, plus the cleaning disc that keeps a Breville grouphead in shape.

Best Espresso Machines for Home: 6 Countertop Picks Compared

2026-10-06

A practical comparison of espresso machines for home kitchens, plus the water filters and hardness strips that keep a boiler alive, covering grinders, PID control, steam wands, and descaling.

Best Espresso Machine With Grinder for Home Use in 2026

2026-10-06

Shopping for an espresso machine with grinder capability is only half the decision. Here is how multi-function machines, a budget all-in-one, and the small accessories that keep a setup alive compare.

Best Compact Espresso Machines for Small Counters and Daily Shots

2026-10-06

A practical comparison of compact espresso machines and the cleaning supplies that keep them running, with a top pick for small kitchens and daily shots.

Best Budget Espresso Machines: 6 Picks Worth Comparing

2026-10-06

A spec-by-spec comparison of six budget espresso machines and accessories, covering pressure ratings, temperature control, portafilter size, and the maintenance each one demands.

Home Espresso Setup: Four Pieces That Actually Earn Counter Space

2026-09-26

A home espresso setup essentials guide from a nine-year Breville owner: the machine, the frother, the bean canister, and the water filter that keep a counter running.

Budget Espresso Starter Kit: Two Machines, a Recipe Book, and a Limescale Pad

2026-09-26

A budget espresso starter kit comparison from a former barista: two compact machines, a beginner recipe book, and the limescale pad that keeps any of it alive.

Breville Barista Express vs De'Longhi Dedica: 4 Espresso Machines Compared

2026-09-26

A home espresso machine comparison from a former barista who ran all four of these machines through the same morning routine. What each one gets right, what wears out, and who should buy which.

Espresso Machine Cleaning Kit: What to Buy With Your First Machine

2026-09-16

An espresso machine cleaning kit is not an afterthought. Here is how a compact manual machine, a capsule brewer, Cafiza powder, and barista towels fit into one small countertop setup.

Compact Espresso Machines Compared: Four Home Options to Consider

2026-09-16

A practical look at four compact espresso machines for small kitchens, from an entry-level starter to a brushed steel machine meant to be serviced for years, plus the maintenance questions that decide which one you keep.

Compact Espresso Machines and the Cleaning Kit That Keeps Them Alive

2026-09-16

A compact espresso machine only earns its counter space if you keep it clean. Here is how the CASABREWS, Neretva, and XIXUBX machines differ, and why a tablet routine matters more than the bar rating on the box.

Breville Barista Express vs Budget Espresso Machines: An Honest Breakdown

2026-09-16

A practical comparison of the Breville Barista Express, two compact budget machines, and a 54mm dosing funnel, plus how to decide which one your counter and your cleaning habits can actually support.

Espresso Machine Maintenance Checklist For Daily Use

2026-09-03

Espresso machine maintenance checklist for daily use, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Espresso Machine Water Hardness And Scale Explained

2026-08-31

Espresso machine water hardness and scale explained, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Best Budget Espresso Machine: What $200 Really Buys (and What It Doesn't)

2026-08-29

I've pulled shots on a Breville Barista Express since 2015, and I've watched friends buy cheaper machines that either died within a year or forced them to.

The 7 Best Espresso Machines of 2026, Tested by a Former Barista

2026-08-28

Nine years ago I pulled my first shot on a Breville BES870XL and never looked back, so when I set out to find the best espresso machines of 2026, I wasn't.

Best Espresso Machine for Beginners: Start Where the Mistakes Are Cheap

2026-08-27

What is the runner-up: atatix espresso machine with milk frother best for The atatix line is where the price gets aggressive, and the model is the best of the bunch.

Best Espresso Machine for Lattes: Milk Texture Matters as Much as the Shot

2026-08-26

Well, the CASABREWS CM5418 is advertised as the compact machine that will finally replace your $7 latte habit, but is it really? I’ve been pulling shots.

Best Espresso Machine for Small Kitchens: Counter Space Is a Feature

2026-08-25

The best espresso machine for small kitchens is the CASABREWS 3700 Essential, because it squeezes a real 20-bar pump and a steaming wand into a footprint.

Best Espresso Machine Under $1,000: Where the Serious Upgrades Start

2026-08-24

I've been pulling shots on a Breville Barista Express since 2015, and I've watched the sub-$1,000 market change a lot in that time.

Best Espresso Machine Under $500: Real Shots Without the Price Tag

2026-08-23

What is the our pick: casabrews cm5418 best for The CASABREWS CM5418 is the machine I'd put on my own counter if I was starting over with $140.

Best Espresso Machine With Grinder: All-in-One Convenience, Honestly Rated

2026-08-22

What is the our pick: breville bes870xl barista express best for This is the machine I’ve owned for nine years, and it’s still the best all-in-one espresso machine with grinder for most people.

Best Espresso Machine With Steam Wand: Froth That Doesn't Lie

2026-08-21

What is the casabrews 3700 essential best for The biggest issue with this machine is the drip tray. It fills up fast, and you will learn to hate that little "empty me" dance.

Best Espresso Maker: 6 Machines That Earn a Spot on the Counter

2026-08-20

The Breville BES870XL has sat on my counter for nine years, through two dogs and one solenoid valve failure, and it still pulls a better shot than.

Best Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine: You Control the Shot, the Machine Does the Rest

2026-08-19

I’ve been pulling shots on a Breville Barista Express since 2015, and I’ve watched the semi-automatic market get crowded with machines that promise a lot.

Best Super-Automatic Espresso Machine: One Button, No Excuses

2026-08-18

The job is simple: you push one button and the machine does the rest. No tamping, no timing, no weighing your dose, no puck prep.

Breville vs De'Longhi: Which Espresso Machine Survives Your Counter?

2026-08-17

Should you buy the Breville Barista Express Yes, if you are starting out and you want one machine that does everything without a separate grinder. It is the best overall for a reason.

Espresso Beans Vs Pre Ground Which Is Better

2026-08-16

Espresso beans vs pre ground which is better, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Espresso Machine Maintenance Schedule Checklist

2026-08-15

Espresso machine maintenance schedule checklist, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

Espresso Machine Pressure 9 Bars Explained

2026-08-14

Espresso machine pressure 9 bars explained, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How Often To Descale An Espresso Machine

2026-08-12

How often to descale an espresso machine, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Backflush An Espresso Machine

2026-08-11

How to backflush an espresso machine, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How to Choose an Espresso Machine: 7 Questions That Answer It

2026-08-10

What is the shortlist best for | Product | Price | Why it won | Why it lost | |---|---|---|---| | Breville BES870XL Barista Express | Check price | Built-in grinder, pressure gauge, nine years of daily use | Plastic top and bottom, solenoid valve...

How to Clean an Espresso Machine: The Ritual That Keeps It Alive for Years

2026-08-09

What is the urnex cafiza espresso machine cleaning tablets - 100 count best for I'll lead with the one thing that bugs me: the tablets are small and they dissolve fast, so if you're not paying attention, you'll think you didn't use enough.

How to Dial In Espresso: Grind, Dose, Time, and Taste

2026-08-08

Should you buy the Espresso Journal If you're the kind of person who follows the cleaning schedule, rewards yourself with a logbook that matches your ambition.

How To Fix Espresso Machine Leaking From Bottom

2026-08-07

How to fix espresso machine leaking from bottom, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Froth Milk Without A Steam Wand

2026-08-06

How to froth milk without a steam wand, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Pull A Perfect Shot Of Espresso At Home

2026-08-05

How to pull a perfect shot of espresso at home, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.

How To Store Espresso Beans Properly

2026-08-04

How to store espresso beans properly, explained by a reviewer who actually lives with the gear. No fluff, no marketing language, just what works and what doesn't.