Testing espresso gear through obsessive research.
You're at the age where you research espresso machines? Me too. I'll help you pick the right one (the first time) and teach you how to use it better than your local baristas.
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Espresso Machine Reviews
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Breville Bambino
Meet the Breville Bambino: the undisputed champion of entry-level espresso. This compact workhorse delivers lightning-fast, cafe-quality shots while saving your budget for the grinder that actually matters.
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KitchenAid Semi Automatic Espresso Machine
Straightforward setup, good looks, and strong performance that's accessible to beginners make the Kitchenaid KES6551 a worthy opponent to the Breville Barista Express.
Coffee Grinder Tests
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Fellow Opus 2
The Opus 2 is a home run for Fellow. At $199, its combination of value, premium performance, and quality design make it an easy recommendation.
Kingrinder K7
The K7 sits atop the mountain of the best manual grinders alongside 1Zpresso's.
AeroPress Manual Grinder
A premium price tag, some frustrating design choices, and spotty performance mean the Aeropress Manual Grinder can only really be recommended to Aeropress super-fans.
Espresso Recipes
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Espresso Tonic with Lemon Essence Syrup (Oleo-Saccharum)
The ultimate mid-day mocktail. Dead-simple Oleo-Saccharum elevates an espresso tonic to an unreachable level.
Starbucks Clone: Brown Sugar Horchata Shaken Espresso Recipe
I'm going to be brutally honest. I don't like Starbucks. That might be expected considering the gear I test, but if you landed here as a Starbucks lover, I apologize off the bat. With that said, their horchata shaken espresso is their only offering I'll consume when I'm away from my home brewing setup. Naturally, this shaken horchata recipe kicks the Starbucks one to the curb.
