Home espresso & brewing gear
Better coffee at home, without the guesswork.
Plain-spoken reviews, comparisons and how-to guides for home espresso machines, grinders and brewing gear.
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Best Espresso Machine for Beginners
Our picks for a first espresso machine, balancing ease of use, value and room to grow.
Best Espresso Machine for Home
The home espresso machines we'd actually buy, from forgiving starters to buy-it-for-life workhorses.
Best Coffee Maker with Grinder
All-in-one machines that grind and brew in one box, compared honestly.
Best Coffee Grinder for Home Brewing
Why the grinder matters more than the machine, and our pick for everyday home brewing.
Latest reviews
Breville Bambino Plus
A compact single-boiler espresso machine that uses Breville's fast ThermoJet heating system and an automatic steam wand to froth milk hands-free.
Breville Barista Express
An all-in-one espresso machine with an integrated conical burr grinder, letting you grind, dose and brew from one unit.
Gaggia Classic Pro
A long-running Italian single-boiler machine with a commercial-size 58 mm portafilter, popular with enthusiasts who want to learn manual espresso and tinker.
De'Longhi Stilosa
An entry-level manual pump espresso machine aimed at people trying real espresso for the first time on a tight budget.
De'Longhi Magnifica
A fully automatic bean-to-cup machine that grinds, doses and brews at the push of a button, prioritising convenience over manual control.
Baratza Encore
An entry-level conical burr grinder that grinds consistently enough for drip and pour-over. Baratza sells every replacement part, so a worn Encore gets fixed, not binned.
Breville Barista Pro
The step up from the Barista Express: the same all-in-one grind-and-brew format with a faster ThermoJet heating system and an LCD interface in place of analogue dials.
Rancilio Silvia
Rancilio has built the Silvia since 1997 with parts borrowed from its commercial line, including a brass boiler and the 58 mm portafilter size used in cafés.
AeroPress
A plastic immersion-and-pressure brewer that makes a clean, full-bodied cup in about ninety seconds, and has become a travel and office favourite.
Hario V60
Hario's cone-shaped dripper, named for its 60-degree angle. One large hole and spiral ribs put flow rate in the brewer's hands rather than the dripper's.
Guides
How to Descale an Espresso Machine (Step by Step)
A simple, safe routine for descaling a home espresso machine, how often to do it, and what to use.
maintenanceHow to Clean a Coffee Grinder Properly
Why old grounds ruin your coffee, plus a quick routine for cleaning burr grinders safely.
buyingEspresso Machine vs Bean-to-Cup: Which Should You Buy?
The honest trade-off between manual espresso machines and fully automatic bean-to-cup machines.
maintenanceHow to Descale a Breville Espresso Machine
The descale routine for Breville (Sage) espresso machines like the Bambino Plus, Barista Express and Barista Pro, step by step.
techniquePour Over Coffee Ratio: The Simple Math for a Better Cup
The coffee-to-water ratios that actually matter for pour over, how to scale them, and when to deviate.