Espresso Blog

We scraped Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and coffee forums to analyze 1,000 real used espresso machine listings. The depreciation curves, most common red flags, and best-value machines will surprise you.

Your espresso machine is only as good as your grinder. But you don't need to spend $500. Here are the best affordable grinders that can actually hit espresso-grade fineness.

Start making cafe-quality espresso at home without breaking the bank. Here are the best entry-level espresso machines under $500, ranked and reviewed.

Looking to save money on a used espresso machine? Learn exactly what questions to ask, what red flags to look for, and how to value second-hand gear.

Confused by ratios like 1:2 or 1:3? Learn exactly how much water to push through your coffee to extract the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and bitter flavors.

A complete daily, monthly, and yearly maintenance schedule to keep your home espresso machine running like new and your coffee tasting sweet.

Is your espresso extracting in under 20 seconds and tasting sour or watery? Learn the exact steps to slow down your shot and fix your coffee instantly.

Two of the most popular espresso machines under $500 are completely different beasts. One will teach you real espresso; the other will make your morning easy. Here's how to decide.

Both legendary. Both manual. Both obsessed over. The Gaggia Classic Pro and Rancilio Silvia fight for the same buyer. Here's which one actually deserves your money.

Why does your espresso taste sour or bitter? Learn the critical difference between under and over-extracted coffee, and how to fix your recipe.

Your espresso is 90% water. If your water is too hard, it will destroy your machine. If it's too soft, your coffee will taste flat. Here is the perfect water recipe.

Everything you need to know about the Weiss Distribution Technique (WDT), why espresso channels, and whether a $30 tool is worth your money.

Why your espresso tastes like burnt aspirin, and how to fix over-extraction instantly. Don't throw the beans away until you try these three fixes.

Why your espresso sprays everywhere and tastes terrible, and how to fix channeling for good.

Stop guessing and start brewing perfectly. Get the exact workflow to dial in any bag of coffee beans in 3 shots or less.

Stop puckering up. Learn exactly why your espresso tastes acidic and how to fix under-extraction in 3 simple steps.