Machines
Best Espresso Machines for Beginners (2026)
Our top picks for a first espresso machine, from the easy Breville Bambino Plus to budget and all-in-one options, and how to choose.
Home espresso, made simple
Café-quality espresso in your own kitchen
Honest buying guides, step-by-step technique and simple recipes for home baristas, from your first shot to latte art.
Start here Latest guidesChoose
Buy the right gear once
Plain-English buying guides for machines, grinders and milk tools at every budget.
Brew
Pull a better shot
Dial-in, ratios, grind size and fixes for sour, bitter or watery espresso.
Enjoy
Make café drinks at home
Lattes, cortados, seasonal recipes and ideas for your home coffee corner.
Latest guides
Troubleshooting
Espresso Channeling: How to Spot and Stop It
Espresso channeling is when water finds a weak path through the coffee puck and rushes through it, giving a sour-and-bitter shot. Here is how to spot it and how to stop it.
Accessories
Best Espresso Cups and Mugs: Ceramic, Glass and Double-Wall
Our picks for the best espresso cups and mugs in ceramic, porcelain, glass and double-wall designs, plus a size guide.
Beans
What Is Light Roast Coffee? Taste, Caffeine and Brewing
What light roast coffee is, how it tastes, the truth about its caffeine and how to brew it so it tastes sweet.
Beans
Types of Coffee Beans: Arabica, Robusta, Liberica and Excelsa
The four main types of coffee beans compared, plus how variety, origin, processing and roast shape flavor.
Espresso basics
What Is Espresso? Definition, Taste and How It’s Made
What espresso is, how it's made, what it tastes like, how much caffeine it has and how it differs from regular coffee.
Drinks
Types of Coffee Drinks: 30+ Drinks Explained (With Chart)
34 types of coffee drinks explained, with an espresso drinks chart showing what's in each one.
Drinks
Espresso Drink Recipes: 15 Drinks to Make at Home
Exact recipes for 15 espresso drinks you can make at home, from ristretto and cortado to latte, mocha and espresso tonic.
Brewing
Coffee Brewing Methods: 12 Ways to Make Coffee Compared
A side-by-side comparison of 12 coffee brewing methods, with recipes, taste profiles and who each one suits.
Troubleshooting
Bitter Espresso: 7 Causes and Fixes
Bitter espresso is usually over-extracted. Learn the seven common causes and how to fix each one.
Troubleshooting
Sour Espresso: Why It Happens and How to Fix It
Sour espresso usually means under-extraction. Here are the six common causes and the fix for each.