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
Coffee gear
Best Pour Over Coffee Makers for Home
The best pour over coffee maker for most people is the Hario V60, with the Kalita Wave for easier consistency and the Chemex for brewing for a crowd. Here are our picks by need, plus how to choose.
Machines
Breville Barista Touch Review
The Breville Barista Touch is a touchscreen espresso machine with a built-in grinder, a 3-second heat-up and automatic milk texturing. It is a strong pick for beginners who want café drinks with less guesswork, at a premium price.
Drinks
Latte vs Cappuccino vs Flat White: What’s the Difference?
A latte, a cappuccino and a flat white all start with espresso and steamed milk. The difference is how much milk, how much foam and the cup size. Here is a clear side-by-side comparison.
Milk & latte
How to Froth Milk Without a Steam Wand
You can froth milk without a frother or steam wand using a French press, a jar, a whisk or a handheld wand. Here is how each method works and which one gives the closest thing to café microfoam.
Milk & latte
How to Steam Milk for Latte Art at Home
Steaming milk for latte art comes down to a short stretch phase, a long spin phase, and stopping at about 60–65°C. This step-by-step guide covers the technique, the right milk and the most common mistakes.
Troubleshooting
No Crema on Espresso? Here’s Why
No crema on your espresso usually means stale beans, a grind that is too coarse, or a shot pulled too fast. Here are the causes in order of likelihood and how to fix each.
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.