Start Here

Welcome to Espresso Lifestyle. Whether you’re buying your first machine or trying to fix a sour shot, this page shows you where to begin.

1. Choose your gear

• Best espresso machines for beginners
• Best espresso machines under $500
• Best espresso machines under $200
• Best espresso grinders and budget grinders under $200

2. Buy good coffee

Fresh beans matter more than almost anything else. Read our guide to the best coffee beans for espresso.

3. Make café drinks

No steam wand? A good frother gets you most of the way. See the best milk frothers for lattes at home.

4. Pull better shots

Start with this recipe: 18 g of coffee in, about 36 g of espresso out, in 25–30 seconds. Sour? Grind finer. Bitter? Grind coarser. Our step-by-step technique guides are coming soon.