guides
How to Tamp Espresso Correctly
The right tamping technique for espresso: correct pressure, level angle, and puck prep steps that eliminate channeling and produce consistent shots.
#espresso
53 posts tagged “espresso”. All posts →
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guides
Fresh Coffee Beans for Espresso
Why bean freshness matters for espresso, how to read roast dates, the peak flavor window, and where to buy freshly roasted beans.
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roundups
Best Milk for Lattes 2026
Whole milk makes the best microfoam; Oatly Barista leads plant milks. Full comparison of dairy, oat, soy, almond, and pea milk for home lattes.
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roundups
Best Dark Roast Espresso Beans in 2026
The best dark roast espresso beans for rich crema and bold flavor: top picks from Italian classics to specialty roasters.
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guides
How to Froth Milk Without a Frother
Froth milk without a frother using a French press, mason jar, blender, or whisk. Five ranked methods with step-by-step instructions and tips.
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guides
How to Make an Iced Latte at Home
Pull a double shot over ice, pour cold milk, done in 3 minutes. Exact espresso ratios, milk picks, syrups, and fixes for a watery result.
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roundups
Best Milk Steamer and Frother 2026 (Breville, Aeroccino, Smeg)
Countertop electric milk steamers and frothers ranked: Breville Milk Cafe, Nespresso Aeroccino 4, and Smeg. Expert picks for home espresso.
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guides
How to Make an Americano at Home
Pull a double espresso, add 4-6 oz of hot water. Complete Americano guide: ratio, step-by-step, the long black variation, and Moka pot method.
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guides
Are Espresso Beans the Same as Coffee Beans?
Espresso beans are not a distinct species — any coffee bean can pull a shot. Here is what the label actually means and how to choose the right one.
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roundups
Best Handheld Milk Frother 2026 (Wand Frothers Ranked)
The best handheld milk frother ranked: NanoFoamer vs PowerLix vs Zulay Kitchen. Which wand frother actually makes real microfoam for lattes?
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roundups
Best Milk Frothers for Cold Foam 2026
Best milk frothers for Starbucks-style cold foam at home — NanoFoamer, Aeroccino4, and budget handhelds compared and ranked.
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guides
How to Make an Espresso Tonic at Home
How to make an espresso tonic: the right espresso-to-tonic ratio, best tonic water brands, and exact steps for a crisp, refreshing result every time.
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guides
How to Clean a Steam Wand
Step-by-step guide to cleaning your espresso machine steam wand — after every use, daily, and deep cleaning when buildup blocks steam flow.
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guides
How to Make a Lungo at Home
Learn to pull a lungo at home: grind adjustment, extraction ratio, timing, and how it differs from an Americano or regular espresso shot.
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guides
Espresso Temperature Surfing Guide
How to temperature surf a single boiler espresso machine to brew at the right temperature — calibration steps, timing guide, and thermometer tips.
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guides
How to Make Café Bombón at Home
Learn to make café bombón at home: espresso layered over sweetened condensed milk in a clear glass for a bold, sweet Spanish coffee in under 5 minutes.
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guides
Espresso Channeling Guide: Causes and Fixes
What espresso channeling is, how to spot it with a bottomless portafilter, and the puck prep steps that fix uneven extraction for good.
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guides
How to Make Vietnamese Iced Coffee
Learn to make Vietnamese iced coffee (ca phe sua da) at home with a phin filter, condensed milk, and the right dark roast coffee beans.
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guides
How to Make a Shakerato at Home
Make a perfect Italian espresso shakerato at home — shaken with ice until frothy and cold. Recipe, technique, variations, and tips.
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guides
How to Dial In a New Coffee Bag
Every new coffee bag needs a fresh dial-in. Use your saved baseline to land perfect espresso shots in 3-5 test pulls with this step-by-step guide.
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guides
Espresso Roast Levels Guide
How light, medium, and dark roast affect espresso flavor, temperature, and brew ratio — so you can pull better shots with any bean.
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guides
How to Make a Macchiato at Home
Make an espresso macchiato or latte macchiato at home with step-by-step instructions, milk frothing tips, and drink variations that actually work.
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guides
Espresso Pre-Infusion Guide: Better Shots Every Time
Learn how espresso pre-infusion works, how long to set it, and which machines offer the best pre-infusion control for your budget.
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guides
How to Make an Affogato at Home
Learn to make a classic affogato: hot espresso poured over vanilla gelato. Steps, variations, dairy-free options, and tips for the perfect result.
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guides
Robusta vs Arabica for Espresso: Which Bean Is Better?
Robusta vs arabica for espresso: flavor, caffeine, crema, and when a blend of both is actually the right choice for your machine.
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guides
How to Clean a Coffee Grinder
Step-by-step guide to cleaning any coffee grinder — daily upkeep, weekly brush-out, monthly deep clean, and the right tools to keep grind quality sharp.
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guides
How to Make a Cappuccino at Home
Learn to make a perfect cappuccino at home: pull a double espresso, steam and foam milk correctly, and nail the classic 1:1:1 ratio every time.
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guides
Single Origin vs Espresso Blend: Which Should You Use?
Single origin vs espresso blend: flavor differences, dial-in difficulty, and which works better for milk drinks or black espresso.
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guides
How to Read an Espresso Shot
How to read espresso crema color, extraction flow, timing, and taste to diagnose your shot and make the right grind adjustment every time.
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guides
How to Make a Latte at Home
Step-by-step guide to making a cafe-quality latte at home: pulling espresso, steaming milk to microfoam, and nailing the ratio every time.
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guides
Light Roast vs Dark Roast for Espresso: Which Is Better?
Light roast vs dark roast for espresso: flavor, acidity, grind differences, and which roast level produces the best shot at home.
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guides
How to Make Cold Foam at Home
Step-by-step guide to making cold foam at home with a handheld frother, electric frother, or mason jar. Which milk works best and common mistakes.
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guides
Espresso Extraction Yield Guide
What extraction yield means for espresso, how to calculate brew ratio, and how to use both numbers to dial in better-tasting shots.
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How to Make Cold Brew Espresso at Home
Learn how to make cold brew espresso at home — ratios, steep times, mason jar and AeroPress methods, and how to use it in drinks.
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How to Choose Espresso Beans
Pick the right espresso beans every time — roast level, blend vs single origin, freshness, and flavor profiles explained with top picks.
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guides
Espresso Machine Pressure Guide: 9 Bars Explained
Why espresso machines run at 9 bars, how pump and boiler pressure differ, and what to do when your pressure is off.
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guides
Why Espresso Tastes Bitter: Causes and Fixes
Bitter espresso usually means over-extraction, wrong grind, or stale beans. Learn how to diagnose and fix every cause of bitter espresso at home.
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guides
How to Make a Flat White at Home
Step-by-step guide to making a cafe-quality flat white at home: double ristretto, velvety microfoam, and the correct 5-6 oz pour.
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guides
Espresso Flow Profiling Guide: Unlock Better Shots
Learn how flow profiling works, which machines support it, and which pressure profiles suit light versus dark roast espresso.
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guides
Lungo vs Americano: Key Differences Explained
Lungo vs Americano: same espresso base, different brewing method. Learn the real taste and strength differences to pick the right drink.
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guides
Ristretto vs Espresso: Key Differences Explained
Ristretto vs espresso: same dose, less water. Learn how the ratio shift changes flavor, caffeine, and which shot belongs in your favorite drinks.
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guides
How to Dial In Espresso: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to dial in espresso at home: dose, grind, yield, timing, and how to taste your way to perfect shots every time.
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guides
How to Make a Cortado at Home
Step-by-step guide to making a perfect cortado: 1:1 espresso-to-milk ratio, steaming technique, ideal temperature, and variations.
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roundups
Best Espresso Subscription Boxes 2026
The best espresso subscription boxes for 2026: Trade Coffee, Atlas Coffee Club, Onyx, and MistoBox compared by variety, roast quality, and value.
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guides
Espresso Shot Troubleshooting Guide
Fix sour, bitter, fast, or slow espresso shots. Step-by-step diagnosis for grind, dose, tamp, channeling, crema, and temperature problems.
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guides
Espresso vs Drip Coffee: What Actually Differs
Practical comparison of espresso and drip coffee: taste, caffeine, cost, daily effort, and which brewing method fits your lifestyle.
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guides
Espresso Grind Size Guide: Dial In the Right Setting
How grind size affects espresso extraction, where to start on common grinders, and how to adjust grind for sour or bitter shots.
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How to Froth Milk at Home
Step-by-step guide to frothing milk at home using a steam wand, electric frother, or handheld wand. Which milk works best and common mistakes.
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guides
How to Clean an Espresso Machine
How to clean an espresso machine — daily, weekly, and monthly routines, backflushing steps, product picks, and common cleaning mistakes to avoid.
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guides
How to Descale an Espresso Machine
How to descale an espresso machine with citric acid or commercial solution — step-by-step guide for all machine types, plus timing and common mistakes.
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guides
How to Pull a Perfect Espresso Shot: Step-by-Step Guide
Step-by-step guide to pulling perfect espresso shots at home: dose, grind, timing, extraction, and how to fix the most common mistakes.
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roundups
Best Decaf Espresso Beans in 2026: Swiss Water and CO2-Processed Picks
Best decaf espresso beans of 2026: Swiss Water and CO2-processed picks for espresso with real crema and flavor.
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roundups
Best Milk Frothers 2026 (Steam Wands, NanoFoamer, Bellman)
Milk frothing picks for home espresso: steam wands, handheld electric frothers, stovetop steamers. NanoFoamer, Bellman, Breville Milk Cafe compared.