Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 870 / Barista Express: a seven-step espresso routine
I share a seven-step Breville 870 espresso guide covering preheating, dosing, tamping, grind changes and channeling, rather than a long-term test.
Espresso machines
Home espresso, milk steaming and everyday maintenance.
Reviews & guides
16 articles
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 876 Barista Express Impress: cleaner grounds beside my computer, weaker milk foam
I found Breville 876’s automatic tamping kept grounds from flying beside my computer, but its milk frother produced less satisfying foam.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 876 Barista Express Impress: one year of daily care and milk-foam practice
I’ve used my Breville 876 espresso machine daily for a year: careful cleaning keeps it looking new, while practice has made steaming milk and latte art easier.
Reviews & Guides · Appliances
Breville Barista Touch 880: six months in, why I wish I’d chosen the Dual Boiler BES920
After six months with my Breville 880, I enjoy the all-in-one routine. But inconsistent shots and weak steam make me wish I'd chosen a dual-boiler setup.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
De'Longhi ECO310 Icona: learning to make espresso and steam milk
I chose the De'Longhi ECO310 on a beginner's budget. I can make a latte I'm happy with, but getting the grind and milk foam right takes practice.
Reviews & Guides · Appliances
Sage 878 (SES878) Barista Pro: a year of five-minute lattes without local warranty
My imported Sage 878 heats up in seconds, and I can make a latte in five minutes. After a year, I value the compact size, though I have no local warranty.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville BES870 Barista Express: five years of espresso and milk practice
I've used my Breville BES870 for five years. A recent pressure problem needed an adjustment, while changing beans and frothing milk still keep me learning.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 870 / Sage Barista Express: learning espresso with extra tamping tools
I've used the Breville 870 for a few months. A constant-force tamper helps me get a level puck, but milk foam and spilled grounds still take practice.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 876 / Sage Barista Express Impress: learning with fresh beans
My Breville 876 keeps the counter clean with assisted tamping. But as I work through a bag of beans, I keep having to adjust the grind finer.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 876 / Sage Barista Express Impress: getting started as a beginner
I switched from weak drip coffee to the Breville 876. Assisted tamping makes my first attempts easier, while I'm still working out the grind settings.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 876 / Sage Barista Express Impress: less mess, a steam wait
My Breville 876 makes coffee with far less mess than my old setup. The trade-off comes when I switch to milk: I still have to wait for steam.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 876 / Sage Barista Express Impress: 18 months at home
After 18 months with my Breville 876, I wish I'd bought it sooner. Breakfast is easier, though the steam feels weak and filters and cleaner add up.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Breville 990 / Sage Oracle Touch: tackling uneven flow and built-up grounds
My Breville 990 started pouring fast one day and slowly the next. I opened the grinder to clear built-up grounds and found the upper burr hard to remove.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Gaggia Classic E24: one month in, already modifying it
I've barely brewed a few coffees with my Gaggia E24, yet I've taken it apart several times. I love the modification potential; the stock steam disappoints.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Gaggia Classic E24: making room in a shared family coffee corner
I chose the Gaggia E24 to fit beside baby-care equipment on a small sideboard. Paired with a Eureka 55s, it's my move away from tiring hand grinding.
Reviews & Guides · Kitchen & Dining
Modified gagg3028a: experimenting with pressure profiles
My modified Gaggia gagg3028a lets me try different pressure curves. Learning what changes in the cup—and finally pulling a successful shot—is the fun part.