How we research

You should know where our recommendations come from before you act on them. This page explains our sources, what we do not claim, and how we correct mistakes.

Where our information comes from

• Manufacturer documentation: user manuals, service manuals and published specifications.
• Long-term owner reports: patterns that show up repeatedly across owner forums and verified purchase reviews, such as a part that commonly fails after two years.
• How the machines are built: boiler type, pump type, portafilter size and temperature control tell you a great deal about how a machine will behave.

What we do not claim

We do not say we tested a machine unless we did. When a recommendation is based on specifications and owner reports instead of our own use, the article is written that way. We do not invent star ratings, test scores or measurements.

How we choose products

We start from what a reader at a given budget or skill level actually needs, then look for machines that meet it. A product is never included because of its commission rate, and brands cannot pay to be listed.

Keeping articles current

Models get discontinued and prices move. Each article shows its publication date and, where it has been revised, the date of the last update. We avoid quoting exact prices because they change daily.

Corrections

If something here is wrong, tell us. We check the claim against the source and correct the article.