Espresso Drinks Explained: Latte, Cappuccino and More
What is in each espresso drink: latte, cappuccino, flat white, macchiato, cortado, americano and mocha, with ratios of espresso, milk and foam.
Espresso Guides
How espresso machines work, what the jargon means, and how to get a better shot from the machine you own.
Milk and espresso drinks
Start here
Beans and grind size
Start here Espresso Grind Size: How Fine to Grind and How to Adjust
How fine espresso should be ground, what it should look and feel like, and a simple method for adjusting your grinder until the shot tastes right.
Baratza Encore and Encore ESP Grind Settings for Espresso
Which grind setting to use for espresso on a Baratza Encore ESP, why the original Encore struggles with espresso, and how to adjust from there.
How espresso machines work
Start here How Does an Espresso Machine Work? A Plain Walkthrough
What happens inside an espresso machine between pressing the button and coffee hitting the cup, explained part by part without the jargon.
Pulling a shot
Start here How to Dial In Espresso: A Step-by-Step Method
A clear method for dialing in espresso: set the dose, choose a yield, adjust the grind by time, then fine-tune by taste. With a troubleshooting table.
Grinding coffee
Start here How to Grind Coffee Beans Without a Grinder: 5 Ways
Five ways to grind coffee beans with ordinary kitchen tools, which brew methods each grind suits, and why none of them work well for espresso.
Espresso without a machine
Start here How to Make Espresso Without a Machine: 3 Methods That Work
Three ways to make strong, espresso-style coffee without an espresso machine, using a moka pot, an AeroPress or a French press, with honest expectations.
Breville machines
Start here How to Use a Breville Espresso Machine: First Shots to Milk
How to use a Breville espresso machine such as the Barista Express or Bambino: first setup, grinding, dosing, pulling a shot and steaming milk.
De'Longhi machines
Start here How to Use a De'Longhi Espresso Machine (Stilosa, Dedica)
How to use a De'Longhi pump espresso machine such as the Stilosa or Dedica: priming, choosing the filter, pulling a shot and frothing milk.
Getting started
Start here Is an Espresso Machine Worth It? An Honest Cost Breakdown
Whether a home espresso machine is worth buying: the real costs, how long it takes to pay for itself, and who should and should not get one.
Types of espresso machine
Start here Types of Espresso Machines: Which Kind Is Right for You?
The main types of espresso machine explained: manual lever, semi-automatic, automatic, super-automatic and capsule, with who each one suits.
What espresso is
Start here What Is Espresso? A Clear Answer Without the Jargon
What espresso actually is, how it differs from regular coffee, what goes into a shot and why it tastes the way it does.
Fixing a bad shot
Start here Why Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Causes and How to Fix Each
Sour espresso almost always means under-extraction. Here are the six common causes, in the order to check them, and the fix for each.