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Espresso Machine and Coffee How-To Articles and Resources
Black Rancilio Silvia espresso machine pulling a shot beside a latte and croissant - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Why Buy a Rancilio Silvia? What 15 Years of Selling It Taught Us

A classic barely changed since the ’90s — and why beginners still pick it.
  • Nov 12, 2026
Finger pressing a button on a PID espresso machine temperature display reading 206 - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

PID Espresso Machines Explained: Can You Trust the Temperature on Your Screen?

Your PID isn’t lying to you, but the number on the screen doesn’t always tell the ...
  • Nov 10, 2026
LELIT Bianca and Diletta Alto espresso machines side by side, each pulling a shot of espresso - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Diletta Alto vs LELIT Bianca: Flow-Control Dual Boilers

Same price, same boiler math, two very different ways to steer a shot. Here is how...
  • Nov 4, 2026
Open box Rocket espresso machine sitting in a cardboard shipping box with paper shred packing - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

What Does Open Box Mean? How We Inspect, Test, and Grade Every Open Box Machine

Seeing an open box espresso machine for a few hundred dollars off and wondering wh...
  • Nov 2, 2026
Diletta Bello+ espresso machine front panel with brew pressure gauge as espresso pours into a glass - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Espresso Machine Pressure Explained: Why 9 Bar Is the Number That Matters (and What “15 Bar” / “20 Bar” Really Mean)

Your espresso machine box says 15 or 20 bar, but espresso brews at about 9. Here’s...
  • Oct 29, 2026
Breville Bambino Plus pulling two espresso shots beside a Baratza grinder on a tiled counter - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Best Budget Espresso Machines: What’s Actually Worth It Under $500

Can you get a good espresso machine for under $500? Yes. Here are five budget pick...
  • Oct 21, 2026
Flair 49 Pro manual espresso maker, Hario Switch pour-over dripper, and Bialetti Venus moka pot - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Top 3 Manual Coffee Brewers of 2026

Our top picks for moka pots, manual espresso, pour-over, and beyond.
  • Oct 19, 2026
Baratza, Fellow Ode, and Eureka Peppe coffee grinders on white display blocks with coffee - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Top 3 Coffee Grinders of 2026

Our 2026 picks for the best coffee grinders for drip, pour-over, French press, and...
  • Oct 14, 2026
Best Espresso Machines for Lattes: We Made and Drank Hundreds to Find Out - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Best Espresso Machines for Lattes: We Made and Drank Hundreds to Find Out

Our picks for every skill level, from press-a-button to pro.
  • Oct 12, 2026
Fine espresso grind dosing into a portafilter from a burr grinder beside copper bean canister - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Espresso Grind Size: The Complete Guide & Grind Chart

Sour one day, bitter the next? Grind size is probably the culprit. Here's how fine...
  • Oct 5, 2026
Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, Rocket Mozzafiato FAST V, and Diletta Bello+ advanced espresso machines - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Top 3 Advanced Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines of 2026: A Buying Guide for Experienced Home Baristas

Our top picks for the advanced home barista ready to upgrade their semi-auto setup.
  • Oct 3, 2026
Rocket Spluga, Eureka Atom W 65, and Oro Mignon Single Dose Pro advanced espresso grinders - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Top 3 Advanced Espresso Grinders of 2026: A Buying Guide for Experienced Home Baristas

Ready to upgrade past your first grinder? Here are our top picks for the experienc...
  • Oct 1, 2026
Showing 1-12 of 106 articles.