espresso machines Articles

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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
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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
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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
Barista pulling an espresso shot on a Rancilio Silvia Pro X while steaming, beside an Eureka Specialità grinder - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Crew Review: Rancilio Silvia Pro X

Five years and 3–4 drinks a day later, SCG expert John’s home machine is still the...
  • Nov 5, 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
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
Breville Oracle Dual Boiler, Rocket Mozzafiato FAST V, and Diletta Bello+ advanced espresso machines - Seattle Coffee Gear
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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
SCG's Best Videos: September 2026 Coffee & Gear Roundup - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

SCG's Best Videos: September 2026 Coffee & Gear Roundup

Everything we filmed in September 2026, including our Top 3 espresso machines, gri...
  • Sep 30, 2026
Rocket Appartamento TCA and Rancilio Silvia Pro X espresso machines pulling shots side by side - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

Rancilio Silvia Pro X vs. Rocket Appartamento TCA: Which One's Right for You?

Two well-regarded Italian machines at a similar price, and neither one wins on pap...
  • Sep 24, 2026
Top three semi-automatic espresso machines from Breville, Fellow, and Diletta on display - Seattle Coffee Gear
P Pat C

The Top Three Semi-Automatic Espresso Machines of 2026 (Plus an Honorable Mention)

Ready to pull your own shots? We put this year's semi-automatic espresso machines ...
  • Sep 21, 2026
Showing 1-12 of 218 articles.