How We Test
Every verdict on this site follows the same protocol. We publish it because you should be able to hold us to it.
1. The 40-shot protocol
Every espresso machine and grinder runs a minimum of 40 shots: same beans (roasted within 14 days), same dose (18.5 g), same target (36 g out), same water. We log yield, shot time, and taste every shot blind against a reference pour.
2. What we measure
Beyond taste, we take objective readings where the gear allows: heat-up time, temperature stability (thermocouple on the group), grind retention (grams), particle-size uniformity (sifting), noise (dB), steam power, and brew-time consistency. Numbers you can't argue with.
3. The blind panel
Three tasters evaluate cups blind — we taste the coffee, not the brand. Scores are averaged. This is why a machine can look great on paper and still fail, or look boring and win.
4. Scores and honesty
Ratings are 0-5 with one decimal, reflecting the averaged panel plus measured performance. We name disappointments plainly — "skip this one" appears in our reviews more than the industry average, and that's deliberate.
5. Updates
Reviews carry real dateModified stamps and changelogs. When a new model ships or a price changes meaningfully, we re-test and say what changed.