espresso

SCA-certified barista James Bellis shares the exact recipe, four machine tiers, and troubleshooting matrix you need to pull great espresso at home.

James Bellis has tested 50+ coffee machines across 15 years in specialty coffee. Here are the best coffee machines for every budget and brewing style in the UK.

A hands-on Lelit Bianca V3 review. Dual boiler, E61 paddle flow control, rotary pump tested. Who it's for - and who should buy a Profitec Pro 600 instead.

We tested 8 grinders on a stock and modded Gaggia Classic Pro. Eureka Mignon Specialita wins overall. Niche Zero, DF64, and Encore ESP ranked by basket type.

Tested all five De'Longhi La Specialista UK variants - Arte, Arte Evo, Maestro, Opera, and Touch. Honest verdict on which to buy from a coffee expert.

Sixty days of espresso testing with head-to-head results vs Baratza Encore and Eureka Mignon Specialita. Is the Sage Smart Grinder Pro worth buying in 2026?

Fellow Ode Gen 2 vs Fellow Opus tested side by side in the BJ kitchen: burr design, grind quality, retention, noise, and UK price compared for 2026.

Six months of testing. Ten grinders compared on espresso and filter. The Baratza Encore ESP wins value, the Niche Zero wins overall for 2026. UK buyer's guide.

Tested daily for 12+ weeks across 5 espresso machines. Baratza Encore ESP review with grind retention data, settings cheat sheet and honest comparisons.

Tested 9 bean-to-cup machines over 14 months on Balance Coffee beans. The De'Longhi Magnifica Evo wins overall. Full ranked list with honest scores.

Baratza Forte reviewed by a coffee industry professional. We test AP and BG for espresso and filter, give used-market pricing, and a clear 2026 verdict.

4-week DF64 Gen 2 test on Gaggia Classic Pro. Weighed retention, decoded every OEM variant, compared to Niche Zero. Honest buy-or-skip verdict inside.

We tested the Comandante C40 MK4 across five brew methods over 14 days. Here is our honest verdict on whether the Nitro Blade still justifies £270 in 2026.

Tested 7 grinders against the De'Longhi Dedica EC685 - ranked by espresso fineness, dose consistency, and whether they let you bin the pressurised basket.

Tested all 4 Rocket Espresso machines across 20-shot extraction sessions by a former Sanremo UK sales manager. The Appartamento wins for most buyers.

Tested over 30 shots, the Gaggia Classic GT Dual Boiler delivers a real workflow upgrade at £699. Honest verdict, shot data, and full comparison.

Tested on a Sage Barista Express and Niche Zero: exact grind settings per grinder, how to read a bad shot, and a clear step-by-step dial-in workflow.

We tested 7 coffee scales across espresso, V60 and AeroPress using calibration weights to measure drift. Honest verdicts and one clear pick per use case.

Rocket R58 Review tested by a Sanremo-trained coffee pro. E61 dual boiler verdict, V1 vs V2, vs Lelit Bianca and Sage Dual Boiler. UK 2026 price.

The Barista Express and Barista Express Impress share identical hardware. The only difference is the Impress Puck System. Tested by a Sanremo UK manager.

A barista-tested 2026 UK guide to the best milk frothers, ranked across nine units from £20 to £199 with honest verdicts on microfoam, plant milks, and value.

Both machines tested independently. James Bellis, espresso specialist with five years at Sanremo UK, breaks down the real differences for 2026 buyers.

Hands-on Eureka Mignon Specialita review. 30 shots on a Gaggia Classic Pro, 1.2g retention measured, full Niche Zero and DF64 comparison verdict.

Tested with handheld calibration probes after Sanremo engineer training. The Lelit Elizabeth PL92T: true dual boiler with PID at £1,149. Full verdict.

Manufacturer-trained tester ranks 12 espresso machines from £80 to £2,000 across budget, all-in-one, skill-builder and prosumer tiers for 2026. UK guide.

Gaggia Classic pressure explained: 9 bar vs 15 bar, what the current Evo Pro ships at, and whether you need the 9-bar OPV mod. Tested by a Sanremo expert.

Gaggia Classic Up reviewed by an espresso machine specialist trained at Sanremo UK. Factory PID verdict, Classic Pro comparison and full UK specs.

First-hand De'Longhi Dedica Maestro Plus review by an espresso-machine specialist. Auto wand, single-wall baskets, vs standard Dedica and Bambino Plus.

Tested routine for temperature surfing the Gaggia Classic from a coffee machine specialist trained by Sanremo engineers. Step-by-step guide with FAQ.

The best manual coffee grinder in 2026, ranked by use case. Tested by a 14-year coffee industry professional trained at Sanremo UK. Honest verdict.

Bean to cup vs espresso machine - the honest verdict from 14 years in coffee on both sides. Convenience, quality, cost and the hidden grinder. UK guide.