How We Research

I'm Chris Murray. I've been pulling shots in Northeast Portland for about 15 years, which is long enough to have gone through several machines, developed strong opinions about boiler architecture, and become the kind of person who tracks shot temperature variance across extractions. I'm aware this is a lot. My current setup is a La Marzocco Linea Mini. Before that: a Rancilio Silvia for four years, a Breville Dual Boiler for three. I know what the upgrade curve feels like from both ends.

The guides on this site are compiled from manufacturer specifications and current product listings. I do not test the equipment I write about, and I do not claim to have used it. When a guide describes what a product does, it is attributing that to the listing or the manufacturer.

The framing on this site is intentionally not "I tested everything." That would be a lie and also financially implausible — espresso machines are expensive, and I'm not running a testing lab. What I do is read carefully, track owner experience over time rather than first impressions, and apply the context of having actually lived with machines at multiple price points. That's a different kind of signal than lab evaluation, and I think it's a useful one.

I compile buying guides from manufacturer specifications and current product listings rather than ranking items by sales volume alone. When a product is superseded or better options become available, I update the guide rather than leaving outdated information in place.

Affiliate links

Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy something through one, we earn a commission. Our buying guides are compiled from manufacturer specifications and current product listings — we do not independently test products. Read our guides as shopping research rather than hands-on reviews. See our full affiliate disclosure for more details.