New to home espresso? Start here. Espresso Basics explains how espresso works, the terminology you will see in reviews and the equipment decisions that matter before you buy a machine.
These beginner-friendly articles are designed to give you enough background to understand grinders, portafilters, extraction, milk systems and machine types without assuming previous espresso experience.
Latest Espresso Basics
-
Espresso Grind Size Explained: Why Small Adjustments Matter
A beginner-friendly guide to espresso grind size, explaining why small grinder adjustments can change shot flow, how to tell when espresso is too fine or too coarse, and how to dial in more consistently.
-
What Is Espresso? A Beginner’s Guide to How Espresso Works
A beginner-friendly explanation of what espresso is, how pressure and extraction work, why grind size and dose matter, what a portafilter does, what crema means and how espresso differs from other coffee brewing methods.
Start With the Fundamentals
If espresso terminology is new to you, begin with What Is Espresso? A Beginner’s Guide to How Espresso Works. It explains pressure, extraction, grind size, dose, yield, portafilters and crema.
Then Choose the Right Machine Type
Once the brewing basics make sense, our buying guides can help you decide how much of the process you want to control yourself.
- How to Choose an Espresso Machine
- Semi-Automatic vs. Fully Automatic Espresso Machines
- Best Espresso Machines With a Grinder
- Best Automatic Espresso Machines
- Best Espresso Machines for Small Kitchens
Topics We Cover
- How espresso extraction works
- Grind size, dose and beverage yield
- Portafilters and filter baskets
- Pressure and temperature basics
- Crema and common espresso misconceptions
- Manual and automatic milk systems
- Semi-automatic, guided and fully automatic machines
- Cleaning and maintenance fundamentals
