Coffee at home, no fuss
Make the coffee you order out, at home.
Clear recipes for each method and the gear that really changes the cup, starting with what makes the biggest difference for the least money. No made-up prices, no tests I haven’t done.
Choose how you want to brew it
Six ways to make coffee at home, each with a starting recipe taken from the manufacturer’s website and the minimum you need.
Hario V60
The pour-over cone you learn most with: a clean, aromatic cup.
15 g · 250 g water · medium-fine grind
AeroPress
Fast, almost unbreakable and very hard to get wrong. My first recommendation.
16-18 g · water to the 4 · 85 °C
Chemex
For two or more cups. Thick filter, very clean coffee.
≈5.5 g per 150 ml · medium-coarse grind
French press
Full immersion: body, little technique and no paper filters.
Coarse grind · 92-96 °C · 4 min
Moka pot
The classic stovetop pot, done properly. Strong coffee without a machine.
Water to the valve · low heat · no tamping
Espresso at home
Machine, grinder and four accessories: what really matters.
18 g coffee · ≈36 g in the cupNot sure what to buy first?
I rank it by impact on the cup: grinder first, then scale, then the rest. With three complete setups for different budgets.
Gear, by category
For each thing, a few well-explained options: the one I would buy, the cheapest one worth having and the one that makes sense if you’re serious.
Hand grinders
The first thing I would buy: the best grind for the money.
Electric grinders
For not turning a crank every morning.
Coffee scales
Weighing coffee and water: the cheapest change you notice most.
Gooseneck kettles
For pouring slowly, exactly where you want.
Pour-over
V60, Chemex, Switch and Clever: which one for whom.
Espresso machines to start with
Portafilter machines that let you grow without overspending.
Bean-to-cup machines
From bean to cup at the touch of a button.
Moka pots
Classic, induction-ready or with more body.
Espresso accessories
Tamper, distributor and WDT, by portafilter size.
Milk jugs and thermometer
For cappuccinos with real microfoam.
Coffee canisters
Keep beans fresh down to the last cup.
Cleaning and descaling
What extends the life of the machine and the taste of the coffee.
One against the other
The comparisons people search for most before buying, with each manufacturer’s data in a table.
Hario V60 vs Chemex
One cup with fine control, or a jug to share.
AeroPress vs French press
Two immersion brewers with opposite results: clean or full-bodied.
Hand grinder vs Electric grinder
Better grind for less money, or convenience every morning.
Sage Bambino vs De'Longhi Dedica
The two best-selling compact espresso machines to start with.
How I choose what I recommend
Four rules I follow on every page.
What you notice most comes first
A good grinder changes the cup more than an expensive coffee maker. I rank purchases by impact, not by price.
Data with a source
Every technical figure comes from the manufacturer’s website or the product listing, and I link it at the bottom of each page.
No made-up tests
I don’t publish measurements or tastings I haven’t done. If I haven’t tried something, I say so.
The commission doesn’t decide
I earn a commission if you buy on Amazon from here, at the same price for you. It doesn’t change what I recommend.
I explain it in more detail in how I choose.