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Best Espresso Accessories: Essential Tools for Home Baristas

Buying an espresso machine is only the beginning of a home espresso setup. A good machine provides hot water, pressure, and—in many cases—steam. But consistently good espresso also depends on everything that happens before and after the machine’s brew button is pressed. You need coffee ground finely and consistently enough for espresso. You need to …

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Farberware Espresso Maker Review: Features, Pros, Cons & Performance

The Farberware Espresso Maker is an interesting option for anyone who wants to experiment with homemade espresso without spending several hundred dollars on a machine. The model covered in this review—the Farberware 15-Bar Espresso Machine, model FW61100042872—is a compact semi-automatic machine equipped with a stainless-steel boiler, pressure gauge, removable 47-ounce water tank, single- and double-shot …

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How to Make French Press Coffee: Ratio, Grind Size & Brewing Guide

French press coffee is one of the simplest ways to make a rich, full-bodied cup at home. There are no paper filters to fold. No complicated pouring pattern to master. No pump, capsule, or electronic brewing system. At its simplest, you need only: But simple doesn’t mean foolproof. French press coffee can taste wonderfully sweet, …

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Is Instant Coffee Bad for You? Health Benefits, Risks & Caffeine

Instant coffee has a reputation problem. Because it is processed, inexpensive, shelf-stable, and ready in seconds, it’s easy to assume that instant coffee must somehow be less healthy than coffee brewed from freshly ground beans. But is instant coffee actually bad for you? For most people, plain instant coffee is not inherently unhealthy. It is …

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Pour Over Coffee Ratio: How Much Coffee to Use for Every Cup Size

Getting the coffee-to-water ratio right is one of the easiest ways to make better pour-over coffee. You don’t need a complicated formula. You don’t need to memorize a different recipe for every mug. And you definitely don’t need to guess how many scoops of coffee belong in the filter. For most pour-over brewing, an excellent …

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Zulay Magiá Espresso Machine Review: Features, Pros, Cons & Performance

The Zulay Magiá Manual Espresso Machine occupies an interesting place in the home espresso market. It combines several pieces of equipment that beginners would otherwise need to purchase separately: That puts the Zulay Magiá Manual Espresso Machine, model SOS100, in the same broad all-in-one category as machines such as the Breville Barista Express. You fill …

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Rocket Espresso Machines: Models, Features, Pros, Cons & Buying Guide

Rocket Espresso occupies an interesting place in the home espresso world. These are not inexpensive starter appliances designed to automate coffee at the touch of a button. Rocket builds premium Italian espresso machines for people who enjoy the traditional process of grinding coffee, preparing a portafilter, controlling extraction, and steaming milk manually. The company describes …

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Rancilio Espresso Machines: Models, Features, Pros, Cons & Buying Guide

Rancilio has one of the most recognizable names in traditional espresso equipment. Founded in Italy, the company has spent decades building machines for cafés, restaurants, specialty coffee shops, and home baristas. But if you’re shopping for a Rancilio espresso machine for your kitchen, the lineup is actually much simpler than it first appears. For home …

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Shaken Oatmilk Espresso Recipe: Creamy Iced Dairy-Free Coffee

Cold, creamy, frothy, and strongly coffee-forward, this shaken oatmilk espresso is one of the easiest café-style drinks you can make at home. The recipe starts with two fresh shots of espresso sweetened with a little brown sugar and cinnamon. The espresso is shaken vigorously with ice until cold and foamy, then poured into a tall …

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5 Teas That Will Help Relieve Your Sore Throat

Few things make a cold or respiratory infection more miserable than a sore, scratchy throat. Swallowing hurts. Talking becomes uncomfortable. And even a sip of water can suddenly feel like work. A warm cup of tea won’t cure the infection causing your sore throat, but it can be one of the simplest ways to make …

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