Guides
Practical answers to buying and setup questions, with links to the relevant choices.
- Guide58 vs 58.5 mm tamper: what basket makers specifyExplains why sources disagree on tamper sizes for 58 mm machines and gives you a rule for choosing yours from your basket's own specification.
- GuideBuying espresso accessories on AliExpress: a checklist before you payA short pre-checkout checklist for AliExpress espresso tools: size variants, seller claims, returns and import costs for the US and Canada.
- GuideAre AliExpress espresso accessories safe? What to checkShows which safety claims on an AliExpress espresso listing carry weight, which do not, and what to check yourself before and after you buy.
- GuideAre puck screens worth it? What they do and what is not provenSeparates the clear benefit of a puck screen from the unproven ones, and shows how to size one so it does not crowd your basket.
- GuideBeginner espresso accessory checklist: what to buy firstGives a new espresso owner a short, ordered shopping list with the right sizes, so the first purchases are the useful ones.
- GuideCafiza vs descaler: coffee-oil cleaner or scale remover?Stops you using the wrong chemical by explaining what an espresso detergent and a descaler each remove, where each goes and how often.
- GuideCalibrated vs spring-loaded vs impact tampers comparedHelps you choose a tamper type by what it actually controls, so you pay for consistency and fit rather than for a force number.
- GuideDoes RDT work? What a controlled espresso test foundSeparates what RDT is supposed to do from what has been measured, so you can decide whether it is worth the extra step.
- GuideDosing funnel buying guide: size, fit and magnetsHelps you buy a funnel that seats on your portafilter, in the right size and style, the first time.
- GuideEspresso accessories you don't need, and the few you doSaves money by separating accessories with a measured or clear mechanical benefit from those sold on claims nobody has shown.
- GuideEspresso scale accuracy vs resolution: what 0.1 g meansHelps you read espresso scale specs correctly and check whether your scale is good enough for weighing doses and shots.
- GuideHow hard should you tamp espresso? What the evidence showsExplains what published measurements say about tamping force, so you can stop worrying about a number and focus on what changes the shot.
- GuideHow to backflush an espresso machine, and when not toGives you a safe backflush routine and shows how to confirm your machine is designed for it before you start.
- GuideEspresso basket and tamper size guide: 51, 53.3, 58.4 mm and moreTells you the accessory sizes that fit your machine, with the source for each number, so you order the right variant the first time.
- GuidePrecision espresso baskets explained: what the specs meanShows how to tell a documented precision basket from a marketing label, and which size and dose range to choose before you buy one.
- GuideWhat is WDT? The needle technique for even espressoExplains what WDT does and how to do it, so you can decide whether a needle tool belongs in your routine and which kind to buy.
- GuideWhy does my bottomless portafilter spray? Causes and fixesTurns a spraying bottomless shot into an ordered list of checks, starting with the cheapest fixes, so you change one thing at a time.
- GuideWhy won't my portafilter lock in? Causes and safe fixesHelps you work out why a portafilter will not lock and whether the fix is your dose, an accessory, the basket or the portafilter itself.
- ShortlistA 58 mm espresso workflow kit: six accessoriesShows which accessories form a coherent 58 mm set, what each step does, and what the listings do not prove.
- ShortlistBest dosing funnels for 51, 54 and 58 mm portafiltersNames the funnel variant to order for your portafilter rim, explains why it differs from your tamper size, and flags the magnet catch.
- ShortlistBest espresso scales with a timer and 0.1 g readoutHelps you pick a scale that fits under your portafilter and reads finely enough, while being clear that listing accuracy figures are unverified.
- ShortlistBest espresso tampers for 51, 54 and 58 mm basketsNames the exact tamper variant to order for your machine family, with each size checked against what basket and machine makers publish.
- ShortlistBest puck screens for 51, 54 and 58 mm basketsTells you which puck screen variant to order for your basket, how thickness affects headspace, and what a screen will not fix.
- ShortlistBest WDT tools for espresso: needle tools and a rotary toolHelps you choose between a simple needle tool and a rotary WDT tool, with the size to order and an honest account of the evidence.
- ShortlistBest bottomless portafilters for Breville, De'Longhi and E61Maps each bottomless portafilter variant to the machines it is named for, with the makers' own part and model lists to check against.