The Meraki Journal
Machine Guides
Explore espresso machine buying guides, reviews, features, how-to articles and care advice to choose the right setup and get more from it.
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Can you make tea with an espresso machine? Learn how to safely use an espresso machine's hot-water outlet for tea, whether tea leaves can go in a portafilter, and how to control...
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Latest articles
Temperature Stable Espresso Machine: How to Verify It
Use a practical protocol to assess espresso temperature stability during warm-up, idle time, and consecutive shots while accounting for external variables.
58mm E61-Compatible Portafilter: Choosing Espresso Accessories
Understand 58mm E61-compatible portafilter fit and how it affects your choice of baskets, tampers, distributors, and other espresso accessories.
Espresso Machine Water Quality: Hardness, Filtering, and Maintenance
Learn how water hardness and mineral content affect espresso flavor, scale buildup, filtration choices, and long-term machine maintenance.
CoffeeSense Espresso Workflow: How NFC Coffee Guidance Works
Dialing in espresso is often described as a search: you pick a starting grind, dose, and yield, then adjust one variable until...
Dual Boiler Espresso Machine: Why Brew and Steam Temperature Control Matters
Temperature is one of the quiet variables in espresso. It changes how quickly compounds extract from the coffee, which is why the...
All-in-One Espresso Machine: A Complete Home Espresso Workflow
Choosing a home espresso setup used to mean making a list of separate decisions before you ever pulled a shot: which grinder,...
Espresso Machine for Specialty Coffee: A Buyer's Guide
Choose an espresso machine for specialty coffee by evaluating temperature, pressure, grind adjustment, measurement, water, and light-roast performance.
How to Choose an Espresso Machine for Americano
Choose an espresso machine for Americano by evaluating shot consistency, hot-water delivery, dilution ratios, and adjustments for different roasts.
Espresso Machine for Coffee Enthusiasts: Key Features
Identify the temperature, steam, measurement, grinder, and workflow capabilities that matter when a coffee enthusiast outgrows entry-level equipment.
Espresso Machine for Beginners: What to Look For
Use a beginner-focused checklist to evaluate temperature stability, pressure, measurement, guidance, workflow, and the features that support learning.
Precision Espresso Machine: What Precision Means
Understand how espresso precision combines accurate measurement with stable hardware and which dose, yield, temperature, and pressure controls matter.
Programmable Espresso Machine: Control and Presets
Understand which espresso settings benefit from programmable presets, how repeatability improves routine drinks, and where manual control still matters.