The tamper is among the simpler espresso tools, but it's essential to pulling the perfect shot. We've been making and testing espresso for over a decade, and for this guide we pulled four shots ...

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable photo composite / De'Longhi We may not have a view of the cliffs of Palermo from our back porch, but with a good home espresso machine, we can kick back in the morning ...

Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable photo composite / De'Longhi We may not have a view of the cliffs of Palermo from our back porch, but with a good home espresso machine, we can kick back in the morning ...

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We prefer to use the expansion zipper as something of an ad-hoc compression system: We unzip the expansion zipper while packing the bag and then zip it at the end, tamping everything down tight.

These machines use pre-packaged coffee pods to make espresso, which eliminates the need for grinding and tamping. While they sacrifice some flavor complexity, they are incredibly convenient.

“It’s the best espresso machine at its price point, in my book. It’s semi-automatic, which means the machine uses a pump to get the pressure right in your shot, making it easy enough for beginners, ...

It'll guide you through grinding, tamping, and brewing, so that an ultimate beginner could make a delicious cup of coffee, cold brew or espresso. Of course, it's expensive, but that's the price you ...

It features five one-touch coffee recipes, a traditional milk frother, and a hot water maker for brewing tea. Plus, it can brew two espresso cups in one cycle, making it the perfect machine for ...