Knowledge Base
Coffee & Tea Guides
Brew better and explore more — buying guides, how-tos, and explainers for every coffee and tea ritual.
Buying Guide
Espresso Machines with a Built-In Grinder, Explained
What an espresso machine with a built-in grinder is, how all-in-one and bean-to-cup models differ, the real pros and trade-offs, and a plain checklist to help you choose.
Buying Guide
Espresso and Latte Machines, Explained
To make lattes at home you need a machine that pulls espresso and textures milk. Here is how espresso and latte machines differ by their milk method, with a type comparison and a how-to-choose checklist.
Buying Guide
Enamel Mugs Explained: A Buying Guide
What an enamel mug is, the honest pros and cons of enamelware, how to choose a rugged enamel camping mug or everyday cup, and how to care for it to prevent chips and rust.
Buying Guide
ECM Synchronika Espresso Machine, Explained
What the ECM Synchronika is, what its dual boilers, E61 group head and rotary pump actually give you, who this prosumer espresso machine suits, and how to weigh it against the field.
Buying Guide
Dual Boiler Espresso Machines, Explained
What a dual boiler espresso machine is, how it compares to single boiler and heat exchanger designs, and how to decide whether the upgrade is worth it for you.
Buying Guide
DF64 Coffee Grinder, Explained: A Single-Dose Buyer's Guide
The DF64 is the cult single-dose espresso grinder built around 64mm flat burrs. Here is what it is, how Gen 2 improved it, how it compares to the DF54 and DF83, and how to choose the right version.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Nespresso Machines, Explained
De'Longhi is one of Nespresso's licensed machine makers. Here's how its Original, Vertuo and Lattissima models differ, and how to choose the right one for the drinks you make.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Magnifica S, Explained
A clear, no-hype guide to the Delonghi Magnifica S: what this beginner-friendly bean-to-cup machine does, how the S, S Smart, Evo and Start versions differ, and how to pick the right one.
Buying Guide
Delonghi La Specialista, Explained: How to Choose
A clear guide to the Delonghi La Specialista line of manual espresso machines with a built-in grinder, from the compact Arte to the top Maestro, with a model comparison table and a how-to-choose checklist.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Dedica Arte Espresso Machine, Explained
The Delonghi Dedica is a very slim, 15-bar manual espresso machine for small kitchens. Here is what the Dedica Arte (EC885) and the older Dedica EC685 are, how they differ, how to get the best espresso from them, and how to keep one running.
Buying Guide
Delonghi Bean-to-Cup Coffee Makers, Explained
A plain-English buying guide to Delonghi's bean-to-cup range: what fully automatic machines do, how the Magnifica, Dinamica, Eletta and PrimaDonna families differ, and how to choose.
Buying Guide
Decaf Coffee Pods and Capsules: A Buyer's Guide
Decaf coffee pods and capsules now exist for nearly every machine. Here is how Nespresso, Vertuo, K-Cup, Dolce Gusto, Lavazza and other systems compare - and how to choose the right decaffeinated pod for your brewer.
Buying Guide
Davidoff Espresso 57, Explained: A Dark, Intense Instant Coffee
A premium freeze-dried instant coffee with a dark, intense character. Here is what Davidoff Espresso 57 actually is, where it sits in the Davidoff Cafe range, and how to brew it so it tastes its best.
Buying Guide
Da Vinci Syrups, Explained: Flavors and Uses
Da Vinci syrups are a popular line of barista flavoring syrups used to sweeten and flavor coffee, tea, sodas and cocktails. Here is what DaVinci Gourmet makes, how the classic, sugar-free and sauce ranges differ, how baristas dose them by the pump, and how to choose the right flavor.
Buying Guide
Cute Coffee Mugs: A Guide to Fun and Funny Mugs
From kawaii faces and figural animals to funny slogans and speckled stoneware, here are the main cute coffee mug styles and how to pick one you will actually enjoy drinking from.
Buying Guide
Custom and Personalized Mugs: How to Design Your Own
A practical guide to designing custom and personalized mugs: how each printing method looks and lasts, which blank to print on, and how to choose for a gift, an event, or a brand.
Buying Guide
Cup and Saucer Sets: How to Choose Them
How to choose a cup and saucer set for espresso, coffee or tea: the right cup size for each drink, what porcelain, bone china, stoneware and glass each offer, plus a how-to-choose checklist and simple care tips.
Buying Guide
Cuisinart PerfectTemp Electric Kettle, Explained
What the Cuisinart PerfectTemp cordless electric kettle is and how its preset temperatures work — plus a clear checklist for choosing any variable temperature kettle for tea and pour-over coffee.
Buying Guide
Cuisinart Coffee Makers: A Guide to the Range
Cuisinart's coffee makers span programmable drip, grind-and-brew, thermal carafe and single-serve Coffee Center units. Here's how the families differ, what each does well, and a plain checklist for choosing one.
Buying Guide
Copper Mugs and Kettles: A Guide to Copper Drinkware
A practical guide to copper drinkware: why copper mugs are tied to the Moscow Mule, the lined-vs-unlined safety point that matters, how copper kettles and teapots work, and how to choose and care for copper.
Buying Guide
Compact Coffee Machines: How to Choose a Small-Footprint Maker
A compact coffee machine gives you a good cup from a small footprint. Here are the space-saving machine types, their trade-offs, and how to choose one for a tiny kitchen, dorm, RV or office.
Buying Guide
Commercial Espresso Machines: How to Choose One
How to choose a commercial espresso machine for a cafe, coffee bar or office: the types, group heads, boiler design, steam, water treatment and a buyer's checklist.
Buying Guide
Commercial Coffee Machines: How to Choose for a Cafe or Office
A plain-spoken guide to choosing a commercial coffee machine, from traditional espresso and bean-to-cup to batch brewers, pods and vending, with a buying checklist for any cafe, restaurant or office.
Buying Guide
Coffee Urn Guide: How to Choose and Use a Large Coffee Urn
How to choose and use a coffee urn for a crowd: size it by headcount, pick percolating or hold-only, dial in the ratio, and serve coffee that tastes fresh, not stewed.