About
About The Coffee Locator: Independent Coffee Equipment Reviews
The Coffee Locator publishes independent coffee equipment reviews. They are written by Michael Anderson and Sarah Chen, and every recommendation follows a published testing and scoring process.
- Updated October 2026
- 80+ product reviews
- 30 years combined experience
Who Runs This Site?
A two-person review team and a short mission statement.
The Coffee Locator is written and run by Michael Anderson and Sarah Chen, who have 17 and 13 years in specialty coffee (30 combined). Michael covers espresso machines and coffee makers; Sarah covers grinders and sensory evaluation. Each reviewer's work is peer-reviewed by the other before publication.
Mission: give coffee buyers one place where recommendations come from documented testing, not manufacturer relationships. The site has more than 80 product reviews, from pour-over drippers to espresso machines.
The site earns affiliate commissions on some links. How we make money explains how that is kept separate from ratings, and why trust us collects the proof in one place.
What Do Readers Get?
What every review and guide is built to give you.
Stated test conditions
Testing period and brew or shot counts appear in each review. See how products are tested and scored in the testing methodology.
Scores tied to criteria
0-10 category scores that fit the product type, behind a 5-star overall rating.
Trade-offs, not spec sheets
Real-world differences, drawbacks, and who should skip a product.
Open policies
Methodology, revenue sources, affiliate relationships, and corrections each have their own public page.
Who Writes the Reviews?
The two reviewers, with some of their published work.
Michael Anderson
Lead Coffee Expert & Equipment Specialist · 17 years in specialty coffee
Covers espresso machines, coffee makers, grind & brew systems. 55 product reviews and 23 guides on the site.
- AeroPress Original Coffee Maker review
- Bialetti Moka Express review
- BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker review
Sarah Chen
Senior Coffee Reviewer & Grinder Specialist · 13 years in specialty coffee
Covers coffee grinders, grinder technology, sensory evaluation. 31 product reviews and 36 guides on the site.
See Sarah's full profileFrequently Asked Questions
Questions readers ask most about the site.
No.
Products are bought with the site's own funds, so the same process applies as for any buyer.
Manufacturer samples, loaner units, and discounted purchase arrangements are declined.
Reviews and roundups are re-checked periodically for price, availability, and new models, and every page shows its last-updated date.
Larger updates follow long-term testing that reveals new issues, recalls or widespread reliability reports, price changes that affect value, and firmware changes that meaningfully alter performance.
Links point to the most relevant retailer for each product, usually (but not always) Amazon, based on price, availability, and return policy at the time of writing.
The commission rate does not decide which retailer is linked.
See the affiliate disclosure and how we make money.
Report it through the contact page; the aim is to reply within 24-48 business hours.
Verified errors are corrected promptly and significant corrections are noted on the page.
The editorial guidelines describe the full process.
Policies and Methodology
Each policy lives on one page. How products are chosen, tested, scored and re-checked is covered in the methodology and editorial guidelines.
Why trust us?
The proof in one place: process, independence, and corrections.
How are products tested and scored?
Testing protocols and how 0-10 scores become star ratings.
What are the editorial standards?
Fact-checking and the corrections process.
How does the site make money?
Revenue sources and the safeguards that keep sales out of editorial decisions.
What does the affiliate disclosure say?
How affiliate links work and what they cost you (nothing extra).
How do I contact the team?
Questions, corrections, and feedback.
Last updated October 2026. These policy pages are reviewed at least annually.