Updated October 7, 2026
Our Editorial Standards & Guidelines
How independence, fact-checking, updates and corrections work on The Coffee Locator, and how to report a mistake.
Quick answer
Our standards at a glance
Ratings and recommendations are decided by editorial judgment; brands cannot pay for placement or preview content. Specifications are checked before publishing, and performance claims are attributed to their sources.
Pages show their last-updated date and are re-checked periodically. Verified errors are fixed promptly, and significant corrections are noted on the page.
How is editorial independence protected?
Editorial decisions are made independently of manufacturers, brands and business interests.
What we do
- Editorial judgment decides all ratings
- Affiliate revenue does not influence scores
- Manufacturers cannot pay for better placement
- Commissions never change a rating
What we do not do
- Accept payment for positive reviews
- Allow brands to preview content
- Remove negative reviews due to pressure
- Accept free products in exchange for coverage
Editorial judgment decides
- Product reviews and ratings
- "Best" picks and awards
- Content recommendations
- Review update decisions
- Correction decisions
Business relationships cover
- Affiliate program participation
- Advertising relationships
- Neither gives a brand or retailer a say in ratings or recommendations.
How are claims fact-checked?
Claims in published content must be accurate and verifiable.
Before publishing
- Product specifications are checked for accuracy
- Performance claims are attributed to their sources
- Third-party claims are cited with sources
- Independent evidence takes precedence over marketing claims
Shown to the reader
- Affiliate relationships, displayed prominently
- Where the evidence comes from
- Limitations: what the review could not confirm
- Last-updated dates on reviews and roundups
The same standards apply to every product, with no bias toward higher commissions and criticism balanced with strengths.
How are "Best" picks decided?
Picks follow category scores. The scoring system itself is explained on the methodology page.
- Based on category scores and editorial judgement
- Updated when new products outperform current picks
- Several "Best for X" picks to serve different needs, plus price-tier picks such as Best Budget and Best Premium
Roundups such as best espresso machines under $500 follow this rule. The 0-10 category scores inform the 5-star rating, which also reflects the editor's overall judgment.
What about conflicts of interest?
The site earns money from affiliate links, so the disclosure rules matter.
- No say in content
- Affiliate and advertising relationships give no brand or retailer a say in editorial content.
- Where disclosure appears
- At the top of an article and near affiliate links, in plain language, on mobile and desktop.
- Standard followed
- The FTC's guidelines on endorsements (16 CFR Part 255).
How often are pages updated?
Commercial coffee content goes stale quickly, so pages are re-checked and dated.
Periodic checks
- Reviews and roundups are re-checked for price, availability and new models
- Every page shows its last-updated date
- Pages are reviewed at least annually
Triggered updates
- A new competitor launches in the category
- Price changes of more than 10%
- Widespread quality-control issues are reported
How are errors corrected?
Reporting takes three steps. Replies come within two business days.
Identify the specific claim. Note the exact sentence or data point. "The article states the brew temperature is 200°F, but another source shows 196°F" can be checked; "the review seems wrong" cannot.
Provide evidence. Link to a manufacturer document or other credible source. Corrections cannot be verified without evidence.
Send it through the contact form. Choose "Report an Error/Correction" and include the article URL, the claim and your evidence.
How each type of error is handled
- Factual errors
- Specs, features and prices. Verified errors are corrected promptly.
- Significant corrections
- Noted on the page, with an explanation if the correction affects a rating or recommendation.
- Minor errors
- Typos and formatting are fixed on discovery with no correction note.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about independence, updates and corrections.
Can a brand pay for a better rating or a place in a "best of" list?
No. Manufacturers cannot pay for better placement or positive reviews, and brands cannot preview content.
Picks are based on category scores and editorial judgement.
If a lower-commission product outperforms a higher-commission one, the better product gets the pick.
What happens when a product I read about is updated or replaced?
Reviews and roundups are re-checked periodically for price, availability and new models, and each page shows its last-updated date.
A new competitor, a significant price change or widespread quality-control reports can trigger an earlier update.
How do I tell you about a mistake?
Use the contact page and choose "Report an Error/Correction".
Include the article URL, the specific claim and any evidence.
Replies come within two business days, and verified factual errors are corrected promptly.
Will you change a review if a reader disagrees with an opinion?
Factual errors are corrected.
Opinions and ratings are changed when new evidence justifies it, such as widespread owner reports or a new competing product, not because of pressure from a brand or a reader.