Lead Coffee Expert & Equipment Specialist
Michael Anderson
Michael Anderson is the Lead Coffee Expert & Equipment Specialist at The Coffee Locator, with 17 years in specialty coffee. Michael covers espresso machines, coffee makers, grind & brew systems.
- 17+ years experience
- 55 product reviews
- 23 guides published
- Updated October 8, 2026
- X
About Michael Anderson
Role, experience and the areas covered.
Michael Anderson is the Lead Coffee Expert & Equipment Specialist at The Coffee Locator, with 17 years in specialty coffee. Michael covers espresso machines, coffee makers, grind & brew systems.
- Role
- Lead Coffee Expert & Equipment Specialist
- Experience
- 17 years in specialty coffee
- On this site
- 55 reviews, 23 guides
Michael Anderson's work is peer-reviewed by Sarah Chen before publication. See how products are tested and our editorial guidelines.
Product Reviews by Michael Anderson (55)
Equipment reviews, with the star rating on each card.
AeroPress Original Coffee Maker
4.8 out of 5Read the review
Bialetti Moka Express
4.6 out of 5Read the review
BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
3.9 out of 5Read the review
Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker
4.5 out of 5Read the review
BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer
4.4 out of 5Read the review
Chemex Ottomatic
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker
4.4 out of 5Read the review
Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffee Maker
3.8 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine
4.3 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi TrueBrew Automatic Coffee Maker
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker
4.4 out of 5Read the review
Keurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Keurig K-Express
4.2 out of 5Read the review
Keurig K-Mini Mate Plus Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker
3.9 out of 5Read the review
KitchenAid 38 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker
4.1 out of 5Read the review
Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker
4.4 out of 5Read the review
OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker
4.5 out of 5Read the review
Smeg DCF02CRUS Drip Coffee Maker
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Takeya Tritan Cold Brew Coffee Maker
4.4 out of 5Read the review
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select
4.7 out of 5Read the review
Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe
3.9 out of 5Read the review
Breville Bambino Plus
4.7 out of 5Read the review
Breville Barista Express BES870XL
4.5 out of 5Read the review
Breville Barista Express Impress
4.5 out of 5Read the review
Breville Barista Pro
4.4 out of 5Read the review
Breville Barista Touch Impress
4.6 out of 5Read the review
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma
4.0 out of 5Read the review
Breville Oracle Espresso Machine
4.6 out of 5Read the review
Capresso EC100
4.0 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine, Adjustable Milk Frother
4.0 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi Dedica EC680M
3.9 out of 5Read the review
DeLonghi Dedica EC685
3.8 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370.95.T
4.2 out of 5Read the review
DeLonghi EC155
3.8 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte
4.3 out of 5Read the review
DeLonghi La Specialista Opera EC9555
4.6 out of 5Read the review
DeLonghi La Specialista Prestigio
4.7 out of 5Read the review
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.21.B
4.1 out of 5Read the review
DeLonghi Stilosa EC260
3.7 out of 5Read the review
Gaggia Classic Pro
4.7 out of 5Read the review
Jura E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
4.5 out of 5Read the review
Krups XP444C50
3.5 out of 5Read the review
MiiCoffee Eon
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Mr. Coffee Café Barista
3.8 out of 5Read the review
Neretva Espresso Machine
3.3 out of 5Read the review
Nespresso Vertuo Next
4.2 out of 5Read the review
Nespresso VertuoPlus
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Ninja Luxe Café Pro
4.2 out of 5Read the review
Philips 3200 LatteGo
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Philips 5500 Series
4.4 out of 5Read the review
Rancilio Silvia
4.3 out of 5Read the review
Terra Kaffe TK-02 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine
4.2 out of 5Read the review
KRUPS Precision Burr Coffee Grinder
4.2 out of 5Read the review
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
4.3 out of 5Read the reviewGuides by Michael Anderson (23)
Buying guides and how-tos written by this reviewer.
Breville Bambino Plus vs Barista Express
Auto-milk and a tiny footprint, or a built-in grinder and pressure gauge? The real setup cost, workflow and upgrade path of each, and who should buy which.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesBreville Barista Express Grind Settings Guide
Starting grind settings by roast, how to use the pressure gauge to adjust, when to move the inner burr, and the same approach for the Barista Pro and Express Impress.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesBest Coffee Machine Cleaning Tablets 2026
Best coffee machine cleaning tablets for espresso, bean-to-cup and drip machines: which to buy for yours and how to use them.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesEspresso Channeling: Why It Happens & How to Fix
Learn how to spot and fix espresso channeling: uneven flow, sour-and-bitter shots, a holey puck. Ordered fixes from distribution to grinder.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesEspresso Machine Maintenance: Daily to Yearly
Espresso machine maintenance schedule: daily, weekly and monthly cleaning tasks, backflushing, gasket care and descaling by water hardness.
Read the guideBuying GuidesEspresso Machine Types: Which One Fits You?
Types of espresso machines compared: manual, semi-automatic, super-automatic and pod, by skill level, price and milk drinks.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesEspresso Shot Too Fast or Too Slow? Fix It Fast
Espresso pulling too fast (under 20 sec) or too slow (past 40)? Fix shot time by checking grind, dose, tamp, bean age and machine in order.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow Hard Should You Tamp Espresso? (Pressure)
How hard to tamp espresso: 15–30 lbs is enough, and a level tamp matters more than force. Calibrate espresso tamping pressure step by step.
Read the guideCoffee EducationEspresso vs Coffee: Caffeine, Strength & Taste
Espresso vs coffee: how strength, caffeine, taste and brewing differ, and which suits your routine, budget and beans.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesHow to Clean an Espresso Machine (Step by Step)
How to clean an espresso machine: daily, weekly and monthly steps for the portafilter, group head, steam wand and backflush.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesHow to Descale a Coffee Machine
How to descale a coffee machine: drip, Nespresso, Keurig or espresso steps, vinegar vs descaler, and how often to descale.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Dial In Espresso: Beginner Method
Learn how to dial in espresso: a starting recipe, grind changes by shot time and taste, and fixes for sour or bitter shots.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesBitter Espresso? 6 Fixes That Actually Work
How to fix bitter espresso: find the cause of harsh, drying shots and fix it one change at a time.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Get More Crema on Espresso: 6 Fixes
How to increase espresso crema when it is thin, pale or vanishes in seconds: each cause has a specific fix. Work through them in order.
Read the guideBrewing GuidesHow to Make a Cappuccino at Home Like a Barista
How to make a cappuccino: the 1:1:1 ratio, dry versus wet style, and the milk technique that separates it from a latte.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Make Espresso at Home: Gear & Method
Machine and grinder choice, puck preparation, pulling the shot and dialing in, with the reasoning behind each variable
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Tamp Espresso: Pressure & Technique
Learn espresso tamping: distribution first, then level pressure for consistent shots.
Read the guideBrewing GuidesMoka Pot vs Espresso Machine
Moka pot vs espresso machine: compare pressure, taste, milk drinks and cost to choose the right brewer for black coffee or lattes.
Read the guideBuying GuidesNespresso Vertuo vs Original: Which to Buy?
Nespresso Vertuo vs Original compared on espresso quality, mug sizes, capsule range and cost per cup, so you pick the right system.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesSteam Wand Not Frothing Milk? 5 Fixes to Try
Steam wand not frothing milk? Run the plain-water test, then fix clogs, technique, low heat, scale or worn seals in likelihood order.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesEspresso Extraction Explained: Ratio, Time, Taste
How espresso extraction works and how to fix sour or bitter shots.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesWhy Is My Espresso Puck Wet? 5 Fixes in Order
Why is my espresso puck wet? Check dose, grind, shower screen, 3-way valve and gasket in order, with one-change-at-a-time fixes.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesWhy Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Fixes, Likeliest First
Sour, thin espresso is usually under-extraction. Work through grind, dose, water temperature, bean age, shot ratio and distribution, one change at a time.
Read the guideHow to Contact Michael
Questions about a review, or a correction to suggest.
Use the contact page and name the review. The aim is to reply within 24-48 business hours. For a suspected error, include the article URL and the specific claim; the editorial guidelines explain how corrections are handled.
Michael Anderson on XWhy Trust Michael Anderson?
- Reviews are based on hands-on testing; each review states its own testing period and counts.
- 17 years in specialty coffee.
- Products are bought with the site's own funds, with no free samples or sponsored placements. The site does earn affiliate commissions on some links.
- Reviews are peer-reviewed by Sarah Chen before publication.
Learn more: Why trust us · Affiliate disclosure