Michael Anderson
Lead Coffee Expert & Equipment Specialist
SCA Level 2 Certified | Professional Barista Trainer
About Michael Anderson
Michael Anderson has worked in specialty coffee for 15 years, split between training baristas and testing equipment. He began as a barista at Portland's Coava Coffee Roasters before moving into training, where he developed and delivered SCA-aligned barista programmes for cafés across the Pacific Northwest. Over seven years of training, he coached more than 200 baristas in espresso extraction, milk texturing, workflow optimisation, and equipment calibration.
In 2016 Michael transitioned to full-time equipment testing and writing. He built a dedicated home testing lab fitted with a Scace Device for boiler profiling, a Decent DE1 for pressure-curve analysis, and a professional refractometer for extraction yield measurement. He has since conducted structured, 30-day hands-on evaluations of more than 500 coffee products — spanning espresso machines, drip coffee makers, grind-and-brew systems, and accessories — always with personally purchased equipment and zero manufacturer involvement.
Michael holds SCA Level 2 certification (Coffee Skills Programme) and has contributed testing methodology articles to Barista Magazine, Sprudge, and Home-Barista.com. He currently sits on the Community Testing Panel of the Specialty Coffee Association and uses a standardised 30-point scoring rubric across every review he publishes at The Coffee Locator.
"Good equipment reviews are built on the same discipline as good espresso: consistency, repeatability, and honest measurement. I never publish a score I can't back with a data point — brew temperature, extraction yield, grind uniformity. Opinions matter, but numbers keep them honest."
Professional Certifications
- SCA Coffee Skills Programme — Level 2 (Specialty Coffee Association, 2015)
- Certified Coffee Expert — Coffee Quality Institute
- Professional Barista Trainer Certificate — SCA Education (2013)
Key Achievements
- Personally trained 200+ professional baristas across Pacific Northwest cafés
- Conducted hands-on testing of 500+ coffee products across 12 categories
- Published testing methodology articles in Barista Magazine and Sprudge
- Community Testing Panel member — Specialty Coffee Association
- Developed standardised 30-point equipment scoring rubric used across The Coffee Locator
Career Timeline
- 1
Barista & Trainer
Coava Coffee Roasters, Portland OR
Learnt third-wave extraction fundamentals; began informal equipment calibration and training.
- 2
Head Barista Trainer
Independent Specialty Café Consultancy, Seattle WA
Delivered SCA-aligned training to cafés across Oregon and Washington; first exposure to comparative equipment evaluation.
- 3
SCA-Certified Trainer
Pacific Northwest Coffee Training Centre
Earned SCA Professional Barista Trainer Certificate; trained 80+ baristas annually.
- 4
SCA Level 2 Certification
Specialty Coffee Association
Completed Coffee Skills Programme Level 2 — Brewing & Barista modules.
- 5
Equipment Reviewer & Writer
The Coffee Locator (founder) & Freelance
Built dedicated testing lab; launched structured 30-day review protocol; contributed to Barista Magazine and Sprudge.
- 6
Lead Coffee Expert
The Coffee Locator
Expanded review coverage to 12 product categories; joined SCA Community Testing Panel.
Testing Methodology
Every product is purchased at retail price — no review units, no manufacturer loans. Testing runs for a minimum of 30 days: seven days of break-in and calibration, followed by 23 days of structured daily evaluation across at least three grind settings and two water temperatures. Espresso machines are scored on boiler stability (±2 °C target), shot-to-shot extraction yield consistency (measured with a refractometer), steam wand performance, and build quality. Scores are mapped to a 30-point rubric and cross-checked against at least two prior reviews in the same category before publication.
Testing Equipment Used
- Scace Device II — boiler & group-head temperature profiling
- Atago PAL-COFFEE refractometer — TDS & extraction yield measurement
- Decent DE1 — pressure-curve logging and diagnostics
- Baratza Forté BG — reference grinder for baseline comparison
- Acaia Lunar scale — 0.1 g resolution shot timing
- Cropster Hub — data logging across extended test periods
Published In
- ›Barista Magazine — "How to Build a Home Testing Protocol"
- ›Sprudge — Contributor, equipment deep-dives
- ›Home-Barista.com — Pressure-profiling methodology guides
- ›The Coffee Locator — Lead reviewer, 500+ product evaluations
Consulted For
- ›Coava Coffee Roasters, Portland OR
- ›Slate Coffee Roasters, Seattle WA
- ›Stumptown Coffee Roasters — equipment selection for wholesale accounts
- ›Multiple independent specialty cafés across the Pacific Northwest
Guides by Michael Anderson(20)
Espresso Too Fast or Too Slow? Fix It
If your espresso shot finishes in under 20 seconds or drags on past 40, the fix is almost always grind, dose, or tamp — here's how to tell which one and correct it.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesWhy Is My Espresso Puck Wet or Soupy?
A wet, soupy puck after a shot almost always means under-extraction — here's what actually causes it and how to fix it, cause by cause.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesEspresso Channeling: Signs & Fixes
Fast, uneven shots that taste both sour and bitter at once are usually channeling — here's how to spot it, what causes it, and how to fix it shot by shot.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesWhy Is My Espresso Sour? (2026)
Grind, dose, brew ratio, temperature, distribution, or beans — here's how to find the actual cause of sour, sharp espresso and fix it shot by shot.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesCoffee Machine Cleaning Tablets 2026
Rancid coffee oils are ruining your shots — and most people don't realise it. We tested the leading cleaning tablets for espresso machines, bean-to-cup machines, and drip makers to find what actually works, what to skip, and how to use them correctly.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesEspresso Machine Maintenance (2026)
Daily, weekly, and monthly espresso maintenance routines — backflushing, gasket care, shower screen soaks, and why each one matters
Read the guideBuying GuidesEspresso Machine Types Explained
Which espresso machine actually fits how you make coffee — not what the spec sheet promises. Manual, semi-automatic, automatic, super-automatic, and pod machines compared honestly, by skill level, budget, and daily routine.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow Hard to Tamp Espresso? Expert Guide
Every guide tells you 30 lbs. Almost none of them tell you why — or explain that pressure is actually the least important tamping variable. Let's fix that.
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesHow to Clean an Espresso Machine (2026)
Daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning routines for portafilter, group head, steam wand, and backflushing
Read the guideMaintenance GuidesHow to Descale & Clean a Coffee Machine
Remove limescale buildup from any coffee maker—drip machines, Nespresso, Keurig, and espresso machines—with expert cleaning routines and the right descaling solutions
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Dial In Espresso (2026)
Grind adjustment, dose, yield, and tasting — the exact sequence a trained barista uses to go from a bad shot to a great one, every morning
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Increase Espresso Crema
Thin crema, no crema, or crema that disappears in seconds — every one of these has a specific cause and a specific fix. Here is a structured, step-by-step diagnosis to work through.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Make the Best Espresso at Home
This is the complete home espresso guide — machine selection, grinder choice, puck preparation, and pulling a great shot. Every variable explained clearly, with the reasoning behind it.
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Tamp Espresso: Puck Prep (2026)
Tamping is five seconds in a shot workflow, but it's the step where most consistency problems start. This is the exact technique I teach in barista training — distribution first, then pressure, then levelness.
Read the guideBrewing GuidesMoka Pot vs Espresso Machine
Pressure, extraction, taste, and cost compared — expert breakdown by a barista trainer
Read the guideBuying GuidesNespresso Vertuo vs Original (2026)
Two completely different brewing systems under one brand — capsule range, espresso quality, machine cost, and which one actually suits your daily routine.
Read the guideCoffee EducationEspresso vs Coffee: Key Differences
How espresso and drip coffee actually differ — in taste, caffeine, brewing science, and which to reach for and when
Read the guideEspresso GuidesHow to Fix Bitter Espresso (2026)
Grind, temperature, dose, channeling, or dirty equipment — here's how to find your root cause fast and pull a balanced shot every time
Read the guideBrewing GuidesHow to Make a Cappuccino at Home (2026)
The 1:1:1 ratio, the difference between dry and wet style, and the exact milk technique that makes a cappuccino a cappuccino
Read the guideEspresso GuidesWhat Is Espresso Extraction?
Espresso extraction is the process of dissolving soluble coffee compounds into water under pressure.
Read the guideProduct Reviews by Michael Anderson(55)
AeroPress Original XL Coffee Press Review
A fast, forgiving manual brewer that produces smooth, low-acid coffee for one or two cups, with genuine room to experiment with technique.
Bialetti Moka Express Review
A classic aluminum stovetop brewer that delivers rich, espresso-strength coffee for well under $60 once you get the technique down.
BLACK+DECKER 12-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Review
A no-frills, programmable 12-cup drip maker for everyday pre-ground coffee — reliable rather than specialty-grade.
Breville Grind Control Coffee Maker Review
A bean-to-cup drip maker with bloom time and 8 strength settings — fresh grounds without a separate grinder.
BUNN GRB Velocity Brew 10-Cup Programmable Coffee Brewer Review
A high-volume programmable brewer with a thermal carafe, built for households brewing 10+ cups a day rather than solo drinkers.
Chemex Ottomatic Review
An automated take on the Chemex ritual, keeping the same clean, bright cup character but without the standing-over-a-kettle routine.
Cuisinart 14-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker Review
A practical, programmable large-batch drip maker for households of two to six who want convenience over specialty-grade precision.
Cuisinart Grind & Brew Coffee Maker Review
A budget bean-to-cup drip maker with fresh-ground convenience, though it runs cooler than SCA-recommended brew temps.
De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine Review
A combo machine with genuine 15-bar espresso and a full 10-cup drip pot — good for mixed households, not a dedicated setup.
De'Longhi TrueBrew Automatic Coffee Maker Review
A bean-to-cup drip maker that grinds fresh for every pot with one-button convenience, though it doesn't produce true espresso pressure.
Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker Review
An SCA-range drip maker with real automation at a budget price — brew-only, with no built-in grinder.
Keurig K-Elite Single Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker Review
A capable single-serve pod machine with five brew sizes and a genuine iced-coffee mode, though pod extraction has limits.
Keurig K-Express Review
A no-frills single-serve K-Cup machine with fast heat-up and three cup sizes — a solid entry point rather than a cup-quality showcase.
Keurig K-Mini Mate Plus Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker Review
A compact single-serve pod machine built for solo drinkers and small spaces who prioritize speed and zero cleanup over brew quality.
KitchenAid 38 oz Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
A glass cold brew carafe that looks as good on the counter as it performs in the fridge, favoring odor-neutral flavor purity over budget.
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Maker Review
The entry point into Nespresso's Vertuo lineup — one-button, capsule-recognizing convenience with genuine crema and zero learning curve.
Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker Review
An all-in-one drip maker that also makes lattes, cappuccinos, and iced coffee — versatile, though not true 9-bar espresso.
OXO Brew 9-Cup Coffee Maker Review
A drip maker engineered to mimic hands-on pour-over technique automatically — best paired with a decent burr grinder you already own.
Smeg DCF02CRUS Drip Coffee Maker Review
A retro-styled drip maker with a 24-hour programmable timer, built for kitchens where design matters as much as the coffee itself.
Takeya Tritan Cold Brew Coffee Maker Review
A simple, budget-friendly cold brew pitcher for anyone who's found more complex immersion systems intimidating.
Technivorm Moccamaster KBGV Select Review
A hand-built Dutch drip maker with SCA-certified temps and a reputation for lasting a decade or more.
Bosch 300 Series VeroCafe Review
A reliable automatic machine for one-touch cappuccino and latte macchiato without learning wand technique.
Breville Bambino Plus Review
A small-footprint espresso machine with genuine 3-second heat-up and automatic microfoam that rivals hand-steamed milk.
Breville Barista Express BES870XL Review
An all-in-one grinder-plus-machine that delivers a complete espresso station in a single purchase — ideal for a first serious home setup.
Breville Barista Express Impress Review
A beginner-friendly semi-automatic that removes manual tamping from the equation, trading some hands-on control for consistency.
Breville Barista Pro Review
A tidy all-in-one machine with near-instant heat-up and real-time extraction data, for baristas comfortable with manual tamping.
Breville Barista Touch Impress Review
A touchscreen machine with one-touch lattes and cappuccinos, built for households making several milk drinks a day.
Breville ESP8XL Cafe Roma Review
An entry-level, traditionally styled machine for first-timers moving on from pod machines, priced around $200–$250.
Breville Oracle Espresso Machine Review
A dual-boiler machine with automated grinding, dosing, tamping, and milk texturing — commercial-quality results, no training needed.
Capresso EC100 Review
A budget-friendly pump machine for pod-machine refugees getting their first taste of real espresso pressure.
De'Longhi Classic Signature Espresso Machine, Adjustable Milk Frother Review
An adjustable-frother machine for pod-machine graduates learning genuine espresso craft without Bambino Plus pricing.
De'Longhi Dedica EC680M Review
A space-saving machine for learning manual milk steaming without stepping up to Gaggia Classic Pro money.
DeLonghi Dedica EC685 Review
An ultra-slim machine built for tight counters and a budget entry point into home espresso, with real trade-offs in temperature stability.
De'Longhi Dinamica Plus ECAM370.95.T Review
A bean-to-cup super-automatic with 16 one-touch drink recipes and saved profiles — genuine convenience, not a craft project.
DeLonghi EC155 Review
A true entry-level machine, ESE pod-compatible, for casual drinkers testing home espresso interest before investing further.
De'Longhi La Specialista Arte Review
A semi-automatic with a Smart Tamping Station that consistently eliminates channeling — genuine training wheels for espresso beginners.
DeLonghi La Specialista Opera EC9555 Review
A machine built for simultaneous brewing and steaming, aimed at serious home baristas making several drinks a day.
DeLonghi La Specialista Prestigio Review
A sensor-driven machine offering professional-level automation with minimal manual intervention required.
De'Longhi Magnifica Evo ECAM290.21.B Review
A bean-to-cup super-automatic that delivers consistently good espresso without any of the semi-automatic learning curve.
DeLonghi Stilosa EC260 Review
A true budget starter machine, under $150 including a basic grinder, for testing interest in home espresso.
Gaggia Classic Pro Review
A commercial-style manual machine with a 58mm portafilter, popular with the modding community for reaching well above its price point.
Jura E8 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine Review
A super-automatic delivering consistently excellent espresso drinks at the push of a button — zero skill required, at a premium.
Krups XP444C50 Review
A tight-budget entry point for first-time espresso owners making one or two drinks a day.
MiiCoffee Eon Review
A compact machine with PID temperature control and pressure profiling usually found on pricier machines.
Mr. Coffee Café Barista Review
A budget beginner machine under $200 for occasional drinkers who want one-button milk drink convenience.
Neretva Espresso Machine Review
A sub-$120 starter machine for first-timers and renters wanting a pod-machine replacement without a big commitment.
Nespresso Vertuo Next Review
A one-button capsule machine with a 30-second heat-up, aimed at absolute beginners who want good results with zero learning curve.
Nespresso VertuoPlus Review
A single-button capsule machine delivering café-style consistency with no learning curve, at a per-cup capsule cost worth budgeting for.
Ninja Luxe Café Pro Review
A 4-in-1 machine covering espresso, drip, cold brew, and hot water, built around a weight-based grinder for beginners.
Philips 3200 LatteGo Review
A convenience-focused super-automatic with a fast-heating LatteGo milk system, built for daily lattes and cappuccinos.
Philips 5500 Series Review
A bean-to-cup machine for busy households and office kitchens making several espresso drinks a day without barista training.
Rancilio Silvia Review
A commercial-component manual machine built to last 15–20+ years, for enthusiasts willing to learn temperature-surfing technique.
Terra Kaffe TK-02 Super-Automatic Espresso Machine Review
A super-automatic with full smartphone-app brew customization, letting multiple users save and recall their own recipes.
KRUPS Precision Burr Coffee Grinder Review
An entry-level conical burr grinder offering a real step up from blade grinding for drip, French press, or pour-over under $100.
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder Review
A budget conical burr grinder for drip and pour-over brewers upgrading from a blade grinder, under $150.