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Senior Coffee Reviewer & Grinder Specialist

Updated October 14, 2026

Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is the Senior Coffee Reviewer & Grinder Specialist at The Coffee Locator, with 13 years in specialty coffee. Sarah covers coffee grinders, grinder technology, sensory evaluation.

Sarah Chen – Senior Coffee Reviewer & Grinder Specialist
  • 13+ years experience
  • 31 product reviews
  • 44 guides published

About Sarah Chen

Role, experience, credentials and the areas covered.

Role
Senior Coffee Reviewer & Grinder Specialist
Experience
13 years in specialty coffee
Credentials
  • Q Grader Licence — Coffee Quality Institute (2014)
  • SCA Coffee Skills Programme — Brewing & Sensory modules (2016)
  • Certified Cupping Judge — Specialty Coffee Association
On this site
31 reviews, 44 guides
Peer review
Work is peer-reviewed by Michael Anderson before publication.

What Sarah reviews

Coffee GrindersGrinder TechnologySensory EvaluationBrew Method OptimizationBean SelectionFlavor Analysis

See how products are tested and our editorial guidelines.

Product Reviews by Sarah Chen (31)

Equipment reviews, with the star rating on each card.

  • Blue Bottle Coffee Blue Bottle Coffee Three Africas4.2

    Blue Bottle Coffee

    Blue Bottle Coffee Three Africas

    A fruit-forward, third-wave roast that shines in pour-over and rewards a dialed-in espresso setup — not a beginner-friendly dark roast.

  • illy illy Classico4.4

    illy

    illy Classico

    A smooth, balanced 100% Arabica blend with caramel and chocolate notes — best enjoyed as straight espresso rather than buried in milk.

  • Intelligentsia Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic4.6

    Intelligentsia

    Intelligentsia Black Cat Classic

    An approachable specialty-grade espresso blend with milk chocolate and dried cherry notes, consistent enough for daily milk drinks.

  • Lavazza Lavazza Super Crema4.2

    Lavazza

    Lavazza Super Crema

    A forgiving, classic Italian-style espresso blend that builds reliable crema and performs especially well in flat whites and cappuccinos.

  • Onyx Coffee Lab Onyx Coffee Lab Geometry4.5

    Onyx Coffee Lab

    Onyx Coffee Lab Geometry

    An award-winning medium-light blend with dark chocolate and dried stone fruit complexity — versatile across espresso and pour-over alike.

  • Peet's Coffee Peet's Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean4.4

    Peet's Coffee

    Peet's Coffee Dark Roast Whole Bean

    A bold, chocolatey dark roast with no sourness, well suited to French press, lattes, and entry-level espresso machines.

  • Stumptown Coffee Roasters Stumptown Holler Mountain4.3

    Stumptown Coffee Roasters

    Stumptown Holler Mountain

    A Pacific Northwest-style dark roast with a bold, chocolatey body that holds up well across espresso, Americanos, and French press.

  • aarke aarke Coffee Maker4.2

    aarke

    aarke Coffee Maker

    A clean, Scandinavian-designed drip maker with consistent SCA-range brew temps and a built-in bloom cycle.

  • BALMUDA BALMUDA The Brew4.1

    BALMUDA

    BALMUDA The Brew

    A design-forward automatic brewer using swing-arm tech to mimic pour-over — best for smaller households with a grinder on hand.

  • Fellow Fellow Aiden4.3

    Fellow

    Fellow Aiden

    A precision brewer with app-controlled bloom, flow, and temperature per recipe — for enthusiasts who rotate coffees.

  • Keurig Keurig Smart Brewer4.1

    Keurig

    Keurig Smart Brewer

    A Wi-Fi-connected single-serve machine built for busy, multi-person households wanting app-scheduled brews over extraction precision.

  • Miele Miele CM 5310 Silence4.4

    Miele

    Miele CM 5310 Silence

    A notably quiet bean-to-cup super-automatic making fresh-ground espresso drinks at the push of a button.

  • Outin Outin Mino4.1

    Outin

    Outin Mino

    A pocket-sized portable espresso maker for travelers and campers who want espresso-style concentrated coffee on the go, charging via USB-C.

  • Baratza Baratza Encore ESP4.6

    Baratza

    Baratza Encore ESP

    An electric grinder with micro-stepped adjustment under $300 and Baratza's repair-friendly design, spanning espresso through French press.

  • Baratza Baratza Virtuoso+4.5

    Baratza

    Baratza Virtuoso+

    A filter-first electric grinder with solid espresso capability, a large hopper, and a digital dosing timer for household use.

  • Breville Breville Smart Grinder Pro4.4

    Breville

    Breville Smart Grinder Pro

    A versatile electric grinder for both espresso and filter coffee, with a Dosing IQ feature for consistent shot-to-shot repeatability.

  • Comandante Comandante C404.4

    Comandante

    Comandante C40

    A premium hand grinder with Nitro Blade burrs delivering lab-grade precision for pour-over and filter coffee.

  • Turin Turin DF64 Gen 24.8

    Turin

    Turin DF64 Gen 2

    An electric grinder with factory-aligned 64mm flat burrs and sub-0.15g retention, built for single-dose espresso workflows.

  • Eureka Eureka Mignon Specialita4.5

    Eureka

    Eureka Mignon Specialita

    A notably quiet 55–58dB Italian flat-burr grinder with commercial-grade durability, built for daily espresso use.

  • Fellow Fellow Ode Gen 24.8

    Fellow

    Fellow Ode Gen 2

    A single-dose grinder built specifically for pour-over and filter coffee enthusiasts — not intended for espresso.

  • Fellow Fellow Opus4.5

    Fellow

    Fellow Opus

    A well-rounded electric grinder spanning espresso to French press, with working anti-static tech at a competitive price.

  • KINGrinder KINGrinder K64.0

    KINGrinder

    KINGrinder K6

    A high-capacity manual grinder with 48mm titanium-coated burrs, well suited to batch-brewing filter coffee for two or more.

  • Mavo Mavo Phantox Pro4.3

    Mavo

    Mavo Phantox Pro

    A stepless manual grinder with titanium burrs and infinite micro-adjustment, built for filter-focused precision brewing.

  • Timemore Timemore Chestnut C34.5

    Timemore

    Timemore Chestnut C3

    A portable, all-metal manual grinder built for travel and manual brewing rather than daily espresso use.

  • Turin Turin DF64 V54.5

    Turin

    Turin DF64 V5

    An electric grinder built for true single-dose espresso workflow, with sub-0.2g retention and exceptional grind quality.

Guides by Sarah Chen (44)

Buying guides and how-tos written by this reviewer.

  • Burr vs Blade Grinder: Which Is Better?Compare

    Grinder7 min read

    Burr vs Blade Grinder: Which Is Better?

    Burr vs blade grinder: how grind consistency changes taste, who can keep a blade, and what a first burr grinder costs at each budget.

  • 1Zpresso K-Ultra Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    1Zpresso K-Ultra Grind Settings Chart

    Starting K-Ultra settings for espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour-over and French press, how to read the numbered dial, and how to zero it.

  • Baratza Virtuoso+ Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Baratza Virtuoso+ Grind Settings Chart

    Starting Virtuoso+ settings for pour-over, drip, AeroPress, French press, cold brew and pressurized espresso, plus how to use the timer and dial in.

  • Comandante C40 Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Comandante C40 Grind Settings Chart

    Starting Comandante C40 click settings for espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour-over and French press, how to find zero, and what Red Clix changes.

  • KINGrinder K6 Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    KINGrinder K6 Grind Settings Chart

    Starting KINGrinder K6 click settings for espresso, moka pot, AeroPress, pour-over and French press, plus how to zero the dial and adjust from there.

  • Timemore Chestnut C3 Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Timemore Chestnut C3 Grind Settings Chart

    Starting Timemore Chestnut C3 click settings for moka pot, AeroPress, pour-over, French press and cold brew, how the C2 compares, and how to zero the grinder.

  • Baratza Encore ESP Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Baratza Encore ESP Grind Settings Chart

    Starting settings on the Encore ESP for espresso by roast, moka pot, AeroPress, pour-over, Chemex, drip, French press and cold brew, plus how to dial in from there.

  • Pressurized vs Non-Pressurized BasketsCompare

    Espresso6 min read

    Pressurized vs Non-Pressurized Baskets

    Pressurized vs non-pressurized espresso baskets: how dual-wall baskets fake resistance, when single-wall gives better shots, and how to switch without waste.

  • 7 Latte Alternatives Worth Trying NextCompare

    Coffee Education6 min read

    7 Latte Alternatives Worth Trying Next

    Looking for a latte alternative? Compare 7 espresso drinks, from cortado to con panna, by milk, strength, sweetness and calories.

  • Americano vs Espresso: Which Is Stronger?Compare

    Coffee Education6 min read

    Americano vs Espresso: Which Is Stronger?

    Americano vs espresso: same caffeine per shot, very different strength and taste. See the differences and which to order.

  • Latte vs Cappuccino vs Mocha: Key DifferencesExplained

    Coffee Education6 min read

    Latte vs Cappuccino vs Mocha: Key Differences

    Coffee drinks explained: how lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites and cortados differ by milk, strength and caffeine, and how to order one.

  • Coffee Maker Leaking Water? Causes & Quick FixesFix a problem

    Maintenance4 min read

    Coffee Maker Leaking Water? Causes & Quick Fixes

    Coffee maker leaking water from the bottom, filter basket or carafe? Match the leak to its cause, fix it step by step, or know when to replace.

  • How to Choose a Burr Grinder: What MattersCompare

    Grinder6 min read

    How to Choose a Burr Grinder: What Matters

    How to choose a burr grinder: conical vs flat burrs, features worth paying for, and the best grinder by brew method and budget.

  • How to Make an Americano: The 1:4 RatioHow to

    Brewing6 min read

    How to Make an Americano: The 1:4 Ratio

    How to make an Americano at home: the 1:4 ratio, water-first pour, an iced version and fixes for a thin or bitter cup.

  • How to Make Cold Brew: Ratio & Easy MethodHow to

    Brewing6 min read

    How to Make Cold Brew: Ratio & Easy Method

    Cold brew recipe: 100 g coarse coffee to 800 ml water, steeped 18 hours, then diluted. Includes fixes for bitter or weak batches.

  • How to Make an Iced Latte at HomeHow to

    Brewing6 min read

    How to Make an Iced Latte at Home

    How to make an iced latte: ice, 150 ml cold milk, then a hot double espresso on top. Ratio, milk choice and fixes for a watery cup.

  • Latte vs Cortado: Which Is Stronger?Compare

    Coffee Education6 min read

    Latte vs Cortado: Which Is Stronger?

    Latte vs cortado: same espresso, different strength. Compare milk ratio, size and flavor, then pick one to order or make.

  • Manual vs Electric Coffee GrindersCompare

    Grinder6 min read

    Manual vs Electric Coffee Grinders

    Manual vs electric coffee grinder compared on speed, grind quality, noise and cost, with a pick for espresso, pour-over and travel.

  • What Is a Cortado? Ratio, Size & TasteExplained

    Coffee Education6 min read

    What Is a Cortado? Ratio, Size & Taste

    What is a cortado? A 1:1 mix of 2 oz espresso and 2 oz steamed milk. See its taste, how to make one and how it differs from a latte.

  • What Is a Ristretto? Taste, Ratio & How-ToExplained

    Espresso7 min read

    What Is a Ristretto? Taste, Ratio & How-To

    What is a ristretto? A short 1:1 to 1:1.2 espresso that tastes sweeter. See how to pull one, the grind change, and caffeine.

  • What Is a Cappuccino? Ratio, Foam & TasteExplained

    Coffee Education6 min read

    What Is a Cappuccino? Ratio, Foam & Taste

    What is a cappuccino? The 1:1:1 ratio, dry vs wet styles, how it differs from a latte, and how to order or make a proper one.

  • What Is Coffee Bloom and Why Does It Matter?Explained

    Coffee Education6 min read

    What Is Coffee Bloom and Why Does It Matter?

    What is coffee bloom? CO2 degassing explained, how to bloom with a 2:1 water ratio, and which beans and brew methods benefit most.

  • What Is a Doppio? Double Espresso ExplainedExplained

    Espresso6 min read

    What Is a Doppio? Double Espresso Explained

    What is a doppio? The standard double espresso: how it differs from a single shot, its caffeine, the drinks it makes and how to pull one.

  • What Is Specialty Coffee? SCA Grading ExplainedExplained

    Coffee Education6 min read

    What Is Specialty Coffee? SCA Grading Explained

    What is specialty coffee? It scores 80+ on the SCA scale. Learn how it is graded, how it differs from commercial coffee, how to spot it.

  • What Is WDT? Do You Need a WDT Tool?Explained

    Espresso6 min read

    What Is WDT? Do You Need a WDT Tool?

    What is WDT in espresso? Breaks up clumps before tamping to reduce channeling. What it fixes, whether you need a tool, and how to use it.

  • Why Does Coffee Taste Bitter? 5 Easy FixesFix a problem

    Espresso5 min read

    Why Does Coffee Taste Bitter? 5 Easy Fixes

    Why does coffee taste bitter? Find your cause (grind, water temperature, stale beans, dirty gear) and fix bitter coffee one change at a time.

How to Contact Sarah

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; our editorial guidelines (linked above) explain how corrections are handled.

Why Trust Sarah Chen?

How this reviewer's work is produced and checked.

  • Reviews are based on hands-on testing; each review states its own testing period and counts.
  • 13 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 Michael Anderson before publication.

Learn more: Why trust us · Affiliate disclosure