The Coffee LocatorFind the gear. Brew it right.

Updated October 30, 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
  • 30 product reviews
  • 46 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 (2021)
  • Certified Cupping Judge — Specialty Coffee Association
On this site
30 reviews, 46 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 reviewed and our editorial guidelines.

Product Reviews by Sarah Chen (30)

Equipment reviews, with the star rating on each card.

  • Blue Bottle Coffee Three Africas4.2

    Blue Bottle Coffee

    Blue Bottle Coffee Three Africas Review

    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 Classico4.4

    illy

    illy Classico Review

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

  • Lavazza Super Crema4.2

    Lavazza

    Lavazza Super Crema Review

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

  • Onyx Coffee Lab Geometry4.5

    Onyx Coffee Lab

    Onyx Coffee Lab Geometry Review

    A light-to-light blend with berry, stone fruit and Earl Grey complexity — versatile across espresso and pour-over alike.

  • Stumptown Coffee Roasters Stumptown Holler Mountain4.3

    Stumptown Coffee Roasters

    Stumptown Holler Mountain Review

    Stumptown's organic medium-roast house blend: bright citrus, caramel sweetness and a creamy finish across espresso, drip and French press.

  • aarke Coffee Maker4.3

    aarke

    aarke Coffee Maker Review

    A clean, Scandinavian-designed drip maker that is SCA-certified, with an optional bloom mode and glass carafe.

Show all 30 reviews
  • BALMUDA The Brew4.1

    BALMUDA

    BALMUDA The Brew Review

    A design-forward automatic brewer that automates pour-over in small 4–12 oz batches — best for one drinker with a grinder on hand.

  • Fellow Aiden4.3

    Fellow

    Fellow Aiden Review

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

  • Keurig K-Supreme Plus SMART4.1

    Keurig

    Keurig K-Supreme Plus SMART Review

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

  • Outin Mino4.1

    Outin

    Outin Mino Review

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

  • Miele CM 5310 Silence4.3

    Miele

    Miele CM 5310 Silence Review

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

  • Baratza Encore ESP4.5

    Baratza

    Baratza Encore ESP Review

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

  • Baratza Virtuoso+4.3

    Baratza

    Baratza Virtuoso+ Review

    A filter-first electric grinder with a large hopper and a digital dosing timer; espresso works with pressurized baskets only.

  • Breville Smart Grinder Pro4.4

    Breville

    Breville Smart Grinder Pro Review

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

  • Comandante C404.4

    Comandante

    Comandante C40 Review

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

  • Turin DF64 Gen 24.8

    Turin

    Turin DF64 Gen 2 Review

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

  • Fellow Ode Gen 24.8

    Fellow

    Fellow Ode Gen 2 Review

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

  • Fellow Opus4.5

    Fellow

    Fellow Opus Review

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

  • KINGrinder K64.1

    KINGrinder

    KINGrinder K6 Review

    A large-burr manual grinder with 48mm stainless steel heptagonal burrs, well suited to batch-brewing filter coffee for two or more.

  • Mavo Phantox Pro4.3

    Mavo

    Mavo Phantox Pro Review

    A fine-click manual grinder with heptagonal steel burrs and small adjustment steps, built for filter-focused precision brewing.

  • Timemore Chestnut C34.5

    Timemore

    Timemore Chestnut C3 Review

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

Guides by Sarah Chen (46)

Buying guides and how-tos written by this reviewer.

  • 1Zpresso K-Ultra Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    1Zpresso K-Ultra Grind Settings Chart

    Click-by-click 1Zpresso K-Ultra settings for espresso, moka pot, pour-over, AeroPress and French press, with how to adjust from there.

  • 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 and flat white to mocha, by milk, strength, sweetness and calories.

  • Americano vs Espresso: Which Is Stronger?Compare

    Coffee Education4 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.

Show all 46 guides
  • Baratza Encore ESP Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Baratza Encore ESP Grind Settings Chart

    Starting numbers for the Baratza Encore ESP's micro-stepped espresso range and its coarser filter range, plus how to dial in from them.

  • Baratza Virtuoso+ Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder5 min read

    Baratza Virtuoso+ Grind Settings Chart

    Baratza Virtuoso+ grind settings by brew method, from pressurized espresso to cold brew, and why it struggles with true espresso.

  • Breville Smart Grinder Pro Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Breville Smart Grinder Pro Settings Chart

    One starting number per brew method on the Breville Smart Grinder Pro's 60-step dial, plus when to move the upper burr for finer espresso.

  • Burr vs Blade Grinder: Which Is Better?Compare

    Grinder6 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.

  • 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.

  • Comandante C40 Grind Settings: Click ChartExplained

    Grinder5 min read

    Comandante C40 Grind Settings: Click Chart

    Comandante C40 click settings for every brew method, with the Red Clix difference explained and a dial-in routine for espresso.

  • Fellow Opus Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder6 min read

    Fellow Opus Grind Settings Chart

    One starting number per brew method on the Fellow Opus's 41-step dial, how to use the inner ring for espresso, and why Opus 2 settings differ.

  • 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

    Brewing4 min read

    How to Make an Americano: The 1:4 Ratio

    How to make an Americano at home: the 1:4 ratio, espresso-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 500 ml water (1:5 concentrate), steeped 18 hours, then diluted 1:1. Includes fixes for bitter or weak batches.

  • How to Make an Iced Latte at HomeHow to

    Brewing5 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.

  • KINGrinder K6 Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder5 min read

    KINGrinder K6 Grind Settings Chart

    KINGrinder K6 click settings for espresso, moka pot, pour-over, AeroPress and French press, with notes on where to start adjusting.

  • Latte vs Cortado: Which Is Stronger?Compare

    Coffee Education5 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.

  • Pressurized vs Non-Pressurized Baskets: Which?Compare

    Espresso6 min read

    Pressurized vs Non-Pressurized Baskets: Which?

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

  • Timemore Chestnut C3 Grind Settings ChartExplained

    Grinder5 min read

    Timemore Chestnut C3 Grind Settings Chart

    Timemore Chestnut C3 click settings for pour-over, AeroPress, French press and moka pot, plus what it can and can't do for espresso.

  • What Is a Cortado? Ratio, Size & TasteExplained

    Coffee Education5 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 Flat White? Ratio, Milk & TasteExplained

    Coffee Education6 min read

    What Is a Flat White? Ratio, Milk & Taste

    What is a flat white? A double espresso with silky microfoam. Learn how it differs from a latte, plus how to make one at home.

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

    Espresso5 min read

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

    What is a ristretto? A short 1:1 to 1:1.5 espresso that tastes sweeter. See how to pull one, the grind change, and caffeine.

  • What Is a Cappuccino? Ratio, Foam & TasteExplained

    Coffee Education5 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 Education5 min read

    What Is Coffee Bloom and Why Does It Matter?

    What is coffee bloom? CO2 degassing explained, how to bloom with 2–3 times the coffee weight in water, and which beans and brew methods benefit most.

  • What Is a Doppio? Double Espresso ExplainedExplained

    Espresso3 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 Education5 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

    Espresso5 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? Causes and FixesFix a problem

    Espresso5 min read

    Why Does Coffee Taste Bitter? Causes and 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 two business days.
  • 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 built from manufacturer specifications, published owner feedback and editorial judgement.
  • 13 years in specialty coffee.
  • There are no sponsored placements. The site does earn affiliate commissions on some links; they never change a rating.
  • Reviews are peer-reviewed by Michael Anderson before publication.

Learn more: Why trust us · Affiliate disclosure