The Coffee LocatorFind the gear. Brew it right.

Updated November 2, 2026

Coffee Guides

Practical coffee guides for the problem in front of you: sour or bitter shots, dialing in a grinder, flat white vs cortado, descaling and care. Each one gives the fix first, then explains why it works.

  • 72 guides

Showing 72 of 72 guides

Start here: espresso guides and brewing basics

The guides most readers need first, before buying anything or blaming the machine.

  • How to Dial In Espresso: Beginner MethodHow to

    Espresso6 min read

    How 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.

  • 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.

  • Why Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Fixes, Likeliest FirstFix a problem

    Espresso3 min read

    Why Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Fixes, Likeliest First

    Why is my espresso sour? Usually under-extraction. Work through grind, dose, water temperature, bean age and ratio, one change at a time, likeliest first.

Fix a problem (9)

Sour, bitter or fast shots, channeling, wet pucks, weak steam and leaks, with causes in order of likelihood.

  • Bitter Espresso? 6 Fixes That Actually WorkFix a problem

    Espresso4 min read

    Bitter Espresso? 6 Fixes That Actually Work

    Learn how to fix bitter espresso fast: check grind, temperature, yield, channeling, dirty gear and stale beans, one change at a time.

  • 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.

  • Espresso Channeling: Why It Happens & How to FixFix a problem

    Espresso5 min read

    Espresso Channeling: Why It Happens & How to Fix

    Espresso channeling shows as spurting flow, sour, bitter shots and a holey puck. Fix it in order: distribution, static, tamp level, then grinder and basket.

  • Steam Wand Not Frothing Milk? 5 Fixes to TryFix a problem

    Espresso5 min read

    Steam 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.

  • 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.

  • Why Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Fixes, Likeliest FirstFix a problem

    Espresso3 min read

    Why Is My Espresso Sour? 6 Fixes, Likeliest First

    Why is my espresso sour? Usually under-extraction. Work through grind, dose, water temperature, bean age and ratio, one change at a time, likeliest first.

Espresso technique and dial-in (9)

How espresso works and how to pull a better shot: dialing in, tamping, puck prep, baskets and machine tweaks.

Grinders and grind settings (13)

Grind size, settings charts for specific grinders, and how to choose a grinder.

  • 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.

  • 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 Barista Express Grind Settings GuideExplained

    Espresso7 min read

    Breville Barista Express Grind Settings Guide

    Breville Barista Express grind settings by roast, how to read the pressure gauge to fix sour or bitter shots, and when moving the upper (inner) burr finer helps.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Choose a machine (7)

Machine types and head-to-head comparisons of espresso, capsule and stovetop brewers.

Espresso drinks explained (14)

What each espresso drink is and how they differ in size, strength and milk.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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 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 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 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.

Recipes and brew methods (10)

Step-by-step drinks, moka pot, pour-over, drip and cold brew.

  • 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 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Beans and roast (5)

Roast levels, specialty and single-origin coffee, and picking beans for espresso.

Clean and maintain (5)

Descaling, cleaning routines, maintenance schedules and warning lights.

Free coffee calculators (15)

Type in what you have and get the exact recipe back. Every calculator shows a worked example.

See all 15 calculators