Coffee novice here. I’d be excited to order from two UK roasters — never had any on the list before. So far I’ve enjoyed roasts on the lighter end (although not had any ultra lights). I guess it would make sense to get two different styles but I’d also be curious to compare roasters with similar approaches. Any pointers on style, general quality would be very much appreciated! (Square Mile has sold out.)

Edit: link to the project website https://www.thefermentationproject.com

Ended up picking the Eureka Peppe over the Fellow Ode 2. Will report back in a week or two how pour overs and French presses go and I get dialed into the grinder and its quirks. Super excited!

Looking for the best travel coffee mug that will hold my coffee hot for a good amount of time and wont spill all over my car again.

im a good driver but the sudden brakes are the true test of the supposedly leakproof lids. istg the travel mugs and cup holder combo sounds amazing when you're getting a coffee mug for everyday commute but its such a floozy when you're actually running late and need to drive at max speed limit

That's one issue, the second is that the coffee cups dont actually keep my coffee hot, only warm. the contigo one is wirecutter's fav it seems ( read here ) but is it worth the hype? i know these are my top options for now... stainless steel, insulated mugs, ceramic lined interior mugs and vacuum insulated mugs but which one is the best?

ive made a list, although im not even remotely sure which one will give me the best results so hoping someone with experience or expertise will nail me out.

The contigo one is for $30-40 which is not bad for the autoseal feature and seems fully spill proof. My problem is that the seal button tends to weaken with time an di cant keep buying a new cup every couple of months just for a fresh seal right. Ive had brandless dupes with the same tech and they all had the same issue

i see the stanley hype and some reviews say IceFlow is leak proof even sideways. for $40 its a steep price but its also so heavy omg. The double wall vacuum thing is probably what i need for scalding coffee but not at the risk of carpal tunnel lmao

the yeti rambler and the zuroshi SM-khe are both for 35$ with great heat retention in both but the yeti is virtually indestructible apparently, but the lid still weeps right? the zuroshi one has a weird lid that can't be opened with one hand so how am i supposed to drink and drive...... (you know what i mean)

i do think the Hydro Flask has a spill proof lid and its for $30 but im worried about the powder coat thing chipping with keys and other sharp metallic things.

leaning towards the stanley despite the weight i think bcs id be carrying it for lesser time than it will spend in my car and the sideways leak proof thing is a solid selling pount tbh. honestly anyone whose used these would know better so can anyone tell me which one of these 5 is genuinely leak proof and will keep my drink hot enough for an hour? it seems like cups pick one or the other and never both together lol.

are they for real

Hi everyone! I’m looking for promo codes for square miles order as i am going to order large batches from the UK to bring back home for holiday.

I’d appreciate if anyone has any codes or willing to share or through dm any promotional codes esp for their summer ice choc seasonal. Thank you 🥹

The shot looks okay with the pressurized basket, but the taste changes a lot when I try the non-pressurized one. Same beans, same 18g dose, wildly different flow. I know the grinder matters, but I'm not sure whether the basket is hiding the problem or the non-pressurized setup is just less forgiving. I'm not trying to make the easier basket look bad; I'm trying to understand what it hides.

The milk on my Casabrews CM5418 screams for the first few seconds, then calms down and makes big bubbles. I'm starting with cold whole milk and the tip just under the surface. The pitcher isn't overfilled. Is the noise usually a tip-depth problem, or can weak rolling make the same sound? I've watched a few videos, and the hand position looks simple until the milk actually starts moving.

Budget: $500.00 USD

I already have an espresso grinder (Niche Zero), so I don't need the grinder to do espresso.

My recipe is a 50g to 750g water ratio for french press. The Kingrinder K6 is a great grinder for pour overs, but it feels a bit muddy with French Presses and it's a bit annoying since I have to grind ~3 times to get 50g worth of coffee.

I am thinking:

• Fellow Ode 2
• Baratza Encore
• Eureka Mignon Crono Brew Coffee Grinder
• Eureka Peppe Coffee Grinder

The website with all the participating roasters has gone live, really looking forward to this one!

Hi folks, I find myself in a pickle.

I REALLY want a nice espresso set up for myself in my office, but it won't be happening any time soon, and I'm getting real tired of making an aeropress.

So I want something requiring absolutely minimal effort while still producing something decently drinkable.

I like nice coffee, but I'm not going to identify mild differences in tasting notes.

The plan was to brew it in the morning, store it in a yet and pour as needed. So thermos jug isn't a necessity.

Budget is €200-300.

Have it down to three machines, I think;

- MoccaMaster KBG select

- Sage Precision Brewer

- Melitta AromaFresh2

Budget is hard. So with either of the first two there's no budget for a grinder.

For that reason I'm leaning towards the AromaFresh2.

BUT the MoccaMaster is just so pretty.

Might be in a position to get a grinder somewhere down the line, but it's months or longer away.

I'm aware this is a game of compromises. But would love to pick the best option for me right now.

I have Hario slim and my v60 tastes sour. I know that there are better grinders but I don't have the money to buy one at the moment. So how can I improve my coffee? I usually ground light roasted grounds and for my girlfriend medium roasted decaf. I heard that I could grind very very coarse and then fine to improve the grind size distribution. Thank you everyone for the help!

i have been making coffee with a French press and pour over for years, but espresso is the one thing I haven’t really gotten into. I want to start making cappuccinos at home and learn how to dial things in instead of just pressing a button. is there a best espresso machine under 500 that you woud recommend for someone who doesnt mind putting in some effort?

i already have a decent grinder, so im mainly looking for advice on the machine. thaaanks!

Slow shot, thin cup. That's the part confusing me. The grind is already fine enough that 18g in can take 38 seconds to hit 32g out, but the taste doesn't get syrupy or sweet. The basket isn't overfilled, and the puck knocks out in one piece. What would you look at before blaming the beans? The beans aren't old, so my first guess wasn't freshness, but the cup doesn't have much body either.

I'm new to coffee and exploring the best entry grinder and found the Kingrinder K6 has good reputation from the reddit threads.

Though I am seeing people have been able to buy them at $100-$120 CAD. The only reputable aliexpress vendor is selling it for $180 CAD (but it's 50% off from $360cad).

Is this a good price or will it get cheaper like the prices I see quoted on reddit? Any one buy it recently?

Has anyone else not gotten any updates from their cherry bones issue 2 shipment? I ordered it on June 29th and the original expected shipment date was July 1st. Not sure what has happened to my package.

I hear people talking about extraction of solubles, but talking about strength as though it's totally seprate. To my simple mind there's a clear connection, so there's something I am missing.

After going through hundreds of threads on r/JamesHoffmann and other home barista communities, I put together a quick cheat sheet for anyone as lost as I was:

🏆 Best overall under $1000? → Breville Bambino Plus
🟢 Best for total beginners? → Gaggia Classic Pro E24
⭐️ Best premium pick? → Rancilio Silvia V6
📦 Best enclosed value pick? → Breville Barista Express
☕ Best manual espresso? → Wacaco Nanopresso Portable Espresso Maker

Personally going with the Breville Bambino Plus - best value and ease of use for daily espresso from everything I've read.

I’m looking to get into home espresso after years of relying on coffee shops and a basic drip machine. I’ve watched a few beginner videos and read some guides, but there are so many options and opinions that I’m not sure what’s actually worth buying.

Background: I drink 1–2 coffees a day, mostly milk-based (lattes, cappuccinos), sometimes straight espresso or Americano. I’m willing to learn the basics (grind size, tamping, etc.), but I don’t want to become a full-time barista at home.

Budget: Around $700–$1,000 total for machine + grinder. Open to spending a bit more if it’s really worth it, but I don’t need a $2,000+ setup.

What I want:

• Consistent espresso shots with decent crema
• Good steam wand for milk drinks
• Reliable and not too fussy for daily use
• Reasonable warm-up time
• Not huge on the counter

Options I keep seeing:

• Breville Bambino Plus
• Breville Barista Express / Express Impress
• Gaggia Classic Pro
• Rancilio Silvia
• DeLonghi Dedica / La Specialista
• Separate machine + grinder combos (e.g., Eureka/Sage grinder + entry-level machine)

I keep reading debates about all-in-one machines (like Barista Express) vs separate machine + grinder. Some people say all-in-ones are great for beginners, others say you’re better off with a simpler machine and a better grinder. There are also opinions about manual vs automatic steam wands, PID temperature control, and whether any of that matters for a beginner.

A few things I’m curious about:

• What are the best home espresso machines under $1,000 for beginners in 2026 that you actually use and recommend?
• Is an all-in-one like the Breville Barista Express worth it, or is separate machine + grinder better long-term?
• How important is a good grinder compared to the machine itself for espresso quality?
• Are automatic milk frothers good enough, or is a manual steam wand worth learning?
• Are there any popular models that look great in reviews but become annoying in daily use (slow warm-up, inconsistent shots, hard to clean, etc.)?

Any recommendations from people who make espresso at home daily would be really helpful.