Coffee

Espresso machines on this list fall into two groups. Some grind the beans themselves. Others only brew and steam, so the grind has to arrive from somewhere else.

The Barista Express is the familiar example of the first group: a conical burr grinder sits on top of the machine and doses into the portafilter. A smaller machine such as the Bambino has no grinder. If the puck is sour or pouring in a few seconds, the fix is usually the grind, not a new machine.

Milk is the other half of the bench. Purge the steam wand into the drip tray as soon as the jug comes away, then wipe the tip. Dried milk in the steam hole is what makes the wand scream and spit. A jug with a pointed spout pours latte art only after the milk is actually textured. The jug does not fix watery milk.

Descale when that model asks for it, with the cleaner named in its manual. Water filters, if the machine takes one, sit in the tank and get replaced on the same schedule, not when the coffee already tastes of scale. Tablets for the group head are a separate job from descaling the boiler.

See also accessories, kettles if you brew tea on the same bench, and the finish list for machines that were grouped by colour.