www.greatinfusions.com: espresso cups and barista gear, showroom in Santa Cruz

Welcome to Home-Barista.com™, a site dedicated to the home espresso enthusiast!

Our detailed espresso machine reviews and coffee grinder reviews cover the higher end of home espresso equipment on the market, but make only one assumption about you—a love of espresso! Whether this is the first time you've considered making espresso, cappuccinos, and lattes in your home or you've been drinking coffee for years, you will find tidbits of information to help you get the best out of your home espresso machine.

Just need a quick answer? Then check our FAQs and Favorites for solutions to the most common espresso-related problems.


What's New

Buyer's Guide to the Expobar Brewtus III

Expobar Brewtus

If you were looking for a double boiler espresso machine for home use a few years ago, there would have been pretty slim pickings. In late 2004, WholeLatteLove introduced the Expobar Brewtus and the double boiler espresso machine home market took off.

How would you improve on an affordable double boiler machine with great temperature control? How about a rotary pump version, no burn steam arm, improved ergonomics, direct plumb driptray and more? Enter the Brewtus III!

It's been four years since Abe Carmeli's original review. Join Ian Stewart and Dan Kehn on a test drive of the new and improved Brewtus III. More...

 

Twitter Tweets

  • Olympia Maximatic is barista-friendly and likes nutation, which I derided for years. Smaller diameter tamper, then nutate, nutate, nutate.  about 1 hour ago
  • Huh, tomorrow is company holiday?!? Oh yeah, the 4th falls on Saturday. Happy about the time off, disturbed I forgot. Black Cat on the menu.  about 16 hours ago
  • RT @EspressoParts_ Just added all the new Cafelat Barista Tools. They aren't in stock yet but soon enough they will be. http://bit.ly/cC56i  8:59 AM yesterday
  • Princess on the Pea reviewers: "...a real coffee lover will spend a bundle to experience this [significantly imaginary] difference." --JS  8:55 AM yesterday
  • RT and congratulations to @klatchroasting Heather wins Latte Art in Dallas at Ultimate Barista Challenge with Coffee Klatch espresso.  8:32 AM Jun 30th

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FAQs and Favorites

Questions? FAQs and Favorites

If you're new to HB, you may be thinking, "I don't know where to begin, there's too much information!" To make it easier for you to get started and to help you navigate to topics that interest you, this article contains links to the best topics all in one place, categorized by forum and subject area. The article also recommends a few must-read introduction and how-tos that form the basic barista knowledge and techniques. More...

 

La Spaziale Vivaldi II

La Spaziale Vivaldi II

Over the years, Chris' Coffee Service has worked closely with La Spaziale to refine the product line based on feedback from consumers. These incremental changes prompted us to update the buyer's guide with a fresh look at the La Spaziale Vivaldi II. Guest reviewer Ian Stewart revisits the original review, including comparisons with a representative espresso machines typically on an aficionado's short list. More...

The Professional Barista's Handbook

The Professional Barista's Handbook

Despite the title, this handbook applies as much to serious home baristas as to pros. It covers the fundamental knowledge that every successful barista must know, and does so in a succinct and thorough manner. This article excerpts the opening chapter on the basics of espresso, tools of the barista, and key techniques. More...

 

Buyer's Guide to the Ponte Vecchio Lusso

Ponte Vecchio Lusso Ponte Vecchio Lusso

Lever espresso machines are known for their compelling simplicity. This Buyer's Guide focuses on a recent entry to the US market, the Ponte Vecchio Lusso. This temperature-stable "newbie friendly" lever espresso machine will be compared and contrasted against better known models like the Olympia Cremina and Elektra Microcasa a Leva. More...


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