The site's must-watch videos and must-read guide document the basic barista knowledge and techniques:

• Newbie Introduction to Espresso (video series)
• The Home Barista's Guide to Espresso (beginner to intermediate)

For more background on espresso machines:

• Espresso Machines 101 (introduction to all types)
• Espresso Machines 201 (heat exchangers)

For solutions to common extraction problems:

• How to Adjust Dose and Grind Setting by Taste (nearly idiot-proof dialing in instructions)
• Brewing ratios for espresso beverages (accepted definitions)

These articles offer diagnostic advice:

• Perfecting the Naked Extraction
• Banish Uneven Extractions with the WDT

For HX espresso machine owners, add:

• How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love HXs

These and other noteworthy articles on the web are listed in this forum and on the Resources page. The Barista Tips & Technique's FAQs and Favorites rounds out the recommended reading. Again, these how-tos aren't specifically addressing the usage of a particular machine, but they build the foundation of knowledge that will carry a home barista well beyond the early learning stage.