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About The Espresso Upgrade

The Espresso Upgrade is a small independent guide for people buying their first home espresso setup, or trying to fix the one they already have. It's run by Robbie Stevely (Blueprinter Unlimited) and grew out of our newsletter.

Espresso gear is confusing. Hundreds of machines look alike, review sites list 16 "best" picks, and forums can feel like they're written in a foreign language. Most beginners end up overspending on a machine and underspending on the grinder, which is backwards.

What we do

• Keep a short shortlist: about three machines, three grinders and a handful of accessories that real testers and owners agree on.
• Explain things in plain English: what to buy, in what order, and why.
• Share practical guides: recipes, puck prep, steaming milk and cleaning.

What we don't do

• No paid placements or sponsored rankings.
• No made-up star ratings or copied reviews.
• No exact prices that will be out of date tomorrow.

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