Coffee at home
Espresso machines, grinders and pour-over gear for café-quality coffee in your own kitchen.
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Great coffee at home comes down to three things: fresh beans, a good grinder and water at the right temperature. Spend on the grinder before the machine, and buy beans from a local roaster in small amounts. Everything below is chosen to help you brew the kind of cup we serve in the café.
Espresso machines
From an approachable first machine to an all-in-one setup.
Bambino Plus
Heats in about three seconds and textures milk automatically. Compact, forgiving and genuinely capable.
Best for: First-time espresso and milk drinks
View on Amazon.caBarista Express Impress
A built-in grinder and assisted tamping make it a complete espresso station in a single footprint.
Best for: An all-in-one espresso setup
View on Amazon.caDedica Espresso Machine
Slim and affordable, with a steam wand for lattes. A sensible way to discover whether home espresso is for you.
Best for: Small kitchens and modest budgets
View on Amazon.caThe grinder comes first
A consistent grind matters more than the machine. If you buy one upgrade, make it this.
Encore ESP Burr Grinder
Designed to grind finely enough for espresso and coarsely enough for pour-over, with parts that can be repaired rather than replaced.
Best for: Espresso and filter in one grinder
View on Amazon.caOpus Conical Burr Grinder
A beautifully designed all-rounder with a wide grind range and low retention.
Best for: Design-minded coffee lovers
View on Amazon.caC3 Manual Hand Grinder
A precise, quiet hand grinder for pour-over that costs a fraction of an electric grinder.
Best for: Pour-over and travel
View on Amazon.caSlow coffee
Stagg EKG Electric Kettle
Precise temperature control and a gooseneck spout give you a steady, controlled pour.
Best for: Pour-over and tea
View on Amazon.caV60 Ceramic Dripper
The café-standard cone for bright, clean, aromatic cups. Inexpensive and endlessly rewarding.
Best for: Single cups of pour-over
View on Amazon.caSix-Cup Classic Coffeemaker
A design icon whose thick filters make a remarkably clean, sweet coffee for the whole table.
Best for: Brewing for guests
View on Amazon.caAeroPress Original
Fast, forgiving and nearly indestructible. Rich coffee in two minutes, at home or on the road.
Best for: Travel and quick mornings
View on Amazon.caCoffee Scale with Timer
Weighing beans and water with a built-in timer is the simplest way to make every cup consistent.
Best for: Dialling in recipes
View on Amazon.caChambord French Press
The full-bodied classic. Simple to use and lovely for a slow weekend breakfast.
Best for: Rich, full-bodied coffee
View on Amazon.ca
How to choose a home espresso machine
Machine types, grinders and budgets, explained clearly so you can buy with confidence.
Good to know
Should I buy a grinder or an espresso machine first?
Budget for the grinder first. Freshly and evenly ground beans make a bigger difference to flavour than the machine itself, and a good grinder will outlast several machines.
What is the ideal water temperature for coffee?
Around 90 to 96 °C (195 to 205 °F) for pour-over and espresso. A temperature-controlled kettle makes this easy to hit every time.
How should I store coffee beans?
In an airtight, opaque container at room temperature, away from heat and light. Buy small amounts and use them within a few weeks of the roast date.
Photography: Arwen, Karl Fredrickson on Unsplash.