Coffee

French press coffee is simple. Grounds go in, hot water goes in, you wait four minutes, press the plunger, and pour. No paper filters, no plastic pods, no electronics. The result is a heavier, oilier cup than a drip machine can produce, with more sediment and more flavor. We tested fifteen French presses across three months to find the ones that brew consistently, clean up easily, and do not leave grit in your cup. ...

Let’s be realistic about what $500 buys in the espresso world. Not a La Marzocco. Not dual boilers or PID temperature control you can program from your phone. What it gets you, if you pick the right machine, is genuinely good espresso — thick crema, proper extraction, steam that doesn’t taste like hot foam. But the sub-$500 category is littered with machines that look the part and perform terribly. We tested the most popular models to separate the ones worth your money from the shelf queens. ...