Our Research Methodology
This page explains, in order, how a product goes from a candidate to a published review on Espresso Machine Guide.
1. Manufacturer documentation first
For every product we cover, we start with the manufacturer's current product page, and where available, the official manual and support documentation. This is the primary source for specifications like boiler type, pump pressure, PID presence, portafilter size, water tank capacity, and included accessories.
2. Specification verification
We cross-check specifications across the sources we can access. Where sources conflict, we prioritize the current official manufacturer product page, then the official manual, then official support documentation, and only then a reputable specialty retailer's own specification sheet as a secondary reference. We note which type of source backs each specification.
3. What we do when we cannot verify something
If a specification cannot be confirmed against a source we trust, we mark it "not specified by the manufacturer" directly on the product page rather than estimate or infer a number. We would rather show a gap than a guess.
4. Editorial analysis, clearly separated
Once specifications are recorded, we write our own analysis of what they mean in practice for a buyer — for example, what a single shared boiler means for back-to-back milk drinks, or what a narrower grind-adjustment range means for a buyer who wants to fine-tune a shot. This analysis is our interpretation, and we write it in language that makes clear it is analysis, not a restated manufacturer claim.
5. Pros, cons, and buyer fit
Every review lists pros and cons drawn from the documented specifications and their practical implications, plus a plain description of who the product suits and who should look elsewhere. We do not rank products by commission rate, and product order on category and roundup pages reflects editorial judgment.
6. No fabricated testing, ratings, or reviews
We do not claim to have hands-on tested a product unless we say so explicitly and describe what that testing involved. We do not publish star ratings, review counts, or aggregate ratings we have not genuinely collected, and we never copy or paraphrase Amazon customer reviews.
7. Ongoing verification
Each product page displays a "last verified" date. When a manufacturer changes a specification, discontinues a model, or we are notified of an error, we update the affected page and its verification date — we do not silently change a published fact without noting that it was updated.
Questions about a specific review
If you believe a specification on this site is out of date or incorrect, please tell us through our contact page with a link to the current manufacturer source — we read every message.