Big Shoulders Coffee
THE COFFEE REFERENCE DESK
Better coffee.
Less guesswork.
Find the right beans.
Understand your equipment.
Dial in the details.
Find your next bag
Start with the coffee.
New to the catalog
Recently added
Our latest coffee additions, newest first. Updated as new coffees join the catalog.
Equipment & guides
Build a better setup.
Buying & brewing guides
Choose with confidence.
Comparison · Autumn 2026
DF64 Gen 2 vs Niche Zero
One invites you to experiment. The other gets on with breakfast. Two single-dose grinders, and the question of what makes a good morning.
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Buying guide · Autumn 2026
Best Coffee Grinder for Light Roast Coffee
Start with the Ode Gen 2 for electric filter brewing, or the ZP6 Special if you enjoy grinding by hand. Espresso calls for a different shortlist—and a closer look at the burrs.
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Comparison · Autumn 2026
Breville Bambino Plus vs Gaggia Classic Pro
Choose the Bambino Plus for easier daily milk drinks. Choose the brass-boiler Gaggia Classic Pro E24 if learning the machine is part of the pleasure.
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Swipe or scroll to explore
Comparison
Breville Barista Express vs Bambino Plus and a Separate Grinder
At nearly identical setup prices, we would take the Bambino Plus and a separate espresso grinder. The Express still makes sense if you want everything in one place.
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Buying guide
Best Espresso Scales Under $100
A small platform for a better morning. Three espresso scales worth considering, and why you can leave some of that $100 in your pocket.
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Buying guide
Best Gooseneck Kettles Under $200
A steadier stream, a calmer morning. Four considered kettles for pour-over coffee, and why a good cup needn’t cost the full $200.
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Buying guide
Best Portable Espresso Machines: Self-Heating or Manual
Choose the Pixapresso when there’s no kettle, the Picopresso when there is. For capsule drinkers, the new Nano 2 earns a closer look—with a little patience for the evidence.
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Comparison
Flair 58 Plus 2 vs Cafelat Robot
The Robot makes a persuasive case for keeping things simple. The Flair gives curiosity more room to roam. Your morning—and the stock situation—may settle it.
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Setup guide
Pour-over essentials
One brewer, the right papers, and a repeatable routine. Build a pour-over setup around the cup you actually make.
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Setup guide
Cold brew coffee supplies
A little planning, a slower brew. Choose a vessel, get the filtration right, and make a batch that fits your week.
Read guideSetup guide
Espresso bar supplies
Give every tool a job. A practical home espresso station starts with compatible equipment, a scale, and a little care.
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Buying guide
Which AeroPress Should You Buy: Original, Clear, Clear XL or Go Plus?
One good idea, four ways to take it home. A guide to spending just enough on your next morning ritual.
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Comparison
Fellow Atmos vs Airscape: Which Coffee Canister Should You Buy?
Twist or press. Two handsome homes for your beans, and how much ceremony your morning coffee really needs.
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Buying guide
Best Espresso Machines Under $2,000
The Dual Boiler for the keen home barista. The GO for straight espresso. The Touch Impress for an easier morning. Here’s where the money earns its keep.
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Comparison
Fellow Aiden vs Moccamaster KBGV Select
Aiden for the changing coffee routine. Moccamaster for the dependable shared pot. Two very different ways to put breakfast on autopilot.
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Buying guide
Best Hand Grinders
Start with the Timemore C5 ESP Pro. Spend more for easier adjustments or specialist brewing—or pack lighter with the Q Air.
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Explainer
Flat Burr vs Conical Burr Coffee Grinders
Neither shape wins by default. Choose for your coffee, brewing method and daily routine; the burr label is only the beginning of the story.
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Best Espresso Machine for Beginners
Our pick is the Bambino Plus if you want to learn espresso and make easy milk drinks. Two alternatives help you spend less—or let the machine do more of the thinking.
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Buying guide
Best Coffee Grinders Under $200
Start with the Baratza Encore for everyday filter coffee. Four alternatives cover tighter budgets, espresso and grinding by hand—with change left for the beans.
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Best Grinders for Pour Over
Five grinders, from an uncomplicated first purchase to a very particular obsession. Find the one that suits your coffee—and the person making it.
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Fellow Ode Gen 2 vs Timemore Sculptor 078
Two filter grinders, roughly twice the price. What the extra money buys—and when breakfast is better served by keeping it.
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Buying guide
Niche Zero Alternatives
A smaller bill, a different cup, a little more room to experiment. Four reasons to look beyond the Niche—and one very good reason to stay.
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Best Single-Dose Espresso Grinders
One dose, a little ritual, a very good reason to get up. Six grinders for people who like to choose their coffee—and how their morning goes.
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Comparison
Baratza Encore ESP vs Fellow Opus 2
Clicks or a stepless dial? Two $200 grinders make different cases for a better morning.
Read guideBuying guide
Best Espresso Machines Under $1,000
A small café of your own. Four thoughtful buys, a little morning ritual, and enough change left for the coffee.
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Buying guide
Best Espresso Machines Under $500
A small café, a sensible budget. The machines that make a case for staying home—and the little compromises that come with them.
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Buying guide
Best Espresso Grinders Under $500
A better morning, a smaller bill. Four considered picks for people who care about espresso—and still have other things to do.
Read guideThe roaster directory
Places to explore.
A familiar city. A new favorite roaster. Find a reason to look a little closer.
Browse all locationsSelected for the roasters you can discover there. We revisit these picks as our directory grows.
- Oregon · United States
Portland
Start with Coava’s single-origin coffees, then get to know Heart and Roseline.
- Illinois · United States
Chicago
From Metric’s café and training space to Dark Matter and Intelligentsia, follow the people behind the roast.
- Texas · United States
Austin
Get to know Figure 8’s café and roastery, and Fleet’s inventive coffee drinks.