If you take nothing else away from this guide, please take this advice to heart:
The grinder is an integral, necessary part of making good espresso in the home.
I can't stress this enough.
As mentioned in the preamble to this guide, CoffeeGeek readers often ask me for help on what espresso machine to buy. Frequently, back when I was doling out advice, I'd get emails from folks who bought the machines I recommended, complaining about how the shots were lousy, running too fast, producing insufficient crema, or tasting excessively bitter. And 99% of the time, the problem was easily diagnosed; they didn't buy a grinder. They bought preground or prepackaged coffee instead.
Espresso Machine Buying - Don't Skimp on the Grinder
Choosing A Coffee Maker - Tips On Finding The Right Features
How to keep Coffee fresh
Make La Brûlerie coffee the flagship product in your fundraising activities
La cuisine et le goût des épices
Du thé plein la toque
Traditional art of roasting
Tips from your roasting master at La Brûlerie