Editorial Policy

We exist to help you brew better coffee at home, not to sell you gear you don’t need. Our editorial standards protect that mission from bias and influence.

Independence and integrity

We do not accept payment for reviews or placement in recommendations.
Affiliate links may earn a commission at no extra cost to you; they do not affect our testing protocols or conclusions.
Samples may be accepted for testing with no guarantee of coverage or positive outcomes. All samples are disclosed when mentioned.

How we choose what to cover

We prioritize gear that solves real home problems across water hardness, grinder tiers, and workflows. New or hyped products are included only if they plausibly improve consistency, flavor, or ease of use compared to current picks.

Review process overview

Standardized tests across soft/medium/hard water and two grinder tiers.
Weekday and ritual workflows to reflect real routines.
Sensory panels, timing logs, drawdown tracking, and (when applicable) refractometer readings.
Long‑term checks for scaling, staining, parts wear, and performance drift.

Ratings and picks

Our “Best For Most” picks must work for a wide range of water profiles and at least one entry‑level grinder scenario. “Profile‑Specific” picks are labeled for hard/soft water or for particular grinder limitations. We explain trade‑offs and who should not buy a product.

Corrections and updates

If we get something wrong, we fix it. Material corrections are timestamped at the top or bottom of the page with an explanation of the change. We revisit guides when manufacturers revise designs, filters change, or better options appear.

Conflicts of interest

Editors and contributors may not hold financial interests in companies we cover. Any relationships (e.g., consulting) must be disclosed and may disqualify a contributor from related coverage.

Community feedback

We invite you to challenge our findings—especially if your tap water and grinder differ from ours. Send notes to [email protected] with your variables and results. Replicable counter‑results will trigger re‑tests or clarifications.

Advertising and sponsored content

Any sponsorships will be clearly labeled and kept separate from product evaluations. Sponsors do not preview, edit, or approve our reviews or picks.

These standards ensure our recommendations are transparent, testable, and genuinely useful in real kitchens.