While I was balancing studying for my master's degree with 7am shifts at my local cafe, I thought all I was gaining was a caffeine addiction and a humble-enough income to help cushion my new life in London. However, after two years in the barista business, lots of latte art practice, and multiple trips to local roasteries, I had developed quite a niche knowledge around the art of crafting coffee. Fast forward to today, and I get to strut that knowledge as Livingetc's coffee expert.
But in all seriousness, my cafe background, coupled with constantly testing and reviewing the best espresso machines on the market, has really strengthened my expertize in the area. So, when I review coffee machines for the Livingetc site, there are specific criteria that need to be met — I run a tight ship. First and foremost, I keep my eye out for well-designed machines with stylish aesthetics (it needs to look good on the counter). 'Advanced technology' is also a buzzword, but I really love a quality manual or hand-crafted, semi-automatic machine. And, of course, usability is key — no one wants to spend money on an appliance that's hard to use.
