Latest articles by Erin Bashford
I tested Simply Good Coffee’s (mostly) plastic-free brewer — and it’s actually a fantastic Moccamaster alternative
Simply Good Coffee Plastic-Free Brewer is a great Moccamaster alternative capable of making delicious coffee in minutes, but it’s not 100% plastic-free.
I tried this ridiculously cheap bean-to-cup espresso machine so you don't have to — and it's a total head-scratcher
On Episode 11 of The Coffee Lab, I attempt to answer the age-old question: can you get a good bean-to-cup for under $350?
I just tested KEF’s first soundbar — it’s $2,500 and one of the best home cinema products I’ve ever used
RecommendedKEF XIO is a soundbar with big ambitions and a big price tag. At $2,500, this is only for the serious home cinema enthusiasts, but it won’t disappoint you.
I made two identical espressos with $5 coffee beans and $20 coffee beans — and yes, the coffee snobs are right
Episode 10 of The Coffee Lab sees me pitting cheap and expensive beans against each other: Do you really need to spend $20 on coffee beans?
I tested JBL’s new mid-range headphones — and they’re zingy, fresh, and fun (and finally have hi-res audio!)
RecommendedThe JBL Live 780NC are fun headphones. Gone are the muted tones of the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bose QuietComfort. The sound and features aren't half bad either.
I tested the long-awaited Sennheiser Momentum 5 — and they do one thing Apple, Sony, and Bose headphones could never
RecommendedSennheiser Momentum 5 took 4 years to come out, but they're finally here. With clean bass, balanced mids, and a huge 57-hour battery, they are going for hold.
Non-plastic coffee makers are trending — and this low-plastic Ratio model is my favorite for coffee snobs
On the ninth episode of The Coffee Lab, I'm talking about the Ratio Four, one of my favorite low-plastic coffee makers.
I'm an ex-barista but I'm not great at latte art — and this is my cheat code to perfect art every time
For the eighth episode of The Coffee Lab, I teach you how to get perfect latte art every time, very little skill required.
I tested Lelit’s brand-new entry-level prosumer espresso machine — and it’s one of the best I’ve ever used
Editor's ChoiceThe Lelit Mara X3 is Lelit’s brand-new prosumer model with custom flow control and a commercial-level steam wand for barista espresso at home.
I tested Sony 1000X The ColleXion vs Apple AirPods Max 2 — here's the winner
I tested the Apple AirPods Max 2 versus the Sony 1000X The ColleXion, and this is the one I'd buy.
I’ve been testing the brand-new DJI Mic Mini 2 for three weeks — and it’s the best budget mic for content creators
Editor's ChoiceDJI Mic Mini 2 is the best budget wireless microphone for content creators, and there’s no competition. It’s straightforward and has premium sound quality.
I tested Soundcore’s newest premium flagship earbuds — and they’re coming for the AirPods Pro 3’s crown
RecommendedThe Soundcore Liberty 5 Pro Max have excellent, rich sound, immersive ANC, great battery, and impressive AI features, for just $229.
I love my Moccamaster, but $370 is a lot for drip coffee — this Ninja brewer is the best alternative (and it's under $90!)
For the seventh episode of The Coffee Lab, I'm turning my focus to the best budget coffee maker: the Ninja 12-Cup Brewer.
JBL's new earbuds do one thing I've never seen on AirPods, Sonys, Bose, or Samsung earbuds — every audio brand needs to take note
JBL just announced a line of brand-new earbuds: the Live Buds 4, Live Beam 4, and Live Flex 4, and they all have one design feature I've never seen before.
JBL has fixed the biggest problem with wireless headphones — the Tour One M3's USB-C transmitter has changed the game
JBL's newest premium headphones have the one thing I wish all Bluetooth headphones would come with.
I’m an ex-barista and these are the best scales for coffee I’ve tested
I've got years of experience as a professional barista. As a journalist, I've spent hours testing the best coffee scales, and now I proudly present my findings.
AirPods Pro 3 just got put on notice — JBL launches new premium earbuds that give Apple a run for its money
JBL launches new premium earbuds: JBL Live Buds 4, JBL Live Beam 4, JBL Live Flex 4, with improved sound, a touchscreen charging case, and AI-enhanced calls.
I’m an ex-barista and these are the best pour-over coffee makers I’ve tested
I've tested all the main players in the pour-over game, and here are my favorites: the Kalita Wave, Hario V60, Chemex, and Yeti Pour-Over.
Nespresso gets a bad rap in the coffee world — but here's why I think it's perfect for some people (from a coffee snob)
For the sixth episode of The Coffee Lab, I talk about why I used to be a Nespresso hater, and why I now admit I'm wrong.
I just tested these AI-powered earbuds that let you record and transcribe meetings and phone calls with the push of a button — here's why I'm impressed (and confused)
The Viaim RecDot are interesting AI-powered earbuds attempting to strike the balance between everyday earbuds and an AI assistant.
I tested the JBL Xtreme 5 for a week and I'm obsessed — this upgrade needs to come to every Bluetooth speaker
I tested the brand-new JBL Xtreme 5, and it boasts one major upgrade I hope comes to every Bluetooth speaker.
I tested Apple Watch SE 3 vs Amazfit Active 3 Premium for 2 months — here's which one I'd buy
I tested the Apple Watch SE 3 and the Amazfit Active 3 Premium for 2 months, and here's the one I'd recommend for most people.
I test headphones for a living and these are my favorite audiophile open-backs under $120
Editor's ChoiceFiiO JT7 are planar magnetic open-back headphones for audiophiles on a budget or audiophile newbies unwilling to sink $300 or more into a new hobby.
