Latest articles by Erin Bashford
I used the 'wrong' grind size for 3 coffee brewing methods — it proves why you shouldn't buy pre-ground beans
I used the 'wrong' coffee grind size for espresso, drip, and pour-over in the name of science. Here's what happened, and why having a grinder is important.
Maono Wave T5 review
The Maono Wave T5 is a lavalier mic for beginner content creators, but due to its mediocre sound and poor ambient noise minimization, it’s not for professionals.
I've been wearing my Keen Jasper Zionic hiking shoes for two months straight — and I'm never taking them off again
The Keen Jasper Zionics are the perfect hybrid trail shoe. With grippy rubber soles and lightweight leather, they’re ideal for wilderness and city errands.
Live in a hard water area? Use this simple hack to know when to descale your coffee maker
I live in a hard water area, so I should descale my coffee machine often. I use my kettle to show me exactly when to descale.
Spotify now uses AI to recap your audiobooks for you — here's why that makes me mad
Spotify recently launched an AI-powered audiobook 'Recap' feature. Here's why I think this is a major step back.
I just ditched Spotify for Apple Music — these 3 unique features have me hooked
Apple Music has just as many features as Spotify. You simply need to know where to look. I'm hooked on the live radio, super-niche pre-made playlists, and more.
Maono DM40 Pro review
The Maono DM40 Pro review is a basic gaming microphone with fantastic ambient noise reduction and gorgeous RGB capsules, ideal for beginners, but not much else.
This Ninja Slushi dupe costs $190 less and is a sure-fire way to impress your Thanksgiving guests
The Inoviva Slushie Machine is a fantastic Ninja Slushi dupe. It performs almost identically and is $190 cheaper than the big-name option.
I tried audiophile icon Meze’s brand-new entry-level headphones — and I feel like I’m hearing my favorite songs for the first time
The Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen are a worthy upgrade from the original model, with audiophile-worthy sound quality and an attractive price point.
2025 has been my favorite year for budget earbuds so far — here's my 3 top picks
In 2025, I've tested 3 of my favorite budget earbuds. Brands like JLab, CMF by Nothing, and EarFun have blown the competition away for under $100.
Drip coffee is hard to get wrong, but this budget machine failed my taste tests
I tested the Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Grinder, and it's safe to say I'll never use it again. Here's why it's a complete and utter misstep.
I tested this $34 Bluetooth speaker, and it’s one of the most affordable ways to rile your neighbors
The JLab Go Party speaker is incomprehensibly cheap, at just $34. While it won’t impress audiophiles, it’s perfect for house parties.
I thought budget earbuds couldn’t get any better, but these $69 hi-res buds just proved me wrong
The CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 perform well above their pay grade. These excellent earbuds sound amazing, boast premium features, and have great ANC.
Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Grinder review
Gevi 10-Cup Drip Coffee Maker with Grinder is disappointing. It makes bitter yet watery coffee thanks to the low-quality grinder. I can’t recommend it.
Spotify's recent missteps drove me to Apple Music — and I can't believe it took me so long
I swapped Spotify for Apple Music, and now I can't believe I didn't switch earlier. Apple Music has lossless, Replay, and great UI.
I wasn't expecting much from $99 earbuds, but these brand-new buds are honestly AirPods-level-good
I recently tested my most-anticipated earbud release of 2025, and it did not disappoint. The EarFun Air Pro 4+ are serious AirPods competition.
I just tried Stanley Cup's drip coffee maker — here's my verdict
I tested out Stanley's camping pour-over coffee maker (with a built-in filter!) and was weirdly impressed, but I can't quit my classic Hario V60.
The coffee world would have you believe you need loads of expensive coffee accessories, but I'm an ex-barista, and I disagree. You just need these 2 things
The coffee world believes you need $1k worth of coffee accessories to make real espresso, but they're all wrong. You only need two things for 10/10 coffee.
You might know Stanley from its iconic water bottle, but I just tried its pour-over coffee maker — I'm weirdly impressed
Stanley Perfect Brew Pour Over isn’t as perfect as its name might suggest, but it’s great for campers and outdoor enthusiasts who need coffee on the trail.
I finally found an electric coffee grinder under $150 — but I can only recommend it for one type of home barista
The Casabrews Tornado is a very unique coffee grinder. It’s just $139, which is majorly cheap for a burr grinder, but you get what you pay for.
I added this super-affordable coffee scale to my home brewing setup, and it’s ideal for beginner baristas
The MHW-3BOMBER Cube Coffee Scale 2.0 is best used as a basic coffee scale, and is delightfully affordable.
Yes, robot mixologists exist now: This Bartesian machine is like a Keurig but for cocktails
The Bartesian Cocktail Machine takes the crown for convenience. This machine makes delicious cocktails in seconds and takes the guesswork out of mixology.
I tested these $99 earbuds — and I’m being so serious when I say they’re genuine AirPods Pro competitors
The EarFun Air Pro 4+ are the best budget earbuds I’ve ever tested. With delicate, balanced treble and a rich midrange and bass, these are the buds to beat.
