Latest articles by Erin Bashford
Breville Bambino vs Breville Bambino Plus: Which budget espresso machine should you buy?
Is the Breville Bambino Plus worth an extra $200, or is the Breville Bambino a better option? I evaluated espresso, milk steaming, and more to find out.
Should you get a bean-to-cup or compact espresso machine? I'm an ex-barista, and here's my verdict
Should you get a bean-to-cup or a small manual espresso machine? Don't buy one until you read this.
Just got your first soundbar? You need to check out these 3 features first
I review soundbars for a living, and these are the three features you need to check out when using your first soundbar.
Just got an espresso machine for Christmas? Don’t make the one fatal mistake beginner baristas fall for
I'm an ex-barista and now an espresso machine reviewer, so I've made thousands of coffees. Don't make this one major mistake with your new espresso machine!
This cheap Sony soundbar is an Amazon bestseller — and it's ten times better than the budget competition
The Sony HT-S100F is widely regarded as the best cheap soundbar, and for good reason. It has crystal-clear dialogue and surprisingly punchy bass.
I’m an ex-barista, and I would never buy an espresso machine without this one key feature
I'm an ex-barista, and now I've tested loads of espresso machines. Some good, some bad. But I'd never buy one without this one key feature.
I just awarded my first 5-star rating to an espresso machine — here's what makes the Breville Bambino a perfect product
I test a lot of espresso machines, but none are as high-value and impressive as the small-but-mighty Breville Bambino.
I just tested Breville’s cheapest espresso machine, and there’s no denying it — this is a 5-star product
The Breville Bambino is my favorite cheap espresso machine I’ve ever tested. At just $299, it’s a budget machine in a league of its own. There’s no competition.
Looking for your first pair of wired audiophile headphones? I've got a great recommendation that won't break the bank
I tested the FiiO FT13 headphones and they're the perfect option for newbie audiophiles.
This entry-level Klipsch soundbar is capable of going head-to-head with other premium brands — and it's buildable into a home theater powerhouse
The Klipsch Flexus Core 100 is a perfect first soundbar with impressive bass and clear dialogue, but has no Wi-Fi compatibility.
I tested FiiO’s brand-new audiophile headphones, and they’re my new go-to recommendation for beginner hi-fi nerds
The Fiio FT13 are a pair of comfortable wired headphones with a rich low-end and faithful treble. They’re the perfect cans for audiophile newbies.
I’m an ex-barista — and this entry-level De’Longhi bean-to-cup is the best-value espresso machine I’ve tested so far
The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo is a compact bean-to-cup espresso machine capable of making cafe-quality coffee right out of the box.
I've been trying to quit Spotify for months, but Spotify Wrapped is the beast that keeps pulling me back
Spotify Wrapped is here, and it's reminded me why Spotify is so hard to quit. No other streaming service comes close.
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.
Keen Jasper Zionic review: The perfect hiking-slash-urban hybrid shoe
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.
Inoviva Slushie Machine review
The Inoviva Slushie Machine is a fantastic Ninja Slushi dupe. It performs almost identically and is $190 cheaper than the big-name option.
Meze 99 Classics 2nd Gen review: Audiophile quality, reasonable price
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.
