Latest articles by Erin Bashford
I thought freezing weather would ruin my winter trip — but this $29 hiking shoe accessory saved my vacation
I bought a pair of Yaktrax for my recent holiday, and nothing helps me stay steady on the ice and snow like them.
I tested the divisive De'Longhi Linea Classic — it faceplanted at the first hurdle, so I recommend these 3 espresso machines instead
I tested the divisive De'Longhi Linea Classic, and it's got one major flaw. As a result, I'd recommend these three alternative espresso machines instead.
My highest-rated soundbars are randomly on sale right now — yes, including Bose, Samsung, and Klipsch
I reviewed 16 soundbars last year, and five of my favorites are discounted right now.
I just tested the new mini Instant Pot — it’s ‘ideal for small spaces,’ with a catch
The Instant Pot Rio Mini is the smallest Instant Pot I’ve ever tested, it comes in pastel pink, and it has seven cooking modes. Perfect? Well… it’s close-ish.
Dear Nespresso machines, this is an apology — from a coffee snob and ex-barista
I hated Nespresso and Keurig machines... until I went on vacation and the Airbnb had one. Nespresso, this is an apology: you're better than I thought.
I tested the De’Longhi Linea Classic — it’s a ‘one-trick pony’, but it could be the pony your barn is missing
The De’Longhi Linea Classic is a premium-looking, budget-friendly espresso machine, but its odd steam wand isn’t capable of making microfoam.
‘My go-to voiceover mic from here on out’: How the Shure MV88 USB-C simplifies everything
The Shure MV88 USBC-C is a fantastic phone-forward microphone, ideal for social content creators looking to upgrade their voiceover quality.
Priced like an ‘elevated’ model, but doesn’t meet expectations: Why a former barista wouldn’t recommend Cuisinart’s new espresso machine
The Cuisinart Espresso Bar Slim Espresso Machine is a semi-budget machine for beginners, but you can get a much better performance for less elsewhere.
'Punch way above their weight' — my new speakers are a masterclass in how to shuck off a 'budget' stereotype
I'm a professional audio reviewer, so when I unboxed the new Edifier S880DB MKII, I couldn't believe my ears. Premium sound from a budget brand? Yes, please.
'Sourdough is the hottest accessory of 2026' says Vogue — and you only need this one product to start baking like a pro
I've been baking sourdough for over a year, and you only need one product to up your sourdough game.
‘Goes where few coffee machines have gone before’: Ratio Four review
The Ratio Four is a sleek, premium coffee maker that brews pour-over-quality coffee with none of the effort. I can’t get enough of it.
‘It sounds so good, I forgot I was supposed to be reviewing it’: Samsung QS750F review
Samsung QS750F goes where few soundbars have gone before. Immensely affordable for a soundbar, sub, and rears, this is one for home theater nerds on a budget.
My super-cheap fitness tracker has a hidden feature that can go head-to-head with Garmin and Apple
My Amazfit Helio Strap is a treasure trove of features. I can't believe this $99 fitness tracker beats the Apple Watch 11.
‘Few soundbars can go head-to-head with a movie theater like this one’: Yamaha True X Surround 90A review
The Yamaha True X Surround 90A is a premium sound system with near-perfect Dolby Atmos, but the dialogue performance isn’t quite up to scratch.
JLab JBuds Party review: A meatier portable speaker, but at what cost?
The JLab JBuds Party is a mid-sized budget speaker with LED lights and party mode, but the sound quality doesn’t do enough to justify the increased price.
Edifier isn’t a budget brand anymore — and the new hi-fi, feature-packed S880DB MKII speakers prove it
The Edifier S880DB MKII are bookshelf speakers that pack a major punch. With unbeatable sound and compact size, they’re majorly impressive for the price.
Bye-bye, Bluetooth: 2026 is the year of wired earbuds, headphones, and retro audio tech
2026 is the year of retro audio tech, with CD players, IEMs, wired headphones, vinyls, and wired earbuds taking center stage.
I reviewed 9 headphones in 2025 — but I only recommend one pair
I tested nine pairs of headphones in 2025, but only one pair is worth your money.
I got this $50 coffee accessory — and it's completely transformed my espresso
I'm an ex-barista, and now I spend hours every week testing espresso machines. This accessory is the barista's secret recipe for perfect espresso every time.
I tested lots of wireless earbuds in 2025, but I only recommend these 3 under $40, $70, and $100
I reviewed 10 pairs of earbuds in 2025, but only 3 are worth your money, all under $100.
I tested 16 soundbars in 2025 — here are my top picks under $200, $500, and $700
You don't have to spend a fortune to get great sound at home, so I've rounded up my highest-rated soundbars of 2025.
3 things every new record player owner needs to know — from another vinyl newbie
I got my first turntable — the U-Turn Audio Orbit Special — and learned 3 major lessons.
Nothing's new $69 earbuds sound better than $200 rivals — so I asked a product exec how
CMF by Nothing Buds Pro 2 sound like $200 buds for $69, so I asked Nilo Casimiro Ericsson, product executive at Dirac, how the tech works.
