Our picks for the best espresso machines under $500 for home baristas: who each one suits, what to look for, and an honest look at the trade-offs.

Beginner-friendly burr coffee grinders for drip, espresso and manual brewing: who each one suits, what to look for, and the trade-offs, based on specs and reviews.

Air fryers sized for 2 to 4 people: capacity guide, basket vs oven style, who each pick suits, and what to check before you buy.

Blenders for smoothies at every budget: Ninja, Vitamix, Blendtec, NutriBullet and Beast compared by power, jar size, noise and ease of cleaning.

Drip coffee makers under $100: Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, Ninja, Mr. Coffee and BLACK+DECKER compared by carafe, programming and ease of use.

Cookbooks for people learning to cook: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, How to Cook Everything, The Food Lab, Joy of Cooking and more, with who each one is best for.

Burr vs blade coffee grinder explained: how each works, why burr grinders give more even grounds, when a blade grinder is fine, and conical vs flat burrs.

A simple guide to dialing in espresso at home: a starting recipe, how to adjust grind size, and a troubleshooting table for sour, bitter, fast or slow shots.