FROM STAFF REPORTS
Featured image courtesy of Meraki
On New Year’s Eve, we shared a roundup of our most-read online stories of 2025. When going through our most popular articles, one thing quickly stood out: Our Test Drive series—where we put coffee gear, from grinders to espresso machines, to the test—was a clear reader favorite.
So, we decided to give those reviews their own spotlight. Here are the Test Drives our readers loved most in 2025.
#4: Timemore Sculptor 078S Grinder
Over time, Timemore has carved out a notable space in the specialty-coffee world through thoughtfully designed equipment—most famously, with their hand grinders.
This past summer, Barista Magazine Senior Online Correspondent Vasileia Fanarioti gave their Sculptor 078S Grinder a go, putting it through a variety of brew scenarios, from filter coffee to espresso.
#3: Making Espresso by Hand with the Flair 58 Plus 2 Espresso Maker
Back in October, Josh Taves, long-time coffee nerd and owner of Dialed Coffee Services in Michigan, put the Flair 58 Plus 2 to the test, ultimately changing his mind about the “home espresso scene.”
“The shot was shockingly delightful. No scale on the drip tray, basic pressure profile, no ultra fancy coffee,” he wrote. “When was the last time you pulled a shot without thinking of all the parameters and just enjoyed it? I know it’s been a while for me. And herein lies the beauty of the Flair 58 Plus 2.”
#2: Varia VS6 Grinder
In another grinder review, Vasileia Fanarioti tested out the award-winning Varia VS6 Grinder, evaluating everything from design and usability, to retention and flavor clarity.
“The Varia VS6 is a grinder designed for those who seek precision, flexibility, and full control over their grind settings,” Vasileia says. “With interchangeable burrs and adjustable RPM, it stands out as a highly adaptable tool for both home baristas and small coffee shops.”
#1: Meraki Tech x Timemore Home Espresso Machine
Coming in at #1 is our review of a highly-awaited product release: the Meraki Tech home espresso machine, created in collaboration with Timemore. Barista Magazine Online Editor Emily Joy Meneses gave the Hong Kong-made machine a go and interviewed Meraki CEO Dennis Chen, who recounts his time at Dyson as a main source of design inspiration.
“My journey to create this espresso machine began with over a decade as an engineer in the high-end home appliance industry, including a significant period at Dyson,“ Dennis told Barista Magazine. “Dyson’s philosophy—that innovation and engineering can solve problems others ignore—deeply shaped my approach.“
Subscribe and More!
As always, you can read Barista Magazine in paper by subscribing or ordering an issue.
Support Barista Magazine with a Membership.
Signup for our weekly newsletter.
Read the December 2025 + January 2026 Issue for free with our digital edition.
For free access to more than five years’ worth of issues, visit our digital edition archives here.
