Every morning before my kids wake up, I pull espresso shots on my Breville Bambino Plus. Most mornings I nail it. That's the whole point of that machine. It's built to get you a good shot fast, without a lot of fuss.
I home roast with a Fresh Roast SR800. I travel with an OutIn Nano for hikes and camping trips where I refuse to give up good espresso.
I grew up around coffee. It wasn't a specialty thing. It was part of life. You drank it with friends, with family, before you did business. When I moved to the US about 20 years ago, coffee wasn't like that yet. It took years to catch up.
I have family in Japan. I just got back from a trip there with my kids. I fell deep into a coffee culture that's meticulous, warm, and deeply serious in the best possible way. Different from what I grew up with. Different from most of what I see here too.
I'm not here to sell you a $3,000 setup. Good coffee is faster and cheaper than the industry wants you to think.
What Is Espresso Dad?
Espresso Dad is where I write about being a busy parent who loves coffee. Reviews, routines, whatever I've learned that week.
This isn't the one resource for coffee. Nobody needs that. It's just where I write down what actually works for me, so it can work for you too.
My Setup
- Espresso machine: Breville Bambino Plus (daily driver, 2+ years)
- Home roaster: Fresh Roast SR800
- Travel espresso: OutIn Nano (battery-powered, genuinely good)
- Pour over: Kalita Wave with a Breville Pro grinder
- Green beans: Mostly Sweet Maria's
Why Japan
Japanese coffee culture is something else. The attention to process. The respect for the craft. A tiny standing bar in Tokyo can serve a more precise cup than most specialty shops in the US. It's the best coffee culture in the world, in my opinion, and it shapes everything I do at home.
What surprised you most on this last trip? I'd genuinely like to know what other people notice when they go.