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, coffee wasn't like that yet. It took years to catch up.
I have family in Japan. I just got back from a trip with my kids. Tiny standing bars, meticulous pours, owners who treat a $5 cup like it matters. 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.
What Is Espresso Dad?
Espresso Dad is honest coffee reviews and opinions, from someone who uses this stuff every day.
I review gear I actually own. Swap the machine, the grinder, or the bag of beans and the whole cup changes. I write about what that actually looks like at 6am with two kids asleep upstairs.
This isn't the one resource for coffee. Nobody needs that. It's just my honest take, built from real use. Here's what's actually in my kitchen right now.
My Setup
- Espresso machine: Breville Bambino Plus (daily driver since 2020)
- Grinder: Breville Pro
- Home roaster: Fresh Roast SR800
- Travel espresso: OutIn Nano (battery-powered, genuinely good)
- Pour over: Kalita Wave
- Green beans: Sweet Maria's, The Captain's Coffee, and Burman Coffee Traders
Ever been to Japan for the coffee? What surprised you most?