At my house we have a sleek little Nespresso machine and an older, heavy Italian model that belongs to my boyfriend, Sam. Both have prime real estate on the counter: Sam uses his almost exclusively; I use mine almost exclusively. He calls my espresso "faux'spresso," insisting it doesn't taste as good and lamenting the fact that the pods are so wasteful. In a way, I agree. And yet, I wouldn't have it any other way. More

Breakfast bars, or separate "morning areas," are coveted details in kitchens with room to spare. In smaller kitchens, hideaway features, like this tabletop, are incredibly useful. What about combining the two features and creating a hideaway breakfast area—in this case, a roll-out cabinet dedicated to your morning joe, complete with pot-filler faucet! More

What is espresso and how did it ever come about? These questions are at the heart of Smithsonian Magazine's recent dive into the history of the espresso machine, which is a fascinating read for any coffee lover. More

Q: I am a Senseo owner but it looks like they are being discontinued in the US. Pods are nearly impossible to find in supermarkets or online. I'd love to replace it with a similarly priced machine that can deliver a good cup with the same sort of Senseo crema.

Sent by Haley More

Keurig, Schmeurig. Apparently what you really needed to buy that coffee lover on your holiday list was one of these Royal Coffee Makers. Once only available to European aristocracy (who, clearly, have ample countertop space to store them), these elaborate, whooshing specialty brewers are now available to commoners. Want to guess how much they cost? More

Q: Please help me pick a automatic drip coffee maker! The fall is here and my early morning work schedule (out the door before 7!) is back in full swing. My lovely French press is no longer going to cut it. I desperately want a coffee maker that I can set up the night before so I can wake up to a pot brewing.

The numerous options are leaving me a bit overwhelmed with coming to a decision and I was hoping for some good advice as to brands or particular models I should consider. I was told that cone shaped vs flat bottom filter areas are better?

I'm on a budget (under $100) and obviously taste is of the upmost importance.

Sent by Anna More

Starbucks announced recently that they will be yet another brand to enter the world of K-cups come November. No doubt you've come across these coffee makers and their many pod variations. They're certainly convenient, but do you use K-cups? More

Even if the brand name Bialetti doesn't ring a bell, you probably recognize the little aluminum stovetop coffee maker shown above. Included in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection, the 'Moka Express' was originally designed in 1930 by Alfonso Bialetti and it remains in production today. The Bialetti company proudly states, "You will find this little stovetop coffee maker in 90 percent of Italian homes." More

Here's a question from Melodie, and we need your help on this one.

I'm hoping the AT crowd can give me some recommendations for a home espresso machine. For years we've been using these two little (Krups and Melitta) steam espresso makers. [Pictured above.] (Why two? Because my husband and I had them and don't have the patience to wait to make a second while the little thing cools down.) This morning, the Krups, well, krupped out. So, it's time for a decent pump machine.

I don't want to spend a fortune, because I generally drink tea during the week and coffee occasionally - mostly coffee on weekends. Oh, and I need it to be easy. I do have a good burr grinder so would prefer not to use pods. More

The International Home and Housewares Show has been a great opportunity to meet inventors and innovators in person. We were excited to meet the team behind a strange yet fascinating product we featured during Coffee Week. The Handpresso is a French invention that lets you have espresso anywhere - whether you're camping out in the mountains, a hotel room or just the office. Check out this one-minute impromptu video of their demonstration, and click through to see more of the gadget and to read our impressions of the espresso itself... More