Kelly

Last summer I hosted a backyard wedding reception for 80 guests, and I learned the hard way that a leaky spigot can ruin a pretty table setting. I spent the next three months testing drink dispensers from every brand I could find, filling them with sweet tea, lemonade, and iced coffee on repeat. By the … Read more

There is nothing worse than pouring yourself a glass of wine on Tuesday night only to find that the bottle you opened on Saturday has gone stale. I have poured more oxidized wine down the drain than I care to admit. That sour, flat taste is the result of oxygen interacting with the wine, and … Read more

I have spent the better part of three years testing coffee grinders in my own kitchen, pulling shots for dinner parties and brewing pour-over for weekend guests. What I learned is that the grinder matters more than the espresso machine, the beans, or even the water temperature. A great grinder is the single biggest upgrade … Read more

Three years ago I bought my first home coffee roaster on a whim. I had no idea that a $300 machine would completely change how I think about my morning cup. After roasting hundreds of batches across 10 different machines in my kitchen, I can tell you this: the best coffee roasters for home use … Read more

I’ve spent the last three months testing commercial coffee machines in our farmhouse kitchen, our church’s hospitality bar, and a friend’s small-town bakery. What started as a search for a better weekend brunch setup turned into a deep dive into the world of commercial-grade espresso and coffee brewing equipment. After brewing more than 2,400 cups, … Read more

I have tested more drip coffee stations than I care to admit. My morning routine starts the moment my feet hit the floor and head toward the kitchen counter, and after years of trial and error, I have learned that the right setup can transform a chaotic rush into a calm, satisfying ritual. If you … Read more

Our team spent three months brewing with eight different pour over coffee stations to find out which ones are actually worth your counter space. Some delivered cafe quality cups every morning, while others looked beautiful but frustrated us with inconsistent extraction. The difference came down to design details that most buyers never think about until … Read more

Last summer I hosted a backyard party and ran out of ice three times before 6pm. That is the moment I started hunting for home ice makers with water lines, and I have been testing them ever since. After running 10 models through our kitchen, home bar, and garage at our house, I have clear … Read more

I have hosted enough backyard parties to know the feeling of running to the gas station for bagged ice at 9pm while guests are waiting on drinks. After the third time that happened, my team and I decided it was time to test commercial ice machines and figure out which ones actually deliver for home … Read more

I still remember the first time I dropped a crescent ice cube into an Old Fashioned. It slipped into the glass with a satisfying clink, sat tall against the whiskey, and barely melted as I sipped. That single moment sent me down a rabbit hole testing countertop ice makers for the better part of a … Read more