Reviews ◦ First Looks

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Latest First Looks

CG - Lelit Mara X White Espresso Machine

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First LooksPast Articles

MHW-3Bomber F74 Navigator Grinder

CoffeeGeek tests the MHW‑3Bomber F74 Navigator: a prosumer grinder with 74 mm burrs, ultra‑low retention, and RPM control for espresso and brew coffee.

Jura Z10 Super Automatic

Is the premium Jura Z10 the ultimate bean to cup machine? We go hands on with its advanced grinder, 32 drink options, and unique technology.

The Breville Barista Touch Impress

We explore the Breville Barista Touch Impress, a machine designed for great espresso without the learning curve. See our initial thoughts.

1Zpresso X-Ultra Manual Grinder

A First Look at the 1Zpresso X‑Ultra manual grinder: easy calibration, magnetic catch cup, travel friendly, great for espresso and filter.

Breville Luxe Color Collection - Click to find out more

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Profitec GO Espresso Machine

CoffeeGeek's initial look at the Profitec Go, a popular machine in a limited market - the single boiler prosumer espresso range - and how it stacks up.

Lelit Victoria Espresso Machine

The Lelit Victoria could be the queen of single boiler, prosumer espresso machines, though it doesn't get the same press other machines get.

Ninja Luxe Cafe Espresso Machine

Shark Ninja's first jump into the premium espresso market brings the usual Ninja flair of a lot of added features. How did they do? We have a lot to say early on.

Rancilio Stile Grinder

Rancilio's new consumer oriented, espresso primary grinder is a very worthy replacement for the Rocky; can it work on your espresso bar?

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First LooksOlder Archives

First Looks

Ceado Life X Grinder

Ceado has a new consumer-oriented high end coffee grinder that promises a lot, in a small package. Let's find out if it delivers.

First Looks

1Zpresso J-Ultra Manual Grinder

Pundits were quick to label the 1Zpresso J-Ultra "the best manual espresso grinder on the market". Let's find out in our First Look.

First Looks

Breville Bambino Espresso Machine

A first look at the possible all time leader in the budget espresso machine category, the diminutive yet feature packed Breville Bambino.

First Looks

Breville Bambino Plus

A comprehensive look at one of the most innovative "budget" espresso machines to come along in the last decade the Breville Bambino Plus.

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First Looks

Fellow Opus Conical Burr Grinder

Our first look ever at a Fellow Product, this is our initial take on the Fellow Opus, a multipurpose single dose conical burr grinder.

First Looks

Turin Legato Espresso Machine

Our first look at a "dual boiler" espresso machine at the $500 price point: the Turin Legato.

First Looks

Superkop Lever Espresso Machine

One of the most unique espresso makers currently on the market, this is our First Look at the Superkop ratchet lever espresso machine.

First Looks

Gaggia Classic Evo Pro

Gaggia continues the evolution of an espresso machine with 45 years of heritage, with the 2023 Gaggia Classic Evo Pro. Here's our First Look.

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First Looks

Hario Electric Coffee Siphon

A look at the first new siphon coffee maker design from Hario in over a decade, the Hario Electric Siphon. It's Japan market only, but there's ways to buy it and run it in North America.

First Looks

Wilfa Uniform Grinder

One of the more anticipated coffee grinders from Europe is finally here in North America: the Wilfa Uniform. Here's our comprehensive First Look.

First Looks

Baratza Virtuoso Plus

After 15 years, Baratza has retired the iconic Virtuoso grinder, and introduced the Virtuoso+; is this still a class leading grinder? Here's our First Look.

First Looks

Ratio Six Coffee Maker

The Ratio Six Coffee Maker aims to provide most of the style, function, and ability of the Ratio Eight, but at a more economical cost. Here's our First Look.

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First Looks

Rancilio Silvia Pro Espresso Machine

After over 20 years on the market, the Rancilio Silvia has a successor / upgrade model: the Silvia Pro. This is CoffeeGeek's First Look.

First Looks

Orphan Espresso Apex Grinder

The Orphan Espresso Apex Grinder aims to be the best brew grinder ever manufactured. It's definitely a unique beast. Here's our First Look.

First Looks

Cafelat Robot Espresso Machine

CoffeeGeek's initial look at one of the cutest little things you've ever seen that can make espresso - the manual Cafelat Robot Espresso Maker!

First Looks

Breville Oracle Touch Espresso Machine

CoffeeGeek's initial look (and still a deep dive) into the most expensive appliance Breville makes: the Oracle Touch espresso machine.

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First Looks

Acaia Pearl Scale 2014

CoffeeGeek's early look at a recent Kickstarter product designed for cafes and coffee enthusiasts - the Acaia Pearl Scale. Not your Mom's scale!

First Looks

Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine

CoffeeGeek's exclusive and detailed First Look at one of the most exciting and innovative new espresso machines coming to market in 2011, the Dual Boiler from Breville.

First Looks

Speedster Espresso Machine

CoffeeGeek takes a look at what could possibly be the best espresso machine in the world - the Speedster Espresso Machine from Kees van der Westen.

First Looks

Baratza Vario Grinder

CoffeeGeek takes a first look and a product walk through on the brand new Baratza Vario grinder, designed for the home and light commercial use.

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First Looks

Ascaso Steel Duo Espresso Machine

We take a first look at OXO's new "automatic" manual pour over device, and how it stacks up against doing true pour over coffee.

First Looks

iRoast 2 Home Coffee Roaster

We take a first look walkaround the iRoast 2 - a fluid bed air coffee roaster that lets you set custom profiles for achieving unique and standout roasts and blends.

First Looks

Vibiemme Domobar Super

A look at the Vibiemme Domobar Super, a new breed of E61 Equipped espresso machines for consumers.

First Looks

KitchenAid Proline Grinder

CoffeeGeek takes a first look at the all metal, seriously built "ProLine" offering in the grinder category from KitchenAid.

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First Looks

Francis Francis X1 Espresso Machine

One of the most famous consumer espresso machines gets the First Look treatment from CoffeeGeek - find out our early thoughts on this whacked out fashion accessory!

First Looks

Rancilio Rocky Grinder

CoffeeGeek has a first look at one of the more famous espresso grinders you can get for the home: the Rancilio Rocky doser espresso grinder.

First Looks

Gaggia Classic Espresso Machine

We take a first look at OXO's new "automatic" manual pour over device, and how it stacks up against doing true pour over coffee.

First Looks

Elektra Micro Casa Semi Automatica

CoffeeGeek takes a first look at the Elektra Micro Casa Semi Automatica, one of the more unique heat exchanger espresso machines available today.

CG - Lelit Bianca in Different Color Choices

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CG - Lelit Bianca White Looks Beautiful - Click to Find Out More

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CG - Lelit Mara X - Click to Find Out More

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First LookHistory and Process

In the past, our First Looks frequently told you more about a product (including evaluations) than most actual “product reviews” you’d find elsewhere on the Internet. They were so complex, most readers and many vendors and manufacturers considered them full blown reviews.

We’ve wanted to change these back to the original modus for First Looks for a long time now, and with the 2024 version of CoffeeGeek, we will be doing exactly that. Going forward, all our new First Looks will be a formal introduction to a product, and kept to under 2,500 words total. Our new First Looks will include:

An Introduction of the product and company
Out of the Box segment showing the unboxing and what comes with the product
Product Design and Function Highlights, detailing some of the product’s notable features
First Few Days with the product, that will be a lot more brief than previous First Looks
Concluding Thoughts.

Our goal is to be able to post a First Look for products after only a week’s initial evaluation of the product. It is not meant to be a review, but an introduction.