So, you've got a new coffee machine, now what?

The wrapping paper’s gone, your shiny new espresso machine is proudly taking up half your kitchen counter, and you’ve pulled your very first coffee. It looks the part… but why doesn’t it taste like the one from your favourite café? 

Here’s the truth no one tells you: even the fanciest coffee machine can’t fix bad coffee.

Whether you were gifted or treated yourself to an espresso machine or a pod machine, the golden rule is the same, your coffee is only as good as what you put into it. If you’re feeding your shiny new toy stale supermarket beans or bitter Robusta-heavy blends, your cup will always fall flat. Freshness matters. Quality matters. And yes, speciality coffee matters.

Coffee starts to lose flavour just weeks after roasting. That means the pre-ground or bargain beans sitting on supermarket shelves have already lost the vibrant aromas, sweetness and complexity your machine is designed to extract. The same goes for pods, low-quality coffee in a pod is still low-quality coffee.

Start with freshly roasted speciality coffee, like our range of award-winning coffees, roasted in small batches right here in Brighton. From chocolatey and comforting to bright and fruity, there’s a flavour profile to suit every machine, every morning.

Next up: grind size. If you’re using whole beans, a decent grinder is essential. Blade grinders will undo all that hard work, but a burr grinder gives you consistency and control, two things espresso machines love. We’ve curated a selection of coffee grinders that pair perfectly with home espresso setups. Not in the market for a grinder, that’s OK, our team will grind your coffee to order, simply choose ‘Grind Size: Espresso’ when placing your first order. 

Not sure where to start? We’ve made it easy. Take our coffee quiz and we’ll match you to a coffee based on how you brew, how often you're planning on having a cup and which of our coffees you would enjoy the most.

Or, if you're feeling adventurous, why not try our Roaster’s Choice subscription? With Small Batch Roaster’s Choice, you’re putting your coffee destiny in the hands of the people who roast it every day. We’ll send you a rotating selection of freshly roasted, specialty coffees chosen by our roasting team, often limited lots, seasonal blends, or coffees we’re especially excited about that month. It’s the easiest way to explore new origins and flavour profiles without having to overthink it, and a brilliant way to make the most of your new coffee machine. One thing’s guaranteed: it’ll always be fresh, award-winning, and miles better than anything gathering dust on a supermarket shelf. 

At Small Batch Coffee Roasters, we’ve been roasting since 2006, and our coffees have won multiple awards, but more importantly, they’re designed to make your home coffee taste properly good.

So, if you've brought the machine, let us bring the coffee. Your mornings are about to get a whole lot better. ☕