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Kitchen Nostalgia
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It’s no surprise that Italy — the country that invented espresso — can credit coffee as a major part of its economy. How large? Well, according to Statista, Italy’s coffee scene has pulled in $15.60 billion in revenue in 2025 so far. Slow Italy reports that, in cities like Trieste, residents consume 10 kilograms of coffee beans annually, making it one of the world’s most coffee-obsessed destinations. While inflation has pushed up the price of household items and increased the value of €1 ($1.17) by around 70% since 2000, espresso prices have stayed remarkably stable. Statista also reports the average price of a cup of coffee in Italy is around €1.50 as of December 2024, though some cities still charge even less than that. Still, many tourists pay much, much more than that amount for the same cup, simply because they’re missing a simple trick that could save them a lot on their Italian adventure.
The key is an old Italian habit: Stand at the bar instead of sitting down at a table. Tourists who stand pay the normal local price. Those who sit get hit with much higher bills. This price differential, known as “al banco” — which translates to “at the bar” — versus “al tavolo” (“at the table”), fits Italy’s quick coffee culture: Locals usually drink their espresso in around 30 seconds before continuing with their day.
Read more: 10 Things You Should Stop Buying To Save More Money
Young woman checking her phone and drinking coffee at a table in an Italian café – RossHelen/Shutterstock
Old rules still shape cafés today. A few years before World War I, the government instated a legal maximum on the price of coffee. Since this meant restaurants and cafés could only charge so much for coffee itself, they began charging customers for the labor needed to serve coffee to make up for lost revenue.
Labor costs drive much of the gap. According to the Bank of Italy, Italy’s labor productivity grew by just 0.25% per year between 2000 and 2022. That was the weakest pace in the eurozone. This chronic productivity gap informs why so many restaurant chains are struggling to stay profitable. Low output means higher labor costs. So, cafés charge more for table service. Seated guests may need waitstaff to take orders and clear tables but standing patrons don’t.
Then, there are extra charges. Many spots slip in a coperto — or “cover charge” — of a few euros per person. Tourist-heavy cafés also impose a servizio — or “service charge” — of approximately 10% to 20% of the total bill. All that can quickly turn a €1.20 standing espresso into a €4 to €5 seated one. And the hike in price can be even bigger than that: At Caffè Florian in Venice, a €6 cappuccino at the counter leaps to €12 at your table.
smiling young woman stirs her coffee on an Italian café’s patio – Mstudioimages/Getty Images
Mastering the local way to order coffee can slash your costs significantly and help you dodge common money mistakes while you travel. Walk up to the bar and say “Un caffè, per favore” for an espresso — that means, “A coffee, please.” Stand at the counter, drink it fast, then pay at the register. Usually, you drink first and pay later at the counter. But at a table, they might bring the bill, take payment right away, or write it down for you to settle at the till.
Timing your coffee orders strategically is another way to avoid tourist prices and weird looks. If you order a cappuccino past 11 a.m., locals will know right away you’re a visitor because they only drink them at breakfast. You’ll blend in better if you order a straight espresso for your afternoon pick-me-up.
If you want to avoid unnecessary travel purchases on vacation, where you go counts, too. Neighborhood cafés away from big attractions generally cost less. Look at Caffè Pedrocchi: It’s historically famous and charges €3 for an espresso. Given the national average is around half that, you might want to look for some more secluded options to save a little cash.
Read the original article on Money Digest.
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Hi. it turns out Prime Day is only really a suggestion on the calendar. A lot of brands like to kick out early Prime Day deals before getting lost in the big din of Prime Big Deal Days on October 7-8. (See here for early Prime Day deals on laptops, earbuds, and more.)
The two most popular espresso machines on Earth—as judged by Amazon sales, anyway–are both on sale for $100 off this week, ahead of Amazon Prime Day’s October reprise. These are a couple of the best early Prime Day Deals.
Photograph: Tyler Shane
Photograph: Tyler Shane
Photograph: Tyler Shane
Ninja
The most exciting deal of the pair is probably the Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier ($500), on sale for the lowest price we’ve ever seen it.
When Ninja announced it was jumping into the semiautomatic espresso market, I didn’t know quite what to make of it. But Ninja seems to have applied its general flair for multipurpose machines to this beautifully beginner-friendly espresso machine with a 25-setting conical burr grinder, a built-in scale (thank you), and options for cold brew and drip coffee.
WIRED contributing reviewer Tyler Shane was likewise skeptical of Ninja’s first espresso device when it arrived but ended up loving the excellent milk steaming and the fact that this Ninja grinds espresso shots by weight. (Why doesn’t everybody?) She also appreciated the reasonable price—a price that’s even more reasonable ahead of Prime Day.
Courtesy of Breville
Breville’s Barista Express ($600) semiautomatic espresso machine has been Amazon’s best-selling espresso machine for years—so long it’s hard to remember a time when it wasn’t the top-selling pick.
Why’s it so popular? It’s a Goldilocks thing—a mix of accessible price, Breville’s excellent reputation for customer service on high-ticket items, and beautiful ease of use on a semiautomatic machine with a built-in grinder that makes full-flavored, well-extracted espresso. This $100 discount isn’t quite the lowest price we’ve seen on it—it’s been down to $550 before—but it’s a very good price.
And besides, this Breville has the merit of being a tried-and-true machine. WIRED reviewer Julian Chokkattu has been pulling shots from his Barista Express for six years now, and it’s still going strong. No wonder the Express has been among WIRED’s top espresso machine picks for ages.
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Matthew Korfhage
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“You need to realize you’ve already rejected tradition by not getting a dark roast coffee. You’ve embraced modernism,” Hedrick says. “And if you’re going to embrace modernism and reject traditionalism, you must always also reject traditional shot parameters.”
But terrific light roast is possible. There are two ways to go.
You can go traditional—changing your dose and ratios a bit but aiming for a cup with intensity and balance. That’s what I’ve been honing for the past year.
But there’s also a wilder, weirder path: The turbo shot, also called a gusher. Hedrick, following the results of new scientific research from University of Oregon biochemistry professor Christopher Hendon and others, has gone all in on throwing out the entire traditional espresso rulebook in his pursuit of light roast espresso that’s neither sour nor bitter.
Here are two ways of making light roast espresso, and the results.
How to Make a “Traditional” Light Espresso Shot
Some of the knee-jerk advice for light roast espresso was just to keep grinding finer and finer and jack up the temperature on your machine in order to get better extraction.
Problem is, the finer you grind, the more likely you’ll choke your machine. And also the more likely that water will clog up in places and find a path of least resistance through your coffee puck. Which is to say, it’ll “channel” through only some of the coffee, extracting too much from some parts of your coffee puck while under-extracting from other parts. The results will be intense, bitter, and sour. It’ll taste like those early light roast espressos that put me off of light roast espresso.
There’s a different path.
Instead of pretending light roast is dark roast and going finer and finer, you can instead adjust the amount of coffee and water. Use more coffee and pull longer, for more time—and grind fine but not ridiculously fine.
This was the approach used on a recent visit to Sterling Coffee Roasters, one of the few Portland, Oregon, roasters I’ve found that regularly (and expertly) pulls light roast espresso shots. The shop offered up an excellent, cranberry-fruity light roast Ethiopia Bensa Bombe using this method. My barista let a two-ounce shot drag out for 37 seconds until its fruity-acidic flavors mixed with a little bit of backbone, not to mention the flavors of ferment resulting from natural-process beans.
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
This is the classic approach I’ve arrived at through trial and error, a bit of research, and a lot of conversation with smart baristas:
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Kingrinder
How to Make a Turbo Espresso Shot, or “Gusher”
Here’s the new-school approach laid out by coffee expert Lance Hedrick, following new findings published in 2020 by coffee scientist Christopher Hendon at the University of Oregon, among others. The turbo espresso shot, also called a gusher, involves up-ending pretty much every assumption about how good espresso is made—grinding coarser for light roast espresso and running a whole lot of water through the puck quickly and at lower pressure.
The result is a fully extracted shot, sometimes even better extracted than a classic one. But the flavor is different: It tends to be sweeter, aromatic, and almost devoid of bitterness.
Crazy, right? Not really. There’s a bit of science behind it, which you can read about in the bottom section of the article. But first, here’s how to make a turbo shot, according to advice from coffee expert Hedrick, who says the best shots he’s pulled all come from this method.
OK, so how does a turbo shot work?
A gusher is exactly what it sounds like. It’s an espresso shot that practically just pours out of the portafilter so it’s over in about 15 seconds, even at high volume—a heresy among traditional espresso people. Conventional wisdom says this shot should taste terrible, underextracted, sour. But magically, it doesn’t. Extraction is in some ways better and more reliable.
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
A turbo shot tastes … kinda sweet, actually.
The idea isn’t just maverick. It’s backed by science. Back in 2020, a few researchers, including University of Oregon chemistry professor Christopher Hendon and Australian barista Michael Cameron, published a research paper that used mathematical modeling to show that a lot of what people had assumed about espresso was just kinda untrue.
Finer grinds don’t necessarily or always mean better extraction, they showed. And the 25-second espresso shot is a tradition … not a scientific certainty. Often, a lot of the unpleasant flavor compounds start to emerge after a mere 20 seconds. But especially, Hendon tells WIRED, grinding more coarsely, and using lower pressure and lower volumes of beans, leads to much more consistency between shots.
“What we were trying to do is find brew parameters that would allow us to make highly reproducible espresso,” he said. What he and his collaborators learned was that if you grind finer, extraction got better, but not forever. At some “critical point,” grinding finer actually led to worse extraction. Coffee clumped up. It clogged. Water actually got less contact with coffee grounds, not more.
If you ground beans more coarsely, and let the water flow longer through lower volumes of beans, you could get more even extraction, they discovered after analysis. This method also offered more repeatability. Using less coffee, and lower pressure, likewise allowed water to spend more time in contact with the coffee grounds—leading to even better extraction.
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
And so, grind coarser. Use less coffee. Use less pressure. Let it gush. Result: excellent extraction of sweet and aromatic compounds. Almost no bitterness. Hedrick tells WIRED that the best shots he’s pulled in recent memory have come using this method.
Hendon figures few would have paid attention to his findings if Hedrick hadn’t taken up the research and run with it—making video after video about the new technique for making what Hedrick now calls “modern” espresso, highlighting a bean’s bright aromatics without all the bitterness. Traditional shots just don’t get the flavors Hedrick wants, and have too many of the bitter flavors he hates.
Now, in the meantime, there are caveats. Hendon published a more recent paper showing that clumping at finer grinds could be avoided if you just spritzed your beans with a bit of water before grinding. (Coffee nerds had been doing this for a while; it just hadn’t been backed up by science.)
Which is to say, while turbo shots are a new and interesting and fun discovery, classic light roast espresso shots can also get good results.
Classic light roast espresso shots and turbo shots are both achievable. But note that turbo shots are a lot easier to pull off: Coarser grinds are quite simply more manageable. You’ll get more consistent shots time after time with gushers, Hedrick and Hendon both note.
So, how does a turbo shot taste? It is, on my attempts over the past couple of weeks, not quite as complex as more traditional, longer, finer-ground shots—at least when I’ve attempted them with more traditional 9-bar machines, like the Breville Oracle Jet and the new Meraki espresso machine I’m currently testing.
The combination of coarse grind and fast flow actually end up reminding me somewhat of results from some newer superautomatic espresso machines like the excellent De’Longhi Rivelia. These machines grind coarser and flow faster, and smooth out the edges of traditional shots. The results on my turbo shots were likewise smooth and flavorful, and a bit more sweet, but maybe also a less exciting and eventful ride.
Photograph: De’Longhi
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
Photograph: Matthew Korfhage
This said, I’ve also struck intense flavor gold with some turbo shots. And when they were good, the results were shockingly good. I have drunk a 12-second light roast espresso with flavor so round and full it made me question everything I’d previously been told about how good espresso should be made.
The difference between turbo and classic light roast shots is actually, if I’m comparing, a lot like the difference between a new-school hazy IPA and a West Coast IPA. The turbo shot, like a modern hazy IPA, offers more juiciness and less bitterness. Maybe it also offers a little less complexity. But in exchange, it’s an easy, smooth ride across the palate that’s more in line with modern tastes. It’s delicious.
So which do you prefer? Juicy or balanced? Complexity and intensity, or affable aroma and sweetness? A difficult test of espresso mettle, or an easy win? Shoot your shot.
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Matthew Korfhage
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Back in the early 1990s, Gen X found themselves in grunge clubs, moshing out frustration to Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The music gave voice to a generation’s angst. Fast forward three decades, and a new genre has emerged, Recession Pop resonates with audiences, especially millennials and Gen Zers. This sonic comfort is a shimmering, danceable, yet emotionally heavy style of music reflecting economic anxiety, heartbreak, and the strange urge to dance through it all.
RELATED: The History Of The Cocktail Party
Recession Pop blends upbeat pop beats with lyrics hitting closer to home than most bubblegum pop ever dared. Instead of carefree escapism, these songs reflect the reality of living in an era of rising rents, student debt, job instability, and inflation. It’s music for the dance floor, but with a knowing sigh in between choruses.
Artists like Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan are leading the charge. Carpenter’s smash hit Espresso may sound like playful fun, but underneath is a commentary on hustling, energy, and burnout in the modern economy. Roan, often described as a rising pop provocateur, captures millennial and Gen Z frustrations in glittery, theatrical anthems like Hot To Go!—a track equal parts fun and cathartic release.
Then there’s Charli XCX, who has long fused experimental pop with sharp cultural observations. Her music resonates with younger listeners because it captures both the highs of nightlife and the lows of existential dread. Together, these artists have defined a genre that is less about ignoring hardship and more about transforming it into something beautiful and communal.
“Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter – A TikTok-fueled anthem sounding carefree but reflects a restless, work-driven mindset.
“Hot To Go!” by Chappell Roan – A neon-soaked escape inviting listeners to dance away their stress.
“360” by Charli XCX – A stylish track pairing electronic production with sly commentary on image and modern identity.
RELATED: End-of-Summer Digital Detox Is 2025’s Coolest Trend
What makes Recession Pop so culturally powerful is its ability to balance optimism with honesty. Millennials and Gen Z are drawn to it not only because it’s fun to stream, share, and dance to—but also because it speaks to their lived experience. The upbeat production provides escapism, while the lyrics quietly acknowledge the struggles of navigating adulthood in uncertain times.
Much like grunge gave Gen X a raw voice in the early ’90s, Recession Pop provides today’s younger generations with a soundtrack to endure instability, while still celebrating joy wherever it can be found.
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Sarah Johns
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I didn’t consume my first cup of coffee until the ripe age of 24, when I was forced by a former employer to attend an ad hoc cupping session. At first I found the taste of black coffee repulsive, but my small-chain coffee shop employer did not comp the cost of more palatable options like the Minty Mocha Freeze, so my taste buds were forced to adapt. I slowly learned to enjoy the ritual of brewing a fresh pot of coffee in the morning, and I soon began to relish the opportunity to hang with my dad and chug coffee all day when I visited my parents around the holidays. Just two guys drinking Folgers from a crusty Mr. Coffee while reruns of NCIS and Law & Order: SVU air in perpetuity on the television.
I eventually moved to Portland, Oregon, during the height of coffee’s so-called “third wave,” and landed a job at a high-volume café and bakery. At this point my coffee consumption escalated from a physiological necessity to a more considered, bespoke experience. Roasters like Stumptown and Coava taught me about the principles of extraction, Black Rabbit taught me how to clean and maintain my shop’s La Marzocco, and a since-shuttered Seattle Coffee Gear outpost stoked my interest in the ever-expanding universe of grinders, brewers, boilers, and doodads that promise exquisite cups of coffee in all manner of scenarios.
Whether your budget is $4 or $400, there’s no shortage of thoughtful gadgets that make excellent gifts for family, friends, or total strangers in a hotly contested white elephant exchange. We’ve included only products and accessories our team has personally tested, vetted, and used to brew their own coffee at home.
Be sure to check out our many other buying guides. We have a few coffee-related guides, including our favorite cold-brew coffee makers, espresso machines, portable espresso makers, and cappuccino machines.
Updated October 2024: We removed a few old picks and added new ones, and refreshed links and prices throughout.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
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Pete Cottell, Jaina Grey
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It’s all in the beans. Nothing will improve your morning coffee like grinding the beans right before you brew. It doesn’t matter whether you’re rocking a fancy liquid-cooled-quantum-AI-powered espresso machine or a $25 Mr. Coffee—making the switch to whole beans will transform your coffee-drinking experience. We have advice at the end of this article on finding good whole beans (you might want to read our Best Coffee Subscriptions guide). Once you have your beans, it’s time to grind ’em up fresh each day. These are the best coffee grinders we’ve tested.
Be sure to check out our other coffee-related buying guides, like the Best Latte and Cappuccino Machines, Best Portable Coffee Makers, Best Espresso Machines, and Best Portable Espresso Makers.
Updated September 2024: We’ve added the Baratza Virtuoso+ and Bodum Bistro Electric Blade Grinder, updated our review of the Baratza ESP, and checked links and prices throughout.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that’s too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
Photograph: Iryna Veklich/Getty Images
Our list consists mostly of conical-burr grinders. In a conical grinder, coffee beans are crushed and ground between two rings of burrs. They deliver a finer, much more consistent grind than you’d get with a traditional blade grinder, even the nicest ones.
Flat-burr grinders are similar, but they’re typically more expensive. In these, the burrs are laid on top of each other, and the beans pass through them as they grind. The grinder action pushes the grounds out of one end, instead of relying on gravity like a conical-burr grinder, and the beans spend more time in contact with the burrs. This results in a more consistent grind, but for home brewers, conical-burr grinders are just as good—even if they require more maintenance and don’t result in consistent down-to-the-micron-scale grounds.
Blade grinders have a chopping blade that spins around like a food processor. But blades don’t produce even results. Some of your coffee will be fine powder at the bottom, and at the top you’ll have bits too large for even French press. The result is an inconsistent, unpredictable brew. These grinders are cheap, and yes, using fresh beans in a blade grinder is far better than buying ground coffee. (You can learn how to shake the beans to even your grind just a little. See world barista champion James Hoffmann’s video for some more blade grinder hacks.)
If you can afford it, we highly recommend going with one of the burr grinders we’ve listed. There’s a reason why they cost a little more than a budget burr grinder. The machinery in a high-quality burr grinder is a bit more complicated, and it’s built to withstand greater wear and tear. In cheap burr grinders, the burrs will typically get blunt from regular use, and the flimsier motors may burn out in a matter of months.
PSA: Do not put pre-ground coffee into a burr grinder. Logically, it makes sense. It’s too coarse, so you put it through again, right? No! With a burr grinder, the preground coffee gets stuck inside the burrs, and you’ll have to do some disassembly to set them to rights again.
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Jaina Grey, Tyler Shane
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There are only a few guarantees in life: death, taxes, and women fighting over the same man. In terms of celebrity drama, the public has always loved pitting women against one another, especially in relationships. Take
Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter over Joshua Bassett, Hailey Bieber and Selena Gomez over Justin, and most recently, Carpenter and Camila Cabello over Shawn Mendes.
When
Sabrina Carpenter’s highly anticipated latest album, Short n’ Sweet, debuted on August 23, fans tuned in. It was everything we expected: witty beyond imagination, an upgrade to her Pop Princess status, packed with songs of the summer and catchy throughout. But what we never expected were the songs taking obvious digs at Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello.
To be honest, I didn’t even know
Carpenter dated Mendes…and that’s on me for being a casual fan. But the proof is in the pudding, Carpenter and Mendes were spotted countless times last year on celebrity gossip page, Deuxmoi. The pair were flirting outrageously on Instagram. And then he was back with Camila.
And that was it for a lot of us. We didn’t think twice as Mendes and Cabello cozily sidled up to one another, we just let them return to being the weird couple they always were. Then Sabrina started dating
Saltburnstar Barry Keoghan and we focused on the short stack duo.
But now, we had to go back in the archives thanks to
Short n’ Sweet. Songs like Dumb & Poetic take obvious shots at Mendes, Sharpest Tool jabs at Cabello and so does Coincidence. The picture Carpenter has painted isn’t good, and Cabello has even taken a few swings in her own music.
So if you’re just as lost on the Carpenter-Cabello-Mendes love triangle…you won’t be for long. Here’s the story of how Camila Cabello potentially stole Shawn Mendes back from Sabrina.
We all know how
Cabello was with Shawn Mendes first. After two years together, the pair broke up in 2021. Then, after they were seen kissing at Coachella 2023, rumors were rampant about a reunion. Two months later, they called it quits again.
But in the midst of it all comes Sabrina Carpenter. In what seemed like a quick whirlwind, Shawn and Sabrina quietly launched their flirtation on Instagram in December 2022. Mendes posted an Instagram where Carpenter commented, “was it cold tho.”
By January 2023, more dating rumors swirled as Mendes was spotted in Paris and for absolutely no reason. While that may seem like nothing, Carpenter posts from the same 5-Star, Luxury
Costes Hotel in Paris a week later. Now that’s suspicious.
In February 2023,
Deuxmoi has a sighting of Shawn Mendes and Sabrina Carpenter “on clearly a date.” The anonymous tip came with the description of Carpenter wearing a brown mini skirt and Mendes with a freshly shaved head.
Screenshot of Deuxmoi post r/Fauxmoi on reddit
Close to a week later, they are finally photographed in Los Angeles where
People reports Carpenter is clearly wearing Shawn’s hoodie.
Fans began to notice how Camila Cabello was interacting more with Sabrina Carpenter posts on Instagram…even liking her BBC Radio 1 performance of Carpenter’s “Late Night Talking” cover. Screenshots have surfaced of Cabello liking countless Carpenter-related posts from around the time Mendes and Carpenter went public.
By March 13, 2023,
ET reported that Sabrina Carpenter and Shawn Mendes were dating but “trying to keep things low-key.” Somehow, this news got broken by The Cancelled Podcast.
This doesn’t last long, however, because Carpenter and Mendes split up sometime between March and April of 2023…and then he’s seen in April with Cabello.
While there are two sides (or, I guess three in this case?) to every story, all signs point to Cabello swooping in on Mendes immediately after (if not
during) his relationship with Carpenter.
And now, fans have noticed that one of Camila’s songs from her new album,
C,XOXO, “June Gloom” is also about the situation. With lyrics like “If she’s so amazing why are you on this side of town?” and “We’re a house fire for sure/Hope it’ll burn out but it just gets bigger,” are potential nods to her rekindling things with Mendes.
In a recent TikTok, Cabello even posts herself singing along to “June Gloom” which social media users are taking as her official admission to the beef.
@camilacabello hope it’ll burn out but it just gets bigger 🙄
♬ June Gloom – Camila Cabello
Not only that, but Cabello and Carpenter don’t follow one another on Instagram. Which could mean nothing, considering they have shown a lot of support for one another in the past publicly. Either way, the situation is intriguing.
While
Cabello and Mendes split two months after the Coachella sightings, it appears that they may be back together again. It seems like old habits die hard with these two (remember those slow walks they did during COVID?)
Cabello and Mendes were seen at the Copa America final on July 14 this year, where Argentina played Colombia. Not only that, but Mendes has also been liking Cabello’s Instagram posts. But, you never know.
Now that you’re all caught up on the drama and fully-invested…you’ll probably want to go back and listen to
Short n’ Sweet! And since about half the album revolves around this love triangle, let’s break down which song is about who!
“Heard you’re back together, and if that’s true/ you’ll just have to taste me while he’s kissing you” sings the chorus of this song. If you need me to spell it out for you, this is clearly about Camila Cabello.
Ohhh boy, does this tell the entire story. Lyrics include “Your car drove itself from L.A. to her thighs/Palm Springs looks nice, but who’s by your side?” and “Trying to turn past into the present tense”, it’s clear who this is about. And Carpenter adds she’s not shocked they broke up again.
This is for you, Shawn Mendes. Notable lines include “Just because you talk like one, doesn’t make you a man,” “save all your breath for your floor meditation,” “you’d make a great wife/And I promise you those mushrooms aren’t changing your life,” Carpenter rips into Mendes…and this one is obvious.
While Mendes certainly isn’t the only sinner in Carpenter’s stories, there are a few questionable songs where it could be about her other exes. Songs like “Sharpest Tool” refer to finding God at his exes house, which could be a reference to either Mendes or Joshua Bassett.
There’s also a general warning to men, “Lie To Girls,” where she promises you don’t have to lie to a woman to get you to like them…they’ll lie to themselves and make excuses for you if they like you.
Finally there’s the breakup anthem that closes the ironically short and sweet album, “Don’t Smile,” where Carpenter begs her ex to cry that it ended…not smile because it happened. Again, could be a nod to Shawn Mendes and her wanting him to repent.
Regardless, this drama has been fun…and with
Short n’ Sweet potentially gearing up for a #1 Billboard Hot 100 chart spot, Carpenter comes out on top.
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Jai Phillips
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Each new song is claiming to be
the song of the summer. This is not random TikTok singers doing their obligatory self-promo with the tried-and-true hook: “Did I just write the song of the summer?” But don’t blame them. Blame the labels that are vying for a number-one hit. Blame TikTok for making songs viral overnight. Or blame each and every one of us who exclaims “song of the summer!” whenever our favorite songs come on the radio. There’s even a Spotify playlist power ranking all of this years contenders.
Everyone’s seeking the perfect summer soundtrack. I make a new playlist once time April hits (overeager, I know) with all the songs I have on repeat for the season. It ranges from UK Drill to Alt-Pop bangers. If you don’t have Central Cee and Clairo playing back-to-back this summer, what are you even doing?
But yet, come summer one song stands out as
the song of the season. It’s the song that’s on everyone’s mind and everyone’s playlist. It’s the song everyone requests at parties, that plays every hour on the hour at the club, and the song we find ourselves humming mindlessly at the pool and on the beach.
Some years, it’s obvious. But this year, we’re spoiled for choice.
Dare I say it: we’re having a Summer 2016 Replay. For Gen Z and younger Millennials, Summer 2016 has taken a mythical quality online. Fall and Winter were when everything started to go wrong — some even say the killing of Harambe that May was the catalyst to all the ceaseless tragedy that’s happened since. If you’d told us then what the world would look like now, I would
not have believed you. It was the rise before the fall. It was a summer of possibility, incredulity. And it was a summer of really good music.
Leading up to Summer 2016, we had new albums from Beyonce (
Lemonade), Rihanna (ANTI, her last project), Drake (Views), Justin Bieber (Purpose), and Ariana Grande (Dangerous Woman). Those albums gave us summer hits like “Sorry,” “Work,” “One Dance,” “Controlla,” “Love Yourself,” “Into You,” and so. Much. More. Not to mention, right at the end of summer, Frank Ocean finally dropped “Blonde” and changed music forever. He ushered in the genre-less, experimental sound to mainstream music and is on the inspo board of everyone you love, I promise.
The radio was also blasting singles that still get regular play at clubs. Mike Posner’s “I Took a Pill In Ibiza,” “This is What You Came For” by Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa’s first hit “Hotter than Hell,” “Cheap Thrills” by Sia, and “Panda” by Desiigner. Doesn’t that take you back?
Since then, no other summer has matched the vibes and the soundtrack of Summer 16. Last summer was the summer of cinema — with
OppenBarbie taking over the box office and the planet. It was the summer of the girl, too. But summer 2024 is promising to have it all.
The summer festival circuit is in full swing with lineups that people are actually excited about and performances that are making and reigniting stars. Chappell Roan at
Coachella blasted her way to success, going from a niche, “gay famous” singer to a mainstream hitmaker. Lana Del Rey is so back in a big way after headlining Coachella with a special appearance from Billie Eilish. Billie released her best album yet, full of summer bangers and ballads alike.
But we can’t talk about Summer 16 without talking about Sabrina Carpenter. “Espresso” has been sitting pretty at the top of the charts since spring. It’s everyone’s hyperfixation song. It’s been played and played and I’m not even close to tired of it. While Sabrina has been writing music for years, her 2023 album
emails I can’t send has been a gamechanger for her career. Her mainstream success was slowly climbing with hits like “Nonsense” and “Feather” but nothing can compare to the level of fame she’s seeing in the wake of “Espresso.”
Out of nowhere, the lead single from her upcoming album became the unexpected song of pre-summer. But as we head into the season’s later months, can it keep up its momentum? Only time will tell. We’re spoiled for choice this summer with a bevy of hits from artists of every genre. Of course there are expected summer stars like Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, and Post Malone, but other more surprising contenders are vying for the Song of the Summer Title.
Here’s what we think of all of summer’s most infectious songs:
Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter
The perfect summer anthem. “Espresso” is a feel-good bop that I can listen to on repeat. I doubt I’ll ever get tired of it — no wonder it won’t exit the Billboard chart. The only thing keeping it from being the definite song of the summer is that it came out in early Spring. But don’t worry, Miss Sabrina has more than one card up her sleeve.
Please, Please, Please — Sabrina Carpenter
After announcing her next album, Sabrina released her latest single, “Please, Please, Please,” alongside the video with her boyfriend, Barry Keoghan. “Don’t embarrass me, motherf*cker,” she croons in the song — talk about relatable. Taking a different tone than “Espresso” but no less infectious, Sabrina’s close-to-Country crooning displays that she’s a versatile star who won’t be banging out versions of the same song forever.
I Had Some Help — Post Malone ft Morgan Wallen
Speaking of Country Music, Post Malone’s country era is going swimmingly for the former-rapper with his new song, “I Had Some Help,” featuring Country star Morgan Wallen. Post Malone is no stranger to songs of the summer with hits like 2017’s “Congratulations,” 2019’s “Circles,” and his
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse song “Sunflower” in 2019. This summer, he’s switching up genres but still racking up streams. Be prepared to hear this at every barbecue, beach house, or lake house or this summer.
II Most Wanted — Beyonce and Miley Cyrus
When Beyonce released her own Country album, it came with the infectious hit, “TEXAS HOLD EM.” The song’s opening line, “This ain’t Texas,” was on the tip of my tongue for months. Now that the album’s finally out, the surprising hit is her unexpected collaboration with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted.” Miley had the song of the summer last year with “Flowers” and teaming up with Beyonce on this emotional ballad is pure magic.
Nasty — Tinashe
Tinashe has been toiling for years aiming for a hit, and now she finally has one. A true TikTok song, this summer anthem went viral in a hilarious video of TikTok user Nate Di Winer when he posted a video of himself dancing to Hey Choppi’s “Blind.” Tinashe took the video’s success, overlaid her own video and audio over it, and it went crazy-crazy-viral. The rest is history. Now it’s a sneaky, sleeper hit of the summer. And the TikTok sound “I’ve been a nasty girl” is sure to outlive it and head into the golden days of Autumn — at least.
Million Dollar Baby — Tommy Richman
We can’t talk about TikTok songs without mentioning Tommy Richman’s “Million Dollar Baby”. No, not the 2004 brutal boxing film starring Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, and Morgan Freeman. It’s a viral hit that instantly became an earworm. Who is Tommy Richman, you might ask? The 24-year-old singer and rapper is brand new to the scene — and what a debut. I wish it
really was 2016 so everyone’s Instagram captions could be “Million Dollar Baby.” Simpler times.
Too Sweet — Hozier
TikTok is also responsible for Hozier’s first #1 hit in the US. Hozier’s been bringing his Irish accent-tinged voice to the charts since his massive debut single, “Take Me to Church.” But it took a post-album EP to skyrocket him to #1. After releasing
Unreal, Unearth in late 2023, Hozier dropped a 4-song EP this April with some extras that didn’t make the album. And thank goodness he didn’t let these songs languish because “Too Sweet” is the folksy summer anthem we need.
Good Luck Babe! — Chappell Roan
The gays won with this song. Chappell Roan has been belting out her ballads and bops of yearning since her extended album promotion in 2020. Finally,
The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, her debut album came out in late 2023 but it took until her 2024 single “Good Luck Babe!” to get people to tune in. But now that the masses are listening, they cannot stop. This unapologetically queer hit has transcended the gay pop genre and is a chart-topping summer anthem for all of us entering our eras of yearning.
LUNCH — Billie Eilish
Speaking of unapologetically queer, this new Billie Eilish era is unmatched. Billie’s brand-new album,
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, is a masterpiece and already gaining Grammy buzz. Album of the Year? Probably. And she deserves it. She traverses genres and moods with this album, managing to create a sound that’s refreshingly unique and a album that feels cohesive despite its leaps and bounds. “LUNCH” is the sapphic song of my dreams, and “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is a pop ballad that shows her range and her ability to create pop songs that last forever. [Read our full review of HIT ME HARD AND SOFThere.]
Cinderella — Remi Wolf
Remi will always be on my summer playlist so it’s exciting to hear her getting mainstream play. “Me and the boys in the hotel lobby,” is an infectious hook. And paired with her belting the chorus, it’s a textured song that I want to scream along to in my car with the windows down. [Read out interview with Remi Wolf at Spotify’s Lorem party
here.]
Houdini — Dua Lipa
Queen of Vacationing. Queen of Red Carpets. Formerly, Queen of Summer. After 2017’s “New Rules” made her a certified pop girl, and “Levitating” was the post-covid anthem, we all expected Dua to have the Song of the Summer with hits from her latest album,
Radical Optimism. Although hits like “Houdini” and “Training Season” have charted moderately well, they didn’t seem to stick. The vibes are good though, earning them a spot on my summer playlist despite everyone falling asleep on the job.
Houdini — Eminem
While Dua’s “Houdini” remains in the middle of the charts, Eminem’s return to music with his song, “Houdini” is climbing up the charts. It debuted at number #2 and is reaching for #1. This is his best showing on the charts in over a decade and bodes well for his upcoming album,
The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). The song is classic Slim Shady controversy bait. If cancel culture were actually real, Shady would be canceled for this one for sure — there’s a line about Megan Thee Stallion being shot (can rappers leave her alone?) and calling everything “gay.” But it’s catchy so it’s definitely going to stay in the charts for a while.
Not Like Us — Kendrick Lamar
By far, the most buzz-worthy rap hit is Kenrick Lamar’s diss track, “Not Like Us.” One of the final songs in the weeks-long saga that was his beef with Drake, it’s the final nail in the Drizzy coffin. You know you lost a rap war when one of the diss tracks becomes the song of the summer. Ouch!
BAND4BAND — Central Cee, Lil Baby
Wanna know who else is beefing? The US and UK rap scenes. The collaboration from Central Cee and Lil Baby isn’t bringing the two countries together, but tearing them apart. Each side is claiming their country carried the song. The British claim Lil Baby doesn’t sound as tough or “hard” as Cench, while Americans are making TikToks dancing to Cench’s verse in Bridgerton-like garb. I just want everyone to have fun. After Central Cee teamed up with Dave for my personal favorite song of
last summer, “Sprinter,” they could never make me hate him.
places to be — Fred Again.. Ft Anderson .Paak and CHIKA
I wanna hear this at the club. I wanna hear this on a rooftop. I wanna hear this while sprinting through a field or rolling down a hill or doing something else to fix my inner child. “places to be” is fun, refreshing, and sounds like the endless possibilities of summer. [Read our review of Fred Again..’s Stanford show here.]
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Langa Chinyoka
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We’ve come to the end of the road on season 49 of Saturday Night Live.
Over the weekend, Taylor Swift‘s ex Jake Gyllenhaal took the Studio 8H stage to close out the 49th season of the sketch comedy show. And nooooo, he totallyyyyyy wasn’t salty that he was only one episode away from hosting the premiere of the 50th anniversary episode! Ha! He said in his opening monologue:
“When you think of historic television seasons, the first number that pops into your head is 49. I mean, sure, one more episode and I would have been hosting the premiere of the 50th season, but who cares? [49] is a great number.”
The Roadhouse star ex continued:
“I know we’re all waiting for season 50, but, you know, you can’t get to 50 without a little bit of 49. And we’re here at the finale, the End of the Road.”
Related: Kendall Jenner Attends Bad Bunny’s Orlando Concert — Are They Back Together?!
Jake then started singing the lyrics to Boyz II Men’s End of the Road, but with an SNL twist:
“I’ve loved you right from the start, oh season 49 / You know, I was actually SNL’s first choice to host the finale after a lot of people said no / I guess they’re all holding out for the 50th, but not me, not little J-G, I’m the one who said, ‘Yeah’ / They asked Pedro Pascal but he wasn’t around / Zendaya said no ‘cause she’d be out of town / Even asked [Ryan] Gosling to come back again, just hosted three shows ago”
HA!
Kenan Thompson, Ego Nwodim, Punkie Johnson, and Devon Walker then joined him on stage and sang in unison:
“Although we’ve come to the end of the road / It’s the last episode / Time to say goodbye / Season 49 / You’ll be 50 soon”
40 years and over 900 episodes! DAMN! Also, Jake has a set of lungs on him!! Watch the musical monologue (below):
And Jake wasn’t the only Taylor-related guest on Saturday’s show… Her bestie and Eras Tour opener Sabrina Carpenter was also in the Big Apple to serenade the audience for the season’s finale! First up, she sang her chart-topping single Espresso, and absolutely CRUSHED it! Watch (below):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfiOn7_aJ0k
Spectacular!
She also sang a mashup of Feather and Nonsense, which sounded absolutely excellent. Watch (below):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHNnm2bE3Lg
Sabrina typically concludes Nonsense with an ad-lib relating to whatever city she’s in. This time, she sang:
“This song catchier than chicken pox is / I bet your house is where my other sock is / Woke up this morning, thought I’d write a pop hit / How quickly can you take your clothes off, pop quiz / He is 30 Rock hard ‘cause I said hi / My sense of humor is but I am not dry / SNL I just came for the first time”
She always kills it! However, we wouldn’t have been mad if she’d added a little riff in there about Jake and Taylor! That would have been the perfect opportunity! And we know Swifties would have gotten a kick out of it!
Sabrina also stuck around for a gruesome Scooby-Doo skit, where she played Daphne alongside Jake’s Fred. Watch (below):
Oof!!
Later on in the show, the Weekend Update guys Colin Jost and Michael Che hit each other with some absolutely SAVAGE jokes — with one even about Colin’s wife Scarlett Johansson! Watch (below):
See the rest of this week’s highlights (below):
Well, that’s a wrap on season 49! What’d YOU think?? SNL will return this fall with season 50!
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Perez Hilton
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Sabrina Carpenter already took over our hearts, but now, she’s taking over the charts with ‘Espresso!’ It became her first-ever top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 earlier this month and shows no sign of stopping its viral reign. We think it’s fair to declare it as 2024’s Song Of The Summer already…
‘Espresso’ has been living in our minds rent-free over the past few weeks, to the point where we’ve even come up with a new business venture for Sabrina: her very own café! And we can’t lie. It’s one of the best ideas we’ve ever had. Step into Sabrina’s Espresso & Sweets with us as we daydream a bit!
Of course, this would all center around a gourmet ‘Espresso’ Coffee Bar, because duh. But we think Sabrina’s café would have quite a few cute drinks that are all ready to post on your IG story! Some popular options would be the ‘Mona Lisa’ Matcha, ‘Bad Time’ Bubble Tea, and ‘First Love’ Latte. Each drink would come in the most adorable cup!
Want a little snack to go with your coffee or tea and satisfy your Sweet Tooth? Head over to the dessert counter, which has fruitcake, ‘Nonsense’ Nutella Cookies, and their specialty, Tirami-‘Sue Me!’ If you want something healthier, you can pick up some ‘Blueberries’ at the fruit bar. And for a proper breakfast or lunch, get a ‘Paris’ Croissant!
Every photoshoot that Sabrina shares with us is aesthetic heaven, so you know this café would be beautiful! We’re imagining some playful luxury like her Sweet Tooth branding, with gold and pink tones along with the signature red color from the emails i can’t send era. Some wall-mounted shelves around the café would show off pictures of Sabrina and maybe even some music video props and costume pieces.
Do you wanna document your visit? Don’t miss your photo opp at the ‘Looking at Me’ mirror (perfect for OOTD selfies!) or sitting on a pink couch in front of the heart backdrop from the emails i can’t send Tour.
It’d simply be ‘Bad for Business’ if the café didn’t have some fun merch for Sabrina’s visitors to take home! They’d have traditional merch items like t-shirts and tote bags with the café logo, along with mugs and tea cups, so you can bring some of Sabrina’s Espresso & Sweets into your morning routine. Maybe even some pink reusable straws and tumblers?
What would you order during your visit to Sabrina’s Espresso & Sweets? Do you think a café would be an exciting next step for Sabrina? Let us know in the comments below or hit us up on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!
Check out more sweet Sabrina Carpenter content!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SABRINA CARPENTER:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | TWITTER | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
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Madison Murray
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The counter space in my kitchen is at a premium. It’s valuable real estate, and every square inch matters. So when a new espresso machine arrives at my door, I always have to play a high-stakes game of countertop appliance Tetris to figure out how everything will fit—or who needs to get banished into a cupboard. When the De’Longhi Specialista Arte Evo rolled into my kitchen, I was ready to make tough decisions.
From the box’s size, I was sure the rice cooker or the food processor would have to be exiled. When I got the De’Longhi out of its box, though, my appliances breathed a sigh of relief. This is a svelte espresso machine, and it fits perfectly without sending any of my favorite appliances to a pantry gulag. Things were off to a good start, and it only got better—mostly.
The first couple of shots I pull out of any espresso machine will usually require some finagling. When an espresso machine has an internal burr grinder, that’s just one other thing I have to dial in from scratch. By the second shot, I was happy with what I was getting out of the Specialista.
The espresso poured into the cup in two streams of luxurious caramel-gold liquid, the crema gathering on top in an even layer. I changed the settings and pulled more tester shots to see how it performed with different grind consistencies and amounts for testing purposes, but by that second shot, I knew I’d found the sweet spot.
Photograph: Jaina Grey
Something I always like about De’Longhi espresso machines is the knobs. A lot of different models from the company up and down the price spectrum have really good knobs. The ones here are a joy to use. They’re raised from the surface of the control panel, and the outward face has the signature concentric circles of machined steel; the sides are adorned with textured metal accents. One controls the amount of coffee to grind, and the other toggles between brewing modes.
When you turn the grind knob, there’s a little resistance, just enough to feel like you have very fine control. The mode knob has a satisfying click when you switch from one mode to another. How much you enjoy using a device is important, and these little details make the Specialista Arte Evo feel good to use.
The Specialista Arte Evo comes in at a delightfully narrow 11.2 inches, sparing quite a bit of my counter space—especially since this is taking the place of two appliances, an espresso machine and a coffee grinder. There are smaller espresso machines—the new KitchenAid Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine is about as narrow as the Specialista—but most that have a built-in grinder are a little wider.
Photograph: Jaina Grey
The Specialista’s built-in conical burr grinder can grind coffee fine enough for espresso and coarse enough for drip or other brewing methods, so it’s capable of replacing a stand-alone grinder. There is one little quirk, though. The portafilter can’t slot into place underneath the grinder unless you attach the “grinding and tamping guide.” This component is a short cylinder of plastic that locks onto the portafilter to guide the grounds directly into the basket and help direct the tamp down onto the grounds.
It’s weird. The guide doesn’t feel as high-quality as other parts of the Specialista, almost like a cheap 3D-printed plastic. If you try to slot the portafilter underneath the grinder without the guide, you have to hold it there the whole time, and the grinder will likely spill some grounds into the drip tray. It feels like the grinding and tamping guide was added as a fix to the issue of the grounds spilling out.
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Jaina Grey
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There’s always room to up your game, and there are quite a few additional tools that can help you make the best espresso possible. These are all tools you’d employ before the brew, setting the stage for the perfect extraction.
Fellow Atmos Canister for Coffee Beans ($40): A vacuum canister is a great way to store your coffee beans. By vacating the chamber of all air every time you close it, the Fellow Atmos slows down the degradation of all those flavorful oils and chemical compounds inside your freshly roasted beans.
Oxo Conical Burr Grinder ($100): This is one of our top picks in our Best Coffee Grinders guide, and it’s a good choice for espresso. Espresso requires a fine and consistent grind, the likes of which you can easily get out of a burr grinder. Just be sure to get in there and give your burrs a sweep now and then—maintenance that the Oxo makes easy, with a bean bin that snaps apart without any fuss.
Bottomless Portafilter ($50): Nothing will improve your experience of watching espresso brew like a bottomless portafilter. Not because it will make your coffee better; it’ll make you better by making you more aware of your mistakes and inconsistencies. Bottomless portafilters are finicky, and when your grind is off or you’ve over-tamped your grounds, the bottomless portafilter lets you see that in how the espresso coats the bottom of the filter and pours down into the cup. Be sure to double-check the circumference on your espresso machine’s group head, though (the place the filter attaches). There are a number of standard sizes, so you need to make sure you order the right one. The most common are 53 mm and 58 mm, and almost every bottomless portafilter comes in each of these sizes.
Crema Distributor & Tamp ($39): Once you put your grounds into your portafilter, the next step is giving them a good, even tamping. You want to use about 30 to 40 pounds of pressure, and while you can use a scale to determine exactly what that feels like, I find it’s better to just press with your upper body, then extract a shot and see how it went. If it’s too bitter, you tamped too hard; if it’s too watery you didn’t tamp hard enough. A distributor (also called a leveler) makes it easy to get an even surface for you to tamp, and this one has a tamp on one side and a distributor on the other so you can level off your beans, then flip this tool over and give ’em a good tamp. Just make sure you get one that fits the circumference of your machine’s portafilter!
Duralex Picardie Shot Glasses, Set of Six ($19): These are my favorite shot glasses in general, but they’re also great espresso shot glasses—tall and narrow enough to allow a wonderfully aerated crema to form on top, and made of tempered glass so they can stand up to the heat. They’re also great for serving up smaller drinks like macchiatos—a shot of espresso with a dollop of froth on top.
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Jaina Grey
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Breaking news: it’s Friday. So that means we have a whole week’s worth of new music. After Billie Eilish basically broke the internet by announcing a new album this week, everyone’s wondering who else is gearing up to release some future Grammy nominees. My guess? Harry Styles. (Or is that just a wish?)
Either way, we have to focus on the present. While I’m overly ecstatic for it to be the weekend, I’m also equally excited to be listening to all these songs on Spotify. Plus, Coachella starts today, and I know a lot of you are going to need to add some songs to your pregame playlists.
As always, I’ve combed through every New Music Friday playlist, I’ve read all the press releases, and I’ve done my own research. Here are some of the best new songs to listen to that were released today. Let’s get listening!
Sabrina Carpenter- “Espresso”
Sabrina Carpenter is having herself a year. Ahead of her first Coachella performance this weekend, she releases “Espresso”, a fun-loving hit single that makes you want to lose all your worries and just move. Carpenter is having fun with her life, and it reflects her music. Written in Paris, she was in her traveler mindset just appreciating what the world had to offer. One of my favorite releases today, “Espresso” is a certified banger.
Sabrina told Zane Lowe,
“I don’t think I’ve ever gone into writing an upbeat, confident record being like, “I really want to write an upbeat, confident record.” I have to be in that headspace and I have to be in that mood. And this was one of those times in my life where it was just like, I just thought I was the shit in the moment.”
Perrie- “Forget About Us”
Perrie Edwards may not be a familiar name by any means…formerly a leading member of Little Mix, Edwards’ vocal power set her apart from the crowd early on. “Forget About Us” is Perrie’s debut single as a solo artist, a pivotal song that’s both upbeat in melody and melancholic in lyricism.
Written alongside Ed Sheeran, she reminds us in the same track that although relationships don’t always last, they’re still dynamic moments in our lives that shape who we are. Edwards says,
“I look back on past relationships and do think happily about those times. Do I want to be there now? No. It didn’t work out that way and if it was supposed to be it would have happened. Relationships have been a huge part of my life and they’ve made me who I am now. I think it’s a nice sentiment to be honest about and it’s super relatable.”
Peter McPoland- “Speed of the Sound (of you)”
Peter McPoland is a one-of-a-kind talent in the music industry. A special force who can write, produce, and record a record by himself and have it sound flawless, McPoland has an ear for a hit track. As his prowess grows, the songs get better…which is exactly the case with “Speed of the Sound (of you).”
McPoland’s first song of 2024 doesn’t disappoint by any means. It’s a bop that’s worthy of playing over and over. Unique in its own way, Peter McPoland delivers yet another earworm-y song.
Dua Lipa- “Illusion”
I’m getting a bit upset with Dua Lipa for not releasing any sort of ballad and declaring that her album would sound different than the rest…however, I can’t deny that her disco-pop style is great for partying. Although she hasn’t strayed far from her usual style, Lipa shows us she knows what it takes for a chart-topping record…and she’s sticking with what works.
“Illusion” is every bit the 80’s workout sound you know and love.
Future, Metro Boomin- “We Still Don’t Trust You”
Metro Boomin is the Jack Antonoff of rap, if that makes sense. A highly regarded producer and creator who can work with the best-of-the best and create a Grammy-nominated album every single time. Every time you hear that iconic “Metro Boomin want some more” intro, you know you’re getting a banger.
“We Still Don’t Trust You” is an absolute vibe. A song I could see myself driving on the highway to at midnight, it’s more beat-heavy than about lyricism. Plus, a few melodies from The Weeknd make this even more of a brooding, moody tune that just works.
Maggie Rogers- “The Kill”
Maggie Rogers has gone for the kill with her new album, Don’t Forget Me. A songwriter to her core, Maggie Rogers is highly regarded as one of the best indie alt stars of our generation. This album deserves its own separate article, but “The Kill” is one of her best submissions.
About a relationship that has gone sour, Maggie Rogers reflects on how things used to be good…but now they’re just going for the kill.
Chlöe- “Boy Bye”
Chlöe delivers an electric breakup anthem with “Boy Bye.” I immediately added this to my playlist because the song encapsulates being so done with a partner, needing to leave them because they don’t treat you right. She bids her boy bye with this upbeat R&B track, telling him to go back to his mother because she won’t even cry.
It makes me even more excited for her debut album, In Pieces. The world is in desperate need of an R&B diva who isn’t afraid to tell it like it is…and I think we’ve found her.
Suki Waterhouse- “Fun”
New mother, Suki Waterhouse, is wasting no time getting back to her music. In “My Fun”, she yearns for a partner who loves her like she loves having her fun. A folksy rock track that is reminiscent of classic greats like The Beatles, “My Fun” is the perfect ending to this playlist.
Fun loving, scream worthy, “My Fun” is an easy listen. Suki Waterhouse makes no mistakes with her music.
Listen To Our Full Playlist Here:
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Jai Phillips
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When an espresso machine costs over $1,500, it can be trickier to test than cheaper models. It’s sort of like testing a high-end camera. At the very least, it should shoot good photos, maybe even great photos. The rest of the evaluation is less on its performance of basic functions than how well it performs those functions over time, how well it responds to you as a photographer, and how good it looks. I spent about 90 days with the Diletta Bello, and during that time I’d have to say it nailed three out of three.
Any espresso machine in this price range should pull near-perfect shots right out of the box, and the Bello did not disappoint on that front. Within an hour of unboxing it, running water through it, and finding a good place on my counter for it, I was watching golden-brown espresso pour into a demitasse cup. The crema built up in a smooth, swirly layer and before I even brought it to my lips, I knew the Bello and I would get along during our time together.
Crème de la Crema
I’m a sucker for a bottomless portafilter, and machines like the Bello are the reason why. As soon as you flip the hefty, mechanical-feeling lever to begin pulling the shot, the machine begins to produce a rich, aerated, amber and earth-colored shot that builds up beneath a layer of crema. With a shot glass, you can really see it build up; it looks like someone pouring a Guinness. Tiny bubbles roiling beneath the surface, only to rise and become a part of the foamy cloud bank resting on top of a dense, bittersweet elixir.
I actually got lucky with those first shots, because if your grind is off by even a bit the Bello will misfire. If your grind is too fine, it’ll whirr and struggle to push out a trickle of too-bitter coffee into your cup. If your grind is too coarse, water will shoot through the portafilter like it didn’t touch the coffee at all, filling your cup with an undrinkably weak coffee-adjacent water product that tastes like someone poured the drip tray into your cup.
To be fair, this isn’t an entirely uncommon result when you’re using a high-end espresso machine. They can be finicky. The Bello even has an analog pressure gauge, which is super helpful for diagnosing issues with your shots: Low pressure and a fast pour means your coffee is too coarse; high pressure but a slow pour means your coffee is too fine or packed too tight.
But the Bello’s favorite grind size was easy enough to find because it is so persnickety. If your grind is wrong, it will tell you. I like to err on the side of too fine, with a firm tamp, and then step up the coarseness over the course of a couple rounds of shots to get it dialed in just right. For me, I found that the machine does well with a grind that’s a little finer than the consistency of granulated white sugar, and a firm (but not heavy) tamp. We’re not trying to crush this thing under a hydraulic press, just press it down slow till it feels like there’s not any give left.
Knobs and Levers
Photograph: Diletta Espresso
This is an espresso machine for tinkerers, and it looks the part. The front panel features a solid metal off-on switch that clicks with a satisfying chunk sound. There are also two articulated metal wands, one for steam and one for hot water. Their range of motion never felt restrictive, and they’re easy to move into place or out of the way, depending on what you’re doing. The steam wand’s maneuverability makes it easy to get it into just the right position to swirl your milk into a creamy microfoam.
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Jaina Grey
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For coffee lovers, the AeroPress 3-in-1 coffee press is the perfect kitchen appliance for making that perfect cup of morning coffee. AeroPress makes it easy for you to enjoy a flavorful and robust cup of coffee anyplace you choose. The press uses a rapid total immersion brewing process to make smooth, delicious, full-flavored coffee without the bitterness and with low acidity.
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Introducing Havanero Espresso: Stone Street Coffee’s Homage to the Cuban Coffee Tradition
NEW YORK, August 7, 2023 (Newswire.com)
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Stone Street Coffee Company, the esteemed artisan coffee roaster renowned for its globally-sourced coffees, is thrilled to announce the upcoming launch of its latest innovation in premium coffee: the Havanero Espresso.
Cuba, a country synonymous with its delectably sweet sugar cane rum, world-class cigars, vibrant salsa rhythms, and legendary figures like Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, now serves as the inspiration for Stone Street Coffee’s newest espresso blend. Stone Street proudly presents the “Havanero Espresso,” a robust and dark roast inspired by the rich Latino culture.
Packaged in a convenient 10-oz. can, this extraordinary dark roast is composed of the finest Latino coffees, blending both Robusta and Arabica beans for a truly unique experience. Designed for the bold-minded coffee enthusiast, the Havanero Espresso pushes the boundaries of flavor, inviting drinkers on an exciting coffee journey.
“We’re beyond excited to introduce the Havanero Espresso to our esteemed product line,” said Stone Street’s CEO, Johan Pesenti. “This new blend encapsulates our ongoing commitment to deliver unparalleled coffee experiences. The Havanero Espresso invites our customers to taste a piece of Cuba’s vibrant culture in every cup.”
Every sip of the Havanero Espresso unfolds a complex flavor profile. It melds the rich flavors of chocolate and caramel, along with exotic spices that perfectly encapsulate the Cuban spirit.
The Havanero Espresso will be available for purchase this Fall, from select retailers, online via the Stone Street Coffee Company website and app, and at Stone Street Coffee’s flagship store in New York City. It is an invitation to coffee lovers seeking a bold brew that doesn’t compromise on quality or flavor.
About Stone Street Coffee Company:
Established in 2009, Stone Street Coffee Company is a New York-based artisan coffee roaster devoted to producing the finest quality coffee while championing sustainability and fair trade practices. With an extensive selection of single-origin and blended coffees, as well as exclusive seasonal offerings, Stone Street Coffee caters to the refined tastes of coffee connoisseurs worldwide. To discover more, visit StoneStreetCoffee.com or follow them on Instagram @stonecoffeecompany.
Source: Stone Street Coffee Company
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