About Starter Shot
Starter Shot is a new, independent website for people buying their first home espresso setup. It's run by Spencer Gaudreau.
Why this site exists
Shopping for a first espresso machine is confusing. Specs like "15 bar," "PID," and "54mm vs 58mm" get thrown around without explanation, and most "best of" lists focus on the machine while ignoring the grinder, which matters just as much. Starter Shot exists to explain the trade-offs plainly and help you build a complete setup that fits your budget, mostly in the $500 to $1,000 range.
How we research
- Specs come from manufacturer product pages and owner's manuals, which we link in each guide's sources.
- Prices are checked on manufacturer and retailer pages, and every guide shows the month they were checked. Prices change, so always confirm before you buy.
- We read widely across owner communities and existing reviews to understand common praise and complaints, and we say so when something is a general observation rather than a measured fact.
What we won't do
- We won't claim lab testing we didn't do, invent scores, or show star ratings we didn't earn.
- We won't pretend to be a team of certified baristas. Our guides are currently research-based; as we use gear ourselves, we'll add clearly labeled hands-on notes.
- We won't rank products by commission. Some products we recommend aren't sold through any affiliate program.
How the site makes money
Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
Questions or corrections? Get in touch. We fix mistakes quickly.
Last updated November 13, 2026.