Not only did caffeine fuel my studies, I started working as a barista during my sophomore ... good coffee requires good equipment. (You'll also need good beans but that's an entire TED talk).

For absolute beginners, we love the Breville Barista Express Impress. Both are solid, semi-automatic machines that ring in under $1,000. If you're interested in espresso without the fuss and bulk ...

Find out why this South Florida coffee company, known for its organic international beans, has suddenly ground to a halt.