The Grind Report exists because most gear reviews are written from a spec sheet, not a countertop. We buy what we review, use it daily for at least two weeks, and publish the data along with the opinion — including when a popular product underperforms.

The team

Mara Ilić — Equipment Testing Lead

Former QC lead, independent specialty coffee roaster · 6 years in specialty coffee

Mara runs the day-to-day testing process: sourcing gear at retail, logging temperature and extraction data, and writing up the reviews. Before joining The Grind Report, she managed quality control and equipment calibration for a regional specialty roaster, which is where the "measure it, don't estimate it" approach to reviews comes from.

Devon Cole — Founder

Founded The Grind Report in 2026 · Runs the comparison and blind-tasting content

Devon started The Grind Report after getting tired of buying gear based on affiliate roundups that clearly hadn't been tested. Devon organizes the blind-tasting panels used in comparison guides and handles most of the editorial and site work.

How we choose what to review

We prioritize gear that's either genuinely popular (so our data is useful to the most people) or that we suspect is overhyped relative to its performance. We don't accept payment for placement, and any product sent to us for free by a manufacturer is disclosed clearly at the top of that review.

How we make money

The Grind Report earns affiliate commissions when readers buy through links on the site, and may run display advertising. Neither affects which products we test or how we score them — see our full affiliate disclosure.