About Us

Born Out of Frustration. Built with Purpose.

If you've ever owned a Breville Barista Express, you know the struggle. Deep cleaning it is a pain — but skipping it means funky-tasting coffee. I tried pulling out the baskets with my fingers. I tried prying them out with silverware. I broke fingernails. I bent knives. There had to be a better way.

So I decided to build one.

From Measurements to Prototypes

I taught myself CAD from scratch, took precise measurements of my machine, and started designing. Dozens of prototypes later, I landed on something that just works — a tool that removes portafilter baskets effortlessly and feels great in the hand. No more broken nails. No more bent silverware.

I shared it with friends first. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. Then I posted a few videos on Instagram to see if other home baristas were dealing with the same frustrations.

My first video went viral.

Espresso Compare & The Barista Banana

That moment confirmed what I suspected: home baristas everywhere were struggling with the same problem, and nobody had built a proper solution. That's how Espresso Compare was born — and how The Barista Banana became our flagship product.

The Barista Banana is a 3-in-1 portafilter cleaning tool designed specifically for Breville and Sage espresso machines. It's earned 11 five-star reviews from home baristas who, like me, just wanted a cleaner machine and better-tasting espresso.

Designed in Chicago

We're based in Chicago, IL — and proud of it. Every design decision is made here, with the home barista in mind. Our mission is simple: to create and curate the best espresso tools for home baristas, designed in Chicago and shipped to home baristas everywhere.

Join the Community

We're more than a product — we're a community of people who take their home espresso seriously. Follow along on Instagram (@baristabanana) and YouTube (@TheBaristaBanana) for tips, tutorials, and behind-the-scenes content.

Ready to upgrade your espresso routine? Shop The Barista Banana →