Affiliate Disclosure
We owe you the truth before we owe anyone a sale
At Espresso Steals, we’d rather lose a sale than lose your trust. This page lays out exactly how we make money, what that means for you, and the promises we make to keep this site useful instead of just profitable — the same straight talk we’d give a friend who asked, “is this espresso machine actually a good deal right now?”
The short version: we earn small commissions when you buy through our links, it costs you nothing extra, and that’s the entire reason this site is free. The longer version is below.
What an affiliate link is
An affiliate link is a normal link to a product with a small tag on the end that tells the retailer “this visitor came from Espresso Steals.” If you click through and buy, the retailer pays us a small commission as a thank-you for the referral. The price you pay is exactly the same as if you’d gone straight to the retailer yourself — you are never charged a penny more for using our links. You should assume that any link to a product or retailer on Espresso Steals is an affiliate link, unless we note otherwise.
Our affiliate relationships
Our primary affiliate program is the Amazon Associates Program. As required by the Amazon Associates Operating Agreement:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We may add other reputable affiliate programs over time. When we do, the same standards on this page apply to all of them. Participating in the Amazon Associates Program does not mean Amazon endorses, sponsors, or is affiliated with Espresso Steals. We’re an independent site and are solely responsible for this content. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
How we use what we earn
Commissions keep the lights on — literally. They pay for:
- The price-history data we track on every product (this isn’t free, and it’s the heart of what we do).
- Hosting, software, and the tools that keep the site fast and online.
- The time to maintain the catalog, vet new gear, and keep our buy/wait calls current.
Because of those commissions, we can keep Espresso Steals free for everyone, ad-light, and free of pop-up clutter. You get the data; the links cover the bill. That’s the whole arrangement.
Our honesty commitment — the part that matters
Plenty of sites slap affiliate links on anything and call it a “deal.” We built Espresso Steals to be the opposite. Here’s what we promise:
We track real price history and only flag genuine lows. We won’t manufacture a fake discount off an inflated “list price” that nothing ever sold at. When we say something’s a good price, it’s because we’ve watched what it actually sold for over time.
We give you an honest BUY or WAIT call. Here’s the uncomfortable truth we choose to live with: we only earn if you buy — and we’ll still tell you to WAIT when a price isn’t actually good. One commission isn’t worth misleading you.
Our catalog is community-vetted. What you see reflects the consensus of the espresso enthusiast communities — people who pull shots every day. We deliberately do not list pressurized-basket starter junk, blade grinders dressed up as espresso grinders, or no-name gear — no matter how steep the discount. A big number off the wrong machine is still a bad buy.
One practical note: prices and availability change constantly and are set by the retailer, not us — always confirm the final price on the retailer’s site before buying. We work hard to keep our data current, but we can’t guarantee it’s exact at the moment you click.
You’re never obligated to buy anything
Nothing here is a sales pitch in disguise. Use our price history and buy/wait calls, then buy wherever and whenever you like — or not at all. Using our links is just a free way to support the site if you found it helpful. We’re grateful when you do, and we won’t be offended when you don’t.
Changes to this disclosure
We may update this disclosure as our affiliate relationships or practices change. When we do, we’ll revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this page.
Questions?
If anything here is unclear — or you just want to talk espresso — reach out at [email protected]. Transparency only works if you can ask us about it.