Q. I want to add Wi-Fi security cameras around my home, but I am turned off by all the subscription fees. Is there anything worthwhile I can buy that doesn't require a monthly subscription?

—P.A., Sam Jose, California

A. I am also not a fan of subscriptions for products of this type. Besides the extra monthly expense from the very beginning, those fees can and will go up over time. For example, look at all the streaming services that have increased their prices lately. It is easy enough to discontinue a streaming service if you are dissatisfied with the price, but if you have a large investment in equipment it will be a lot harder to cut the cord later if you find the fees to be getting out of hand.

The eufyCam S330 is about as perfect of a security system as I have seen, and no subscription is required. The cameras are solar powered and only require two hours of daylight per day, even on an overcast day, to power them indefinitely. Since you do not need to run power to the cameras it makes them very easy to install, as well. They have 4K resolution and intelligent facial recognition to distinguish between family, friends and strangers. Perhaps most importantly, from camera to your phone the video quality is exemplary.

The four-cam kit is a good place to start, and is a very good deal right now. Regularly $699.99, a checkbox coupon on the eufy.com website reduces the price $270 to $429.99. Once you have a kit you can add accessory cameras, video doorbells, floodlight cameras, indoor cameras and smart door locks to build your perfect system.

Q. I have the Wirsh Home Barista Plus espresso machine and have been getting good results with the included portafilter, which is designed to be used with store-bought ground espresso coffee. The included portafilter has also worked well enough with my current Kitchen Aid coffee grinder. However, using the accessory bottomless portafilter I purchased is not working out as my coffee grinder only has six settings and does not grind fine enough. You mentioned you have an espresso-grade grinder, what do you use and was it expensive?

—J.M., Fredericktown, Ohio

A. You need a very fine grind with a bottomless portafilter because the grinds themselves produce the pressure to extract the espresso. Bottomless filters provide better-tasting espresso, but as you have seen it takes a very high-quality grinder to make them work properly.

I have a Baratza Encore ESP, with the ESP standing for espresso. They sell for $199.95 and are considered the go-to for an affordable, yet high-quality grinder that has the precision and high-quality burrs needed to properly grind coffee for espresso. Please note that the regular Baratza Encore model that sells for $149.95 is not recommended for espresso, so please do not get confused when you see an Encore model with a lower price. Baratza has an excellent reputation for customer service as well, which is another reason they have become a favorite brand for coffee enthusiasts. baratza.com

A key feature of the Breville Barista Touch Impress I mentioned last week is the integrated grinder uses high-quality Baratza burrs, something only found on higher-end Breville espresso/coffee machines. If you are starting from scratch and have to buy both a grinder and an espresso machine, having the high-quality grinder built-in makes the $1,499.95 Barista Touch Impress even more attractive at the current $999.95 sale price. Adding a quality grinder to an expensive machine might get you close enough to the $999.95 that you might want to splurge and be really happy.

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