Espresso Machine!?

I love coffee especially espresso. Recently, I bought instant espresso but it can't be compared to freshly brewed

Therefore I would like to buy an espresso machine. I know they are pretty expensive and I wanted to get some recommendations or experiences first.

Do you know good brands? Is there anything else to consider?

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Comments

FrankM_3301

You'll find more information than you ever wanted here: www.coffeegeek.com. However, right now (1/7/19 @ 7:40 am EST) it looks like the site is being updated, and is not accessible. Found this on twitter: "The CoffeeGeek website is down today and tomorrow as the website servers are upgraded and moved to a new facility (yep, physical servers). Hopefully it will all go smoothly and will be back online tomorrow."

Brandon_Byrd_40557

A proper espresso machine is very expensive and many require plumbing (water or drainage). They can also be gigantic. Then there's all the tweaking to get your pressure and temps how you like it. Not to mention perfecting the grind (a grinder is another expense). As much as I love coffee, all that's too much for me. So I purchased a Nespresso Inissia a couple years ago and couldn't be happier. The pods are expensive compared to raw beans, but the result is very decent espresso at the touch of a button. Espresso on demand? Don't mind if I do. I was convinced to pull the trigger after learning that many fine dining establishments, including some with Michelin stars, use Nespresso machines for their coffee service, as it produces a consistent quality product with little capital investment and a minimum of staff training. Anyway, if you want to take the full plunge on espresso, ChefSteps has a coffee course that goes over espresso. Here's a link to their equipment guide, which recommends a couple espresso machines. Only one of them costs less than $1000, but it's small and doesn't require a water line. It'd probably be my choice if I ever took the plunge.

Leonard_Whipple_893750

Hi, my name is Len. The Breville Infuser is a great machine. Best to buy on Amazon(cheaper). A good bean grinder is actually more important then the espresso machine. You should check out

sweetmarias.com to learn more. I've been using the Breville Infuser machine for 5 years now.

I've been roasting beans as you need coffee that's freshly roasted or you will be disappointed in espresso results. Roasted coffee goes stale after 3 to 4 weeks. The Breville Infuser is the best low end machine period. As you know you can spend $$$$ for a great machine, there are endless choices. If you want to contact me my email is cotatilen@gmail.com.

masonlim_998571

Good day. You know, for my cafe, I always buy all the equipment from one company https://mcdonaldpaper.com/ , since I tested them for strength. I like the choice of product and price range. So from personal experience I can recommend to look at their site, what suggestions are there for your request. I hope I helped you, if anything - write. Have a good shopping!

Jane_Jefferson_1063826

What is your budget? $500 or $5k or somewhere in between? Fully automatic vs. manual/semi-manual? Answering those questions helps narrow down the choices. There are hundreds of brands, so it's hard to recommend anything not knowing your budget.

Twice that Leonard said about the grinder - it's more important than a coffee machine itself. For instance I have a Baratza virtuoso percicio (discontinued) which gives me a ton of flexibility for different coffee makers.

When I did my research, I realized that I did not want to make espresso my hobby - I just wanted a reasonable espresso sometimes at home. So from my experience, while not a true espresso machine, stove-top moka pots ($15 - $25) make coffee which is pretty close to espresso. I have one and like the coffee it makes a lot. And unlike actual espresso machines, moka pots have no electrical parts so they'll last forever. You can start with this, or you can try Chemex.

But if you still want an automatic one, my favorite barista generally recommends Breville for home use, as they ranges from a few hundred dollars up to $2k. We had one, it cost us about 500$ (with a discount), but as I've mentioned above - as for now I prefer my coffee "hand made" (moka pots+chemex).

So good luck with shopping!

invictusman_1237564

I have been drinking coffee for many decades. I had low blood pressure and the drink saved me a lot. I love the taste of coffee from a coffee machine. And I began to drink it without sugar as it is much healthier. It was important for me to prepare it myself, but it is very difficult to understand the different buttons on the device, since some of them may be responsible for preparing several types of coffee.

Sertanpyr_1495278

I also love coffee, and I can't wake up in the morning without drinking a cup of espresso. But since I recently changed jobs, I prefer to buy coffee at Starbucks when I go to work. And now, I am open to many new coffee flavors, thanks to the website starbmag.com. I think I have been drinking only espresso for nothing all these years and did not perceive any other coffee drinks. It turns out that coffee can be varied and stunningly delicious at the same time. Therefore, I do not advise you to choose only an espresso machine. Think bigger and discover new tastes.