I needs me a new espresso machine. I previously had a low-end Braun, steam-driven. I’m thinking of getting a pump-driven machine, but I have questions.
Pump-driven machines are more complicated and have more parts. If I get a low-end pump-driven machine, is it going to be reliable? I’m a skinflint at heart. Judging from Froogle, the cheapest el-cheapo ones are in the $50-$100 range. Is that just borrowing trouble?
If anyone has any specific model recommendations, do tell. I see that some of them allow you to make two cups at once, which is not desirable. The hubby doesn’t like coffee, and I would much prefer something with a smaller footprint. I just need to be able to make me a latte. I’ll be operating the thing at 6:30 AM, and I am not a morning person, and, by definition, this will be BC (Before Caffiene) so ease of operation is also a plus.
My experience with espresso machines in the $100 range was miserable; after a fair bit of research, I bought the once considered the best on the market. It produced something that more resembled weak coffee than espresso. Sorry I can’t be more help, but from what I’ve found, espresso and $100 don’t mix.
This site has some decent prices on deLonghi machines. They have other brands too, but they get pretty pricey. They even have gourmet beans to come with the espresso maker.
What timing! Just this morning, I read this article on Slate reviewing espresso machines. The article’s really about pump-driven machines, because the writer didn’t care for machines that used steam for their pressure. They’re pricey, but compared to what you’d pay at Starbucks…
I’ve been assidously studying these because I’m in the market for one and am buying myself one for Christmas.
The overwhelming opinion on the net seems to be to not buy a “steamtoy” but that a pumpmachine is necessary. Under 100 you’d be stuck, I’m afraid. I’m drooling over the Gaggia Baby , but financial constraints might well see me end up with the Gaggia Espresso model.
One word of warning, please be aware that the grind is very important in espresso. If you are grinding your own beans, which really is a lot nicer, then practically all coffee sites/manufacturers/experts etc will advise that a whirly blade grinder will not cut it, but that you need a burr grinder. Otherwise it’s akin to having a fabulous stereosystem and crappy speakers, i.e. you’re only as strong as your worst bit of equipment. The bad news: even the most basic workable grinder is an extra 120 or so. :eek:
I have one of these, and I love it. It’s a couple years old, and has always produced very nice espresso. Yes, it’s pricey. But I went through at least a couple cheapo machines that simply didn’t make decent espresso, so I bit the bullet and spent the cash. It was one of the best purchases I’ve ever made.
We mostly use cans of Illy (not the pods) to make espresso. On occasion we grind our own, but it’s hard to grind espresso. Really hard. Our burr grinder barely does the job, and I keep wanting to replace it but haven’t yet, and I like the taste of Illy.
As far as grinding beans goes, how does buying small quantities and having the beans ground at the store? Would that be the height of gauche?
Yeah, that’s the calculus of pleasure, isn’t it? [hoity toity] Though I do prefer my local Coffee Shoppe to Starbucks, [/hoity toity] the cost is about the same.
The Primary Purpose of the machine will be to get me awake for my 8:00 MWF class. (Yes. 8:00 AM. Great googily moogily.) So $3 a latte times 3 days a week minus the cost of a quart of skim milk, about $2, minus the cost of beans for a week (I have no clue about this; I ain’t picky, so call it a buck?) times 14 weeks is $84.
So if I spend something on the low side of a hundred bucks, it pays for itself in a semester. Much more than that, though, and we’re starting to get out of the realm of “smart economic decision” and more into the realm of “indulgence for Podkayne.” Not that that’s necessarily a Bad Thing.
(Or, I could just make myself a cup of tea every morning. This is starting to look more attractive.)
Okay, now that you’ve gotten a lot of helpful suggestions, I now feel free to throw in a smart-alecky remark:
The first thing I thought (and yes, it is historically inaccurate in many, many ways) was,“Because that’s how the ancient Druids celebrated, with a double foam, half-caf latte after a human sacrifice.”
Hope you find a good one, Podkayne. Happy Solsitce.
Well, the experts would have a fit alright. I say it depends on how anal you want to get. Experts also say never use coffee roasted less than ten days ago which is completely impossible for a singleton in a rural (no roasters) area, so that’s the one I plan on ignoring. Espresso is a hobby one can get extremely geeky about, but like yourself I just want really nice coffee in the morning. I reckon the way you suggest is still going to be better than a lot of cafes and I would do the shop grind things (or shop bought Illy or Lavazza espresso cafe) rather then arsing about with a whirly grinder and jam your shiny lovely machine.
But then, this is ALL theoretical knowledge. I have spent hours and hours reading up on the web but I haven’t as yet got my machine. I’m just extrapolating from what people say (apart from the Illy and Lavazza part. I have actually tried those), so this could be all wrong. Perhaps I’m trying to talk you into this so I feel better myself about spending squillions on an espresso machine.
We have a damn good roaster right here in town, and I can grind my own Espresso if I care to take the time (my grinder will do it, it’s just a bit fussy about it.)
I use Illy pre-ground just about all the time.
The damn stuff is amazing. It’s shipped in vacuum packed cans, and it produces really, really good espresso. You can get it online if you don’t have a retailer near you. I heartily recommend it.
The hotel I stayed at last weekend had a Jura Capresso Impressa-style maker in the club-level lounge. It was truely a marvel of engineering, two bean dumpers (they had decaf in one, regular in the other), and all you had to do was push a button and it’d make you a Cap. Amazing, amazing machine.
As others have said, dump the steam and get a pump. Otherwise you’ll never enjoy the crema which is the lifeblood of decent espresso.
I use the CapressoClassicand like it, it’s reliable. Despite the poor review in Slate, I find I can make espresso that tastes better than what they serve up in Starbucks on it.
Do NOT get something that grinds the beans for you! And stay away from pod systems! 3/4 of the battle in getting good espresso is getting the right bean, the right grind, and the right packing! You lose the ability to fine-tune your brew if you get the fancy do-it-all machines.
Oh, and shop around for the machine. It’ll be on sale at a lot of department stores right after Xmas, I betcha!
Can I ask a you question, Athena, since I’m set to go for a cheaper model by the same maker? How’s the ease of use on those machines (without the grinding issue)? How long did I take you to get to get the espresso right?
Hope this isn’t hijacking you thread too much, Podkayne. But I think you asked something like that too. And like you, I also need to factor in the fact I am barely able to walk or open my eyes before my morning coffee.
I can’t speak to any models but my own, and the cheapo one we tried.
The cheapo one was horrible. Mr. Athena spent an entire evening trying to get a good cup of espresso out of it. And he did, once or twice. But he was never able to reproduce it reliably.
The new machine is incredibly easy. We’ve never had a bad cup of espresso out of it. You can play with the type of coffee, grind, and tamp, but you’re just going to get variations on a decent cup of espresso. It’s never come out too watery or too strong or anything.
The two suggestions I’d make is to read the brewing and frothing articles here, and to buy a decent tamper. The machine I bought came with a cheap plastic tamper, which we replaced with a heavy metal one, and it seems to make a difference. If nothing else, it’s a pleasure to use.
[/hoity toity] the cost is about the same.