# My wife wants an automatic espresso maker. Which one should I look at? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545 "2007-03-12T01:43:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/1 "2007-03-12T01:43:37Z")
Our old machine is is starting to sputter and we’ve decided to treat ourselves to a nice, automatic espresso machine. The Mrs was looking at the [DeLonghi EAM3200](http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-MAGNIFICA-Automatic-Espresso-Cappuccino/dp/B0009J3U1I/ref=sr_1_34/105-0243587-3642037?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1173660030&sr=8-34). Looks ok I guess but I don’t really know what I’m looking for. I found [this site](http://www.coffee-makers-espresso-machines.com/supautesmac.html) which offer a handful of “super automatic” machines. So my wired espresso loving dopers, which machine do you have? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/2 "2007-03-12T01:46:07Z")
You mean with the \<\\> pre-mixed _packets_ of ground espresso? I recently switched over to the Barista, distributed by Starbucks. It’s been an adventure, but 4 out of 5 times, I make _great_ espresso now! ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/3 "2007-03-12T01:58:33Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] You mean with the \<\\> pre-mixed _packets_ of ground espresso? [/quote] This is the part of the thread where I beat Qadgop with an old shoe shouting 'how DARE you suggest.." No. I’m looking at something which grinds, tamps, pulls and dumps the spent grinds. > [@](#): > > I recently switched over to the Barista, distributed by Starbucks. It’s been an adventure, but 4 out of 5 times, I make _great_ espresso now! Our current machine is a Starbucks Barista. It has given us many, many years of fantastic service. I don’t have any complaints expect it is starting to grumble. I’m sure we could have it serviced, but we’re going to use this as an excuse to buy something better. Something automatic. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/4 "2007-03-12T02:10:09Z")
[QUOTE=Seven] I’m looking at something which grinds, tamps, pulls and dumps the spent grinds. [/QUOTE] And lose the joy of fiddling with the settings on the grinder? And the pleasure of tamping it yourself, just right? :eek: Sure would like the grounds dumped automatically, though. Paging **bdgr**! ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/5 "2007-03-12T02:38:08Z")
Hm. According to [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8345187), **bdgr** has a $10,000 La Marzocco espresso maker in his home ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/6 "2007-03-12T08:10:04Z")
I’ve got a [Jura Capresso E8](http://www.amazon.com/Jura-Capresso-13187-Impressa-Super-Automatic-Espresso/dp/B00066814A/ref=pd_sbs_hg_1/104-1235618-7531131?ie=UTF8&qid=1173686696&sr=1-1). I certainly couldn’t live without it. It’s super simple to use, but there are running costs - new filters are $17 (need a new one every three months) and there are descaling tablets and cleaning tablets to buy as well. But it’s worth it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/7 "2007-03-12T11:34:37Z")
Good ones cost as much as a sports car, huh! I think the ones with lots of brass and copper would be the way to go, at least I could scrap it down at the salvage yard if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/8 "2007-03-12T13:07:00Z")
Check out [www.wholelattelove.com](http://www.wholelattelove.com). They have reviews of everything! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/9 "2007-03-12T14:07:08Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] You mean with the \<\\> pre-mixed _packets_ of ground espresso? [/QUOTE] That’s what I got… the Nespresso system. They sell them at Williams Sonoma, so you can test out a cup and see if you like the espresso they make. I enjoy it because it makes espresso easy to do, no waiting for the unit to come to pressure, no grinding and tamping and fussing with the machine. I actually have espresso on a regular basis now, rather than pulling out the machine once a month. YMMV, void where prohibited, I am NOT an espresso connoiseur. ---
**Author:** ![AHoosierMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@AHoosierMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHoosierMama)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/10 "2007-03-12T15:20:38Z")
We have this one at my office > **[Kitchen Appliances | Home Appliances | High-end Appliances from Bosch](https://www.bosch-home.com/us/)** > > Bosch has been designing home and kitchen appliances for over 125 years, consistently raising the standards in quietness, efficiency and integrated design. Makes me actually look forward to coming to work. Yummm! ---
**Author:** ![Caprese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9a28c/32.png) [@Caprese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caprese)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/11 "2007-03-12T15:48:16Z")
We have a [Solis](http://www.essentialespresso.com/Solis-Master-5000-Super-Automatic-Espresso-Machine--Black-P397.aspx) It grinds the beans for you. Makes pretty good espresso. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/12 "2007-03-12T16:56:44Z")
After doing painstaking research on the Espresso Geek website, and reading many, many reviews, I bought this setup (after having burnt out our original Starbucks barista machine after 8 years of heavy use): A Rancilio Silvia espresso maker (about $400, IIRC); and A Mazzer Mini burr grinder (about $400, too, IIRC). Mr. brown and I each bought one of the items for the other of us as Christmas gifts a little over a year ago. We are very happy with the arrangement. I heartily recommend getting a burr grinder if you are going to start brewing your own self-tamped espresso at home. The difference between freshly ground beans and store-bought ground beans is astronomical. And a burr grinder is what is specifically needed for quality espresso, as it makes even-sized particles. A blade grinder makes some big, some medium, and some fine particles, which is a no-no for superior espresso. After some initial practice when the machines were new, we now consistently brew luscious little cups of _ristretto_ heavily capped with a red-brown _crema_. The danger is in drinking too much espresso when it gets this good, however. It’s hard to stop! ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Mood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@Blue\_Mood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Mood)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/13 "2007-03-12T21:41:56Z")
[QUOTE=Cheesesteak] YMMV, void where prohibited, I am NOT an espresso connoiseur. [/QUOTE] Blue Man is an espresso connoiseur, and he now loves the Nespresso machine I got him for his birthday. He was disappointed as he’d been wanting a _real_ machine, but we don’t have space and I wanted something simple. The downside is that it’s a monopoly - you have to order the coffee directly from Nespresso and it’s rather pricey. The upside is that making a thick espresso with a beautiful crema is foolproof. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/14 "2007-03-14T19:00:31Z")
I personally think the superautomatic machines are evil. For home, it’s hard to beat the Silvia/rocky combo. If you gotta have a superauto, then check through here…and stay away from pods. [http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer](http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer) has some great reviews from people who really know their stuff. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/15 "2007-03-14T19:08:42Z")
[QUOTE=Qadgop the Mercotan] Hm. According to [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8345187), **bdgr** has a $10,000 La Marzocco espresso maker in his home [/QUOTE] I did, until my shop opened. Then I moved it up there. I miss haing it at home, but at my current house there wouldnt be room for it anyway. i want to get a lever machine one of these days just for home. ---
**Author:** ![Bogdan99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Bogdan99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bogdan99)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/16 "2007-03-15T06:17:04Z")
If they are present in the US market, you can look at Saeco and Krups brands.Relatively cheap and they make very good espresso, the models I have have a metal plate that keeps the cups warm. I use a Saeco Magic DeLuxe at my office, and it makes 15-20 coffees each day, and in 7 months I have no problem with it.And it is a home use product ( average 4 coffees/day ). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/17 "2007-03-15T07:01:22Z")
In the Book “It Must’ve Been Something I Ate” by Steingarten, he has a long article on such things, and reviews them. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/18 "2007-03-15T20:55:58Z")
Wow. It occurred to me to enter the search term “ristretto” over at YouTube, and check out the [espresso pron](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2Co0m07i4) I found. This is the hard-core espresso-drinker’s goal. ::drool:: Do I ever want a nice little cuppa right now. But I have to limit myself to two shots a day, which I’ve already had. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/19 "2007-03-16T11:48:35Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] Wow. It occurred to me to enter the search term “ristretto” over at YouTube, and check out the [espresso pron](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2Co0m07i4) I found. This is the hard-core espresso-drinker’s goal. ::drool:: Do I ever want a nice little cuppa right now. But I have to limit myself to two shots a day, which I’ve already had. [/QUOTE] Anything not ristretto is a waste…turely a case where less is more. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2007, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545/20 "2007-03-16T16:59:46Z")
[QUOTE=teela brown] Wow. It occurred to me to enter the search term “ristretto” over at YouTube, and check out the [espresso pron](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq2Co0m07i4) I found. This is the hard-core espresso-drinker’s goal. ::drool:: Do I ever want a nice little cuppa right now. But I have to limit myself to two shots a day, which I’ve already had. [/QUOTE] Oh. My. Lord. I have never seen so much crema in my life. That’s a work of art. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-wife-wants-an-automatic-espresso-maker-which-one-should-i-look-at/395545.md?page=2)