Espresso Maker Suggestions

[TNJAKE]

My latte art I made this morning. It's a brisket.

View attachment 656237

Best brisket I've seen you make! Lol jk bud

 

[Displaced Texan]

Best brisket I've seen you make! Lol jk bud

It tasted like brisket, too.

 

[paulgeorge]

20 years ago I purchased a Saeco espresso machine from Costco and it was pricey: $800-900 or so and am still using it to this day. I figure if I went to a coffee place for a couple of cups a day for each of us, at $3 per cup I've saved over $40k - at least that's how I rationalize my purchase.

My wife had me purchase a Nespresso Virtuo for our fiver and I must say it makes the best coffee outside of a coffee shop I've ever tasted. Perfect crema and a wide variety of coffee pods to choose from. The reason I like the Virtuo over my first Nespresso is that the pods come in all kinds of flavors and cup volumes: 5, 7,14,18 ounce sizes (my prior machine only dispensed one size). The machine reads the barcode on the lip of the pod and dispenses the perfect amount of water for the size of that pod. I've used Nespresso for many years and although the machines don't last as long as my Saeco, they are relatively inexpensive. The Virtuo is about $139. The downside of the Nespresso system is that you can only purchase the pods online coffee maker vending machine. I put up with it however, because it makes the missus happy, and as is well known "a happy wife means a happy life"

I have finally gotten to the point where rather than make a pot of coffee at 9:30pm I'd rather an espresso or cappuccino. I grind whole beans anyway, so I think this is a logical progression. I'd like a machine that can pump out 1, perhaps 2 shots, doesn't have to be super fast as I'll wait for my automatic drip machine. I'm going to say price-wise I'd like to spend under 400, and under 200 would be exceed expectations. Also, what is a recommendation on whole beans, as I admit I'm pretty hooked on Starbucks Sumatra for my daily 3-4 cups.

 

[Fueling Around]

I forgot about this thread

I've had a Gaggia baby for about 25 years.
...

I had a Baby Gaggia.
Last summer, the boiler gaskets failed. Started looking for replacements parts.
Well, I noticed a few years ago parts were getting harder to source as Gaggia discontinued the Baby a number of years ago. Decided to retire the Baby.

Ordered a new Classic. Cost right around $400 which is impressive as the Baby was over $300 about 25 years ago. I love it. Smaller than the Baby, faster warm up and very fast to get to steam temps after extraction.
I switched to a 3 shot porta filter and still not quite there. I ordered the 9 bar spring but haven't installed it.

 

[zwiller]

Fueling Around John your MO was about exactly as mine. Gaggia and coffeehouse grind beans with some Lavazza pregound for work week/lazy days. 50% time was on on par with with the Nespresso. 25% of the time not as good but yeah 25% of the time I made stuff better than your typical coffeehouse. Was it worth it? Yes and no. Nespresso with decent pods (scuro double for me) is pretty much no fail/no mess. IMO nespresso trounces SB Sumatra (old go to) from my Keurig. That said, those times I nailed it were glorious. If you live for besting a barista, then yes it can be done at home relatively cheap with some effort.

 

[Fueling Around]

Thanks Sam.
Not a coffee snob, but I just prefer espresso over regular coffee.
My big hitch is that I only drink decaf and outside of the pods it is difficult to get a decent crema after the decaf (Swiss water) processing.

Interesting side note. They remove the crema in Turkish coffee.

Lavazza is arabica.
Cuban / Puerto Rican coffees you find in the "brick" is mostly robusto beans. I can taste the difference. I like the flavor of robusto mixed with arabica.

Struck a friendship deal with local (FL) coffee shop. They will grind my beans I bring from MN
That will work for me. Probably reward them with a bag of beans from up north.

 

[paulgeorge]

I forgot about this thread

I had a Baby Gaggia.
Last summer, the boiler gaskets failed. Started looking for replacements parts.
Well, I noticed a few years ago parts were getting harder to source as Gaggia discontinued the Baby a number of years ago. Decided to retire the Baby.

Ordered a new Classic. Cost right around $400 which is impressive as the Baby was over $300 about 25 years ago. I love it. Smaller than the Baby, faster warm up and very fast to get to steam temps after extraction.
I switched to a 3 shot porta filter and still not quite there. I ordered the 9 bar spring but haven't installed it thailand capcut template.

thank you so much for your suggestion

 

[Chris_in_SoCal]

I no nothing about coffee since I can't stand the smell or taste personally but my wife is so happy with the espresso maker she just bought for half price a few days ago she can't stop talking about it or using it. All her friends agreed so I guess that is a plus.

I know nothing about them but this a photo of it.

 

[zwiller]

That's a Vertuo Creatista, a "nespresso" machine. It was said before but the nespresso machine is like a pellet grill. Add a pod, hit the button, walk away. Good stuff.

Not a coffee snob, but I just prefer espresso over regular coffee.

Same here.

Lavazza is arabica.
Cuban / Puerto Rican coffees you find in the "brick" is mostly robusto beans. I can taste the difference. I like the flavor of robusto mixed with arabica.

Oh man had a BIG brick phase finding out the bricks were on Amazon. I tried TONS of brands. Eventually Lavazza won us over. Yeah think I can tell the beans apart as well. Best I ever made was local coffeehouse vienna roast.