Coffee snobs! Please help. I need your input on espresso maker. (vanity)

Skooz | 11/23/2008 | Skooz

[Skooz]

After a decade or more of making espresso/cappuccino with my Braun and Mr. Coffee units my mom bought me for Christmas, I have decided to take the plunge and buy a REAL espresso machine.

My budget (and good sense) precludes my purchasing a $1000+ unit, so I am looking for the best I can find for around $200 - $350. I want one to make myself and the wife a few cups a week -- nothing commercial.

So far, I have found these units that look pretty good:

Saeco 30013 Aroma Traditional Espresso Machine

Capresso Ultima Coffee and Espresso / Cappuccino Machine

Capresso 121.01 Ultima Semi-Automatic Coffee and Espresso/Cappuccino Machine (I'm leaning towards this one)

Cuisinart Espresso Maker

Breville 800ESXL Commercial 15-Bar Triple-Priming Die-Cast Espresso Machine (This one is so pretty I might buy it for looks alone)

[Daffynition]

HAHAHA! Cowboy coffee!

[Dawn531]

We have owned a Saeco for about 5 years. The machine is amazing. It makes regular and espresso, fill the bins with beans and water, dial up the strength you want, the quantity of coffee you want dispensed and push a button. It grinds the beans, brews the coffee, and deposits grounds into a container then alerts you when the container needs to be emptied. It was a gift, and at the time I thought I’d never spend that much money on a coffee machine, but I’m addicted now, and if ours broke, I’d probably buy another. The money we’ve saved in always waiting till we get home for our coffee would have more than paid for the machine (the coffee and espresso it makes is so much better than anything you can buy out)...we haven’t bought coffee “out” for years. You get up in the AM, walk to the machine and push a button...no muss, no fuss, we’ve been impressed by the durability and reliability of our Saeco.

[cva66snipe]

It’s what my parents fix. Well they used to anyway. They boughts one of them new Mr Coffee contraptions a few years back. :>} Seriously though that was their coffee for as long as I can remember. Some of it may have came from the Depression era to make the grounds last longer and some of it from doing a lot of camping too. They still have the old pot though :>}

[MIchaelTArchangel]

Drink water. It’s better for you than coffee, tea, or soft drinks...and does not require money for a “maker” nor time for “preparation”.

[Kirkwood]

My DeLonghi makes espresso every bit as good as professional equipment. I speak from experience through living several weeks a year in Italy. I use it nearly every day that I’m home and it has held up very well except that I broke the hinge on the water container, which was my fault. Even so, it doesn’t matter since it has no effect on how it makes espresso and you can’t tell the hinge is broken. I would buy another with no hesitation.

[Grut]

Boiling coffee in a pot (or better, pouring boiling water on ground coffee and letting it sit) actually works pretty well. Use some crushed eggshell from a cooked egg (salmonella, y'know) to make the grounds settle, or strain them out in a French press.

The main ingredient in a good cup of coffee is enough coffee - weak coffee is just a waste.

[Twinkie]

Just make plain old coffee, pour in a little real cream and a bit of real sugar and stir (or stick a straw in it and blow on it). Enjoy and forget that elitist espresso.

Or try some Dandelion & chicory drink with cream and sugar. (from Goosefoot Farms) Good and good for you.

[redbloodredstate]

ahh!! free republic overrun by latte liberals! ;)

[hedgetrimmer]

Recommendations from Alton Brown's "Good Eats" espresso episode, Espress Yourself

[Vaduz]

espresso/cappuccino say what?

[garbageguy]

I have had a Jura Capressa z5 for 2 years with ZERO problems & fantastic java drinks. Pricey, but worth every penny.

[neb52]

Why not just kick it old school and save a butt load of money?

http://www.fantes.com/images/9869espresso-stovetop.jpg

[Daffynition]

LOL ...this is basically how Turkish coffee [kahve] is prepared too, only the grind is a very fine powder and sugar is added in the boiling process.

I’ll bet you have hair on your chest!

[ErnBatavia]

not a-cup with my coffee. :O)

I must be gettin' old....all I was wondering was if it's hot and humid there and if they perspire into the creamora....sigh

[AoifeGill]

My first posting here after enjoying this site for 7 years. This is a subject I am quite familiar with having owned a coffee shop for 5 years. For the home maker nothing can beat the Nespresso systems. The price is fantastic, customer service is wonderful and the coffee is superior to most cafes. You will not be disappointed. I think I got mine for maybe $250.00 and the pods are $.40 each. I can’t say enough good things about this company. No, I don’t work for them either, just love the espresso. They just sent me a free box of chocolates with my last order as well. Enjoy and good luck with your search.

[ThanhPhero]

Forget the espresso machine. Go to your local AsianFood Store and pick up a Vietnamese coffeemaker and some Trung Nguyen or other brand from Buon Me Thuot and follow directions. There is no better coffee.
http://www.trung-nguyen-online.com/trung-nguyen-coffee-order.php
You can order it but it is cheaper in the store and you get to talk to the clerk.

[zoso82t]

http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/carezza.cfm

I’ve owned a Carezza for years and have been very happy with the quality.