After trying a few of those pathetic $30 so-called "espresso" machines, it occurs to me that an old-fashioned "moka pot" can get better results, once one get's used to messing with them.
I honestly don't own one of this things, but a good one, carefully used, can have pleasing results which can be added to hot water, if one doesn't want straight espresso.
If one likes cream (a lot!) with their coffee, an eight oz cup filled about 2/3 with ice, then half & half (cream), only enough to sort-of cover the ice, then a double shot of espresso poured on top of all of that, can be real nice. One of our previous employees (he just walked in the store, right now, heheh, haven't seen him in months!) came up with that, since he really liked the taste of straight espresso, which you can get by sipping it right soon after pouring it, before it melts much of the ice and begins to mix completely with the cream. After that, the espresso mixes with the cream and melted ice, making it go down pretty smooth. He claims it makes it easier on the stomach, that way...I don't know about that, but it is a pretty good way to enjoy it, far as I can tell...
That ex-employeee? He just left with one of these upside down iced "breve's". We just called it a "Joe", named after the guy, himself, though that name be confusing, since everybody has heard the term, "just a cup of joe", referring to ordinary coffee.