Cooking Espresso Machine Recommendations

[SparklieBug]

I'm considering purchasing an espresso machine and getting tangled in analysis paralysis.

Background: I've managed to escape the snare(s) of coffee culture up until last year. Loved the smell, never liked the taste (or aftertaste, in particular), and then got lured in by a speciality summertime iced coffee at a local place with decaf espresso. Gah. I fell head over heels in love with it! I busted the code and can make them at home (using an instant decaf), but am now thinking that an espresso machine would be most excellent.

A friend has a couple machines (a Nespresso, and a biggie-boy Breville with a built-in grinder, etc.), and I've done a taste test with each of them. They're both very good! Part of me leans toward a non-Nespresso so I could use my own fave coffee, and avoid being beholden to Nespresso for ongoing pod purchases (reusable pods aren't available for the models I'm thinking about. And part of me does lean toward a Nespresso machine because it's just so simple/easy.

So, what espresso machine would you recommend for a beginner, and why? What is your favorite espresso machine, and why?

 

[MamaBear]

I have a Jura and love it! The coffee is delicious every single time. Lots of options for different coffee drinks, if you want to change it up every so often.

 

[dk168]

Have you considered a French Press?

That's what I use for just one cup of coffee per day in the morning.

Can't justify an all singing all dancing machine just for one cup a day.

I used to have a Nespresso and it was too costly as I needed 2 of the strongest coffee pods for my morning cup of coffee.

DK

 

[HGar]

Do you want an automatic (Jura etc) or one that you can dial in as your tastes / bean selection changes?

We have had the Breville that is a hybrid - grinds, tamps then you pull the shot whilst it manually steams the milk. You could program certain things - ie I prefer a shorter shot whilst my husband and daughter prefer a longer shot. It was a great middle ground IMO. Whilst very pricey, it still allowed you to finetune whereas a fully auto machine is just like buying a coffee from a vending machine.

However it was also expensive when something stopped working after the warranty finished. My husband and daughter both did their barista training a few years back (husband had to accompany her as she was only 14) so they were comfortable using a fully manual set up and actually preferred it. So we now have a grinder & manual espresso machine. They are both very solid machines and should outlast our Breville by a huge amount.

There is a massive caveat to any coffee discussion and that is beans! Don’t buy previous supermarket / Starbucks cr@p. Find a local roaster and buy fresh beans every 2-3 weeks. That’s the sure fire way to great coffee every time.

https://www.breville.com/en-au/product/bes990 What we previously had.

ECM Technika V Profi PID Espresso Machine

The ECM Technika V Profi PID is a flexible heat exchanger espresso machine with the ability to switch between water tank and water line connection.

www.wholelattelove.com

https://www.wholelattelove.com/products/eureka-mignon-libra-brew-coffee-grinder These are our machines.

I recommend watching lots of video reviews - I really like https://www.wholelattelove.com/ and https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/

 

[m-cubed]

I have this one and quite like it. https://www.gaggia-na.com/collections/espresso-machines/products/gaggia-anima-prestige

 

[SparklieBug]

Have you considered a French Press?

That's what I use for just one cup of coffee per day in the morning.

Can't justify an all singing all dancing machine just for one cup a day.

I used to have a Nespresso and it was too costly as I needed 2 of the strongest coffee pods for my morning cup of coffee.

DK

We have a French press, and it doesn't make espresso, just coffee. Oddly enough, I quite like espresso drinks, but not so much plain coffee. How weird is this?

 

[SparklieBug]

I have a Jura and love it! The coffee is delicious every single time. Lots of options for different coffee drinks, if you want to change it up every so often.

Jura machines look beautiful! I'm looking for a beginner-type machine. Something simple?

Do you want an automatic (Jura etc) or one that you can dial in as your tastes / bean selection changes?

We have had the Breville that is a hybrid - grinds, tamps then you pull the shot whilst it manually steams the milk. You could program certain things - ie I prefer a shorter shot whilst my husband and daughter prefer a longer shot. It was a great middle ground IMO. Whilst very pricey, it still allowed you to finetune whereas a fully auto machine is just like buying a coffee from a vending machine.

However it was also expensive when something stopped working after the warranty finished. My husband and daughter both did their barista training a few years back (husband had to accompany her as she was only 14) so they were comfortable using a fully manual set up and actually preferred it. So we now have a grinder & manual espresso machine. They are both very solid machines and should outlast our Breville by a huge amount.

There is a massive caveat to any coffee discussion and that is beans! Don’t buy previous supermarket / Starbucks cr@p. Find a local roaster and buy fresh beans every 2-3 weeks. That’s the sure fire way to great coffee every time.

https://www.breville.com/en-au/product/bes990 What we previously had.

ECM Technika V Profi PID Espresso Machine

The ECM Technika V Profi PID is a flexible heat exchanger espresso machine with the ability to switch between water tank and water line connection.

www.wholelattelove.com

https://www.wholelattelove.com/products/eureka-mignon-libra-brew-coffee-grinder These are our machines.

I recommend watching lots of video reviews - I really like https://www.wholelattelove.com/ and https://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/

Great info, thank you! And definitely, fresh-roast beans are required. I'm in the research stage, but as mentioned up thread, I think I'm looking for a simple, beginner machine.

I have this one and quite like it. https://www.gaggia-na.com/collections/espresso-machines/products/gaggia-anima-prestige

Thank you! This one is also beautiful.

Espresso machines (well, nice ones) are like art to sit on one's kitchen counter! They're beautiful machines!

 

[m-cubed]

Jura machines look beautiful! I'm looking for a beginner-type machine. Something simple?


Great info, thank you! And definitely, fresh-roast beans are required. I'm in the research stage, but as mentioned up thread, I think I'm looking for a simple, beginner machine.



Thank you! This one is also beautiful.

Espresso machines (well, nice ones) are like art to sit on one's kitchen counter! They're beautiful machines!

I originally had a manual espresso maker, and I loved it, but it was a lot of work. The gaggia I posted is push button simple, and it’s been great with very minimal cleaning and maintenance for a couple of years now. The one I posted up thread is a super automatic. Basically I dump in beans every few days and water every day. It grinds the beans, tamps the puck and pulls the shot. It has a removable milk carafe and so it also automatically steams the milk for my lattes. Essentially I push one button and get a latte. Can’t beat that!

A super auto would actually be a great beginner machine (IMO) because you don’t have to worry about a bunch of settings, or pulling your own shots.

 

[SparklieBug]

I decided! Went slightly sideways, and ordered (from Costco!) a Nespresso Citiz which makes only espresso. It's an "original" version so reusable pods can be used.

Costco was less expensive than Nespresso's site, and if something goes sideways with it when it's out of the warranty period, Costco will deal with it.

I feel like this is a good way to tiptoe into the espresso world, and if I find I adore it, and really want to be a faux barista, then I can upgrade to a different machine.