making espresso inexpensively

[Anonymous]

DD studied in Seville, Spain this past semester, and just returned home with a new love of what she calls “cafe con leche.” I am thinking I may last minute try to buy her some inexpensive and easy equipment to make these drinks in her college apartment.

From what I read, the drink is 50/50 espresso or strong coffee, on one hand, and steamed milk but no foam/froth, on the other (if that is wrong, feel open to correct me). Any ideas for ounces of each?

Steamed milk I would think she can make by heating milk in a mug in the microwave, right? So I need to figure out how she can make an espresso inexpensively.

I’m willing to buy her a small nespresso machine, but aren’t those pods very expensive? She’ll be buying the coffee or pods or like herself when she grocery shops. What about instant espresso? Or can one brew espresso inexpensively in a drip pot?

Obviously I don’t drink coffee so I do not know how any of this works. Please educate and advise me. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

What is the budget? You can get her an actual espresso machine for about $100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the budget? You can get her an actual espresso machine for about $100.

OP - I would spend that $100 on the machine (that’s about my limit), but aren’t those espresso pods expensive? I worry she won’t be able to afford buying them, or is that what college kids spend to make their coffee drinks?

[Anonymous]

You can get a DeLonghi espresso maker for $99 on Amazon. That’s what we use at home and it makes excellent espresso. I order vacuum packed bricks of Lavazza Crema e Gusto from Amazon. I microwave about half a cup of milk and make a double shot of the espresso. So good. Ask your daughter if she can find the type of espresso she drank in Spain. You can probably find it on Amazon.

[Anonymous]

The quality of espresso she was drinking at cafes in Spain and what you can make here with a cheapo machine will not be comparable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can get a DeLonghi espresso maker for $99 on Amazon. That’s what we use at home and it makes excellent espresso. I order vacuum packed bricks of Lavazza Crema e Gusto from Amazon. I microwave about half a cup of milk and make a double shot of the espresso. So good. Ask your daughter if she can find the type of espresso she drank in Spain. You can probably find it on Amazon.

How do you use ground coffee (the Lavazza) in a nespresso machine? - NP

[Anonymous]

You can get a milk frother too if they want that.

[Anonymous]

bialetti moka espresso maker, a bean grinder and the espresso beans she likes

[Anonymous]

We have an inexpensive hand held frother. Pretty sure it cost around $10. The previous one lasted maybe 10-15 years, with the current one around 5 years old. Brand is Aerolatte. Most expresso machines also have a built-in frother.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:bialetti moka espresso maker, a bean grinder and the espresso beans she likes

This. Add a little milk frother if you please. Something like this. https://a.co/d/ds99iAC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the budget? You can get her an actual espresso machine for about $100.

OP - I would spend that $100 on the machine (that’s about my limit), but aren’t those espresso pods expensive? I worry she won’t be able to afford buying them, or is that what college kids spend to make their coffee drinks?

I mean an actual espresso machine, not pods. The DeLonghi is a good model recommendation from a PP, and then you buy bricks of ground coffee (eg, Cafe Bustelo) in the grocery store.

[Anonymous]

+1 to the Bialetti stovetop espresso makers (cheap and cute, I think they sell them at the MoMA store. Cafe Bustelo is what we use at home. I lived in Spain many years ago and that’s a decent base for any coffee drink. Do not buy pods or anything fancy.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Bialetti. They also sell a stovetop thingie called Mukka express that does Cappuccino type drinks with frothed milk. A bit finicky and annoying to clean, but I like it better than the pods.

[Anonymous]

In Spain everyone brews at home with Moka pots and the coffee is very good. Here is a cute one https://www.amazon.com/Bialetti-4942-Express-Espresso-Maker/dp/B071D9W2LF. Suggested also a small milk steamer, this one is good https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChsSEwi2n5bU-MmRAxUbLNQBHTbHK6UYACICCAEQMRoCb2E&co=1&sph=&cid=CAASugHkaHq7CbCdnU7TmkcacbUz5S-UblchgKQLAvuoO7jXdSgxLxWWnLkEziwPoTN3R5_piVNkLoRBPnqVMCuGJC2BTdC96uAT-N3x0lw-46ULQAGPZpcYxSyS-rvzUk35LcU4oC9HaMjjuSYE6ea_TkuGedPUUAIV6mc23_Filj0R6oN649HxPdym3N7VSCchwq4gncAAl6kEBiXos_JSJOdwwj0MMCgQgPeLd0yybsosBylVJwZR-y86gXc&cce=1&sig=AOD64_095RIy62KU0No03R8VFbqxhc_RmQ&ctype=46&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjS_pDU-MmRAxUilWoFHRB2FVkQzzkoAHoECAcQDQ&adurl=.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The quality of espresso she was drinking at cafes in Spain and what you can make here with a cheapo machine will not be comparable.

I’m the DeLonghi poster. My caffe lattes I make at home with Lavazza brick ground coffee taste just as good as what I’ve had in Italy. The Bialetti kola pots suggested above will make an even fuller bodied espresso. Those are so good. For that I’d recommend the Lavazza Qualità Rossa. But that’s for Italian style espresso. Oh this is making me nostalgic for my Italy study abroad days.