Restaurant-grade espresso machine for a low-budget home?

[Anonymous]

My husband and I rarely splurge, but we'd really love an excellent espresso machine, the kind that makes coffee like you'd get at a real cafe. Obviously we can't spend $10,000. But how much should we expect to spend if we don't want to regret our purchase? What do low-budget espresso lovers buy (aside from the stove-top mocha pot I mean)?

[Anonymous]

Nespresso is good.

[Anonymous]

How about the Breville Express or Touch?

[Anonymous]

What is a low-budget home? And what is your budget on the machine?

[Anonymous]

We have a Rancilio Silvia and a Rancilio burr grinder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is a low-budget home? And what is your budget on the machine?

OP here. I guess I shouldn't have said low-budget. We can probably spend up to $800 on it, which I realize is more than 99% of Americans would spend on a coffee machine. I just meant we can't spend thousands on a professional grade machine.

[Anonymous]

So it really depends on what you want. There are machines called super automatic espresso machines that will grind the beans and make a variety of espresso-based drinks (many also have milk dispensers so they can froth milk for you and make cappuccinos, macchiatos, etc.). The machines give you a consistent decent coffee without too much waiting around and there's nothing you need to do except supply the beans and water, press a button, and clean the machine once in a while. The thing is, in some ways a super automatic is basically a glorified Nespresso machine. You use whole beans instead of pods and it seems more like a real espresso machine, but I'm not sure the espresso is necessarily that much different/better. (The Nespresso will be a *lot* cheaper to buy, but the pods will be more expensive than coffee beans).

On the other hand, there are semi-automatic espresso machines where you can really learn to pull your own espresso. These can be cheaper than a super automatic (although you probably also need to buy a nice grinder to go with it, which might cost almost as much as the espresso machine) but it's a whole skill/art to learn to produce a really good quality espresso. So if you are willing to wait up to 20 minutes for the boiler to heat up, and you are into learning how to get the water pressure/temp just right, you can make a better espresso than a super automatic--but if you aren't then you can easily make a worse one.

Seattle Coffee Gear has a ton of videos, reviews and shopping options on their website that might be helpful, and you can even call them up and they are very nice about offering advice (and good prices too). I'd say the price range for a semi-automatic or a super automatic runs from about $500-2000 (and a grinder might be another few hundred).

[Anonymous]

Buy a used one from a restaurant that went bankrupt. Restaurant supply places will have them as that's where the inventory usually ends up. My friend has an Illy machine at home by doing it this way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it really depends on what you want. There are machines called super automatic espresso machines that will grind the beans and make a variety of espresso-based drinks (many also have milk dispensers so they can froth milk for you and make cappuccinos, macchiatos, etc.). The machines give you a consistent decent coffee without too much waiting around and there's nothing you need to do except supply the beans and water, press a button, and clean the machine once in a while. The thing is, in some ways a super automatic is basically a glorified Nespresso machine. You use whole beans instead of pods and it seems more like a real espresso machine, but I'm not sure the espresso is necessarily that much different/better. (The Nespresso will be a *lot* cheaper to buy, but the pods will be more expensive than coffee beans).

On the other hand, there are semi-automatic espresso machines where you can really learn to pull your own espresso. These can be cheaper than a super automatic (although you probably also need to buy a nice grinder to go with it, which might cost almost as much as the espresso machine) but it's a whole skill/art to learn to produce a really good quality espresso. So if you are willing to wait up to 20 minutes for the boiler to heat up, and you are into learning how to get the water pressure/temp just right, you can make a better espresso than a super automatic--but if you aren't then you can easily make a worse one.

Seattle Coffee Gear has a ton of videos, reviews and shopping options on their website that might be helpful, and you can even call them up and they are very nice about offering advice (and good prices too). I'd say the price range for a semi-automatic or a super automatic runs from about $500-2000 (and a grinder might be another few hundred).

You sound like you really know your stuff. Do you have a machine? Which one?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buy a used one from a restaurant that went bankrupt. Restaurant supply places will have them as that's where the inventory usually ends up. My friend has an Illy machine at home by doing it this way.

Great idea! How do I find one of those supply places?

[Anonymous]

I can answer your questions.
You said you want to make excellent espresso at home. And you want to spend around $1000.

Here’s what to get:
Crossland Coffee CC1 machine. It’s a semiauto. Takes about 3 min to warm up. Uses professional size portafilters. The group head is warmed. It will do everything you want and do it well. American company. Far less maintenance than some of the Italian makers.
Burr grinder. The Sette grinders from Baratza are good. So is the Rancilio Rocky. The old model Baratza grinders are good too but require more maintenance.
Misc: get a small scale. 18g coffee into the portafilter, 18-24g shot out. Get some coffee detergent. You’ll need it to back flush the machine and you also won’t believe how effectively it cleans up dried coffee and stains. Get some descaler, ideally Dezcal liquid or powder, you’ll want to run that through the machine every 6 mos.

You can find the machine and grinder for $999.

Notes: the next step up is a dual-boiler machine. Mostly useful if you steam a lot of milk. Not necessary if you’re just doing espresso. Don’t get a full auto if you want excellent espresso. Definitely don’t get a Nespresso. And beans are very important. Luckily in the DC area you can get quite good beans, roasted recently, fairly cheaply. I like Swing’s, La Colombe, and Compass. Experiment with beans.

Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

Urnex Cafiza is the professional-standard coffee detergent. About $15 for enough to last you for years.

[Anonymous]

We have and love the Breville Barista Express. Look it up - it is consistently a top choice by reviewing companies. We had four people who went to Starbucks, etc. every day who now make coffee at home. $600.

[Anonymous]

Crossland CC1 poster here.

I have not seen but have heard good things about the Breville Barista express.
Other solid, classic options for a machine at this price point are the Rancilio Silva and the Gaggia Classic. If price was not a constraint I’d look into the Rocket Espresso machine.

But the grinder is more important than the machine. Make sure you get a nice burr grinder that will produce a consistent grind.

[Anonymous]

Ps I have a Rancilio Rocky which I bought about 15 years ago when home espresso was just starting up in America and Rancilio was marketing the Rocky as one of the first home burr grinders. It’s still going strong w original burrs. It doesn’t grind as fast as newer grinders, and its adjustments are relatively coarse, but I’m still happy with it.