Send her back to Spain. She’ll never truly like America again.

Nothing like a moka pot.You can get some really cute ones too.

I enjoy using a moka pot on occasion, but I wouldn’t get one for either of my college aged kids. They require monitoring while brewing which takes about 10 min- who wants to spend 10 min in the morning while getting ready for school or work watching their coffee brewing? Also they can be finicky in terms of the grind of the beans, and require more steps to clean than a basic nespresso.

I suggest you get your kid a basic nespresso machine and a starter pack of pods - this is a foolproof way to make espresso. Tell them to brew a shot of espresso and to microwave about 3-3.5 oz of whole milk for a minute while the espresso brews (30 sec, quick stir, then another 30 sec), then slowly pour the milk over the espresso.

+ Moka pot. Super easy, no pods needed. Takes up very little space.

Get the old fashioned stovetop one.
IKEA carries espresso-grind coffee, frother and metal pitcher, and espresso cups.

Much cheaper and more appropriate for a student.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Spanish cafe con leche is just with hot milk not frothed.

Anonymous wrote:Bialetti moka pot, could get a cheap handheld frother like an aero latte too.

+1 for Moka pot

I use Cafe Bustello, which you can buy everywhere (though the price has gone up along with all of the other coffees)

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.

They don’t actually use higher quality beans in Spain. They use a different type of roast called “torrefacto” which was actually developed to make poor quality beans more palatable. It is a dark roast with sugar added. Without torrefacto you cannot really duplicate the Spanish cafe con leche.

You can get torrefacto beans online: https://www.tienda.com/products/whole-bean-torrefacto-coffee-tupinamba-cf-05?srsltid=AfmBOopk275sUL8Jb074d2150Y0PxunS8IBrNAbnVlLGHZEofTiiPuTp

Once you get the right beans it’s not hard to make cafe con leche. Just brew some strong coffee using whatever method and add hot whole milk to taste.

PS--if you get a Nespresso machine get the original not the Vertuo because the original pods are better

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?

Lidl sells them and a 10 pk is about $4. Sometimes you can get an Italian brand box of 50 at Home Goods for about $20. The Nespresso brand pods are 80 c- 1.10 a pod.

The pods are $15 for 50 pack on amazon. Buy the amazon brand. I used nespresso and other name brands for years. The amazon brand is equal in quality and way less expensive.

Bialetti moka pot, could get a cheap handheld frother like an aero latte too.

To answer the Nespresso pod cost question-- they are usually around $1.50/pod. So more expensive usually than grocery store beans/ground coffee but cheaper than coffee shop beverages. Unless your college kid lives near a Nespresso store or comes to live the few Nespresso options available at the supermarket/warehouse stores, she has to order the pods online and keep them in supply. They usually come in sleeves of 10 with free shipping after a certain minimum, etc.

Just buy a professional machine and be done with it. Enjoy!!

Another vote for the stovetop Bialetti. I love the strong coffee it makes as well as the bubbling sound and aroma. I just heat milk in a mug in the microwave; nothing fancy.