Home Espresso Machine

Want a home espresso machine. I want a good one but don't want to go over $500 if possible. Any thing I should avoid? Help would be most appreciated.

Want a home espresso machine. I want a good one but don't want to go over $500 if possible. Any thing I should avoid? Help would be most appreciated.

Mark,

Take a hundred bucks, go out and buy yourself a case of "Five Hour Energy" and use the rest of the money to buy something REALLY worthwhile...like a Big Green Egg. Just sayin' my brutha.

It doesn't have the bells and whistles of a machine, but I use the Aeropress (Amazon link) for my caffeine needs. By default you get a double shot espresso; add water to the end product and you get an Americano. And at around $25 it's well below your budget.

It doesn't have the bells and whistles of a machine, but I use the Aeropress (Amazon link) for my caffeine needs. By default you get a double shot espresso; add water to the end product and you get an Americano. And at around $25 it's well below your budget.

Those make pretty good coffee, but they do not make espresso, which requires both the use of heat and pressure (ideally 9 bars, which is 8.8 atmospheres of pressure or 130 pounds per square inch).

Mark, to answer your question, the most important thing to look for is a machine that generates sufficient pressure. The machines that use only steam generated pressure just won't get anywhere near 9 bars (usually, those systems can't get above 3 or 4 bars); you need a piston or pump driven system. There are a lot of options for under $500 that will do this, it just depends on what bells and whistles you want. Gaggia makes some nice home products for under $500, but there are many. I'd do a little research before-hand to make sure whatever options you consider are also relatively easy to clean and are not prone to clogging.

Having just done a bit of research...it's clear you need a high quality grinder as well. A manual system sounds like what I need to generate appropriate pressure. Guess I'll do quite a bit more investigating before I spend any money. Thanks for the feedback.

The was an episode of Good Eats that focused on home brewing. It covered buying the espresso machine and grinding options.

Most Good Eats episodes are viewable on youtube.

The was an episode of Good Eats that focused on home brewing. It covered buying the espresso machine and grinding options.

Most Good Eats episodes are viewable on youtube.

Alton used a Saeco Aroma on the show, which retails for around $250. It gets pretty good reviews as a capable machine, though some commenters on that episode were shocked that he skipped the Gaggia.

Also, many SWEAR by the Rancilio Silvia as the best non-commercial, under $500 model available. It's at the top of your price point, Mark, at just under $500, but it's supposed to be a very nice piece of equipment.

The grinding is important. You need a burr grinder, which I still do not have. It's hard to convince myself to spend that much on a grinder, but it really makes all the difference.

The was an episode of Good Eats that focused on home brewing. It covered buying the espresso machine and grinding options.

Most Good Eats episodes are viewable on youtube.

Alton used a Saeco Aroma on the show, which retails for around $250. It gets pretty good reviews as a capable machine, though some commenters on that episode were shocked that he skipped the Gaggia.

Also, many SWEAR by the Rancilio Silvia as the best non-commercial, under $500 model available. It's at the top of your price point, Mark, at just under $500, but it's supposed to be a very nice piece of equipment.

The grinding is important. You need a burr grinder, which I still do not have. It's hard to convince myself to spend that much on a grinder, but it really makes all the difference.

I saw the Silvia and am considering that machine. I want to do this only once....I don't want to get something only to have to turn around and buy something better. I will watch that Alton Brown episode. Thanks.

I've got a Bugatti Diva that I've been very happy with.. but I just googled it and they're getting $1000 for it in the States! *gulp*