Sunday, September 11, 2011

Need input from readers: espresso machine

Both B. and I are avid coffee drinkers. Coffee is also one of the things we like to splurge on. We love our coffee strong and smooth. But no matter how much you spend on your coffee beans, you will not get great coffee without a good coffee/espresso machine. We want, in fact, a good espresso machine. Our old one bit the dust a while ago, and we got a Keurig single cup machine as a replacement. It was not a good idea, and neither him nor I like the coffee that comes out of the Keurig. So we are looking into buying an espresso machine in the $80-100 range. We can't afford to buy the really expensive ones, but we don't want a cheap espresso machine either. So dear readers, I need your input: is there any espresso machine that cost $80-100 that you would recommend? Any suggestion will be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Spanish prof at 4:46 PM

7 comments:

  1. It's not an espresso machine, but I also love strong coffee, and would never be parted from my aeropress: http://www.amazon.com/Aerobie-AeroPress-Coffee-Espresso-Maker/dp/B0047BIWSK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315786118&sr=8-1

    In fact, I even travel with it, I'm that addicted.

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  2. I have found the machines don't last. Stovetop espresso pots do. I also have a Vietnamese dripper, which drips espresso-like stuff.

    That aeropress looks promising.

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  3. I need my espresso in the morning too, but I don't have a machine (somehow I can never justify the money to myself for getting a good espresso machine...). I have one of these pots:
    http://www.bialettishop.com/MokaExpressMain.htm
    Bialetti is the main Italian company for this kind of pots, very popular and durable.

    Hope this helps.

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  4. SK and Pika: both look like appealing options! And much cheaper than what I was willing to pay for.

    Profacero: What is a stovetop espresso pot? Something like what Pika suggested?

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  5. Mr Coffee pump espresso machine. You need a pump and not a steam machine or the espresso will not taste right. It's a little messy to use, as I get coffee grounds everywhere, but that might just be me. It wasn't expensive as I recall, maybe 70 bucks at Target, your favorite store.

    I don't like the taste of coffee from stove top espresso machines and also find them hard to clean. You are basically boiling water in the bottom part of the compartment and forcing the steam up to the top through the grounds. My espresso, from the pump machine, is not at all bitter. I don't even need milk or sugar in it.

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  6. Ha! I also write about my husband's coffee preference yesterday!!

    We will soon start publishing identical posts. :-)

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