So a couple years ago I ditched the Keurig and dove into pour over coffee. Bought a nice grinder, experimented with different recipes and beans, etc. Never once looked back

Now I've decided I'd like to get into espresso and would like to add an espresso machine to the Christmas list but have no clue where to start.

Not wanting to spend $1,000+ but want a decent machine that doesn't break the bank. What beginner machines should I look into? Any brands to gravitate towards or stay way from? Same with specific machine features.

Just looking for a jumping off point as I start to figure out what I want/need.

TIA

Depends on how involved you want to go. I was on the verge of buying that Breville one linked above about 3 years ago, but my wife mentioned she would absolutely never use something that required as much work. While I enjoy tinkering and like the idea of pulling my own shots, I didn't want to have to play barista every time. I ended up getting a DeLonghi Dinamica on Black Friday 3 years ago, and we love it. It's a superautomatic, so I put in the whole beans, keep the water tank full, and clean and descale when needed. Very, very simple, been very reliable (we use it not quite daily, but close), and makes a great product. Granted, all we really do are espresso shots, lattes, or a cup of coffee/cold brew, but I would 100% buy it all over again. Without the traditional frother wand (still has a steamer/frother), you won't get the microfoam needed for latte art, but we didn't care about that. When I was doing my research, the main brands I came across were DeLonghi, Jura, and Gaggia.

been interested in one of these as well what's the price range?

The Barista Express (manual version) is $499 from Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, Target, Best Buy, and others. At the time, we bought ours (NIB) from the Williams-Sonoma outlet store for less than normal pricing.

Breville Barista Espress is what I linked in my first post but neglected to actually mention it. I actually enjoy the whole process and wanted a little more control, so decided against a super automatic.

The Barista Express is on sale everywhere right now ($200 off) and my understanding really the only time of year you can find it below standard retail. It does now come with a funnel, which my buddy with the same machine said wasn't the case when he bought his a few years back.

I have had a Gaggia classic for many years. Its a workhorse. Get a good burr grinder. I have a Rancilio Rocky and its going to last longer than I will be alive.

Check out Whole Latte Love

They are just an awesome company, and their support is like no other. Their YouTube Channel is extremely informative.

They sell refurbished units with full warranties too.

When they do reviews they do them in a way that talks about differences in functionality and how you may use it so that you choose the best machine for you.

They have a ton of reviews and multiple videos on each machine. There might be a video on the 5 most popular of a specific type of machine. Then another video with an overview of a specific model, going a little deeper into functionality. Then anther video with a full overview and then step by step, walking you through how to set up, operate, and maintain the specific machine.

They have phone and chat support for any issue. If you already own one of their products, you can schedule a video chat and they will watch you and coach you through anything you are unsure of. It is all free (well you have to buy one of their machines and that's for life).

I used constantly to watch all the videos thinking, "should I really spend over $1k on a coffee machine." My wife said you are always buying coffee and why go to work if you can't splurge on yourself every once in a while.

So I bought a super automatic 5 years ago. it's one of the best purchases I have ever made. I wish I had done it sooner.


Main Website: https://www.wholelattelove.com/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/wholelattelovetv

Will give second endorsement here. I watched many of their videos before deciding on what to buy. Did not buy from them, but their reviews and info are too notch

Philips LatteGo has been great for 3 years. They have several different models that just change the display/ features but everything else is the same.

Another thumbs up for Philips LatteGo, super easy and automatic, we love ours

I've been using Whole Latte Love for a long time. Bought my machine and grinder there in a combo and I get my beans from them. I used to mainly use Lavazza Super Crema but after their review I swapped to Maromas Orphea for the chocolate vibes.

I've also used their tech videos to totally tear down my Gaggia.

mneisch said:

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New to the game myself but just picked up one of these Breville units that came highly recommended. So far very happy with it and pretty easy to dial in.

https://a.co/d/06Wov8J

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This is the one my wife ordered for Christmas. A friend of hers has one and loves it. My wife has a Nespresso right now and is looking to upgrade.

So far very happy with it. Only tried one roast so far and took me a bit to dial in. Once I found out what I was doing the day to day usage is super easy. I used the steam wand to make some hot chocolate for the kids last night and they loved it.

For those of yall with the barista express, do you ever do Americanos?

Talking myself into one but probably 80% of the time I just drink black coffee. I haven't been happy with the nespresso pods lately so still want something better. But am somewhat concerned I'll be disappointed with americanos vs coffee.

I am in the same boat looking to buy. Looking at the Gaggia Academia. Was looking at a Delonghi Maestro but got concerned with some of the reviews relative problems with the machine.

I wound up spending the $ on an ECM profusion espresso machine. Went on vacation and was able to some watching and discussing with professional machines. All of their coffee drinks start with espresso. Will be a learning curve for sure.

Just saw this thread but wife is looking at the ninja luxe 3 in 1. Anyone own one and have thoughts? Seeing good reviews online but wondering if worth paying the extra for the breville?

This took a lot of dialing in. Dose grinder and espresso machine. Flow control helps.

austinag1997 said:

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This took a lot of dialing in. Dose grinder and espresso machine. Flow control helps.

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Now that its dialed in, time to work on that latte art.

How much coffee have you been drinking since you got your machine? I remember after getting mine, I wanted to try and learn to make all kinds of things. I drank more coffee in the first week of getting my machine than i ever have in my life.

Koko Chingo said:

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austinag1997 said:

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This took a lot of dialing in. Dose grinder and espresso machine. Flow control helps.

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Now that its dialed in, time to work on that latte art.

How much coffee have you been drinking since you got your machine? I remember after getting mine, I wanted to try and learn to make all kinds of things. I drank more coffee in the first week of getting my machine than i ever have in my life.

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Make pretty good lattes and cappuccinos so far. Americanos are easy. Drink coffee daily.

Need to work on the cappuccino art. I'm sure there is a trick, but not there yet!

htxag09 said:

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For those of yall with the barista express, do you ever do Americanos?

Talking myself into one but probably 80% of the time I just drink black coffee. I haven't been happy with the nespresso pods lately so still want something better. But am somewhat concerned I'll be disappointed with americanos vs coffee.

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I drink black coffee or Americanos 100% of the time. Do you have a vertuo or regular? I'll add a double espresso scurio (vertuo pod) to 6 oz hot water and it makes a solid Americano. I prefer it to their coffee pods. The Nespresso is at the office I work in so buying a espresso machine is not an option.

OP,

Additional online home espresso sites…

Chriscoffee.com

Clivecoffee.com

These have been helpful over the years.

Didn't drink coffee until late 30s and pretty much started with lattes … curse you Starbucks and your chocolate lattes. But, pretty quickly it became part of the daily routine.

Started thinking about what me and the wife were spending at Starbucks and home espresso started to make more sense. I think I calculated a 2 year payback …. not counting anything for our time. We started out with a super-automatic and moved to an espresso machine and grinder after the automatic broke down. It's a big nut for a proper grinder and a machine but one of our favorite kitchen investments.

It is a bit like owning a cool classic sports car (as I imagine) in that you have to maintain it and tinker with it to keep it all dialed in and running. But, in a way, this has become a fun hobby that pays delicious dividends.

I'll throw out aeropress.com as a lookup too. Slick little machines that make a nice espresso and fun to play with. I have one for trips where i know I won't have access to good hits of the dark bean. And, if ever our home machine is down, it does happen, it's our backup plan.

Mr. Frodo said:

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OP,

Additional online home espresso sites…

Chriscoffee.com

Clivecoffee.com

These have been helpful over the years.

Didn't drink coffee until late 30s and pretty much started with lattes … curse you Starbucks and your chocolate lattes. But, pretty quickly it became part of the daily routine.

Started thinking about what me and the wife were spending at Starbucks and home espresso started to make more sense. I think I calculated a 2 year payback …. not counting anything for our time. We started out with a super-automatic and moved to an espresso machine and grinder after the automatic broke down. It's a big nut for a proper grinder and a machine but one of our favorite kitchen investments.

It is a bit like owning a cool classic sports car (as I imagine) in that you have to maintain it and tinker with it to keep it all dialed in and running. But, in a way, this has become a fun hobby that pays delicious dividends.

I'll throw out aeropress.com as a lookup too. Slick little machines that make a nice espresso and fun to play with. I have one for trips where i know I won't have access to good hits of the dark bean. And, if ever our home machine is down, it does happen, it's our backup plan.

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The maintenance is what I have to figure out on my own. I need to spend some time finding out the wear items to have on stock.

I guess it could be like owning a vintage sports car.... there is always something to fix!

Clean the head, steam wand, and porta-filter monthly.

Assuming you have a water filter and maybe a softener… change those annually.

I have run rice through the grinder a few times … probably need to do more of that.

You need some gaskets for the head. You'll know that's gone bad if it's too easy to lock in.

Find a good mechanic… espresso service guy. With all the machines around these guys are out there.

Thanks for the advice.

We went ahead and pulled the trigger on a Breville Touch Impress a few weeks ago.

So far I'm a big fan. I posted earlier in this thread I was a little hesitant because I'm generally just a black drip coffee drinker. The Americanos it makes are more than a solid replacement, to the point I've started making one at home and taking it to work because it's so much better than the coffee at my office (never would have thought about doing that with our Nespresso machine). Have also already had more lattes and flat whites than I thought I would.

A couple questions....

Anyone have a ceramic lined travel mug that fits under the portafilter? Or a recommendation for a glass to use then pour into my travel mug? The "issue" I'm running into searching is most of these are like 2-4 oz for an espresso shot. But doing an Americano the Breville automatically dispenses the hot water when the shot is done so need one that's 8-10 oz.

KIS … what about a ceramic ramekin?

Mr. Frodo said:

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KIS … what about a ceramic ramekin?

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My current keep it simple is just using the SS milk jug that came with it to make my americanos in. I'd just like something with a little wider brim. Today, for example, I was distracted doing something for my daughter and looked up and realized the jug wasn't lined up right so the hot water was missing the jug.

Would a ramekin avoid the teapot effect? That's why I don't just make it in why of my ceramic coffee mugs and pour into my travel mug....

Yeti 10 oz Ceramic Lined Coffee Mug

There that worked

Ag_07 said:

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Yeti 10 oz Ceramic Lined Coffee Mug

There that worked

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That one would be perfect....if it fit in a cup holder.

I just got the Breville Barista Express this past wknd for my bday - does anyone have suggestions on good quality beans? So many options out there, would love to hear what yall have been happy with!

Thank you!!

Fresh roasted beans are really 90% of the whole thing.

My recco is find a place to get fresh roasted ( grocery store or coffee shop or mail order) and just try different varieties till one speaks to you or you connect with one.