Help buying an Espresso Machine

[Diana40]

Hey people!

My husband and I are looking for the espresso machine, but there are so many of them that we're a little bit lost I thought that on the Forum like yours there would be someone who can help What can you recommend for the newcomers?

[DaveD]

Hi Diana40,

Welcome to Coffee Snobs! In order to help you a lot more information is required, such as, budget, preference for coffee with or without milk etc.

Why don't you look at this great guide from one of the site sponsors, which can help you to understand what you need. Also, make sure to read the associated coffee grinder guide!!
Buying Guide- Espresso machines | Talk Coffee

Once you start to get an idea of what you want, then people can make some suggestions. If you're in Australia you could also visit some of the site sponsors to see some espresso equipment and maybe even try it out.

Cheers, Dave

[lilTanker]

As dave said, budget and coffee style. But I also think how much effort are you guys wanting to put in?

Would you like an automatic machine (super autos) some produce decent coffee and will do so consistently with only moderate maintenance.

Are you wanting something a bit more user dependant when you stretch (steam) the milk and perhaps grind the beans? (Pressurised baskets kinda machine) you can get decent coffee from those as well with some trial and error.

Or are you wanting the whole thing, grind, tamp, stretch the milk and cross your fingers you got it all right and potentially be rewarded with a shot of coffee so good, that you kinda become obsessed with working out how to pull another shot like that repeatedly... Which inevitably propels you to upgrading components, machines, tampers.

[Yelta]

Hey people!

My husband and I are looking for the espresso machine, but there are so many of them that we're a little bit lost I thought that on the Forum like yours there would be someone who can help What can you recommend for the newcomers?

Good advice from Dave D Diana, Talk Coffee's buying guide is well written and very informative.

Dave also alludes to the fact that to get the best out of any machine you will also need a decent grinder, so factor that into the overall outlay.Buying Guide- Espresso machines | Talk Coffee