Need Christmas present for girlfriend - espresso advice needed

[Savij]

I'm looking for an espresso machine to get my girlfriend for christmas. The only help i've gotten from her is that she wants one that has a milk warmer... I have no idea about what's good or not so I just want to make sure i'm not getting her a piece of junk in an expensive box. I started looking and I see stuff starting about $30 and going up to the thousands.

I also need to replace her old coffee maker that I broke (she doesn't know yet she's in spain for a sem. abroad) so this is what i'm looking at getting right now. Is this good? Is it a good price for it? Can I get something better for cheaper? Basically just let me know that i'm not throwing my money away on a piece of junk.

 

[Dufman]

get her anything you want, if it from the heart it wont more

hahahahhaaha. yeah right.

if you dont get her something veyy good, you are not going to be a happy man

 

[Savij]

I know she'll like an espresso machine, i just don't know if the one i'm looking at is a good one.

 

[opticalmace]

Originally posted by: amdmang
if it from the heart it wont more

=
"if it's from the heart, it won't matter"?

 

[iwearnosox]

My nickname in college was Venti Latte'.

Give it some thought, it might be exactly what she wanted. I'll even put a bow on my head.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
My nickname in college was Venti Latte'.

Give it some thought, it might be exactly what she wanted. I'll even put a bow on my head.

I can see it now, you pop out of a wrapped box and she screams and hoses you down with mace

 

[iwearnosox]

Originally posted by: Savij

Originally posted by: iwearnosox
My nickname in college was Venti Latte'.

Give it some thought, it might be exactly what she wanted. I'll even put a bow on my head.

I can see it now, you pop out of a wrapped box and she screams and hoses you down with mace

We call that "foreplay" where I come from.

 

[Savij]

bump for at least one serious reply

 

[brock]

well, given the model you linked to, i assume you're trying to keep costs reasonable? i don't know anything about this particular model, but it seems decent for the price based on reviews. and since you're wanting both a regular drip brewer and and espresso machine, i'd say this looks like it'll fit the bill. i'd recommend looking for a model that brews the regular coffee into a thermal carafe for keeping it warm rather than having it sit on a burner. burners do just what they say: burn. coffee is never any good if it's been sitting on a burner for too long...

but for $100, i'd say this looks pretty good.

 

[Bryophyte]

Don't waste your time or money on a cheap espresso maker. They just plain don't work well. They don't get a good head of steam for frothing milk.

The best coffee maker you can own is a French Press. Makes amazing coffee. Better than any drip coffee maker on the market. Get a pretty french press, a nice hot pot, a good coffee grinder, and a bag of coffee beans, and you'll be good to go.

 

[amnesiac]

Sorry, but a $100 espresso maker is like buying a $1000 car. You're going to get a piece of junk.

I'm looking for a review on it now.

In any case go here and look up reviews to see if there's anything in your price range:

http://www.coffeegeek.com

 

[amnesiac]

I actually have a white Starbucks Barista espresso machine that's sitting on my counter collecting dust that I can let go for (Relatively) cheap, if you don't mind the lack of a box. I think it's never been used, to tell you the truth.

 

[brock]

i should've said this on my original post, but what people are saying is right -- most consumer espresso machines are no good unless you're looking up towards more high-end stuff. you get to the point where you feel like you could steam the milk faster with an iron (maybe that's just my feeling -- i used to work in a coffee shop). but, if you've really got your heart set on getting her and espresso machine and don't have much money to spend, i wouldn't rule out the one you've picked entirely. maybe spend some time looking for just an espresso machine with that money (not a combo) and as someone else suggested, get a french press for your regular. they really do make the most flavorful cups of coffee, as long as you don't need a pot sitting at your disposal all day.