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Which espresso machine/coffeemaker?

B

bUnMaNGo

Senior member
Well Mother's Day is coming up, and I'm looking for a gift for my mom... I went shopping with her a couple weeks ago and she seemed to have her eye on an espresso machine/coffeemaker combo thing, like a Krups 867-42 Il Caffe Bistro 10-Cup Coffee/4-Cup Espresso Maker =P Anybody have any experience with these? I'm checking out epinions.com as we speak... any other ratings sites like that? Or do you guys have any other recommendations? I'm looking at < $300, preferably < $200.
 
Coffee Maker?
I personally like the convience of a Capresso Team and use one myself.
Picture of Capresso Team

For Espresso Equipment, there are two people I really really trust, Tom at SweetMarias and Barry at Riley's Coffee & Fudge who both stock the same machine, a The Solis SL-90 Espresso Machine.
SweetMarias link
 
go to the gevalia website, get a free coffee machine and subscription to some of their coffee. Not a recommendation on their coffee because I've not had any of it. But I do have a coffee machine from them. It was a gift from my mom-in-law, she gives away the gifts to other people and gets the coffee for herself...
 
in my personal opinion...
don't buy one.
it's more of a hassle than anything.

lot's of times... people think that they can make a cup of latte
just as well as starbucks... only if they had a espresso machine.

but the fact of the matter is, the ones that they use at starbucks or any major coffee shop...
is as different in quality and spec as say... honda civic and 2000s
it may seem to have all the similar features.
but you'll never get the power that you need to create a satisfying cup.

i used to work for starbucks back in college.
and just to give you an idea...
we had a 2 year old machine that we were using in the store.
and the manager wanted a new machine, and sell the used one.

he ended up selling the unit for 10k... USED!!

while i was working there, my manager allowed me to take home any of starbuck's retail machines... the ones that go for $300 or so.
i had it all ready for a superbowl party.
man... was i disappointed.

on a side note...
i ended up keeping that machine... 'cause my manager never asked to bring it back.
it sat in our basement for a long time... and now i don't know what happened to it.
 
I would NOT get a combination espresso/coffee machine.\

and, does she really like espresso that much?
if she likes it $500.00 worth, get the The Solis Maestro Burr Mill and SL-70

otherwise get her the Capresso Team, it is so nice and convient
 
one more note on coffee..

if you are a coffee yuppy.
and want some good coffee at home.

the best way is to use french press. and grind your own beans at the time of pressing.

that's a hassle too... but it sure beats these ordinary coffee makers.
 
Barry and Tom say you can get a good espresso with the Solis, but typically you hear what hoihtah said, that you need a commercial machiine.
 
You'll get essentially the same mediocre brew out of most sub $150 machines as you will out of a $10 stovetop "moka pot". So if you're getting a cheap one, get whatever is on sale.

If you want the real deal on a budget, I most agree with glen although I have no personal experience with Solis. I've had excellent luck with a Rancilio Silvia espresso maker and the Rancilio Rocky burr grinder. The set cost me about $500 at www.dailygrind.com

A good site to learn more about espresso is www.coffeekid.com
 
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