Reddit reviews Bialetti 7009 Easy Cafe Espresso Maker, 6-Cup

I hate to say it, but I don't think you can get a setup you'll be satisfied with for your budget. Espresso is a very unforgiving brew method, and after drinking it for a while, you'll be able to pick out a flawed shot immediately.

I built a cheap setup (Breville 800esxl machine, and Breville Smart Grinder) against the recommendations of the coffee community at large, and regret it immensely. A cheap setup can produce the occasional great shot of espresso, but trying to recreate it is an exercise in frustration, because a lot of the variables are not under your control (brew temperature, pressure, grind consistency and fineness) with that level of equipment.

Here is what I would do with your budget, keeping in mind that you like a strong coffee:

Brewer - I haven't used a Moka pot, but both of these methods can produce a coffee concentrate that you can then dilute to your taste

> AeroPress - ~$25
>
> OR
>
> Moka Pot (stovetop) - ~$40-70 depending on size
>
> OR
>
> Moka Pot (electric) - ~$100

Grinder - Both are solid entry level grinders, Baratza has an excellent warranty and is very well regarded by the community, but the Capresso Infinity would serve you very well too.

> Capresso Infinity - ~$90
>
> OR
>
> Baratza Encore - ~$130

Not gonna get much kcup or similar love here. They are common for this use but make overpriced weak bad coffee. Have to mention it as it is the mass market solution.

French press is good work kit, but can be messy http://amzn.com/B000KEM4TQ

Aeropress (http://amzn.com/B0047BIWSK) is my work setup.

I used an electric moka pot at work for a while but it was awful loud for a cube, easy though, and moka is somewhere between coffee and espresso. Good conversation piece also. http://amzn.com/B000TDDVL8

Grinder also? Highly recommended to grind right before brew, http://amzn.com/B001804CLY

Good luck!

My humble suggestion: http://www.amazon.com/Bialetti-Easy-6-Cup-Espresso-Maker/dp/B000TDDVL8

Now, you probably can't go wrong with any of the suggestions people have given you. Or get a k-cup maker if you want. Just know that there are other(better, imho) ways of making coffee that are dorm-safe.

This is the best coffee maker I've ever used. They're called Moka pots, or Stove top Espresso makers. It unscrews into three parts, you fill the bottom to the line with water you put in a little basket full of coffee, and screw in the top.

Put it on the stove and the boiling water is forced up and through the coffee into the top part. The resulting coffee is thick strong and beautiful, I normally drink it with just a little sugar.

I bought one for myself in college, all you need is access to a stove. If you can't use a stove they also have this version here or here that you can plug straight into the wall.