Best steam espresso machines according to redditors
We found 93 Reddit comments discussing the best steam espresso machines. We ranked the 27 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 93 Reddit comments discussing the best steam espresso machines. We ranked the 27 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
https://www.amazon.com/Espresso-Machine-Cappuccino-Frother-Steamer/dp/B079BXT1X8
I’m loving it so far
ok night shift for 8 years here, I got you bro!
Edit: Espresso. Oh and dont drink any caffine 4-6 hours before bedtime (~0700 i'm guessing) good luck brother.
I do not know that one, but since it has a removable reservoir I assume that it is a pump driven thermoblock machine. Pressure is not the problem then, it is temperature control. IF you pair it with quality coffee and a good grinder it will be generally capable of making drinkable beverages. Value? Evidently, $15, or whatever some will pay for it at the time. This one is listed on Amazon for $200 (that's far too high):
http://www.amazon.com/Kenmore-Elite-Stainless-Espresso-Machine/dp/B004AANIAK
Similarly, my usual drink of choice was a white chocolate mocha, so $4.25ish.
My sister gave me a cheap espresso machine last year. I get some white chocolate syrup at $30ish for a 6 pack that lasts me roughly 5-6 months, and a 12oz bag of coffee every 3 weeks (maybe, not entirely sure) from the grocery store at $11 a pop. That works out to roughly 65ish cents a cup.
That equals:
Only 50 bucks more on Amazon, if you're not a Costco member.
https://www.amazon.com/Breville-BES920XL-Boiler-Espresso-Machine/dp/B00I6JGGP0?th=1
I have 2. Ones a nespresso that someone else in my family purchased (i hate it because you can only use the nespresso pods, and they’re overpriced) and a delonghi single armed espresso machine. the latter was only around $300 and it can pull two shots at a time, you just need to set it up manually. there’s a tank of water in the back that you just refill, and you only have to maintain it once every couple of months. it also has a milk steaming wand on it and i LOVE IT. with all of my coffee mark outs i can literally make any espresso drink with any coffee blend we have at work. hope this helps :))) My machine <3
https://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Espresso-Machine-Frothing-Cappuccino/dp/B008EYPKB8
Got from a garage sale for $10.
1500 can give you both a decent grinder and a decent dual boiler w dual PID.
Sette 270 $400 new
Breville BES 920XL
$1100 new https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ISQ6ZM0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_itfzCbPVJR7E4
You can go a bit lower on the machine if you get it from Amazon Warehouse deals, 200+ off work slight imperfections.
Bean to cup machines are probably out of your range, but you can still get a really good espresso machine for less than £150. These take ground coffee, and some have a steam spout too to make foamed/steamed milk. I have this one and I'd definitely recommend it: link
I wouldn't go with a pod machine. They are cheaper to buy, but it is much more expensive to buy the pods than just ground coffee. They are also bad for the environment as the pods generally aren't recyclable.
I used a DeLonghi Dedica for three years and loved it.
https://www.amazon.com/Delonghi-EC680M-Espresso-Machine-Stainless/dp/B00KA8YC6A
Very small footprint
okay from what you said, it seems she's not big on straight espresso, and she prefers milk drinks. This is good for you, since if you're making sugary milky drinks, the espresso doesn't have to be quite as good.
Now I may get flamed for this, but I picked up a Mr. Coffee steam espresso maker at Target for $20 on black friday. This is the one
The espresso that comes out of this is not very good by itself, but it comes with a small milk steamer on the side so you can make lattes/cappuccinos. Again, if you're not flavoring them, it's not great, but with the flavor syrups they actually come out pretty decent. I would suggest getting the following:
Mr. Coffee Steam Espresso Maker - this can also be found at target/walmart/etc
A small milk frothing pitcher - I picked mine up cheap at TJ Maxx
Some vanilla coffee syrup for her lattes - This can be found at some grocery stores and such
and if you really wanna go the extra mile, buy some espresso, whole milk, and caramel syrup (the kind you put on ice cream) and make her a caramel macchiato yourself. It's not too hard, here's a recipe: http://recipecircus.com/recipes/Joy/BEVERAGES/Topsecret_Starbucks_Carmel_Macchiato.html Just make some espresso, add vanilla syrup, top with the frothed milk, and drizzle with the caramel sauce
You need to have room in your budget for a grinder. That being said, that would put the Astra out of your preferred budget. But it does seem like an excellent machine for the price point (no experience here).
If you're wanting to do primarily milk drinks, and concerned about ease, the Brevillle Double Boiler is <$1,000 now. But that leaves no room for a decent grinder - the Breville Smart Grinder Pro is about all that would fit into your budget. A nice upgrade on grinder to a Baratza Sette 270 will set you back another $200.
If you need to save money, consider the Breville Infuser rather than the DB.
Lots of folk will encourage you to look at more commercial duty machines that have simpler maintenance, and in the long run they're correct. But if you only have what you have, that's a pretty good bang for your buck. The machine will probably not be as long-lasting as one of the E61 HX machines, but there's not many out there in your budget. There are a few, like the Lelit Mara but that one doesn't have a very long history like some of the more commonly-recommended machines (that are also more pricey).
I bought a Krups 963 at a garage sale for $3, new in box. Very bare bones, only 4 shots at a time, and it’s a little tricky steaming milk without wasting the steam pressure for the espresso but it still works great.
For a long while I was approximating a latte using pod espresso from a Nespresso Vertuoline and Aeroccino Plus. It made a serviceable drink; not cafe-quality, but quick and easy. Plus, the whole setup cost me less than $200 after a Black Friday sale a couple years ago. My biggest issue with this setup was that the froth from the Aeroccino isn't great and I found that it didn't get the milk quite hot enough. I also was getting sick of the same, limited variety of espresso pods available from the Vertuoline (as of right now, only two types).
Recently I decided to step up my coffee game a bit. For the last 4 months I've been making double lattes using a Breville Dual Boiler I bought off eBay for about $800. The first few weeks I was using a hand-me-down Baratza Encore, thinking that all warnings on /r/coffee about using the Encore for espresso were just people being finicky. I was wrong -- brewing espresso is straight-up EXTREMELY sensitive to grind. After upgrading to a Baratza Vario, I've been happily making single-origin espresso every morning. All told, I ended up dropping about $1500 on this setup.
After a lot of browsing I realized that there's an almost continuous spectrum of home-use espresso machines from low- to high-end. From my perspective, the Breville was was a nice compromise between price and features. It's not a Rocket or La Marzocco and I'm sure there's a significant difference in quality, but I'm still learning and it works well-enough.
Hope you find something that meets your needs!
I've personally never used a Rancillio Silvia but before you buy any gear, I'd recommend viewing the reviews [here] (http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/rancilio_silvia) at Coffee Geek, link directs to Silvia reviews. I used this site a lot before I took the plunge and I'd imagine Silva users here would be more than happy to share their experiences. From my own research I can say that both machines have single boilers systems and that the stock wand in the Rancillio is far superior for making micro foam for lattes, flat whites ect. As mentioned you can mod a Gaggia Classic's wand to attach a Rancillio wand, see my old set up and notice the Rancillio wand. It cost £10 and took five mins to do 10/10 would do again.
The grinder that you linked was one that I was researching while I was looking into my own gear, for espresso I think the £200 would be better spent towards a more capable grinder imo. But again I've linked some reviews of it for you to view.
Going back to other grinders; here are four which are typically good for espresso Gaggia MDF, Rancillio Rocky, Baratza/Mahlkonig Encore and Baratza/Mahlkonig Vario.
On a side note, I believe that Baratza (manufactures of the Vario and Encore trade under the name Mahlkonig in the UK - which is an amazing brand that you see the predominantly in cafes) and the brand has released a new line of grinders this year and you'll probably be able to find a good deal on the older models for cheaper.
But to give you my personal advice; with a £500 budget you could pick up a Gaggia Classic for about £230 then have a nice budget to get a quality grinder such as a Rocky for around £230 too. Together these would be a kick ass set up and you'll have around £40 spare to get mugs, portafilters, cleaning kit, Rancillio Mod kit, tamper, milk pitcher and (of course) coffee!
This would be a better set up imo rather than dropping your whole £500 on a Rancilio Silvia (they're very expensive).
Hope this helps, happy to answer more questions!
edit - Rancillio mod kit link added
I use this, and it works really well, though I still am not great at using the milk frother, so I froth my milk with a separate appliance.
Espresso Machine, Aicook 3.5Bar Espresso Coffee Maker, Espresso and Cappuccino Machine with Milk Frother, Espresso Maker with Steamer, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079BXT1X8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_64olDbNZ27VG6
I'm usually asleep by 9:30 - 10:00. Anything later i'm trash the next day. I will also lay out my clothes the night before, by laid out I mean in a pile on the floor in the bathroom. Nothing fancy. I will usually shove down a banana, have a cup of coffee which usually gets things moving bathroom wise for twosies (If it's a onesies I'll pull over somewhere). If it's a longer run I'll do overnight oats.
Coffee wise I'll do espresso or cold brew. The espresso machine is pretty cheap and fast. This is one I use now. I'll also use coldbrew if I don't want the espresso.
I hope this helps and good luck!
I recently purchased a Delongi Dedica EC680 from eBay for £40. It's a slimline espresso machine with milk frother. It is in nearly new condition. I kept an eye out for a while to be fair and got lucky but you can definitely pick one up for cheap. They're £120 new.
Everyone on here will rightly tell you that there are better machines out there (which there are of course!) and some compare this to being a 'toy' but I am skint so I went with what I could afford. I have since replaced the pressurised portalfiler basket with a non-pressurised basket from Amazon (£7), changed the steam wand (£10, bit of handy work required but easy enough) and invested in aKrups electric grinder (£30) and buy fresh coffee beans from my local roaster (about £6 a bag).
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Oh my gosh. The flavour is amazing. I used to just use a French Press. This is next level. I make cappuccinos, flat whites, americanos and just regular mugs of coffee to take to work in the morning. Its great. Totally entry level espresso machine but I'm already producing coffee that is tastier than Starbucks, Coffee #1, Costa Coffee, Cafe Nero etc.
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I actually get up early to make coffee now. Game changer.
Thank you for the suggestion, but the reviews have me a bit nervous...
https://www.amazon.com/Delonghi-EC680M-Espresso-Machine-Stainless/dp/B00KA8YC6A
It's a Delonghi Dedica EC680, I picked it up for half price last year, but I've replaced the basket with a deeper one and turned the portafilter into a bottomless. Here is a photo of the underside, you can see the tool marks where I cut the bottom off.
If you keep the original baskets though, you can put ESE espresso pods in it, which is great if your spouse doesn't want to bother with the grinder.
Be warned, it cant steam milk for shit.. and it doesn't have a pressure relief valve.
Well, I'm in the same boat. I bought this cheap Mr. Coffee "espresso" machine and it works alright. I have more trouble figuring out the proportions for a good tasting drink but it serves for the price. Looking back I would have spent a little more money and bought a better one.
I got the Breville Infuser and Smart Grinder Pro from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. I love them. By no means am I an expert, but I enjoy the shots I pull just as much as from coffee shops using La Marzoccos. Yes the beans, barista, and placebo all play into that, but it still pulls a great shot and is pretty affordable. You could even go cheaper and get the Duo Temp Pro which could functionally be the same as the Infuser and is $100 cheaper so you could spend it on cups, knockbox, distributor but the infuser would still put you under budget. I went with the infuser because you can adjust the temperature and you can pull manually or preset volume, which allows you to eliminate that variable for a consistent shot and you can see how your tamp/grind are as the program pulls 60mL (2oz) no matter what and so you can gauge what you need to do to dial that volume in for the proper extraction time. Downside is that if you want a naked portafilter then you gotta DIY or buy one from Aus for like $150, but I don’t think it’s a huge deal and if you do then maybe that’s where your extra budget could go. The pressure gauge is also nice although it won’t really tell you what you don’t already know from extraction time.
I can’t say this is the best machine for the price (although Seattle Coffee Gear did so take that as you will) but I can highly recommend it. I would get it over the Barista Express as the extra $50 for a dedicated grinder is totally worth it as it is more versatile and I’ve heard it’s a better grinder than the built in one. I also recommend it over the Gaggia. Although it does not have the modabilitiy of the Classic, it has most of the features that people mod the Gaggia for already, plus it uses a traditional steam arm instead of a panarello like the Gaggia, and has stainless steel lined thermocoil instead of aluminum thermoblock.
Overall would definitely recommend going separate grinder and machine no matter what.
That’s strange about the grinder but I’ve been hearing that a lot, that it’s the most important piece.
The Oracle Touch tastes great! The pucks it produces seem perfect too, so I can’t imagine it being an inferior or not so great grinder lol! But then again, I’m fairly new to this so I’ve never had a direct comparison with a quality grinder shot vs the Oracle.
For roughly the same price it seems like I could get the Profitec pro 300 and a quality grinder.
In your opinion would this be a much better combo?
Here’s one thing I’m trying to avoid....
The Oracle seems to be, well, consistent. Since it’s partly automatic it seems like I get a quality drink pretty much every time.
Maybe it’s an 8 on a 1-10 scale.
If a true semi auto with a great grinder gives say a 9-10, how much extra work and trouble is there using it to get that little bump in flavor?
Will I have to dial in each time and waste 3-4 shots to get the desired result? And is it easier to get terrible tasting shots by accident compared to the Oracle?
I’ve never used a prosumer quality semi auto like the Profitec before but the Oracle seems pretty bulletproof.
Poking around further I found this which includes a grinder for the same price as the Oracle??
La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi (Black) Espresso Machine, Baratza Sette Grinder Bundle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071F7T95F/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ToFzCbM7FYQPY
Your best bet is to go to a thrift store and pick up a steam-toy "espresso" machine. You know the ones, typically cost about $50. They don't make espresso at all but they actually don't do too bad a job of blowing steam out the wand, all things considered.
Try to find one with as little garbage ("foam helper") on the end of the steam wand as possible, and hopefully removable
Edit: something like this, but used & therefore cheaper
This is helpful, thanks. Right now I'm developing my taste for straight espresso with no milk or sweetener (and really enjoying it!), and I'm having trouble replicating good, local coffeeshop espresso with what I can do at home with my Delonghi EC680M Dedica (with a random Mr. Coffee non-pressurized filter that I found fits) and my Virtuoso grinder.
I suppose it's not at all surprising that my results with my current setup aren't great haha. So that's why I'm thinking of upgrading things
Actually the KRUPS may have been even more expensive than that. It's several years old but this is the closest modern model I could find to it. (I didn't buy it so I dunno exactly but that is the closest model)
So yeah big price difference and there is a clear difference in taste.
If you post a link to the item in question usually /u/PriceZombie chimes in shortly thereafter with a chart of historical pricing comparisons.
Sure. I buy my beans on Amazon.
Green beans store indefinitely. So, you can roast what you need each week. I roast a pound of decaf and regular.
I roast with this air fryer.
It comes with a cage that rotates when roasting.
I measure a pound (454 grams) for each roast.
So, for decaf I roast at 430F for 19 minutes (can adjust time to preference).
For caffeinated I roast at 450 for 20 minutes.
I let each roast age for a few days, then grind freshly before brewing. I prefer espressos, and use this machine.
Here is a nice video on the art of coffee.
http://forums.macresource.com/read.php?1,410733,410806
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-ECM160-Espresso-Machine/dp/B000U6BSI2/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323911978&amp;sr=8-6
http://www.amazon.com/Velocity-10-Cup-Coffee-Brewer-Black/dp/B000FFQ4TG/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1323912013&amp;sr=8-25
If you still aren't convinced I can't help you.
Thanks for the advice. My current machine doesn't have any recipe settings, really. I just fill up the coffee portafilter to the level it specifies, insert it, press a button, and out comes espresso. This is what I'm currently using:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KA8YC6A/ref=twister_B01FHS3QXC?_encoding=UTF8&amp;th=1
Yeah, sorry, I meant a milk steamer, not foamer. The steam wand on this machine kinda sucks. It's usually doesn't get the milk very hot and makes inconsistent foam.
It's supposed to be a solid machine.
Here's a youtube video comparing it to another solid machine (Crossland CC1)
Amazon page for reviews.
Does he have everything that comes with the machine? You can buy missing stuff off Breville's website, but you can also buy the machine refurbished directly from them for $900.
I have a BES840XL, and I haven't had any issues after about a year of ownership, but I am curious what people who own the BES920XL have to say.
I've heard great things about this machine Delonghi EC680M DEDICA 15-Bar Pump Espresso Machine, Stainless Steel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KA8YC6A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_vN1yybHJXX8BA
Order one of these and learn how to use it. It will be far better than what you can buy somewhere.
Read up on roasts and how different roasts taste. I like medium myself. Dark is good. Light isn't my fav. If you like milk, make a latte (order a milk foamer if you want to be fancy, they're cheap). Try out what you like!
IIRC you'll need a stamping tool, I don't think it's included.
The thing about Espresso is that you need 9bar of pressure, no matter what you do. You're not gonna get that, unless you actually have an Espresso machine.
Here's the one I use, though it's half as expensive where I'm from.
I used to have the Rancilio Silvia: https://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-Espresso-Machine-Stainless-13-4-Inch/dp/B00H1OUSD2
You can find a few cheaper, but this one is REALLY good.
Hello there! New to this sub, but a regular coffee drinker for a while now. Two questions:
1: I got this as a Christmas present. Not the greatest, I know, but I have managed to get good espresso out of it. Once. Then I ran out of beans. Anyway, does anybody here have experience with this machine? I can't find anything about it anywhere. I've been trying out different amounts of coffee in the portafilter, does anybody know what the "optimal" amount (in grams) is? The one time I managed to make a good cup, I didn't measure out how much I was using, so I have no idea how to replicate it. Any other tips on using this thing would be much appreciated.
2: Would a goose-neck kettle be a worthy upgrade to my french press setup? Or is just dumping water from a regular kettle fine?
I have a delonghi ec680. Certainly not high end when it comes to espresso, but I've modified it to be an unpressurized basket, which for me was the most important thing, and I make great shots with it. If you're willing to put in some effort, and are not afraid to take things completely apart, there's a mod for the machine, where you can replace the panerello wand with a rancillio Silvia wand. Just another option to consider.
Ec680- here
Ec680 steam arm mod- here
Do you mean this thing?
http://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-HSD-SILVIA-Silvia-Espresso-Machine/dp/B00H1OUSD2
That looks really good and would do what I want, but it doesn't come with a tamper and milk pot which would put the cost up a bit. Wouldn't it make more sense to get a BDB for 200 more dollars? I still plan on 300-400 dollars for a grinder as I am told its really necessary.
Is there a pro the Silvia has over the BDB ignoring cost?
My Dad had one of these things when I was little. He'd make espresso sometimes, preferred to do a pour over though. He mostly used it for the steam to froth up the milk. Made an absolutely terrifying noise, as I recall. If you lived anywhere near, I'd give you the thing for like $10, as it's been sitting atop the cabinets for about a decade.
Just got this one, seems to be fine and pretty cheap.
I just use something like this. I use regular coffee or any flavor I want with it, it has no drm, makes a great cup of coffee and is extremely inexpensive. Super simple good cup of coffee IMO
No pressure gauge, unfortunately- it's a no frills machine (https://www.amazon.com/KRUPS-Espresso-Machine-Frothing-Cappuccino/dp/B0052WJ2SC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8)
If the pump seized, is there a way to test and/or fix that? Or are we talking about sending it back to the manufacturer at that point?
Amazon has some pop up in the Amazon Warehouse section in the 800-900 range all the time if they get marked Used-Good or Used-Accerptable and that usually just means they only come without a box.
You can check that here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B00I6JGGP0/ref=dp_olp_all_mbc?ie=UTF8&amp;condition=all
The nice thing with this is that you can buy a 4 year Assurion extended warranty to go with it for an extra $60.
Mine was Used - Acceptable and had a dent on the front. It was $660.
Don't be ridiculous.... they cost $40 new, got one from a thrift store for $5
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000U6BSI2/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1458793105&amp;sr=8-2&amp;pi=SY200_QL40&amp;keywords=espresso+machine&amp;dpPl=1&amp;dpID=41-TTbN8IVL&amp;ref=plSrch
Mod means use these:
If you can bump up your budget to swing a Gaggia Classic though, I'd look into one of those. Used, you can probably find them near $200.
For reference, you can get a Mr. Coffee brand new for $40. We used this for about a month - found it at work - and it made the best wannabe espresso we've ever had from a machine.
Then we got a Silvia.
Ad esempio una EC685 su amazon warehouse deals e passa la paura:
https://www.amazon.it/gp/offer-listing/B06X97L4CC/
https://www.amazon.it/gp/offer-listing/B06WGTZ874/
Hmmm... You may be on to something here.
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...Unless you're just full of hot air
A French press makes good coffee with ground coffee beans that's way better then a Keurig and very cheap. However, if you want to brew your own espresso at home for a low price id suggest this maker. I have 2, one for home and one for our camper. I use mine daily for 2 years and love it! https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B072X2HHQ3/ref=dp_ob_neva_mobile
I wouldn't. My understanding is that the Dedica is effectively a $50 Delonghi ECsomething stuffed into a much more attractive and low-pro casing, with an expanded thermoblock.
It's not a bad 'entry level' machine, but for 195$ ... you're getting screwed, near royally. You can get them new for ~$60 more on Amazon.
If you are fine compromising heavily on performance to get an entry-level machine, that's awesome - but don't spend extra for a nicer wrapper. Save that 'extra' against the upgrade you're probably already planning on.
What about this combo?
A basic 15-bar DeLonghi:
https://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-EC155M-Espresso-Machine-Cappuccino/dp/B072X2HHQ3?keywords=espresso+machine&qid=1540690929&rnid=1063498&s=Home+%26+Kitchen&sr=1-21&ref=sr_1_21
With a manual burr grinder:
https://www.amazon.com/Mueller-Ultra-Grind-Strongest-Heaviest-Stainless/dp/B076BZYSGF?keywords=burr+grinder&qid=1540691024&sr=8-10&ref=sr_1_10
Since the aero can only get 7-8 bars, and the moka pot doest have any pressure... would this be a better settup?
Right now i'd be using a manual blade grinder with a aero or a moka pot. I know this will be 50-60 bucks more but I'm able to drop an extra few bucks if it means an improvement on quality/taste.
Yeah, this one in particular was a bad experience :(
I think it's a different model but its essentially this (nothing fancy I know)
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-ECM160-Espresso-Machine/dp/B000U6BSI2/ref=sr_1_8?s=kitchen&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1410772754&amp;sr=1-8&amp;keywords=espresso+maker
Water does come out but not in steam. It kind of drips tiny droplets from the bottom, although its possible water is coming from the sides as well but just dripping from the bottom. It heats up and eventually makes hot watery milk but no steam of any kind. I know its far enough up that if I turn the machine on its side I cant see anything in the nozzle.
Thanks! Really helpful stuff in this thread. I was wondering what your opinion was of this model DeLonghi EC155M Manual Espresso Machine, Cappuccino Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072X2HHQ3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1qzYAb90QH6KN
> Rancilio Silvia
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rancilio-Espresso-Machine-Stainless-13-4-Inch/dp/B00H1OUSD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1494885019&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Rancilio+Silvia
that one? it is within my budget.
You already have a grinder, right?
Rancilio Silvias have dropped in price recently. Here in Europe I can get a heat exchanger Nuova Simonelli Oscar 2 for the money I've spent on my Silvia a few years ago.
https://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-Espresso-Machine-Stainless-13-4-Inch/dp/B00H1OUSD2/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1494624856&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=rancilio+silvia
https://www.bellabarista.co.uk/rancilio-silvia-2016-edition-espresso-machine.html
http://www.elektros.it/hr/en/oscar_II_nuova-Simonelli/oscar-II-black.html
I suspect the ES01 (from the pictures you can google online) isn't even a pump machine like the ES180. It isn't an espresso machine at all (other than in name). But a $10 electric moka pot isn't a bad deal.
http://www.amazon.com/Rowenta-Espresso-Cappuccino-Maker-ES-01/dp/B00PWWNBDE#immersive-view_1453071215097
Here's a parts diagram for the ES01 - as you can see it's a steam machine - no pump present at all - just a water vessel and a heating element http://m.buyspares.co.uk/images/mediator2/123/100/es01.png
What about the Delonghi EC680 for $239?
I haven't tried it myself, but I've seen some positive reviews considering its price.
Yum
Rancillo Silvia $689 new?
http://www.amazon.com/Rancilio-HSD-SILVIA-Silvia-Espresso-Machine/dp/B00H1OUSD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1413571371&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=Silvia+espresso+machine
The general consensus here seems to be to aim for a Gaggia machine as the absolute minimum. Preferably a Gaggia Classic (~$388).
I've heard people recommend the lower priced Gaggia New Baby (~$300) to try out espresso and to help decide whether "to get a real espresso machine".
A step up from that, the recommendation seems to be the Crossland CC1, but that's in the $600+ range.
To save some money, you might do better finding a used machine or see if they're on sale at different sites.
If you want to go cheaper than that, people have recommended the MyPressi ($170), but I have not seen that in stock anywhere recently. There's some buzz regarding the MiniPresso (Preorder at $39), but that won't be out until 2015. So there won't be any reviews regarding it for a while.
As for grinder, if you're looking for cheap, you might have to make do with a hand grinder, either Hario Skerton (~$35) or Mini (~$26) or Porlex (~$43). The cheapest acceptable electric grinder seems to be the Baratza Preciso at $300.
This is the information I've gathered anyway. I don't have any personal experience with an espresso machine, but I hope this helps. If you decide to go with something, post your experience and help some people out.
Personally, I'm thinking of saving up for the CC1 and Vario (~$1000) combo...
Well, my DeLonghi was just under $100 on amazon and I got it for "free" with rewards points. Yeah, it's not top of the line... maybe someday I'll graduate to something really expensive. Buying coffee at Starbucks 4-5 days a week wasn't cheap either.
I just bought this... best deal I could find with frother
Nespresso ENV150GYAE VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine Bundle with Aeroccino Milk Frother by De'Longhi, Graphite Metal https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTZ419O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_l1bQDbY7HJSVW
I don't want to second guess you there Zombie, but the $2K price tag seems a bit high -- you can get them for under $2K -- Oh, I see -- I forgot to link to the newer model of the dual boiler -- they are under $2K here.
[Rancillio Silvia](Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine with Iron Frame and Stainless Steel Side Panels, 11.4 by 13.4-Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H1OUSD2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_TntNybHPPFYDP) has been around for a while and has had several revisions to improve its quality over time. It's tried and true and produces great results. There's tons of info available on how to get started, tech support, repair and maintenance. Pair it with a good grinder and you're good to go!
The home sized esspresso machines cannot do foam properly, I have tried a lot of them. I did see that someone modified an Italian percolator and turned it into a steamer, you should try to diy it.
You can also try using a small milk frother but it won't exactly be microfoam.
This one is great, I have the two group version:
https://www.amazon.com/Nuova-Simonelli-Volumetric-Espresso-MAPPIA5VOL01ND003/dp/B06XHKCNZ5/ref=mp_s_a_1_43?keywords=espresso+machine&amp;qid=1568072452&amp;refresh=1&amp;s=gateway&amp;sr=8-43
Keep searching!! Best of luck. It going to be hard to buy a setup for less than 2 or 3k but look on your Facebook marketplace and you can find one for cheap.
Maybe your kitchen. I have and totally recommend this beautiful thing.
http://www.amazon.com/DeLonghi-EC680-Dedica-Espresso-Machine/dp/B00KA8YC6A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1457634339&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=delonghi+espresso
DeLonghi EC155M Manual Espresso Machine, Cappuccino Maker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072X2HHQ3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0J1vCbKG4QDWE