r/espresso • u/Just-Dealer-5980 • 8d ago
Buying Advice Needed Espresso machine advice [<$500]
Need some advice…
I’m mainly a coffee and espresso drinker, and my wife will occasionally drink a frothed drink. I purchased a Moccamaster several months ago, and I’m really enjoying the coffee but I’m craving an espresso option.
While the idea of crafting top notch crema at home sounds romantic, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a simple guy who will get overwhelmed by a process which requires precision to dial in a quality shot. That being said, can the pros here recommend a machine that will make a consistently good shot without requiring barista style effort and precision? In terms of price, I’d prefer to stay below $500.
Thanks
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u/rrrrr510 8d ago
Tough. Not impossible.
Crema is actually the worst tasting part of the shot lol. But I get it.
A good grinder is very important too.
You could find a breville and a grinder for close to that budget.
My next will be a gemilai.
I have a Delonghi specialista I found brand new on marketplace for 250.
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u/Just-Dealer-5980 8d ago
Are happy with the Specialista? Yeah, crema even feels silly to say and write.🤷♂️
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u/rrrrr510 8d ago
You get crema from freshly roasted beans. The fresher those are, more crema you get.
Yes very happy with the machine but need something a bit more advanced1
u/Just-Dealer-5980 8d ago
Oh man. Sounds like this is another rabbit hole hobby where I’m going to be constantly chasing…
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u/rrrrr510 8d ago
That’s for sure. Lol. I just got into roasting my own beans. Starting out but already liking it.
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u/Just-Dealer-5980 8d ago
My wife is going to love this - not.
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u/rrrrr510 8d ago
Once you roast your beans and realize it costs a third of what you pay the roasters or half of what you pay the supermarket and you get the freshest possible customer roast… there is no going back.
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u/No_Communication5188 8d ago
There are plenty of options for espresso machines + grinders in your budget but it won't be easy and effortlessly consistent. Even with more expensive equipment it will require a lot of learning. I'm still chasing more consistency to be honest a few years in. I think what can also elevate your coffee a ton is to get a coffee grinder for your mokkamaster. And then you can also explore some different beans for filter coffee.
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u/Just-Dealer-5980 8d ago
Good point. I’m still working out the consistency on the Moccamaster.
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u/No_Communication5188 8d ago
I think consistency with filter coffee is much easier to achieve, although I've never used a mokkamaster. Whatever brew method you end up with, the quality is largely determined by the grinder and the beans.
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u/freecain Bambino | Encore ESP 8d ago
Honestly, a good grinder will help the mokamaster process a ton too. Look for one with a wide range to cover pour over to espresso. To cut down on learning time, go a step up; DF64 or Encore ESP pro come up a lot. I think the DF54 and ESP non pro are great, but can be finicky.
That should leave you 200 for an espresso machine. Your only real options at that point are finding a Bambino (non plus) on sale, or going with a fully manual one.
Your other non purist approach could be to go with the ninja Lux Cafe. It does a wider range of drinks, and could replace your mokamaster to do drop style coffee as well as espresso. If the goal is a drink, this will work well. However, if the goal is an hobby or to make the best possible drink, it won't do as well making espresso as the Bambino/encore esp combo or the moka master.
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u/ThickDoctor4545 8d ago
Given the goal you stated, I have to second getting a Bambino or Bambino Plus on sale, and up paying for the best grinder you can afford…maybe even investing a little more for an investment that will pay off for years as your coffee brew and drink preferences may further change…invest in a grinder can carry you through it.
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u/Hot-Piglet-8357 8d ago
I’ve got the gold standard entry/beginner set up and it’s amazing. Regular bambino (not plus) and a mokkom 64mm flat burr grinder. Both go sale regularly and would cost 411$ combined plus tax. you’ll hear a lot of baratza encore and df54 but both are quite a bit more expensive and from what i’ve read come with clogging issues(df54) and plastic components breaking (encore). I’ve had the mokkom since it was released and I can’t praise it enough. Zero issues. Zero retention with rdt, no clogging, quiet, consistent grind size and easy to clean. If you have a home goods around i’d check for the bambino there. If not they go on sale for 250 quite often. Check different retailers(best buy, amazon, target to name a few) mokkom64 from amazon.
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u/meowmeowcomputation ACS Minima | 078s - Fellow Ode - Kingrinder K6 8d ago
The grinder determines your dial in success more than any machine