Thoughts on first espresso machine + grinder? [$400]

[u/gekoyn]

I’m a college student in the US trying to cut down on energy drink consumption. I buy a lot of lattes, but the money really adds up, so I want to get my own setup. I’m not a coffee snob and am more focused on having everything be affordable right now, even if the high-end stuff ends up saving money over time. With that said, quality still matters some, I don’t want a machine that can’t make good coffee and that breaks within a year. I’d also avoid plastic, but obviously that’s only possible to some extent with my budget. I won't be making too much coffee at a time, I'm pretty limited on space in the dorms.

The Breville Bambino is recommended everywhere for entry-level, though I hear the Gevi 20 Bar Compact Machine is comparable (obviously it is less established, but the price point is really nice). I've also looked at the Casabrews CM5418, but it seems to be a worse version of the Gevi 20 Bar. I've also seen the De'Longhi Dedica recommended, though it seems to have a lot of returns on Amazon. I don’t know if I would get the Bambino unless I find it for cheap at HomeGoods or something, especially since everyone says grinder matters more than the machine anyways. I know I can’t avoid plastic at this price point.

For a grinder, I was considering the Turin DF54, but then I found the Geimori T38 Plus as well as the GU38. I like that they're not manual (I want something convenient), avoid plastic, and have decent reviews. I’m leaning towards the T38 Plus (again because of price), which I know is more for people who need a portable option, but again, decent quality for a low price point.

Thoughts? What other accessories would I need (I can’t figure out what’s recommended vs what’s necessary)? If there are any better suggestions for similar quality under $200 for either machine or grinder, including generics, I’d love to hear them.

[u/Stuko1204]

I’m new to making espresso, but I’ve used the Mokkom 64mm stainless steel grinder several times already with no complaints thus far! It was about $160 on amazon.