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• Reputation: 1962 Q&A: 32 0 1 1965 663 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 2 elenchos

  6 0 I disagree with all the comments on the supposed advisability of trying to make good espresso drinks at home. Even if the dollars and cents math says you could have equivalent or better drinks at home for less total cost, sitting at home alone having your daily drink is missing the point, and a little depressing. Pointing out the feelings you get from the ritual of walking to the coffee shop or bakery, interacting with the staff, talking to the other customers, and then enjoying your Americano is not a shitty coffee commercial. It's exactly the kind of authentic experience that advertisers are always hoping to stuff into their commercials. What's shitty about it is the way they cheapen it, by trying to tell everyone that a social ritual can be created artificially with a mass market product, like for example, General Foods International Coffees. If you feel like the daily cost is getting out of hand, you should save money by going less often. Every other day, or every third day. Drink ordinary coffee (or French press) at home for your caffeine fix but continue to go out for something good, both the drink itself and for the time spent getting there and the process of buying it. Going less often actually heightens the pleasure, since it's less mundane. This is what I've done for the last couple years. (If we were talking about buying an espresso machine for an office setting, or for a home where you host large fancy dinner parties, that would be a whole other matter...) elenchos answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report 2 comments by Mahtli69 and Lilting Missive… 0 0 I understand your point, but, believe me, pulling your own shot is happy times. Mahtli69 commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I completely agree. Making espresso at home sounds like a great idea for us addicts, but it's at least a $1000 investment (unless you get lucky buying used) for the machine and the burr grinder. Then there's the space the machine takes up. Then there's the mess. When you consider all that spending $3 a day on an Americano is well worth it. This is a good guide should the OP decide to pursue home espresso: http://www.coffeegeek.com/guides/howtobuyanespressomachine If you want good coffee at home get a French press and a burr grinder. Lilting Missive commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  5 0 Happy (cheap) medium: I buy vivace and other high quality fresh beans, and make a strong brew with a french press. Rev.Enant answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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• Reputation: 6000 Q&A: 113 0 11 4226 721 3 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 6 Fnarf

  4 0 I have one, which hasn't come out of the cupboard in almost a decade. The problem is, it's really hard to get it right at home. The temperature isn't high enough, the water pressure isn't high enough, you can't really get the crema you want or the perfect creamy foam. On mine, if the pressure isn't at the maximum when I start steaming the milk, it starts to run straight out of the nozzle as hot water, which is horrible. Filling the thing is a pain in the ass -- note that real restaurant-grade espresso machines are plumbed into the water supply -- it either fills automatically or you hit a switch. It's a pain in the ass to clean, too -- the water reservoir gets mucky after a while, and all the parts that come into contact with the coffee or the milk need to be cleaned constantly with a hot wet rag. On the plus side, it's kind of fun. It's a skill like anything else; you have to learn to pack the holder full of coffee just right. And foaming milk requires a knack as well. I recently tried some of that "Nespresso" pod coffee -- they were giving away samples at some store -- and it was GODAWFUL, with plenty of seemingly fake "crema" but the taste of aluminum foil and stale beans. Seriously, the coffee at McDonalds is ten times better. You have to pack your own; pods, any kind of pods, suck balls. But, really, unless you have a thousand bucks lying around, I think it's like trying to have a pizza oven at home -- occasional use just isn't going to cut it, it has to be on and in use all day long. If you do get one, do a LOT of research and ask people who know what they're talking about. High pressure to force the brew is only part of the picture; you need to be able to keep it up for the steaming part. Fnarf answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report 4 comments by Kip Waddle, Fnarf, and Kip Waddle… 0 0 Nespresso sucks, big time but, all pods are not equal. Those made by illy are quite good. They are compressed optimally, use only paper to hold the grounds and come vacuum sealed. They also work on machines capable of using conventional grounds. It does require a special handle and those machines start at $500. Kip Waddle commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I just don't see how a pod can compare with really fresh-roasted, fresh-ground coffee. I had another cheap coffeemaker, not espresso but single-cup drip, and I tried several brands of pod in it, and none of those ever gave off the amazing aroma of fresh ground. Fnarf commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 The grounds are vacuum sealed (after extracting the air and replacing it with inert gas) so the coffee is surprisingly fresh. Also the grind and tamp are perfected to ISO9001 standards. You get a perfect shot every time. These are Italians in Italy in business since 1933. They know how to roast beans for espresso. Kip Waddle commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 These are also espresso-only pods that are designed to be used in the machines that Illy makes under the Francis Francis label. It is an expensive product that requires an expensive machine. Kip Waddle commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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• Reputation: 831 Q&A: 25 0 0 376 45 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 1 Jack

  4 0 Former espresso machine mechanic here... I'm afraid I have to disagree. The only thing the Francis Francis machines have going for them is that they were on Friends and Sex and the City. They are otherwise unremarkable machines, and overpriced to boot. The real weakness of home machines in general is that they employ these cheezy "vibration pumps" that don't do a very good job of delivering consistent pressure. It doesn't help that most of them don't have the element-in-grouphead design (versus a real boiler) that doesn't maintain temperature well either. That's why, IMHO, the La Pavoni Europiccolo-type lever machines are the only home units worth owning. I'm not a big fan of the Capressos because they're such a pain to work on (and at least at the place I was working, almost impossible to get parts for), but I will concede they make pretty good shots. However, don't listen to the orthodox opinion. Some people really like the Joe made by what conventional wisdom would call pretty crappy equipment. My advice would be to go see the guy at Home Espresso in Greenwood-- I think they'll let you try out a variety of different machine styles. They can also teach you how to make a good shot on a home unit, which often is very different from doing it on a home unit. Jack answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Jack… 0 0 Sorry... I was tired... I meant most home units DO have the element-in-grouphead design and making cofee on a home unit is different than on a commercial one. Jack commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  4 0 We have a La Pavoni Europiccola hand-pulled espresso machine. I love it and use it all the time. Since it's a hand machine, it doesn't have a pump, which means it's cheaper and will probably have less maintenance issues in the long run. The one I linked to is in the $7-800 range, but my wife bought ours on eBay for half that. Just think about how much you spend on coffee per day, per week, per month, per year, etc ... For me, it was around $3/day every day, which is over $1000 per year. I figure ours has paid for itself a couple of times over, and I still occasionally go out for coffee. Whatever you do, don't by a cheapo one. It will make shit espresso, and then you won't use it. If you buy a standard one with a pump, then you're probably looking at $1000+ for something decent. Mahtli69 answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report 1 comment by Mr. Compass… 0 0 The La Pavoni us simply one of the best, most elegant machines that exist. I enjoy going to a coffee shop too, but the ritual of pulling your own shot is way better. And you save money. Even James Bond uses one (Live and Let Die). My La Pavoni has a pressure guage which makes it even more fun. Mr. Compass commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  3 0 Yes, yes and yes. If you drink americano then you will never be happy with drip. The best deal for the money is francis francis. You can use the pods (available at the grocery store) or your own beans. My machine is so awesome that I have coffee before leaving the house sometimes.(we call it the parting shot) DO NOT get a machine that is lacking a pump. That is the bare minimum. Also, if you like americano, why not get a stovetop espresso maker? just be sure to get a BIG one so that you get a full size cups of coffee and only use a proper mesure of coffee per cup. Kip Waddle answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report 2 comments by Kip Waddle and Griffin… 0 0 In interest of full disclosure: I have not used my francis francis machine for about six years. I did use it for many years and was completely satisfied with the experience. The coffee machine I have been using every day for the last seven years is a fully automatic Jura. It grinds and tamps the coffee and all I do is push a (programed to my specifications) button. It rocks. The coffee is better than anywhere I go out for coffee. I bought it at 39% off of $2200.00 and produced at least 10,000 cups of coffee. Best coffee ever, easy to use and if you have the money to spend, it will pay for itself. Kip Waddle commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I too have a Jura Capresso machine--I got a model-year end remainder for half of the list price and still paid $800 for it, but it was the best $800 I've spent lately. It has a pump, does awesome on milk steaming, is fully automatic, and it's idiot proofed--it tells you when it needs water, beans, cleaning, whatever. I broke even on my purchase (assuming $3/day at coffee shops) within a year, including the price of spendy beans and filtered water. Go for it. Griffin commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  2 0 I hope this link works: Aeropress The aeropress is the bomb. Hands down the best cheap way to make a strong cup of joe I've ever come across. Not espresso and no way to later up the mile, but still worth a look see. Tom answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report 5 comments by Tom, Tom Sackett, and Fnarf… 0 0 dang. dind't work. sorry. google aeropress. Tom commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 We have a decent espresso machine at home (The Baby Gaggia), but I make better coffee with the $35 Aeropress than I can with the espresso machine. I use it almost every day. You can buy one in Seattle at that kitchen store in Pike Place Market (not Sur La Table, but the cheap one downstairs), or at the Central Market up on Aurora. Tom Sackett commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 Those look pretty cool -- kind of a cross between a French press and a pump-handle espresso machine. Fnarf commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 I fixed the link for you Tom. Marty Unger commented about 1 year ago | Report 0 0 The Aeropress is like a French press, in that it is an immersion method, where you steep the coffee in water like you might steep tea. The difference is that the combination of a paper filter and pressure lets you can use a much finer grind of coffee. (The other difference is that the Aeropress is much easier to empty clean.) The trick to using it is to follow the directions: use lots of coffee and relatively little water, use water at about 175 F degrees, stir for a full thirty seconds before plunging, then dilute to taste. Tom Sackett commented about 1 year ago | Report Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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• Reputation: 718 Q&A: 5 0 16 300 65 12 Classifieds: 3 0 what's this? Follow Following 1 lilmonster206

  1 0 The short answer is no. The long answer is this: 1) The first reason it is not worth it to buy your own espresso machine is because even if you spend $1000 on a "nice" home machine, it's still mechanically going to suck. There is not market for retail quality machines for your home. It's either get a 1 group La Marzocco for 3 grand or spend 200-900$ on something that's not going to produce the kind of coffee you're used to. 2) You probably don't know how to make espresso. No offense, but I'm assuming you would also have to learn how to actually make your daily latte. Learning how to pull a good shot of espresso is a lot harder than you might think. Only a few baristas have to ability to actually pull consistent, tasty shots. And that's after hours of training and months or perhaps years making coffee. And then there's milk, which is pretty much the same story. I would recommend any of these AWESOME home brewing methods, which are a lot cheaper and a lot easier to learn how to use: 1)French Press 2)Chemex 3)Hario V60 4)AeroPress 5)Siphon Pot 6)Moka Pot 7)Cold Brew Lastly, if you want to "invest" in a really good piece of coffee equipment, you're better off getting a good conical burr grinder. lilmonster206 answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  1 0 I agree with elenchos. A home espresso machine is not the same thing as one in a coffee bar, so you're likely not getting the same quality if you make it at home (unless you drop a huge pile of cash for it, maybe). Part of what you enjoy is the experience, and you can't duplicate that with a machine. You could develop a new experience, but you're not just having an Americano, you're going to the coffee shop. Finally, espresso machines and exercise bicycles have an awful lot in common except that an exercise bicycle is better for hanging laundry. There are people who use both. There are also an awful lot of people who spend a lot of money on both and don't use them. It's an expensive gamble. CleverScreenName answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 With the shop experience aside. Coffee is all about personal taste and we all like it served in different proportions and mixtures. My swedish grandmother taught me all about european brewing and espresso mixtures. The money saved is enormous and I suggest you shop around for the proper machine. Dont skimp on the price and be sure you purchase from a place with a good return policy. These ladies are wonderful and will help you with any questions. http://www.seattlecoffeegear.com/ Svensken answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 After breaking my millionth french press, my husband bought me a cheap Mr. Coffee espresso/cappucino machine thing. It was around $30, and, yes--it is totally worth it in my opinion. All the little components and the steam shooting nozzle appeal to me, you should get one for the fun of it. sseloske answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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  0 0 Obviously there are people here who enjoy making their own espresso (and I salute them), and others who have discovered they purchased a rather pricey doorstop. Hammacher Schlemmer is offering a single handheld espresso gadget in its Fall/Christmas catalog - still pricey, but way less than a machine. Hammacher Schlemmer offers things that sometimes have questionable usefulness in the long run, but never have I found their merchandise to be poorly made. http://www.hammacher.com/Product/79423?refsku=79511&xsp=1&promo=xsells. Sounds like you like a good belt of java in the morning, so I'm thinking you'll use whatever you purchase. Rev.'s suggestion, though, of espresso beans in a French press sounds like a plan. On the other hand, Fnarf's experience with his machine demands consideration as well. And it could be that espresso, like salads and sandwiches, is always better when someone else makes it. Bauhaus answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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• Reputation: 619 Q&A: 13 0 4 312 33 0 Classifieds: 0 0 what's this? Follow Following 0 Collin

  1 1 If you're a coffee nerd, than a quality machine might be worth it. Someone who loves to tinker to get the shot just right, or maybe someone who roasts their own beans. Keep in mind I said quality machine. You'll likely drop $500+ for a good one. From what you said, it sounds like you really savor the experience of going to the coffee shop, and having a well-made product. That's not really something that you'll be able to recreate at home. If you've been thinking about this because you want to save some money, I might have a suggestion. If you can switch to brewed coffee, you can make some really quality stuff at home for the cost of a french press and a burr grinder (apx. $40-$60). What I've done (mostly for budget and waistline reasons) is stop drinking coffee shop coffee all but maybe one or two days a week, and switch to primarily french-press coffee. This may not work for you, but I thought I'd throw it out there. However, I'm the type of guy who'd rather go without fried chicken for awhile, rather than try some "oven-fried" chicken. Collin answered in Food & Drink about 1 year ago | Report Comment on this answer Enter your comment or ask a new question preview THIS IS A PREVIEW: Click "Post" to submit it or "Edit" to make changes. edit Please wait… This could take a minute if the tubes are clogged.

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