Help me buy a coffee machine

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Hey guys , Im looking for some help here. I have literally no idea what I'm looking for here and would like for people to throw some ideas my way.

I want to buy a Coffee machine for home use , I want to spend MAX €200. I want the coffee to taste amazing and fresh every morning.


Am i looking for too much with my price range ?


Thanks guys.

xbox36016

nesconpeso

phelixoflaherty

A simple espresso pot. No messing, nothing to break. Have had mine for 6 years and have only had to replace the seal.
Pure simplicity.

Gran Hermano

Some quick questions for your Sarge.

What type of coffee/coffee based drinks do you like?
Have you used an espresso machine?
What methods have you used to make coffee?

To be blunt, for €200 you can easily have fresh and great tasting coffee.
You have two options:
a) buy a cheap espresso machine and use preground coffee
b) buy a grinder and some freshly roasted beans and use a moka pot or french press.

Most people go for option a and later buying a more expensive machine and grinder.
My advice is get the grinder first - with a moka pot or french press you'll be getting proper
fresh coffee. If you want both a decent grinder and espresso machine at once you'll need to up the budget
and you're looking at at least another €100.

Diggabot

What ever you do don't buy a Gaggia machine. My mam got one, top of the line and pretty pricey and it was sh*t. It kept breaking, it was swapped several times for different Gaggias and they kept breaking. Espresso pot is definitely the way to go.

Gran Hermano

Diggabot wrote: »

What ever you do don't buy a Gaggia machine. My mam got one, top of the line and pretty pricey and it was sh*t. It kept breaking, it was swapped several times for different Gaggias and they kept breaking. Espresso pot is definitely the way to go.

Whilst Gaggia are not hand crafted by angels, I find them reliable, forgiving and easy to use. Across the numerous coffee websites and fora I frequent
I must say your opinion stands out as different than the norm. Comparing it to a €20 moka pot is crazy.

Mr Magnolia

Agree totally with Gran Hermano on both counts as usual. It all boils down to what type of coffee you drink Sarge. If it's an 'americano' type drink then a decent grinder (€130 starting off) and a French Press is the way to go. If you prefer an espresso type drink then a good grinder and an aeropress or moka pot may be for you.





xbox36016, either post some form of coherent text or don't post at all.

RE*AC*TOR

I suspect Diggabot might be referring to one of the super-autos (whose reliability is less certain than the semi-auto machines).

Again, I agree with Gran Hermano and Mr Magnolia, €200 does not get you into good espresso machine territory - of course factoring in the need for a grinder into that as well.

You can of course make stunning coffee without an espresso machine, many would argue - better coffee, and while I do love espresso and espresso based drinks, I couldn't live without my filter coffee whether French Press, Aeropress, Vac Pot or drip.

I know there's a certain amount of sex appeal (for want of a better expression) with espresso machines and the process, and if you can double your budget then go for it. But if you actually care about the quality of the cup and are set on your budget then I would suggest spending the majority of that budget on a grinder, thermometer, weighing scales, some top notch fresh roasted beans, and a French Press, Aeropress or some other manner of non-espresso type brewer.