New Machine Help

The 'strength' of the coffee is often confused in conversation. Cheaper robusta beans have a higher caffeine content and therefore would be 'stronger' but seriously lack in flavour when compared to arabica beans (all things being equal).

'Strength' can also be incorrectly confused with roast profile. The darker roasted beans providing a bigger (although burnt) flavour.

At €500 and wanting to drink espresso based drinks you could aim for a very decent second hand machine or a lesser, new Gaggia Classic with change left over for some coffee.

For a long black coffee you won't beat a french press imo. I found that visitors when given a choice will, as you say, pick a milky coffee but they're time consuming to make when you have guests to entertain so I stopped offering cappuccinos and lattes and brew exclusively with the cafetiere. What type of a grinder do you have?