You
might be a little shocked and surprised when you start your espresso
machine shopping adventure. These machines aren't cheap! Not the good
ones anyway.
But, if you take out pad and pen and do the math,
you will quickly decide that a home machine - a good home machine -
will pay for itself rather quickly.
Let's assume that you buy
just one espresso drink per day at the modest cost of $3.50 (I know
most drinks run higher and many of us cannot get by on just one per
day!) That adds up to over $1277 per year! If you have friends,
roommates, family, then you can easily see the cost-effectiveness of
the commercial grade home models.
Plus, when you get good at
making drinks (and that's a lot of fun), you can wow friends and
family. It beats a card trick most every time.
A Word of Caution when Buying an Espresso Machine
If
you're budget minded, like I am, you might be tempted to snap up a $60
expresso machine at Target. Hey, I love Target too. But you will likely
be disappointed by the performance of the machine. Frankly, I think a
good barista can make a decent drink on any machine - but you'll likely
wish you saved up a bit over time and purchased a higher quality
pump-driven model.
It's true that the pump-driven espresso
makers are bigger, heavier, and more difficult to use (until you learn
to use it). But they'll produce a better cup of coffee. And you will be
happier in the long-run as a result.
What should I look for when buying an espresso machine?
Machine Look and Design:
Ask
any barista; Making a good cup of espresso is an art form. The best
espresso machines are largely influenced by their Italian roots, are
themselves a work of art. Given the wide variety of high performance
machines available, you'll want to select a machine that complements
your own unique style.
Quality of the Machine:
Is
the machine consistent? Is it easy to use? Does the company back it
with a long-term warranty? Are the key parts made of high quality
materials? Or does the machine feature mostly plastic?
Convenience and Usability:
Some
of us want to push a button and let the machine do the work. Others of
us want to be intimately involved with each step of the brewing
process. Some machines come with a built in grinder - and other will
require you purchase a special grinder. Think hard about how much
effort you're willing to put into making a drink when you crawl out of
bed!
Overall Value:
Value
is really a comparison of the above features, weighted against the
price of the machine. Are you willing to pay twice as much for a
machine that looks stunning, but is functionally similar to another?
That's your call!
Whatever you do, remember that espresso is one
of life's finer pleasures. This probably isn't the most practical
investment you'll ever make, but it will bring years of enjoyment and
happiness. As is the case with most things, you will get what you pay
for - I recommend you buy the best machine you can afford whether this
machine will be for your home, office or business use. As soon as you
start enjoying your own handcrafted lattes and mochas, your investment
will feel well worth it!
As
a coffee lover, one my favorite places is Starbucks. And who hasn’t
heard of Starbucks? They’re on every corner and supermarket in my town.
Every place I go in town, a Starbucks is not far away. I love their
coffees, but I also love many other places too. I often go to Starbucks
for convenience, that’s my number 1 reason.
They
actually have an online store, which I’m not too surprised. They’re
such a huge conglomerate that an online store is perfect when you can’t
find something at their normal café’s.
Click on the banner below to check them out.
Since You're here on eBay, do a search for espresso machines if you're on a tight budget. I'm sure you will find something that you like. I personally like Starbucks so I don't mind buying some of their items in their online store.
Cheers!
Jesse
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