By Christine Frietchen on August 12, 2010 in
In the last week or so, we've seen an uptick in readership of our report on espresso machines. Is summer really over? Are people just tired of spending $5.50 for a double shot or are legions of college freshman looking for their espresso fix? We're not sure, but it seemed like a good time to present our quick-and-dirty guide to espresso machines -- and whether it's worth it to buy one at all.
Step #1: Assess your espresso fanaticism
Quantify your habit. Do you like espresso once a day? More? How much of the enjoyment includes the buying experience -- leaving the office, making a stop around the corner, flirting with the barista, hanging out with friends, etc.? You're not going to get that at home. Then there's the pure financial angle. If you're paying $5 twice a day for your espresso drink, it won't take you that long to recoup the expense of the equipment you're going to need.
Step #2: Scrutinize your budget
It doesn't take a math whiz to figure out that buying an espresso machine will eventually be cheaper, but what's the payback period? We actually found a neat calculator that helps you tabulate the cost of a home espresso machine, coffee beans, and milk/sugar compared to what you spend in a shop. That should give you a rough idea.
Step #3: Prepare for sticker shock
Good espresso machines aren't cheap, and reviewers (including machine owners) say you really can't get by with anything less than about $300 if you want a decent brew (we also identified one good budget model that costs less). That's because you need a "pump-driven" machine rather than a "steam-driven" machine, which just doesn't have enough oomph and pressure to make a great cup of espresso.
Plus, in addition to a good quality espresso maker, you'll need a burr grinder, the only type that can grind beans finely and evenly enough for espresso. We cover coffee grinders in our full report. You're looking at $100 for a budget burr grinder. Owners say that your bean grinder is just as important as the espresso machine you buy.
Step #4: Judge your commitment level
Espresso machines are pricey, but they also have a learning curve, requiring lots of practice (and some wasted coffee) to get it right. If you're the type that can't sit still and read a manual or you aren't a tinkerer, this may not be for you. You can buy so-called "pod" espresso makers, which use pre-packaged single-serving packets of coffee, but reviewers are split on these, since they take away the level of experimentation and customization that espresso lovers enjoy.
Step #5: Making espresso at home might be like your gym membership
It seems like a great idea at first, and sure, you're probably pretty committed in the beginning, but it might not take much to derail you. Read some of the stores on this thread at Chowhound on whether or not to buy an espresso machine and you'll get the idea. Contributor "Maximillien" says it best:
"One day, you will run out of coffee beans or milk or something else and just go to your usual place and get coffee and the next morning, you will still forget it, and the morning after, you will find that what you missed was the fact that you liked having someone making it for you, and you liked being around other people having the same "thing"."
Ready to decide?
Check out our reports on espresso machines and coffee grinders for best bets.