What is a good espresso machine to by for under $400?

Question

I recently got a Krups xp4050 espresso machine for Christmas. It was a lovely gift idea but the machine itself didn't work very well - the water did not come out consistently and I noticed it smelled like burning plastic, so I had to return it. Has anyone here purchased an inexpensive home espresso machine that they could recommend?

Answer 1

This is the one I use, but it's slightly over your budget.

http://www.espressozone.com/rancilio-silvia-espresso-machine-v3-8836.aspx

It's the cheapest consistently good machine I've found.



This is the coffee method of choice for me on most days. As one person said, it's easy plus you don't need a special grinder like you do for quality machines.

http://www.espressozone.com/vev-vigano-kontessa-oro-stainless-espresso-pot-6965.aspx



This is actually the only moka pot that creates a crema to give the true espresso experience. Most machines don't even do that well.

http://www.espressozone.com/bialetti-brikka-stovetop-espresso-maker-8964.aspx



Hope the choices helped.

Answer 2

I find the $25 stove top ones work much better than the high tech ones and they are much easier to use and clean. They look like aluminum hour glasses. It's also nice because you can make enough for two people and bring it to the table. Those fancy machines suck unless you want to spend $1000. If the coffee shops could make decent coffee with a $400 machine, they wouldn't spend the money on a good one. You also have to wait a long time for the countertop ones to heat up before they work, and they take up a counter. They simply suck as far as I care. If you want a cup of espresso, you can have one in 4 minutes with the stovetop.

Answer 3

get one made in italy, they know their espresso

llike this one:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=12569393

it has manual controls

why manual? because YOU can control it, not the machine

you control the amount of ground beans to use, and press tight

you control the amount of water that gets shot thru and into your cup

thus you control the strength of the espresso

these automatic things are dumb, even the programmable. give me a break. if you need an expresso in the morning, get up, pour the water in, let it heat up and then do your other things.

to me the automatic ones make weak espressos.

having worked in a lot of italian restaurants, the best espresso's and cappuccino's were made from MANUAL machines.

it carries over to the home versions.

where my daughter works, (a coffee shop) they have the automatic one. it measures the RIGHT amt of ground beans, it measures the RIGHT amount of water.

she knew i'd have something to say about that.

for me to get the right amount, a TRUE cappuccino made took 4 "shots" of of their espresso.

it's one of the main reasons i don't go to starbucks. to have a true espresso or cappuccino would cost about $20

with a manual machine YOU control it. it's manual. you don't have to read a novel on how to program. you pour the water, turn it on, and in a few min, it's ready to be made.



a true espresso is almost 2 ounces. served in demitasse cups, filled almost to the rim, with a light brown foam. it is served with a lemon twist.

almost like this: http://ukwom.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/espresso_vivace.jpg

if it comes out looking like just regular coffee it could be because you:

--didn't press the grounds down hard enough and the liquid just shot thru

--you didn't use enough beans



a cappuccino is about double of that- about 4 ounces. the foaming should be done with cold WHOLE MILK, in a metal pitcher. if you use skim, non fat, etc., it will not foam up as well, and you'll end up with "warm milk" the cup's rim should be rimmed with lemon, and dipped in a bowl or plate of cinnamon sugar.

while the cappuccino is being made, then froth the milk. top with a dash of cinnamon sugar or chocolate powder. you can put a cinnamon stick in it too if you want.

it should look like this: http://www.stonecarver.com/news/it/cappuccino.jpg

nice and frothy. and it should taste like it has 4 ounces of espresso in it, ENHANCED with poofy steamed milk, not a whole ton of milk with a molecule of coffee.



don't buy the individual portion sizes, they suck. go to the grocery store and you can grind your own beans. you want a FINE grinding. keep refrigerated.

when you turn the machine off, wipe down the metal steamer bar, put a glass of warm water under it so it can soak.

just rinse the canisters and let air dry.

Answer 4

A pump driven Delongi.

I got 2 pressure driven ones for xmas one year. I traded them both and picked up the Delongi. Had it for more than 10 years. I think it was <300.

Got it at Bed Bath & Beyond

Answer 5

Espresso my eggo