Let's talk home Espresso

bigmoose

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This past year I've jumped into the home Espresso game. I'm completely hooked making my own hot/iced americanos.

I currently have a Baby Gaggia semi automatic with MDF grinder. Overall great setup to learn on but has it's limitations.

I plan on stepping up to a prosumer E61 double boiler in the near future.

What does everyone else have?
 

Grabber

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We recently got into espresso too, but, have been long time high quality, if you will, coffee drinkers.

Currently have a Breville espresso machine that has a built in grinder and frother. This thing works awesome and makes a REALLY good cup of espresso. Definitely worth the money we spent n it.
 

CV355

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I don't have one yet. Always wanted one- figure it would pay for itself the first year. I was looking at the Ninja coffee bar when Slickdeals had them on sale for $50 off from $250. The nicer Brevilles look $300+.

We got a Keurig in 2010 when the market exploded with single-serve cups. For regular old coffee, it's ok. The "specialty pods" that advertise espresso/latte/macchiato are kinda gross though, and taste nothing like the real deal. I really miss a boring old $15 Mr Coffee percolator.
 

Tifosi2003GT

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It's funny I drink just espresso. For 20 years we only had the stove top makers. When I went to Italy my family all have Nespresso Machines at home for when they don't wanna go to bar.

That said the nespresso machine any model really makes an near perfect cup of espresso. I only by the roma capsules. In winter the milk frother is also amazing for cappuccino's.

 

03Sssnake

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We recently got into espresso too, but, have been long time high quality, if you will, coffee drinkers.

Currently have a Breville espresso machine that has a built in grinder and frother. This thing works awesome and makes a REALLY good cup of espresso. Definitely worth the money we spent n it.

I have the same machine from Breville with the built in grinder and love it! I didn't realize how shitty starbucks and others were till I started making my own espresso! Now I can't even drink the swill from those places.
 

Grabber

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I have the same machine from Breville with the built in grinder, love it! I didn't realize how shitty starbucks and others were till I started making my own espresso! Now I can't even drink the swill from those places.

LOL

That is the same thing we thought. We probably spend about $25 a month, sometimes more, sometimes less with Starbucks. After a year, the machine will be paid off and the quality is much better.

The only pain is mainentance, which really is not all that bad.

Definitely love this thing and it is definitely a well built machine.
 

03Sssnake

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LOL

That is the same thing we thought. We probably spend about $25 a month, sometimes more, sometimes less with Starbucks. After a year, the machine will be paid off and the quality is much better.

The only pain is mainentance, which really is not all that bad.

Definitely love this thing and it is definitely a well built machine.

My wife was going to starbucks at least twice a day, think our machine had paid for itself in a few months :D ... We have had ours for nearly 3 years now and zero trouble so far.
 

bigmoose

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We recently got into espresso too, but, have been long time high quality, if you will, coffee drinkers.

Currently have a Breville espresso machine that has a built in grinder and frother. This thing works awesome and makes a REALLY good cup of espresso. Definitely worth the money we spent n it.
My buddy has the Barista Express which I think is the one you have. He loves it as well. Periodically you can find them refurbished in the $300ish range, better than the new price if $600.

I'm currently doing about 20 double shots a week at home. That's probably $60/week if I bought all that out. I have an excellent source of coffee beans from a friend that roasts for his business. Probably costs me $8 in beans for those 20 shots.

My next step is a prosumer but damn they are expensive, I'm talking $2-3k. However they won't break a sweat lasting 10+ years, which is the only way I can potentially justify it given how much I use it.
 

Gringo185

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We upgraded from a Keurig to a Nespresso Vertuo a few months ago and never looked back. We don’t brew actual espresso very often but the 8 oz coffees are fantastic. The quality of the coffee over K-cups is obvious. Our bundle came with a milk frother. Best home brew coffee I’ve ever had.

And the Nespresso app makes ordering a breeze. Most of the time it’s free next day delivery.
 
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Grabber

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My buddy has the Barista Express which I think is the one you have. He loves it as well. Periodically you can find them refurbished in the $300ish range, better than the new price if $600.

I'm currently doing about 20 double shots a week at home. That's probably $60/week if I bought all that out. I have an excellent source of coffee beans from a friend that roasts for his business. Probably costs me $8 in beans for those 20 shots.

My next step is a prosumer but damn they are expensive, I'm talking $2-3k. However they won't break a sweat lasting 10+ years, which is the only way I can potentially justify it given how much I use it.

That is a pretty impressive amount.

I'd say we are anywhere from 10-20 double shots a week with ours. Mostly my wife as I still just love my regular coffee from Black rifle.

What kind of beans does your buddy sell? He have a website.

If he has a SUPER dark roast, I'm in :)
 

03Sssnake

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FWIW I love using Seattle's Best #5 dark roast whole bean, its not technically an espresso bean, but makes excellent espresso shots. This is a very dark and oily bean, the latter being important for building and holding pressure. Dried out beans don't work well and make shit espresso. What beans are you guys using?

0001291912130
 

bigmoose

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That is a pretty impressive amount.

I'd say we are anywhere from 10-20 double shots a week with ours. Mostly my wife as I still just love my regular coffee from Black rifle.

What kind of beans does your buddy sell? He have a website.

If he has a SUPER dark roast, I'm in :)
It sounds like alot but I don't think it's much at all. It's just 2 shots each weekday for myself and my wife. On the weekend we'll have an afternoon coffee, so 4 each day there. Then the odd few for people coming over.

My friends is not super dark. It's a pretty good blend of dark and medium, not super oily. He doesn't sell online.
 

Tifosi2003GT

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Tifosi2003GT

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FWIW I love using Seattle's Best #5 dark roast whole bean, its not technically an espresso bean, but makes excellent espresso shots. This is a very dark and oily bean, the latter being important for building and holding pressure. Dried out beans don't work well and make shit espresso. What beans are you guys using?

0001291912130


Squid coffee..Lmao!!

Lavazza Grand Espresso Coffee Beans, Whole Bean Arabica Italian
I have tried several so called espresso roasts that have been complete garbage.

Homo
 

Coiled03

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ITT: Coffee geeks

Think I'll stick to my mud water from the cafe' at work. Best part about it is, I'm sure they source their beans from the lowest cost provider to save a few bucks at the expense of employees. Hooray team!
 

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