I Need An Espresso Education

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by Jenady

To start, I am not a coffee drinker. Over the years I have tried to drink coffee in many forms but just could not develop a taste for it. Then I had an espresso after dinner at a good restaurant. I really enjoyed it. It makes no sense to me either.

Now I am interested in being able to make a small dose of espresso at home. I do not want to go overboard with a big fancy machine. I do want a modest setup that will make small batches of passable espresso.

My biggest problem is total ignorance of what it takes. I spent quite a bit of time searching the subject. I quickly became more confused than I started out.

Is there anything I can do on a small, say $100, budget?

I appreciate any advice.

sadly, no.

A good grinder is an absolute requirement and unfortunately your budget puts you 1/3 of the way there at bare minimum.

The Bialetti would work great and fit well within your budget, but you'd be buying preground coffee.

Fresh ground coffee is the basis of a great espresso shot and the starting point for a machine up to the task of grinding for espresso, in many people's opinion is the Rancillio Rocky. I agree.

[AlohaStyle]

Originally Posted by floydpink

sadly, no.

A good grinder is an absolute requirement and unfortunately your budget puts you 1/3 of the way there at bare minimum.

The Bialetti would work great and fit well within your budget, but you'd be buying preground coffee.

Fresh ground coffee is the basis of a great espresso shot and the starting point for a machine up to the task of grinding for espresso, in many people's opinion is the Rancillio Rocky. I agree.

I agree you need to use fresh ground espresso. Why do you say he'd be buying pre-ground espresso using the Bialetti? He can buy the Bialetti and a basic, but decent grinder under his budget price.

[floydpink]

Originally Posted by AlohaStyle

I agree you need to use fresh ground espresso. Why do you say he'd be buying pre-ground espresso using the Bialetti? He can buy the Bialetti and a basic, but decent grinder under his budget price.

Probably could get a grind to work in the Bialetti from a decent burr grinder.

I got off track thinking he was looking to make espresso from a machine, thus my comment that at his budget, he would be buying preground coffee. (pods for example)

I haven't spent a lot of time with Moka pots but believe you need to have a consistent grind in the espresso range for it to produce "crema" and don't know of any grinders in the 50-60 dollar range that do this. Are there?

Thanks to all of you who are helping me out.

Is the Bialetti better than the super cheap machines like this Mr. Coffee?

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-ECM1...2003158&sr=8-4

I came across this grinder which has very good reviews on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Capresso-560-0...7&sr=1-3-spell

Any chance it would be OK?

Thanks guys.

[Blueface]

Originally Posted by Jenady

Thanks to all of you who are helping me out.

Is the Bialetti better than the super cheap machines like this Mr. Coffee?

http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Coffee-ECM1...2003158&sr=8-4

Any chance it would be OK?

Thanks guys.

In 30 years, I have been through countless of these espresso machines in this price range and up to $100 or so or a bit more.
They will work.
For a while.
HOWEVER, please understand the following:
For over 30 years the wife and I wondered what it would take to get that same taste we loved so much from Cuban coffee shops in Miami.
Our home system could never replicate that.
As long as you go in knowing this, that your coffee can and will be significantly better when you graduate from these (stupid me, took me 30 years), go for it, as they will work.