Good Afternoon, Fellas. I have another request of information for you.
As the title indicates, the subject deals with espresso machines and I did do a search in the forum on it. While I've gotten some good info out of this, I'd like some more.
The scenario is this. My mother is an avid coffee drinker. She has been for a long time. She is a difficult coffee drinker, something I blame on her Euro roots. For the longest time she used to brew coffee herself, then stopped for a year or so altogether, and then started drinking coffee house coffee (aka sbux and the like) about two years ago. She knows virtually all the coffee places within 20 miles and which employee makes the best coffee. She drinks a cafe latte and never anything else.
Being the fresh college grad that I am, I mentioned that her coffee addiction worries me twofold. One, I suggested she drink tea (like me ), but that was hopeless. Two, I mentioned that she could probably do better by buying an espresso machine and making the coffee at home.
This thought came to me once I actually saw the price those places charge for coffee. I figured that one cup of coffee costs her close to $5, given the coffee itself and gas mostly. Seeing as how she drinks up two dozen of these per month, I calculated that even if she bought a one thousand dollar espresso machine, it would pay itself of within 18 months.
Skip to now! She likes the idea and doesn't mind spending less than a thousand for a machine. Since both of us never used one, I came to you fellas to tell me what I need to know.
What are some of the quality brands?
What models do you recommend?
What features are a must-have? Which are a preferred option?
What is entailed in using one of these?
What is the maintenance like?
Any other input is much appreciated.
Thank you one more time,
Ernie
As the title indicates, the subject deals with espresso machines and I did do a search in the forum on it. While I've gotten some good info out of this, I'd like some more.
The scenario is this. My mother is an avid coffee drinker. She has been for a long time. She is a difficult coffee drinker, something I blame on her Euro roots. For the longest time she used to brew coffee herself, then stopped for a year or so altogether, and then started drinking coffee house coffee (aka sbux and the like) about two years ago. She knows virtually all the coffee places within 20 miles and which employee makes the best coffee. She drinks a cafe latte and never anything else.
Being the fresh college grad that I am, I mentioned that her coffee addiction worries me twofold. One, I suggested she drink tea (like me ), but that was hopeless. Two, I mentioned that she could probably do better by buying an espresso machine and making the coffee at home.
This thought came to me once I actually saw the price those places charge for coffee. I figured that one cup of coffee costs her close to $5, given the coffee itself and gas mostly. Seeing as how she drinks up two dozen of these per month, I calculated that even if she bought a one thousand dollar espresso machine, it would pay itself of within 18 months.
Skip to now! She likes the idea and doesn't mind spending less than a thousand for a machine. Since both of us never used one, I came to you fellas to tell me what I need to know.
What are some of the quality brands?
What models do you recommend?
What features are a must-have? Which are a preferred option?
What is entailed in using one of these?
What is the maintenance like?
Any other input is much appreciated.
Thank you one more time,
Ernie