The other low cost option that is normally recommended is the aeropress.

I have been using a mypressi twist lately, and it is maybe the cheapest way to get "real" espresso, if you pair it with a vario and good beans.
The nice thing about a twist is that it can also serve as a travel option, if you get a hand grinder later.
Frys has the original version on sale right now, there are improvements in the V2, but the sale price at Frys would make that one tempting, but I'm cheap. I have the V2, and have never used the original one, so I don't know how much difference there is.


Randy

randytsuch wrote:The other low cost option that is normally recommended is the aeropress.....

A little history of my own - I had tried French Press coffee a few times here at home, but the mess of cleanup was not justified because of the amount of sediment in the cup and the bitterness it added. I like a full-bodied coffee which a press creates, but after a while I put it on the shelf and there it stayed.

I use to recommend the Aeropress as well. It still has a place when traveling or in the motorhome because it is virtually unbreakable, it stores easily, and the clean up is so easy due to the compacted puck being so dry and easily "ejected" from the device directly into the trash. But from the first cup I had from the Espro Press was sold. It created the wonderful, full-body taste that the French press creates, but it virtually eliminates 100% of the sediment and thus the bitterness it brings. And unlike the Aeropress, the Espro Press has no paper filter which removes a lot of richness and depth in the flavor. I didn't realize how much I was missing until I got my hands on the Espro and could immediately taste the difference.

At $70 it seems expensive, but the double-wall, vacuum stainless vessel stays comfortable to the touch and the filter system really works. I hope they bring out a larger version soon.

feelingFRISKY wrote:As the title implies, I am considering buying a used super-automatic.

Don't.

Barry stole my line.

Don't.

All you will be buying is someone else's problems. At least with a NEW superauto you can get it fixed under warranty.

Alan

Alan Frew wrote:At least with a NEW superauto you can get it fixed under warranty . . .

. . . when it breaks, which it will.

feelingFRISKY wrote:My goal is remarkably good espresso every morning.

Well, I presume by now you realize that that just ain't gonna happen with a super-automatic.

feelingFRISKY wrote:And I want to ease into this newfound interest with all things coffee re: purchasing and budgeting. I don't want my newbie status and fervor colluding together and costing me more than it should in the long run. So, I'm exercising restraint until I can find some concrete conclusions with the help of HB and coffeegeek. Convenience is little an issue at this point in time. Preferably, I want to be knowledgeable and skilled at my craft with my skill and wisdom increasing over time. I look to enjoy not only the spoils of victory, but also in the creation.

Beware the Jabberwock, Kevin, the espresso that bites, the pursuit that catches you in its grips and won't let go . . . 'tis a slippery slope upon which you propose to embark, but a worthy quest nonetheless.

feelingFRISKY wrote:It seems as though you make an excellent and concise point zin1953. Therefore, a super-auto is out of the question.

Good for you. Now let's get down to business . . .

There are some standard, basic questions that need to be asked before we can proceed:

1. What sort of drinks do you enjoy/want to make at home? (This will give the rest of us an idea of the capabilities needed for your equipment.)
2. How many drinks do you anticipate needing to make, on average, at any one time? (This speaks to the need for recovery time and "throughput" of your equipment.)
3. How many drinks do you anticipate making, on average, in any given week? (Long-time durability and overall demand upon the equipment.)
4. What is your proposed budget, and does that include a grinder?

Let me elaborate on the last point just a bit: there is no point in recommending a $6,000 machine if your budget is $600; but there is also no point in recommending a $6,000 machine -- even if it's within your budget -- if there is one that's $1,500 that suits your needs perfectly. Also, you will need a grinder -- no question! -- so factor that in as well. Ignore for the moment the cost of the beans (I look at that as gas for your car -- aside from looking at MPG, people rarely budget the cost of gasoline into the price of purchasing a car), and figure you'll need some "extras," tamper, knockbox, cleaning supplies, etc., but lets skip there, too, for the moment.

Answer these questions, and we can move on to machine types (other than super-autos, of course), classes of machines, grinder types, etc.

Cheers,
Jason

If you want to start small with maximum ease - I'd second considering a Nespresso machine. That's how I started, and while some of the shots out of it were actually pretty decent - I wanted more consistency and freshness. I was able to return the machine (good local store), and moved up to a lever machine. A year later, and I'm about ready to take possession of a GS/3.

All I can say is that the Nespresso did a good job of introducing me to average espresso, and started the cravings for more and better. And if you're just doing milk drinks, it's not a bad option - milk dilutes so much, and the shots from Nespresso are better than most Starbucks I've been to.