Espresso/grinder on budget as good as Starbucks/local cafes?

by **undergroundgeek** on Mon Jun 27, 2011 6:51 pm

The wife had "hinted" that she might like an espresso machine for home as it would save her time and $$ instead of going to SB or our independent coffee place around the corner (when she has time as they are slower than SB, but they make GREAT coffee).

I started out with a budget of about maybe $350 and had found the Saeco Aroma and then maybe the Capresso Infinity grinder. However, after further research it appears you really want to invest in your grinder, not only for quality coffee but possibly for longevity. Now we're talking $200+ for a decent grinder and then the $250+ for the machine.

So, now I'm concerned about purchasing $500 for equipment, but it won't taste even as good as what we get at SB or most likely our independent roaster/coffee house!

Genuine concern?

Thanks all.

by **another_jim** on Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:12 pm

Home machines like the Saeco use a basket with a restrictor-jet on it that sprays out the coffee and induces a foam that looks like regular crema. On such machines, even normal home grinder will work fine. The resulting beverage does not have the density of espresso, but if properly made with fresh beans, can taste like good strong coffee. Home super automatc machines work on the same principle and yield the same results.

Capsule machines like the Nespresso or Illy Iper do real espresso extraction, but use lower grade and stale coffees at much higher per serving costs. These taste like mediocre Italian espresso and are the most convenient way to make shots (if you go this route, do not use the old ESE pods, since they do not work as well).

If you want real espresso and cappas for the home made from good fresh coffee, you are looking at a good deal more money. A minimum set up would be the superb Baratza Vario grinder, and a low end heat exchanger machine like the NS Oscar or one of the new small boiler plus steamer thermoblock machines like the Breville or Quickmill. You are looking at around $1500 for the budget on this, plus a few months learning how to become a competent barista.

by **undergroundgeek** on Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:23 pm

That's what I feared, thanks.

$1500 sounds like quite a lot to drop, but if we're spending $15-20/wk on coffee (don't need every day), I guess the ROI ends up being 2 years or so. Not bad I suppose, as long as the equipment lasts that long (or longer).

Thanks for the speedy reply!

by **caffe1nated** on Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:18 pm

If you want your coffee to taste like SBX then roast your own beans until they are charred. :lol:

but in all seriousness, everyones budget usually goes up because of all the preliminary information you learn

by HB on Mon Jun 27, 2011 9:21 pm

If you're buying an espresso setup to "save" money, don't forget to factor in your time, effort, and supplies (coffee, milk). If you're blowing $15-$20 a week, the financial return on investment is less than a year, given the assumption that good equipment retains 50% of its original purchase price. That said, the real return is the consistency and quality you can produce at home will easily exceed that available at national coffee chains (it's much harder to beat a top-notch cafe, but many of us don't have that option available to us). You may find that with the improvements at home, you're consumption increases, further diminishing the financial savings (alas that's a sacrifice many of us willing make :lol:

).


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