(I drink probably 1-3 espresso/cappuccini a day).

I have had a Lusso for several years now, and I love it. But, because the OP is only looking to make 1-3 drinks per day, I think that the Export is more than up to the specified task. The Export would be smaller, less expensive, and would make it easier to keep fresh water in the boiler. Still, either machine would be a fine choice.

No one has mentioned you will be needing a good grinder (as far as I now you cannot make a good shot with store bought ground coffee)...make that part of your search. With patience good grinders come up on craigs a fair bit. I have only used Pavs, the feedback as to your grind and tamping is great, the learning curve is steep, once you know what you are doing, the coffee is better than any I have ever bought in a cafe. I'm pretty sure any decent lever will with time get good results, I like the manual lever for the feedback, I would like a two group spring lever for workday mornings when I have to make 3 shots as well as lunch for the kids and get out the door by 7:30, rugrats and all.

Depends.......number of people served, time, type of single origin or blend, my technique that moment. Own couple levers. The Elektra Micro Casa a Leva (MCaL) and Ponte Vecchio Luso 2 group (PVL2). Both are "fun to use". Both are relatively easy to maintain. But if the $$$s were available and a post millennium OC was available the pure manual lever might become the funnest to use. Being the "newest" machine on the counter.

Marshall, I resisted knowing how rigidsome folks can be be regarding prurient posts.
Thar Cimbali is an awesome looking piece of machinery.
I agree with Jason's comment that "if it makes good espresso" it's fun (paraphrasing)
I still have the occasional frustrating moments when I've messed it up, but they are mere blips compared to the excellent results I get more often than not.
Recommending a machine is so hard to do, as so many things have to be considered, other than looks and price.

If I were to define the "most fun" machine to be one that has a reasonable learning curve but requires finesse to extract best results, the Caravel is by far the winner. It takes a while to master—more time than most other levers I have used—but it is very satisfying to get to excellent shots. It will make a decent shot when used with reasonable care and can make exceptional shots when everything is right. Spring-lever machines are okay, but there is less operator input when a spring does most of the work.

This is what is most enjoyable about lever machines: The art of full control. My semi-automatic machine makes pretty much the same shots with little effort. Even a robust, super-consistent lever machine like my Olympia requires more attention. If you want coffee, you get a coffee machine. If you want to enjoy the artful experience of passionately wrought espresso, a manual lever mchine is the way to go, and the little Caravel is a hoot to play with.

Oh, and as noted previously, your grinder is even more important than the espresso machine. I'll dodge the hand-grinder-versus-motor-driven debate (Doug can take care of that), but if you REALLY feel the need to be close to your work, get a nice Tre Spade or PeDe hand grinder.

Good luck in your search.

Well, following the thread of the last post, I took the smallest of the lever steps and purchased a used Caravel off Ebay.it. Knowing the Italians well (remember I married one) I will hold my breath regarding its condition until it arrives (I'll pick it up over there). But I anticipate having at least to clean the machine and replace the seals/gaskets.

I'll still be looking for a vintage machine for steam too but this will keep me busy for a while. I'll slip it into my luggage on the way back. I'll have to keep waiting for another Sama/Export to show up as while I was fence sitting someone else bought it. But this way, I can think some more and I can worry about trying to get a good shot instead of fretting about bad steam.

As for grinders, I have an Italian, vintage, microwave-oven sized "commercial" cast iron hand grinder (from the early 1900's) that I'll be trying to see if it will grind fine enough. I got that very cheap over there as it was too big for most kitchens and had been repainted. (The real collectors want original paint/patina). I'll post some pics once I'm back. My only worry is that I'm not sure if I dump in 14g. of beans in one end if it will do anything other than dust the walls of the chute on the other end....its designed to grind large amounts of coffee at a time. I bought it years ago hoping it would grind wheat for bread flour. (It didn't).
But if it doesn't work there's lots of hand grinders at all the local markets.
P.S. There are lots of vintage 1950's-60's Quick-mill coffee grinders in lots of different pastel colors on any given day on ebay.it----anyone know if they work well enough for a lever machine?
thanks,
Andrew.

The pastel coloured Quick Mill grinders are not too bad- they move around on the counter a little- and the motor is quite high- the coffee tends to get thrown around a bit-messy- but the grind is good and the click stop adjustments are nice. They grind fine enough for espresso if you get one with good burrs- I think you could probably get replacement burrs in Italy- quick mill is still around and they must have made millions of those grinders judging by the numbers on ebay. Quick Mill stuff is generally well made- though in the seventies things got a bit ugly.