Aside from the super high end or those machines with the screens to adjust every parameter, is it possible for the newbie to buy "too much machine" in a semi automatic? Is "buy once cry once" a stupid concept and should a machine grow with your abilities?

Within reason, there isn't "too much machine".

There's definitely too little machine for a given skill/expectation level. An example of that would be a Breville Bambino (or several other basic machines). Completely adequate for functional, classic espresso and milk. Quickly frustrating if you're moving on to more challenging coffees.

As a tangible example on the other end, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a La Marzocco Micra to someone just starting out that wanted great, classic espresso. It seems to me to have forgiveness that many of its competitors have lost on their way to the high-priced bracket.

At any price range, there are machines that are more forgiving and those that will punish imperfect technique, grind, and beans.

Parrotman409 wrote:Aside from the super high end or those machines with the screens to adjust every parameter, is it possible for the newbie to buy "too much machine" in a semi automatic? Is "buy once cry once" a stupid concept and should a machine grow with your abilities?

Not really, no. Generally as you go up in level with machines they start to fight you less, to a point.

Jeff wrote: As a tangible example on the other end, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a La Marzocco Micra to someone just starting out that wanted great, classic espresso. It seems to me to have forgiveness that many of its competitors have lost on their way to the high-priced bracket.

I "went for it" with a Micra and have zero regrets. Totally concur that it's extremely forgiving and I say that because despite my best efforts to screw things up it produces amazing espresso time after time.

It's also a steam monster so milk drinks are a snap. My latte art needs a lot of work however!

Low cost machines are a pain to use. Higher cost machines offer a variety of different workflows. If you don't know your own preferences when it comes to making shots, you can easily end up buying an expensive machine that doesn't suit you one bit.

Do you want to set ever parameter, plan out shots in detail before making them? Do you want to mold the shot as it is being made? Do you want to bang out shots and take the time enjoying drinking them? These are fundamentally different preferences; and require three different classes of machine.

If you are just starting out, you have no clue what you will like or dislike. So get a solid cheap machine, learn to make shots, and keep it until you know what you hate the most about it. Then you'll have a pretty good idea what kind of work flow you are looking for, and what kind of high end machine you'll want to buy.

The only limiter is ones budget. Whether one is a beginner or experienced, why shouldn't one have the very best machine that one can get? Good tools always make every job easier and more enjoyable to do. Even if the most capable and complex machines have many capabilities that beginner would not know how to use well, he does not have to use those more advanced functions till he grows with it.

In most hobbies where you pay extra you receive more specialized equipment that needs some level of experience. In espresso however, the extra features usually help you in reducing the number or complexity of variables (with a large variance in machines such as the Decent or machines that require pressure profiling). A temperature stable dual boiler likely makes it easier to make repeatable shots than a PID-less single boiler or HX.

In a certain way spending makes the process easier, but again, it depends... With the knowledge I have gained over the past 2 years I'll likely do just fine with most machines. I wouldn't be too sad about downgrading to a simpler HX such as the Rocket Appartamento, but I like the ease of use and consistency that a more expensive machine brings.