It's really nice to have a good espresso machine at home, one that won't break the bank and let you enjoy a nice small cup of hot java. While espresso is an acquired taste, a lot of coffee lovers enjoy this strong Italian coffee. You can easily make your own with a French press or espresso pot, but a dedicated machine is still nice to have.
The Gaggia For Illy espresso machine has finally arrived in the US. This is a single serving espresso machine that includes a four-stage filtration system, a removable 34-ounce water reservoir, a 15-bar pump, and a stainless steel boiler. It works exclusively with Illy espresso capsules, which is a bit of a downer, but a lot of people enjoy these types of machines. Like all coffee, these capsules can expire, so best check the date before brewing your cup. This machine is available for $300 from Importika.
While we enjoy using a coffee siphon for our daily coffee, it's nice to be able to brew an espresso with a machine that won't break the bank. Alternatively, you could always use an espresso pot to do this manually.
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Comments (9)
I LOVE my Jura Capresso E8. Got it refurbished for around $500 several years ago. It does much more than I expected and is so worth the investment. I'm a fully-automatic convert.
That top picture is making my mouth water. Mmm....
I use my espresso maker at least twice a day. I've gone through three in the last thirty years. My favorite is made by Krups. Small, simple, works like a champ for ten years. Makes great foam, too if you know the secret: Turn it on about 20 minutes before you make the espresso.
I don't think I would ever buy an espresso machine that only uses a single brand of pods. What happens if you find out you really like espresso and want to try out some better beans (really, anything would be better then what comes out of the pods).
For less money then the "Gaggia for Illy" you can buy a Gaggia Pure, which is the latest in their long line of excelent entry level espresso machines. It's got a real 58mm portafilter, a giant chrome plated brass brew group, and a decent boiler with a good heater and pump. Pretty much all the stuff you need to brew real espresso, but in a smaller package.
Plus it can use real double or single baskets (like they use in cafes) if you want to grind your own beans, or it has an adapter to use pods if you would rather go for convenience over taste.
So, you can either pay $300 for a Gaggia machine that only brews with pods (and only one kind of pod) or you can pay $250 for a Gaggia machine that will brew real espresso or use pods - seems like a simple choice.
A stovetop "moka" makes excellent espresso, and in a little NYC kitchen it's the perfect solution. My problem is finding a good device for frothing milk. I have one stovetop steamer by Graziella, but alas they are not make anymore. In my weekend place I now use a Breville espresso/cappuccino machine -- it's okay, but I'm always open to a better options.
Mid-C Frank- Bialetti makes both a stovetop frother and an all-in-one stovetop cappuccino/latte maker. You can buy them both on Amazon.
I have the all-in-one -- it's merely adequate. I use it at the office. And their frother is terrible. And, in case you can't tell, I'm a cappuccina addict!
I have a second Graziella that I save for parts -- that is how good these things were. And I scour ebay for them! These were simple, $35 devices that produced better steam than the average fancy-schmancy espresso machine. So one day I'll spend a lot of money on something really fantastic.
Mid-C Frank-- we have a little Aerolatte wand. Heat the milk in the microwave, froth it with the wand, then pour in the coffee. Works for us. I think our Bialetti makes better espresso than my BIL's fancy machine.
Mi Mid C Frank - I use a plunger-style frother called the "tuttocrema", from Bialetti, that came with my mokka pot. It is awesome, and you can buy it separately as well. You can put the bottom part on a burner to scald the milk, or microwave the milk before pouring it in if you are in a hurry.