I still have an old Rancilio Silvia espresso machine and it has been a workhorse for 18 years, though I haven't used it in a couple of years. Built tough, all metal parts, but it is not an easy machine to use, the learning curve is a bit steep to master the art of making a good cup of espresso. Does not have a PID temp control, and is a single boiler system, so achieving the perfect cup requires the ideal grind, the right tamp pressure, gauging the correct temp, to get a good shot (with lots of crema). I bought a Rancilio Rocky grinder to go along with it and still use it, having replaced the burrs a couple of times.

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
This is worse than guns.

Espresso ain't cheap

I got out, espresso machine + grinder, for a bit over $1k.

Yup, Espresso definitely ain't cheap!
February 2003 saw me pony up $1005 for my "dual use single boiler pro-summer espresso machine" and semi-commercial burr grinder. That was just for starters as accessories and minor refinements added more to the investment. Twenty years later now you know what a similar setup would run.


My next door neighbor moved from a Silvia machine to a more upscale Quick Mill Anita HX heat exchange unit and from a Rocky grinder to a "better" Eureka Conti Valero burr grinder for over the $2k mark in 2007.


He and I visited the home of a professor from the local engineering college in 2011 where he had a tweaked out La Spaziale S1 Vivaldi II dual boiler espresso machine. He also two other units including a fancy lever espresso machine!
Yowser

Unadorned:

quote:

Originally posted by sjtill:
Please note it’s really lattes we’re looking for so I should have specified that.
Need to be able to get the hot frothy milk too.

For ease of that, and 100% reliable results, I recommend a dedicated "milk steamer". I'm sure it's slightly less hot than proper steamed milk but a no brainer and can be running at the same time you're pulling shots. Also called a frother, but unlike the wands that just whip up milk, the countertop models heat it. Can be easily had in the $30 range.

While convenient, my concerns with the combo grinder/frother/espresso is costs to repair or God know replace if one component of that bites the dust. For the cost of repairing a grinder in one of those I suspect I can just buy a new burr grinder for example
.

Breville has some combo machines with grinder built in. Might be a good option.

I've got the Breville Barista Express combo machine. It's about a $750 machine. It makes pretty damn good coffee for my tastes. Plenty of crema, etc. It's paid for itself several times over since we make iced americanos for my wife at home instead of multiple daily visits to charbucks. In fact, she now cannot stand charbucks and much prefers the home brew.

Charbucks has been my name for the Monster That Ate Seattle for years. Great minds think alike—but then it should be obvious the moment you let the cup touch your lips.

quote:

Originally posted by wxdave:
... she now cannot stand charbucks and much prefers the home brew.

My wife tells me the lattes I've made for her with our Bambino Plus are the best she's ever tasted