Good Espresso Maker?

BiggNife

My family recently got a Krups espresso maker for Christmas, but when we tried setting up, we found out it took 21 steps. To make one cup of coffee. One. After countless tries, we gave up and returned it.

So, any suggestions for a good espresso machine that is relatively simple to use? I would to make lattes whenever I wanted. Thanks.

twmjr

I highly recommend the Braun Tassimo system: Amazon Link Here. It's extremely simple to use -- pop in the T-Disc wait for the green light and hit the start button. The coffees and teas are pretty darn good, too. The only limit is that you can only use the T-Discs, but they have a pretty good selection. You can get a look at the ones they have here.

EggyToast

Espresso normally has a fair amount of steps, but 21 steps does seem like overkill.

Normally there is a bit of setup involved for each cup -- espresso isn't a "brew a pot for everyone while you shower" type of thing. You can use the pod system if you simply want espresso, but past that it really depends on how much money you want to spend on a machine. We have a machine from Mr Coffee that lets you use pods OR grounds, which is handy, but still requires setup for each double-cup. You also want a pump system instead of steam, as it gets the water to a more even temperature.

But there are also machines that do a lot of the work for you that cost in the hundreds of dollars range. They make it easy to brew a good cup every time, but I imagine that's more than you want to spend.

Anyway, we own this one: Mr Coffee Espresso thing

ViolentChemistry

I rather like my Bialetti. It's pretty easy to use and clean, and it makes tasty espresso for less than a hojillion dollars.

Szechuanosaurus

BiggNife wrote:

My family recently got a Krups espresso maker for Christmas, but when we tried setting up, we found out it took 21 steps.

What?


I have a Krups Percolator and Espresso machine...I don't think it takes 21 steps.

Lets see...

1. Fill Espresso reservoir with cold, freshly drawn water
2. Put ground coffee into espresso clamp thing
3. Attach espresso clamp thing to espresso machine.
4. Place an espresso cup under clamp
5. Turn on
6. ...
7. Drink


That's only 7 steps. I guess 21 if you're making three cups of espresso, but even then the clamp should have two nozzles so you can fit the larger clamp filter and fill two cups at once.

PS. Those 'instant espresso' systems like Braun Tassimo and anything that uses a pre-packed pod generally taste like shit compared to real espresso.

RPGeek

ViolentChemistry wrote:

I rather like my Bialetti. It's pretty easy to use and clean, and it makes tasty espresso for less than a hojillion dollars.

This is what I'd recommend as well...though I'm not sure that model works on induction cooktops. It also takes up very little space, which is great if you're getting your own apartment.

Szechuanosaurus

RPGeek wrote:

ViolentChemistry wrote:

I rather like my Bialetti. It's pretty easy to use and clean, and it makes tasty espresso for less than a hojillion dollars.

This is what I'd recommend as well...though I'm not sure that model works on induction cooktops. It also takes up very little space, which is great if you're getting your own apartment.

Doesn't that just make coffee rather than espresso though?

RPGeek

Szechuanosaurus wrote:

RPGeek wrote:

ViolentChemistry wrote:

I rather like my Bialetti. It's pretty easy to use and clean, and it makes tasty espresso for less than a hojillion dollars.

This is what I'd recommend as well...though I'm not sure that model works on induction cooktops. It also takes up very little space, which is great if you're getting your own apartment.

Doesn't that just make coffee rather than espresso though?

It's...kind of a middle ground. You don't get that classy reddish foam, but it's otherwise a good substitute.

More about how they work here

BiggNife

Szechuanosaurus wrote:

BiggNife wrote:

My family recently got a Krups espresso maker for Christmas, but when we tried setting up, we found out it took 21 steps.

What?


I have a Krups Percolator and Espresso machine...I don't think it takes 21 steps.

Lets see...

1. Fill Espresso reservoir with cold, freshly drawn water
2. Put ground coffee into espresso clamp thing
3. Attach espresso clamp thing to espresso machine.
4. Place an espresso cup under clamp
5. Turn on
6. ...
7. Drink


That's only 7 steps. I guess 21 if you're making three cups of espresso, but even then the clamp should have two nozzles so you can fit the larger clamp filter and fill two cups at once.

PS. Those 'instant espresso' systems like Braun Tassimo and anything that uses a pre-packed pod generally taste like shit compared to real espresso.

I guess I had a different Krups machine than you, then. Mine was definitely 21 steps, at least according to the manual.

Thanks for the reccomendations, and keep them coming.

Baron Dirigible

I'd be curious to see those 21 steps. Out of curiosity I checked the instruction manual for my Gaggia Classic, and there certainly aren't 21 steps there, even if you count steps such as "plug the machine in" and "turn it on".

Also: as already pointed out, once you've done all the prep steps (such as filling the reservoir with water, warming the machine up, and all that), making an additional coffee is incredibly simple. Even moreso if you're using a dual-cup portafilter, since you can make two coffees at once.

I won't recommend my machine, because I don't know enough about machines to go around saying which is better or easier to use. I do recommend you visit a store and ask for a demonstration before you buy a machine -- I'm sure they'll be happy to oblige. (Or, in the case of those pod machines, absolutely insistent.) It's really worth buying a proper espresso machine, too -- as well as being able to make much better coffee, you'll also be able to try many different beans and blends, and won't be locked into a buying from a specific brand.

[edit: uhhh please ignore the irony in my sig.