Machines For Home
Rancilio Silvia - Extremely popular home machine for beginners. This one has a 3-way solenoid valve that takes the pressure out of the group when you stop the brewing cycle. There are many fansites that have information on how to get the best performance from this machine. Right now it's pricing around $600.
Gaggia Baby - This is a machine very similar to the Silvia but with very different styling and, on some models of the Baby, programmable buttons. This one can go anywhere from $400 to $600. Gaggia Classic is similar but without programmable buttons. 3-way solenoid valve on these models.
Gaggia Coffee and any other Gaggia that costs less than the Baby model - good home machines but no 3-way solenoid valve.
Gaggia Baby - This is a machine very similar to the Silvia but with very different styling and, on some models of the Baby, programmable buttons. This one can go anywhere from $400 to $600. Gaggia Classic is similar but without programmable buttons. 3-way solenoid valve on these models.
Gaggia Coffee and any other Gaggia that costs less than the Baby model - good home machines but no 3-way solenoid valve.
Grinders For Espresso
Great Dual Purpose Single Boiler Espresso
Mazzer Mini $600 - $700, Macap M4 $500, Rancilio Rocky $320
All these grinders do the same thing in different ways. They produce the fine ground needed to make espresso and they produce it with consistency that reduces the possibility of channeling inside the portafilter. Good design and sharp burrs will eliminate issues because these factors eliminate inconsistency and excessive 'fines' or dust-size particles. The mini and the Macap are designed for use in a café, so they can definitely handle your routine at home. The Rocky is great for home use and light commercial use. The choice is yours. Some are what is called stepless adjustment, meaning that there are no steps or notches for the adjustment of the grind - you can adjust to any level you like and then lock in the adjustment one way or another. The Macap uses a worm gear and the Mazzer uses a long screw. There are many other grinders you can use for espresso but these are the most popular for many reasons. Shop around.
All these grinders do the same thing in different ways. They produce the fine ground needed to make espresso and they produce it with consistency that reduces the possibility of channeling inside the portafilter. Good design and sharp burrs will eliminate issues because these factors eliminate inconsistency and excessive 'fines' or dust-size particles. The mini and the Macap are designed for use in a café, so they can definitely handle your routine at home. The Rocky is great for home use and light commercial use. The choice is yours. Some are what is called stepless adjustment, meaning that there are no steps or notches for the adjustment of the grind - you can adjust to any level you like and then lock in the adjustment one way or another. The Macap uses a worm gear and the Mazzer uses a long screw. There are many other grinders you can use for espresso but these are the most popular for many reasons. Shop around.
Great Drip Coffee
Just about anything by Cuisinart should do well, but steer clear of their Grind and Brew model. The grinder on this is not the best and this feature encourages people to leave beans in the hopper. Beans go stale fairly quickly after being roasted and air is the enemy, so this is not a good thing to do with your beans.
Bunn makes great drip machines. You can find these just about anywhere.
Capresso is another company that makes fantastic coffee makers. Again, steer clear of anything with a built-in grinder.
Technivorm makes the best home drip brewers for about $120 and up. If you're serious about coffee at home, this one might be your dream come true.
A great grinder for your drip coffee - try the Capresso Infinity or the Baratza Maestro - both are about $100.
Bunn makes great drip machines. You can find these just about anywhere.
Capresso is another company that makes fantastic coffee makers. Again, steer clear of anything with a built-in grinder.
Technivorm makes the best home drip brewers for about $120 and up. If you're serious about coffee at home, this one might be your dream come true.
A great grinder for your drip coffee - try the Capresso Infinity or the Baratza Maestro - both are about $100.
Great Heat-Exchanger Boiler Espresso Machines
This can be a long list of machines ranging anywhere from $800 to over $3000. If you don't know what a heat-exchanger boiler is then you should check the Espresso pages on this website for explanation. In my opinion, anything over $1500 is overkill for the home and costs so because it is made for heavy use in a commercial setting.
Expobar Pulser and Office are the least expensive HX machines that you can obtain and use in your home without spending $1000 or more. Nuova Simonelli Oscar is another machine that falls under this description. These machines lack gauges, but if you're clever and ambitious you can rig your own gauges at home. Besides, once you learn the ropes you can diagnose your machine just like you diagnose your shots.
For around $1000 you can get your hands on the Quick Mill Anita. This is a great little HX with gauges and has been getting wonderful reviews from its owners. Quick Mill also makes the Andreja and a couple of other machines that have rotary pumps instead of vibratory pumps.
As we advance upward from the brink of $1000 we see machines like Vibiemme Domobar, Valentina, Pasquini Livia, Expobar Leva, Alla di Vittoria, Fiorenzato Briccoletta, La Cimbali, ECM, Elektra and Isomac.
Expobar Pulser and Office are the least expensive HX machines that you can obtain and use in your home without spending $1000 or more. Nuova Simonelli Oscar is another machine that falls under this description. These machines lack gauges, but if you're clever and ambitious you can rig your own gauges at home. Besides, once you learn the ropes you can diagnose your machine just like you diagnose your shots.
For around $1000 you can get your hands on the Quick Mill Anita. This is a great little HX with gauges and has been getting wonderful reviews from its owners. Quick Mill also makes the Andreja and a couple of other machines that have rotary pumps instead of vibratory pumps.
As we advance upward from the brink of $1000 we see machines like Vibiemme Domobar, Valentina, Pasquini Livia, Expobar Leva, Alla di Vittoria, Fiorenzato Briccoletta, La Cimbali, ECM, Elektra and Isomac.
Overkill For Your Counter
Dual boiler for the home? The list is short but growing. Expobar Brewtus, La Spaziale Vivaldi, Vibiemme Domobar Super. 2 boilers, one for brew temperature and one maintains steam temperature. These machines sometimes have issues with power (in American homes) because coffee shops and European homes have outlets that put out 220v or more.
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