I accidentally bought 1kg of espresso-ground coffee, so drinking lots at the moment! I was intending to get beans which would hold their flavour for longer. I'm also using an aeropress and espresso grind is a bit hard to use in that.

I was at Briscoes and saw coffee machines and thought oh, maybe I should get an espresso machine to use with my espresso grind coffee! I don't know what I was expecting a small, basic espresso machine to cost but I was not expecting them to start at $400 and go up, up, up from there!

Anyone got a small sized espresso machine (doesn't take much bench space) that makes coffee and froths milk that they can recommend?

Or put another way, what's the cheapest machine worth having?

[–] terraborra 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Just bought the Breville Bambino over ANZAC weekend. On sale it was about $250 and I’d expect it to be discounted again over King’s Bday in a few weekends time.

We were looking at the Breville Barista Express as well, but all the info online suggested that the grinder breaks first and isn’t economical to repair, so you end up having to buy a separate grinder anyway. Bambino on sale + Baratza Encore ESP is not much more than the Barista Express and the Encore is a much better grinder than the bundled one and is designed to be repairable at home.

Otherwise the Brevilles actually review well for their espresso making capabilities. I fell down the rabbit hole on /r/espresso and they come highly recommended as entry level machines.

[–] Dave 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Thanks! Looks like this one is currently on special, $150 off so now only $400 😆. I'll keep an eye on it, I might be willing to spent $250 if it makes good coffee. Thanks for the recommendation!

I already have a grinder so don't need another.

[–] terraborra 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Yup that’s the one we got. Definitely makes decent coffee, heats up instantly and my wife is happy with the milk frother. Only additional thing we bought for it was a tamper as the plastic one it comes with is crap. The stainless steel milk jug and 4 portafilter baskets are all good.

[–] Dave 1 points 6 months ago

Awesome! I have no idea what that stuff is you're talking about, I hope it comes with instructions on how to use it 😅

[–] absGeekNZ 2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

We brought a Delongi Magnifica about 6 years ago, use it multiple times a day.

IMPORTANT NOTE not the cheapest machine

Makes great coffee, can take beans and ground coffee (I have never used the grounds part, we only buy beans). Grinds the beans and produces coffee from one button press....awesome.

I drink my coffee black, so if it tastes bad....I know. It does do the milk thing and others have used that function on my one.

I would buy another one if mine broke. Side note, I brought one for Mum about 4 years ago....partly so I could have good coffee at her place.

Range of machines now....the model I have is not there, closest one is the Magnifica S, with the rise of enshitification I worry that they have somehow made this great machine worse......

We got ours on sale for $500, 6 years ago, the Magnifica S is about $800 normal price now, PriceSpy hasn't had it below this for at least 18 months.

[–] Dave 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Woah, $1,300! It looks great but I don't think I'll spend that for a first dip into coffee machines!

[–] absGeekNZ 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

$800 at Farmers, but still a bit expensive.

I would get another one....

[–] Dave 1 points 6 months ago

Yeah, not really entry level. Plus it looks pretty bug, the other one looks slimmer in terms of bench real estate.

Maybe one day when I win lotto!

[–] Ozymati 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I can't recommend a machine but enjoy your caffeination.

[–] Dave 2 points 6 months ago

I (almost) always do!