I’m looking for the cheapest home machine that can pull quality shots with a good grinder. I don’t have the budget to spend more than 500 dollars. I was given an old Cunill Brasil espresso grinder from an old coffee shop to go with whatever I buy.
I am a barista so I’m used to using a nice machine and grinder, getting delicious thick shots. I just want better home espresso than I’m getting now with my Gaggia Brera. Does anyone know if the Gaggia Classic is better capable?
I suggest to go with Gaggia Classic along with a grinder Baratza Encore as a good grinder is crucial for a good cup of Joe.
Classic will cost around $200 and the Encore around $150 so both under $500. Then buy a knock box and some good coffee beans to start your coffee journey.
Sorry for interrupting, but it seems like I’m in similar (yet slightly different) situation as OP. The problem is that I’m choosing an espresso machine for my grandparents. Since I can’t find any Gaggia distributors near them, I’m looking for a good alternative. They will get soon a grinder from Baratza, so 450$ is a budget for an espresso machine only.
As for now we have two options: semi-automatic from Breville (like Breville BES840XL or BES810BSS) or semi-automatic Sunbeam EM7000. I have not used a Sunbeam - it was highly recommended by our family friend - so cannot compare machines but I did own a Breville before. Though I found several topics where those machines were compared and Sunbeam definitely have some surprisingly good feedback from its users.
I’d like to hear your thoughts as well. The only requirement - it should be an entry-level device.
Thanks in advance!
ps - if it’s prohibited to add a question in existing topic, please, let me know
Breville has another option as BES870xl. It’s slightly above your budget of $450 but not much far and you may consider it over bes840xl.
Another brand I would like you to suggest is Rancilio Silvia. It’s a good option and even many small cafes consider it. It will cost above $700, but will be definitely a good investment.
You could always go super simple and use a Nespresso machine 
Okey guys coffee looks realy good.
Im not an expert and truly i can say which coffee beans are better, but is it worth it to buy very expensive esspreso coffee machine ( for example Elektra) and coffee will taste better than Nespresso machine?
Or the biggest impact makes coffee beans?
My husband want to buy Elektra and i dont know if it is just whim or it is realy reasonable thing.
It looks realy good(https://www.thecoffeemate.co.uk/p/coffee-machine-elektra-nivola-w-2/ ), but does espresso realy taste better?
Well, it depends. I believe if you’re just an amateur there won’t be a great difference. But if you’re a geek, then switching to a better equipment is a necessity.
Like, if you’re talking about espresso like the really good cafes (not Starbucks!), then it takes a good machine and, more importantly, a good grinder. The grinder is in fact more important than the machine, but well, you won’t get a really good setup under 1500$.
So if I were you, I’d invest in a grinder first (some good options were discussed here) and try it with a basic machine.
But if you’re looking for “passable” but not spectacular, then stay with one of those Nespresso machines with the pods. I don’t have anything against them, as my mom has one - Chulux I believe - and it’s idiot-proof (one button solution, “press 1 to get your morning cup”) and drinkable (at least for both of us). But it’s not even close to the good espresso, but to me it’s probably better than anything you’d get at a Starbucks.
p.s. if you like Starbucks, then please, no offense! This post is just my personal thoughts, and I don’t mean to criticize you and your preferences. Peace 
you can try MR.coffee one touch machine.
Hey, strange that there are too few responses here. I prefer Italian espresso and happy with my Gaggia Babila
The Gaggia Classic Pro will make great espresso. Choose it if you want an affordable entry into making espresso.
Thanks for the good suggestions. I’m also searching for a good espresso machine. I’m an espresso lover. I need an espresso maker that is easy to use without compensating for the taste. I think most of the espresso machines don’t give espresso the exact taste as from a cafeteria. If there are ones that give espresso, it would be a time-consuming process or need a lot of effort.
I’ve been using Nespresso Vertuo Plus by Breville and it is one of the best coffee machines I’ve used. One of my friends suggested me this website: best coffee machine. I’ve been using it for 6 months now and I don’t regret my decision.
There are dozens of best cheap espresso machine for home which can give you rich flavour coffee.
Check out our guide on best budget espresso machine for home.
Personally wouldn’t go for a cheap machine like some are suggesting here.… personally i prefer quality.
Hi—where have you seen a Classic for $200? In the US a new Classic is over $400.
Hi
hope you are doing well! It sounds good that you are looking for an espresso machine. Here below mentioned are the espresso machines for under 500 $ so it can be helpful for you. You must have a glance at it:
apart from this, you can also visit the online buyer who has the espresso machine for sale
Hope it will be helpful for you!!!
My take on the same problem was to take A cheap Lelit PL 42 EMI with grinder and to modify it to reach some higher standards witch rival even with the most expensive Lelit equipment.
The Lelit machine was about 500 EUR and the MOD FULL PACK is about 300 EUR
In this video you see the result
Can’t deny the functionalities. Nice watching it.
Such a good machine!
