Over the past few years I’ve gotten a small handheld blade grinder, an Aeropress, a French Press, and started roasting my own beans.
The problem is that while some changes stick (like the grinder and the bean roasting), some changes just take up space (I usually use my Mr. Coffee over the Aeropress or French Press).
With that in mind, I’m looking for an espresso maker that is low budget, since I may not use it that often; but is still nice enough that I’m not going to hate espresso making because the machine is bad (ie: low pressure, low heat, leaks, etc).
Most espresso makers I’ve seen are a few hundred to a thousand USD; but since I’m worried I may end up almost never using it (or just using it to froth hot chocolate), I’m looking for one that’s around 100 USD or less.
While I expect you all have loftier targets for your espresso machines than that, I am hopeful if you don’t have any specific recommendations you can tell me what signs to look for that an espresso machine is of decent quality.
EDIT:
As you may have gathered I’m hardly an expert on coffee matters, so I really appreciate your help.
It sounds like for the time being I should stick with the Aeropress I already have and maybe upgrade to a Mokapot (or even a medium range espresso maker) down the line if I really take to it.
For what it’s worth, I did watch the recommended James Hoffman video and was able to make a decent (to me) cappuccino using the Aeropress and French Press I already had on hand!
Thanks again for all your help!
Without trying to be gate-keepy about espresso, $100 is really too cheap. Since you just have a blade grinder, you’d have to get your coffee ground at the store/coffee shop. That makes it difficult to get the pressure/flow rate right without a pressurized basket.
If I were you, I’d stick to trying to make “espresso-style” drinks (especially if you want milk drinks) with your aeropress, or maybe getting a cheap mokapot, and if you want to spend some money to improve your coffee, spend it on a burr grinder.
If you are set on trying to get up and running with “true” espresso, look for used manual lever machines like a Flair or a Rok, and get coffee ground at the store, and get a pressurized basket.
What about a moka pot?
I have a cheap espresso machine (Princess) and a moka pot, so I can compare them easily.
The cheap machine can make some sort of espresso, and it can make hot milk foam. Microfoam seems to be impossible, so you can forget about doing latte art.
The moka pot can make strong coffee, but it’s not as strong as espresso, unless you use it in a very particular way. Here’s how: use the Hoffman method, but cut it short. You need to stop extracting a little bit before you actually run out of water. Also the flow rate should be as low as possible to give the extraction enough time.
If you do that, a moka pot can make strong coffee that is so close to what I can make with my cheap espresso machine that I can’t tell the difference. However, pulling it off requires patience and skill.
Since the cheap espresso machine can’t make nice foam, you might as well just use a moka pot and microwave the milk.
Seconding this. Moka pots are the classic Italian way for a reason. I keep a small one at home and it makes a lovely espresso.
I’ll skip the usual NPC monologue about how a moka pot does not make espresso, period, because the grind and pressure and process are completely different and that’s OK… Well, damn, still monologued. 🤣
Anyway, I have a Bambino (which is the absolute low end of things I’d consider) and a moka pot, they’re both fun and make decent coffee, but the moka pot is a lot more forgiving than the espresso machine. The amounts of time I got really bad coffee out of the moka pot vs out of the espresso machine are not even close.
Similar experience with the Bambino, although I think that with any expresso machine, you are going to toss out a few cups until you get good.
Honestly, you won’t find any electric espresso machine at that 100$ price point that’s capable of producing decent espresso, and they’re usually a pain to use. They are plastic, disposable and cobbled together with the absolute cheapest parts as possible. Heating is bad, pressure is all over the place and build quality is inexistant.
Your best bet at that price point for real espresso would probably be a (used) Flair or Cafelat Robot. Of course these come with their own workflow and caveats and they are hard to master, but short of spending at least 5 times your budget on a well maintained, second-hand mid-range Gaggia or Lelit or equivalent, you won’t find anything remotely as capable at producing real espresso.
I agree with some other comments here that $100 won’t get you what you’re hoping for.
A better upgrade would be to start saving for a good handheld burr grinder (like an 1zpresso model) to replace the blade grinder. Your French Press and AeroPress will likely taste notably better!
If you do want to venture into good espresso, as someone else mentioned, start looking into Cafelat Robot or Flair. Both can make fantastic espresso at higher quality than semi-automatic machines of the same price point and require much less upkeep. But, for any espresso, you will need more gear (scale, tamper, vessels, etc.) which adds to the price. And all espresso machines will massively benefit from a good grinder.
Good luck!
Seriously, grinder first. You can use a better grinder with your Aeropress and French Press l, and you won’t waste as much time making bad espresso when you do get a machine.
If you’re mechanical, watch Craigslist and marketplace: I once got a broken Rancillio Silvia for free. It needed serious repairs, but I don’t have $100 in parts in it and it works perfectly now.
I’m not sure that a $100 espresso machine even exists.
My humble opinion is you’ll be hard pressed to find something that’s less work than an aeropress, let alone anything that takes even less space than that.
If you’re just looking to froth milk, maybe just get an electric milk frother.I didn’t realize you could use an Aeropress for espresso! That would certainly solve my problem of trying making my own espresso to see if it’s something I would enjoy/ do frequently. Would I need to buy a custom filter? The holes in the plastic seem too large to use it without the paper filter.
It’s not “really” espresso but the AeroPress does make great small, strong coffees. There’s a James Hoffman video on it. You’ll want to use the inverted method (aeropress upside down, mug on top) for a short brew time, a large dose of coffee, and relatively little water.
IIRC I used 18g coffee, stir immediately after pouring 90g of water, then after 90s I flip the AeroPress + mug and press. You don’t want to use a ton of force or you’ll end up with a really bitter taste.
I have a Breville Bambino, which I think is the low end of acceptable, but it’s 300 USD new.
Look for a $500 espresso machine that’s used in selling for $200 or less
And you’ll also need a grinder that can make espresso fine grounds. Your blade grinder won’t work for that.
Side question, what’s your roasting process?
On topic: As others have said. Investing in a proper grinder may be the next step instead of an espresso machine.
I used to have a popcorn popper with the side vents, but that broke; so now I use a popcorn popper with the vertical vents and a glass chimney from an oil lamp. I usually roast through the end of the first crack, which usually winds up around Full City.
I have noticed a number of comments suggesting a new grinder. I’ve always had an “if it ain’t broke” mentality when it comes to buying new things, but I saw Costco had a burr grinder for ~50USD; so I may try to pick it up.
I am a little curious, though. How does that grinding method affect the flavor? I thought it just affected the uniformity of the grind…
Uniformity is everything my man.
A blade grinder will break your beans in random sizes. You will have big chunks with almost zero extraction (basically wasted) up to super fine powder that will get grossly over extracted (bitterness to the max), and everything in between.
A good burr grinder helps keeping everything “in the middle”, so you can get a much more controlled extraction.
I don’t know about this 50$ Costco grinder but if it’s electric, it will be shit. You won’t find any decent grinder, even straight from China like a DF64 for less than 350.
Your best bet for constrained budgets is a good mid-range manual grinder from 1zpresso. It will be night and day compared to your blade grinder.
The encore is great for its price. You can also upgrade the standard to the esp burrs. However, it does take up space.
I’m doing the frying pan method, I go a few minutes after first crack. Still, these beans may be too lite for an espresso machine that’s under $100. My personal pick is the ninja machine, I’m saving up for it.
About the grinder, you want to check reviews and various sites for what’s a decent one. I like the encore I have (ESP) due to easy cleaning and ordering of replacement parts.
I used a spice grinder (blade) for a while, but made the switch and can’t go back.
Blade grinders make boulders and dust. Save it for chopping herbs or something. Get a Timemore or Kingrinder hand grinder for just over $50 on Amazon. They aren’t the best but they are far better than what you have.
A good grinder is arguably the most important piece of gear in your coffee making set up.
I’m not an espresso drinker but the biggest difference between cheap crap and cheap decent is whether or not it uses a pump to generate pressure or they cheaped out and just use boiler steam pressure.
Maybe a used flair classic, if you can live with manual lever brewing. I love mine, but you have to like making espresso and not just drinking it.
Edit: you’ll need a proper grinder no matter which machine you choose.
Not sure about $100. That’s a push.
I have a cheap (but not that cheap) Delonghi Dedica which is a bit plasticy in places, but makes pretty good coffee. We bought it because it’s narrow and fits on our limited kitchen top. It’s about £180 if you can go higher.
For me, it was a huge step up from a mocha pot. Despite trying all the tricks, for me a mocha pot always made bitter coffee.
Have you tried second hand?
french press or gaggiuino.
Like others have said, your biggest problem right now is the grinder. A blade grinder makes boulders and dust. There is no way to get good even extraction from that. There are decent hand grinders from Timemore and Kingrinder starting at $50+ and decent electric grinders from Baratza and Fellow from around $150. These would cover all of the non-espresso grinding needs. Espresso grinding will cost you a little more.
As far as good budget espresso machines go, Lance Hedrick posted this as the new budget choice:
