My espresso machine nearly 10 years ago. I think it was nearly $500.
I made drip at home and purchased lattes on the road. I bought the machine to make them myself in the morning and load up a tumbler with essentially 2 large lattes.
It definitely paid for itself within 2 years and I switched to work from home so I’m glad I have it today.
Besides using only distilled water in it I do basic maintenance of running coffee cleaner through it every 3 months or so. Never had a issue with it and it still works great.
Best purchase ever. Only downside is I make better “coffee” than most carry out places. I hunt for good coffee when I’m out. Found two shops locally that make great espresso drinks and pastries. I go a few times a year.
Good coffee is a dark black hole to get sucked into.
I was once like you. I had a supplier/roaster I trusted. And he did good work.
But he always roasted the beans just a hair darker than I liked. (I tend to favour so-called “city roasts” and he kept taking them to “dark”.) So I got him to teach me how to roast and to help me find a good home roaster. And I started to roast at home.
I never got into making my own espresso, thankfully, because the roasting stuff turned into a huge money pit.
My espresso machine nearly 10 years ago. I think it was nearly $500.
I made drip at home and purchased lattes on the road. I bought the machine to make them myself in the morning and load up a tumbler with essentially 2 large lattes.
It definitely paid for itself within 2 years and I switched to work from home so I’m glad I have it today.
Besides using only distilled water in it I do basic maintenance of running coffee cleaner through it every 3 months or so. Never had a issue with it and it still works great.
Best purchase ever. Only downside is I make better “coffee” than most carry out places. I hunt for good coffee when I’m out. Found two shops locally that make great espresso drinks and pastries. I go a few times a year.
Good coffee is a dark black hole to get sucked into.
Do you roast your own beans yet?
'Cause when you do, that black hole turns into a full-on whirlpool.
I own a heat gun to do laptop and cell phone repairs…
I know about bean roasting and refuse to start!!
The “coffee bar” is ever growing in my home. I’m stopping at grinding my own locally roasted beans.
The siren’s call is there.
I was once like you. I had a supplier/roaster I trusted. And he did good work.
But he always roasted the beans just a hair darker than I liked. (I tend to favour so-called “city roasts” and he kept taking them to “dark”.) So I got him to teach me how to roast and to help me find a good home roaster. And I started to roast at home.
I never got into making my own espresso, thankfully, because the roasting stuff turned into a huge money pit.
I think my wife will keep me in check. She hated coffee before me and over the years I found her preferred taste. Decaf extra dark.
Local roaster hits it perfectly.