Good espresso makers in the US
 

OK, so through our travels in Europe, my husband has become addicted to good espresso and complains that he can't find good espresso here. For Christmas he has requested a "good espresso maker" so he doesn't have to continue using his small stovetop pot that he picked up in Italy. Have any of you fellow espresso addicts found a brewer here at home that tastes just like espresso in Italy? (He's using good coffee that he bought in Italy so that's not the problem.) THANKS ALL!

My friend ADORES his Capressa by Jura.

The short answer, for me at least, is "no."

The long answer is that proper espresso requires a skilled operator and a good, and expensive machine. The baristas in Italy actually grind the coffee differently depending on the day's humidity!

That said, if you want to make a hobby of it you can purchase a machine and go through all the fuss and you may get some good results. The classic little stovetop device that has water in the botton, coffee in the middle and server on top is what most Italians use at home. The result is pretty good, but doesn't rival the cafe product.

I used the Gaggia Espresso (about $200), a good starter machine, but lost patience with the mess and fussing, and it now sits in the basement.

What is your budget?

I was planning on spending a few hundred. I saw that the Capressa by Jura was over a thousand and that's outside my budget.

www.wholelattelove.com

You can check out the above website for some more info. We bought our espresso machine there (a Rancilio Silvia; excellent but not automatic) and my brother bought a very fancy and excellent automatic one there (a Gaggia but I don't know the model #). These machines were both more than a couple hundred, but you might find something on this site.

Just a word of warning though - both my brother and I had some customer service issues with that company.

Check these websites, quite serious for suggestions and brands: coffeekid.com and coffeegeek.com
Most machines in the $200 can't make great espresso. Illy Cafe has pretty good offers of a mid price (Francis,Francis) and a good high price machine. but you must make a commitment to have their coffee shipped to oyou monthly (pods, ground or beans)

I'm not even a coffee drinker, but I do have a friend who sweears that when she uses Italian mineral water to make espresso it comes a little closer to tasting like what she drinks in Italy (that's a really cheap "solution," I know, but I can't help with the fancy machinery).

Illy makes pretty good espresso maker and coffee.

I discovered the Nepresso when we were in Paris, there was one in the apt that we rented..It is on my Christmas list..they sell them in Wms Sonoma.

I thought this sounded a little familiar. Here is a recent topic that included some good suggestions.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34653085

errr.. I'm really going to take better care of that doozy of a machine.
I like the Italian Mineral Idea too.

I'll mention the dreaded "Starbucks" word again. My brother got one of their machines, it's a smaller version of the one they use. He was lucky and got his on sale for 199.00..regular price is about 300.00 I think. I haven't been to Starbucks for quite awhile. It is a wonderful machine and makes wonderful espresso, latte's etc. He made me a couple of latte's on it that were better than the ones you can buy at the store. It's been a few years since I had espresso in Italy so I can't say if this espresso tastes the same, can't remember.

I'd agree with those who point you to Whole Latte Love and Coffee Geek's web sites. Great info there. I'd also agree with those who say that you need to spend significanly more than $200 for a good machine. A Rancilio Sylvia and Rocky grinder go for around $600, and anything less is just so-so. After doing a lot of research, I just canned the idea and get good beans for my Capresso drip machine.

Thanks all. I figured I'd have to spend more than just a few hundred dollars but was hoping 1000 wasn't necessary. I'll look into these other websites. As a non-coffee drinker, reading through some of these descriptions on the makers might as well be Greek to me!

I have had my "La Pavoni" machine for two years now. Use it every day. Love it.

Before that, I had a Gaggia that also lasted four years. It actually still works, but I got the La Pavoni as a gift and it just looks better on my counter. As well, the infusion temperature is better controlled and more repeatable than the Gaggia, resulting in a better cup of coffee.

Bender

Bender,
Is it this one that you have?
http://www.aabreecoffee.com/LaPavoni/lp_lusso.cfm

I have a Saeco Vienna Deluxe coffee machine it is wonderful I first saw it in Germany and when I got back to the states I bought it in Macys. It is around 600.00 dollars you can also make cappucino, it is the best investment i have made I love it.

swalter,

YES! That's exactly it.

Love it.

Bender

Thanks Bender. I think that's the lead contender right now.