My coffee maker is on its last legs. I am going crazy for a good coffee. I want one of the really good ones like Meile, but they cost thousands. I live in the US. Machine must grind, make capuchinno, expresso etc. Does anyone have any recommendations? Once you taste Swiss coffee there's no turning back!

they won't have the same exact machines in the US as CH but we have a DeLonghi and it's awesome. something like this one
it's quite noisy when it grinds but no other complaints.

Try the Nespresso in the states.

I got some Starbucks beans last trip and use them in my machine here.
The quality, great. The possibility to get a machine should be easier
than you are making it out to be, saw several on display in the US stores
recently. Prices may be high... remember, quality costs Beans are
available anywhere or at any Starbucks. Here machines at Starbucks.

Have you looked at Costco? How about JC Penny or Wallmart?

If you are near a Williams-Sonoma, go along and ask them to demonstrate their machines. They have all the European machines and provided the shop is not too busy they'll show them all off. Their staff are generally very knowledgeable because the manufacturers of the expensive machines provide them with training.
But I would not buy the machine at Williams-Sonoma. When you've settled on the machine go online and check out the best prices using a bot. There are plenty of sites dedicated to coffee machines (www.espressozone.com; www.wholelattelove.com etc.etc). Enjoy

for a good and super value machine I would go to Tschibo. They have stores all over town and their machines are very good.
I have a Krupp and that is also a good coffee maker.

Please note, the OP said:

What is Swiss coffee

"What is Swiss Coffee?"

Horrible.

Go south of the border, to Italy, where you can get a nicely roasted bean, ground and made into a fantastic coffee by a wonderful Barista.

As opposed to the push button cup of coffee (or should that be bucket of coffee in the case of Starbucks?) that you tend to get in most places.

An exception to this is the wonderful 'esspunkt' cafe in Thalwil.

As for a machine, I guess if you don't care about what you're drinking, go for any old capsule based machine for the cheapest price. e.g. Tchibo

Otherwise try and go for something with replaceable parts that is as uncomplicated as possible.

Wow, great response thanks everyone. I have a krupps, but it didn't grind. I can't find a good machine here- I want one that builds up the pressure like the cafe style ones. I want that dark coffee with the thin line of foam. I stayed in a Gasthof on my last visit to CH and got to use their machine on my own, it was great. I was told that the secret to the coffee was the correct temperature. The machine even had a warming tray on top to keep the cups and coffee holder. I couldn't afford that one. In the US I noticed a difference from one Dunkin Donuts to another (I know American coffee-dishwater). I thought that some store must be cheating on the amount of coffee that the, I was told by a manger/ franchise holder that it was the brewing temperature. With all the leads-looks like I will really find one!

seriously. Nesspresso's great. You can get a basic entry model for a couple of hundred dollars and order the capules on line.

One coffee addicted colleague which spent months on cofffe machines,... and doing measurments on water temper. , hardness, and pressure needed, type of bean, grinding,.... finally got below one:

the machine is called "poccino opus one" http://www.poccino.de/s/22_151/page/modules/shop/index.php

the grinder is "QuickMill MOD.060" http://www.quickmill.it/MyIndex.php?Lang=ENG&Menu=Categorie&Cat=COFFEE%20G RINDER&Sotto_cat=

He spent more days on optimizing themachine and all other factors, and in the end more than satisfied!:-)

two very good coffee web shops,:
http://www.espresso-factory.ch/
http://www.kaffee-total.com/
(both close to zürich)

Thnks for all the advice, which enabled me to do a good consumer comparison. I got a refurbished Jura E9 fro $600. http://www.jlhufford.com/ProductDeta...capresso-e9-pb Years ago I got a refurbished Dyson vacuum cleaner. It worked and looked as good a my old Dyson, which I had bought new, so I thought that I would try this. I bought it yesterday, it should arrive tomorrow, free shipping.

The best machine I have used so far is Gaggia a well known Italian brand that has the option of either grounded coffee or tabs as well as cappuccino.
The best arabic coffee I have tried is Illy or in Switzerland it is called Amici,I am refering to Expresso.
If you have the opportunity to go to Canton Ticino,you will find this brand
I bought the Gaggia machine for 130 euro the model "Evolution"
There is a great article about coffee from the economist.com .The title is (In search of the a perfect cup).

Then what do you, and the millions of others who have this machine, do with the non-biodegradable capsules? Haven't we got enough rubish on this planet.
Nesspresso sux.

We have them at work - they go into a big pot and get sent back to the manufacturer, presumably for recycling.

I prefer tea, myself, but sometimes, at 7.45 in the morning, you can't beat a shot of the black capsule, whatever it's called...

I don't think they are recyclable, (please someone correct me if I'm wrong, I cannot google at the mo) the manufacturers probably have to accept their waste back (and I'm very happy to hear that) but I expect they just ditch them later.

You might want to have a look at Nespresso's capsule recycling page.

According to this horrible, swish, distract-your-attention-with-lots-of-moving-rubbish website, they are.

They're just aluminium, aren't they?

Illy has both capsule and pods which is coffee in paper pods and Illy is famous for its sustainability
Sustainable development stems from quality

Behind illycaffè’s commitment to sustainable development lies its unwavering search for quality, pursued throughout the coffee journey, from bean to cup. And the better, more appreciated and desired coffee in the cup is, the greater the resources and the opportunities for development and growth in the countries growing it.

This is why illycaffè believes sustainability affects the whole production process and everything contributing to it: lands, people, environment and technology. Both in the producing countries and in Trieste.

It begins with the countries that produce green coffee, where illycaffè works directly with the growers, passing on its know-how, helping to improve cultivation, purchasing the coffee and rewarding a commitment to quality.
This collaboration involves the individual growers, but often also strengthens entire production systems with long-term investments ensuring lasting growth.

It continues in Trieste, where coffee production machinery and methods are constantly improved to steadily reduce the environmental impact. Knowledge acquired through the laboratories and collaboration with universities and research centers is transferred back to coffee producing countries in the shape of new techniques for sustainable farming.

But illy’s commitment is also to its employees, who work in a vibrant, stimulating company; it is attentive to their needs and their professional growth. And of course to the customers and consumers who enjoy the advantages of serving and enjoying an excellent coffee

How much did Illycafe pay you to write that?