Anyone have an espresso machine to recommend? I would like a machine that froths as well as makes great espresso. I also would prefer to spend $500 or less. Thanks!

paging Uncle Max...

It's got to be nespresso! You can get one for around 300CHF

um, nespresso is terrible! If Uncle Max ever arrives he might tell you that the important stuff is to grind the beans yourself, to get a good grinder (a burr one), to make sure you get the coffee from the grinder to the machine immediately. Nespresso isn't that much better than one of the more expensive instant varieties to my taste.

These Krups machines are amazing, because the are all in one automatic

http://www.krups.ch/All+Products/Espresso+Machines/Fully+automatic+espresso+machines/Fully+automatic+espresso+machines.htm?currChan={75 0B0E33-4D70-49AA-81DA-6660941935DA}

They have doble nozzle so you can make two espressi at the same time and you can also make capuccino. The beast feature is the integrated grinder, so you can have fresh coffee from your selection of coffee beans.

However those machines are not the cheaper in the market, but I think you can find the EA 8010 near your pricetag.

The capsule operated machines are cheaper, and this Citiz models branded Nespresso (actually made from DeLonghi) is compact with 20's Art Deco style like design.

http://www.nespresso.com/#/ch/en/cof...machines-citiz

If you don't mind buying a second-hand reconditioned machine, you can get a great deal on a refurbished Jura machine on eBay Germany. Here's an example of the middle-of-the-range machine with a 12 month warranty for EUR329:

http://cgi.ebay.de/Jura-Impressa-Ult...item5190bdd347

There are quite a few sellers on there who refurbish machines, and they generally range between EUR175-400 depending on the model.

The Jura machines are all super-automatics of one sort or another (meaning that you put beans in the container, then press a button and the beans are ground, tamped, brewed, and disposed of. All you need to do is empty the machine every week or two). All make good espresso, and all have a steam nozzle for frothing milk.

More money buys newer models and more features. The two worth caring about are dual heating elements, which maintain water at appropriate temperatures for coffee and steam at the same time (otherwise you need to wait between brewing coffee and frothing milk -- the water needs to heat up to froth milk, and the extra-hot water needs to be bled off after frothing before making more coffee in a single-element machine) and a frothing attachmentif you don't want to steam your own milk. Other features on higher-end machines include digital displays, cup warmers, timers, etc.

Most of the big superautomatics are rebranded Jura machines (eg, those marketed under the Krups / AEG brands), with Saeco machines being the notable exception.

Many people don't like used goods, but I'd much rather have a refurbished CHF1500- coffee maker for EUR300 than a new EUR300 coffee maker. The results are far better, the machine will last longer (I'm on my second -- the first one lasted more than 10 years, and this one is still working as new after 6 years), and most importantly, you aren't locked into a proprietary capsule system.

I discovered superautomatic machines when I first arrived in Switzerland (they were unheard of outside CH/D at that time) and I've never looked back. Buy one. You won't regret it.

It's been years since I owned one, so I'm not qualified to make a current recommendation on models/brands. However I do know that you need more than just "steam pressure" to make true espresso. You need a minimum of 9 BAR/135 PSI (some people say 14 BAR) to do it right. The cost of the pump and storage vessel (if it's not hand-pumped) to achieve that knocks most of the department store machines out of the running.

I agree with VI who recommends buying a refurbished CHF 1500 machine for CHF 300, rather than a new department store model for CHF 300...

Thanks, I guess I'll start looking secondhand. Any additional thoughts? Uncle Max?

Ouf, for that amount, you'd be better off with Nespresso, than with anything else. the little frothing device on the side of the Citiz machine is amazing, works with cold or hot milk, and the coffee is consistently good.

Of course, the cost depends on how many coffees you drink in a day - but if you drink lots, you may need a big machine anyway, running in the 1000.- chf and more.

Nespresso are the best! They provide a cup of coffee or espresso without a hassle. Just put in nespresso or nespresso compatible capsule and you have delicious cup of coffee!
You can use either Nespresso or third party capsules. I prefer Nespresso for their quality and compatibility with the machine. Moreover, you get amazing varieties of coffees. Of course, it all comes at a price - but justifiable. each capsule costs around 50 cents.
Together with this espresso machine, you may want to buy aerrocino which froths milk amazingly well with simple technology, and heats up simultaneously to the right temperature. Thus, you can easily make amazing lattes or cappuccinos.
Jura and other brands are good too,but are too costly. If you are a bit of retro type, I would suggest La Pavoni, Electra, Illy, etc.
But if you want a good cup of coffee without too much of hassle, blindly go for a Nespresso. Essenza mini is 129 CHF, and essenza mini with aeroccino is 189 CHF!
Enjoy your coffee

• from a cost perspective nespresso machines require less upfront investment but cost more to operate: expensive capsules.
• Tastewise, nespresso is above average. I.e. you would need a good coffee machine, good beans to beat. See this article for reference http://www.jimseven.com/2015/05/21/a...presso-part-i/
• I personally use a Saeco machine (my second one) and I am verry happy with. But my decision is mainly driven by environmental concern related to capsules.
• The milk frother of Nespresso is really good. But you can get that separately even if you own a normal automatic machine.

http://www.espressokamira.com/prodotto.php?id=15

Tom

The best machine I ever had was from a company called La Pavoni. I believe (But don't quote me) that they invented the modern espresso machine. Problem is, if you want to froth milk, these machines are out of your price range. If it was me, and I am now considering chucking the Nespresso machine, I would get one of their basic espresso machines (Which look the bollocks, by the way) and a separate milk frothing machine, which you can pick up anywhere:
https://www.lapavoni.ch/aktionen

well, for the price point of Nespresso capsules - you can use third party capsules but at the cost of degraded taste and quality. The nespresso capsules are expensive because the coffee used is specifically selected, roasted, and filled in aluminium sealed capsules whereas most 3rd party capsules use plastic and cheap coffee.
By the way, nespresso provides free home used capsule collection for all those environmentally concerned people.
I still bet, for the price to usability to quality, nespresso is the best. For La Pavoni and similar machines, you need to know to exactly how to pull a good espresso shot, and also how to properly froth the milk at right temperature and texture - aeroccino does it automatically and simply! Moreover, the quality of the foam is amazing compared to the one showed in picture which has huge bubbles and bursted foam - never recommended by a barista!
Enjoy!

But the Kamira works without electricity.

Tom

My uncle Giuseppe absolutely swears by his Riccio coffee machine. It doesn't have a milk steamer or any of that fancy nonsense - it just takes coffee beans and makes a top notch espresso every single time.


It's a bit bulky, though. But surely a kitchen extension is worth it for good coffee, no?

Evidently you have no idea where Nestle buy coffee for the Nespresso operation

Taste is so relative to all of us that you cannot say with any substantiation that one brand is better than another. We all have a different "taste" for different flavour profiles.

What maybe best for your palette may not agree with my palette

Try Cafe Trottet capsules in Geneva, thay have a lot of profiles and different types of capsules, they are also VERY BIG suppliers of coffee to other operations in Switzerland too.

By the way, the nespresso aluminium capsules have a plastic coating on the inside as the coffee oil attacks aluminium and becomes toxic/rancid. The aluminium is only to give a perception of quality and to provide a premium product to enable 500% markup.

We have had a Jura machine for 6 years - no servicing and good coffee - provided you buy good coffee in the first place.We bought it from the factory with discount and CHF 100 of Jura's own coffee.

BUT

After 6 years of daily Jura cleaning we bought a nesspresso U Turmix machine and now prefer it - consistent quality of coffee, ease of use and cleaning - 3 mins as opposed to Jura's 15 Min. I drink at least 6 espressos a day and my undoubtedly better half takes milk so we now have a nespresso milk heater/ frother which goes in the dishwasher again easy and better than messing about with chemical and jugs etc that Jura requires.

So for us its nespresso

Best Rep

We bought a delonghi latissima in 2008. it is a nespresso - my husband mainlines espresso. He likes nespresso. I'm not enough of a discriminator to not like it, so it's fine.

Anyway, i clean and decalc every month, but the thing's still going. It is the most reliable machine I've ever had, and I've had two gaggias, a breville and a saeco semi automatic (all in the US).

I have to admit though, that Tom's machine is intriguing.

It's just coffee. What you see is the emulsion of water and oil from the coffee powder extracted at a lower temperature than usual (i.e: not burned)