FrankyD Senior Member Joined: 27 Jul 2012 Posts: 58 Location: Davis, CA Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Starbucks Barista Grinder: Baratza Preciso/Kyocera... Drip: Bodum French Press Roaster: WB Poppery I
Posted Fri Sep 7, 2012, 4:07pm Subject: Re: Whats a decent espresso for a novice in the $100-$200 range?
Little late to the discussion, but I was where you are back ~2 months ago.
I also echo what others say on the entry level Saecos (Starbucks Barista/Saeco Aroma/Via Venezia). I sold a Starbucks Barista on craigslist for 80, so you can definitely find a machine if you wait/shop. If not there's a few on ebay, and recently a PIDed Starbucks Barista was sold for a little over 100 shipped. Seattle Coffee Gear does also sell refurbs, so if that's what you'd prefer to get started, that works as well. . Starbucks/Saeco + Hand grinder is practically your only option, as how I went (for less than 200)...before I got tired of hand grinding and upgraded to a Preciso and a bottomless PF from SCG.
If you're serious about espressos, the savings are huge if you make it at home...despite initial costs.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 