I'm thinking I NEEEED an espresso maker! I'm interested in what you have and what you do or do not like about it.

I'm currently considering a Gaggia Espresso which is about $200. I am particularly interested in making Cafe Americano (espresso and hot water) - so does your machine make hot water easily?

Tell me everything!

Char

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I have a Krupps espresso maker as part of a coffeemaker. It makes good espresso but teh coffeemaker broke and I cannot fit this huge machine on my counter along with a second coffee maker. So my advice is go with a single use device.

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Thanks, Rob!

DH and I wandered into Tar-Jay today and there they had a Mr. Coffee espresso maker, the pump-driven kind (as opposed to steam, which I didn't want) for a measly $60 so we decided to give it a try. At least Tar-Jay is very good about taking things back! LOL!

So I just made my first cuppa a little bit ago and it was fine. I learned one thing though - my coffee MUGS will NOT fit under the spout for the espresso! LOL! I need a small cup of some sort as it didn't come with a carafe.

As it was, I just let it brew iinto a custard cup which worked fine for the short term.

Interesting that you mention the dual purpose machine as that was what I THOUGHT I wanted at first! Glad I didn't go that route!

Char

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Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!

Char:

I was given an espresso maker. I went out and bought the little cups and saucers that are made for that. I made it exactly twice. The cups and saucers and the espresso maker are now collecting dust on a basement storage shelf.

Peg

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Atkins since 2003
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64-3/4 years young

I have my nona Luisa's little espresso maker. It looks like this only older:



It's super fast, easy to clean, no moving parts and makes demitasse for two, just like gramma used to make. A little anisette and a twist of lemon peel and I'm one happy camper.

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Peg, sounds like some OTHER kitchen toys I own! LOL!

Maggie, mmmm, that sounds good!

We just made a foray to Whole Paycheck where we procured two kinds of espresso, appropriately ground - one shade grown Ibis and one Peet's - this should be fun!

Tomorrow morning, we are gonna have the Walnut Currant Scones from the Eades' Lowcarbcookworx.com site and some Cafe Americano from the espresso maker. Can't wait!

Char

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Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!

Maggie,
My espresso maker looks like yours, but is not an heirloom, just something I used to use in the restaurant. They work great, BTW.
These make espresso on your stovetop, are pretty inexpensive. In my experience espresso machines are tempermental animals...you were smart to get one where you could return it, Char.
And Rob, I agree 100% about the dual-function machine problem. I went through that with a combo tv/vcr thingy. When one thing malfunctions, you generally have to buy a new piece of equipment anyway.

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Trina

Vice-President of the Intergalactic Order of Brussels Sprouts Haters

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Yum. I have a Krups pump espresso maker (single function) that's a few years old. My previous Krups lasted about 12 years! About a year ago, though, I got tired of the grounds ending up everywhere and started using pods in it. Love the convenience. I actually don't own a coffee pot any more.....

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Brenda, my new pot came with 5 of those pods and I agree - they're surely less messy! LOL!

I may invest in some of those. I note that eBay has tons of them available....

Char

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Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!

Yeah, years of cleaning those grinds up, LOL! No more!

Hmmm! Hadn't thought of ebay I've most recently been buying the Lavazza pods from sovranastore.com. The Lavazza's taste really good IMO, and Sovrana's service is terrific. I should probably compare prices, again, though.

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BC
LC Since 1998
Highest Weight 172
Current 104-108

Ooo, I'll have to look for those!

I just finished off a nice cuppa decaf cappuccino. MMMMM! Used one of the Mr. Coffee decaf pods that came with the espresso machine and ya know, it wasn't half bad. OTOH I'm no coffee connoisseur anyway! LOL!

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Veni, vidi, velcro. I came, I saw, I stuck around.

Save the Earth - it's the only planet with CHOCOLATE!