Espressor Machine

I really want one and think I am going to get one today...because it's cold and my Starbucks habit is getting ridiculous.
Anyone have any favorites or know of a reliable machine?
Also, I've heard to only buy machines that use a 220 volt because of how hot it can get the water. Is this true?

 

Oh I meant Espresso machine, as expressor is not a real drink or machine and is just a typo .

 

Shaun used to work at a starbucks like thing. And he says that to get a starbucks quality espresso you'd be spending over $1200. SO my suggestion is look to see what machine is less likey to break down.

 

bummer...maybe I won't be getting an espresso machine today.
So...how about those espressor machines?

 

I can tell you where to get a device that will make 4 shots of espresso on your stovetop for less than $50.

What's in it for me? I mean besides the whole undying gratitude thing...

 

OK since you won't answer, I'll tell you anyway. Go to REI, buy two of these:

http://www.rei.com/product/401040?c...-00AD-DD11-AE27-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA

and send me one. Then you can make espresso and I can go hiking Thanksgiving weekend.

You're welcome.

 

i worked at starbucks for 3 years and quit only a few months ago.

i can tell you a few things....

an old fashioned "manual" machine will make better espresso than a fully automatic machine, but it will be very inconsistant in doing so.

as part of the drastic changes in business approach instituted by howard schultz when he regained position as CEO, they are eliminating some stores, and cutting WAY back on how many stores carry fancy brewing equipment.

at least back home, every district is going down to just one or two of the busiest stores per district to carry brewing merchandise. this is because in the past, starbucks has kept carrying one model after another of different machines. every quarter or two seemed to bring in new brewing equipment. while locations and attitudes differ, starbucks on the whole maintains that striving for top quality customer service is a HUGE priority. as such, they have made the decision to severely scale back sales of brewing equipment, lucrative though these sales may be, in order to allow the baristas to focus more on learning about the coffees, teas, and bar drinks they offer. with so many releases of new machines, they really didnt have the time or resources to learn about the machines offered, and were often unable to answer customer questions or concerns. further, importance of knowledge of retail merchandise was impressed upon new hires, to the extent (in some cases) that they were less inclined to familiarize themselves with the coffees themselves, which is the core of the business.

as a result of all this change in the business approach, many stores are still working on eliminating their inventory of brewing equipment.

i have no idea what the market you live in is like. but back home, there is still merchandise to be had at the slower locations which may not yet have been shut down.

in my personal opinion the best option available is the DeLonghi Magnifica, which was carried by starbucks as a new retail item maybe two years ago. the sticker price was, IIRC, around $1200. in my opinion it made better espresso than the machines we used in store, but i dont know which of the two or three machines they use are used in your district, so it may not be an accurate assumption.

the Magnifica is fully automatic, and requires only the push of a button to grind your beens and pull shots of espresso.

between merchandise sales and the lowering of prices to assist in unloading the machines in stock, some customers in my district were able to get the magnifica at approximately half the original sticker price. they are mostly long gone, but they may still have some in your area at some location. the price may or may not still be so low.



if you are a regular at a particular store in your area, your best bet is to discuss the available options with a barista in this store, preferably during a slower period in the day when they may have a decent conversation with you regarding what you're looking for, and give you more adequate advice based on their knowledge. if you ask for this machine specifically and ask what the current price is, someone is likely willing to call around to other stores in the district to meet your needs as best they can.

do NOT settle on something. get what you really want, and get a quality machine. you can make WONDERFUL espresso with cheaper machines, it just takes time to practice and learn how to do it properly. if they can't get you a good deal at starbucks, look elsewhere for a good deal. ebay may be a good bet!

http://cgi.ebay.com/DeLonghi-Magnif...14&_trkparms=72:1205|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318

here is the same machine i used to sell, for less than $650, compared to our former sticker price of around $1,200. i dont know if any warrantees will apply if you buy it on ebay.

if making espresso at home and you want it to resemble what you can get at starbucks, your best bet is to buy their Espresso Roast. this is what they use in the store.

other coffees they sell make as good, if not better, espresso. personally i find the espresso roast makes good espresso and great brewed coffee. the italian roast, on the other hand, i absolutely despise in terms of brewed coffee, but makes better espresso than the espresso roast. i would suspect french roast would also make good espresso, despite thinking the brewed coffee is lousy. similarly i find arabian mocha sanani to be the best brewed coffee they carried (its become seasonal, i believe, but was a core coffee when i worked there) but it made the worst espresso i'd ever tasted.

casi cielo is a seasonal favorite of many customers and was originally designed to be both a good brewed coffee and a good coffee for making espresso. if you ever get the chance to visit seattle, you will be able to purchase the pike place special reserve, which makes THE BEST espresso i have ever had.

if you are primarily making espresso to mix with milk (cappuccinos, lattes, etc.) then just stick with the espresso roast or italian roast and don't sweat it. if you like your espresso plain, then you may find it fun to experiment. they don't always advertise or suggest it, but they are able to ring you up for as little as a quarter pound of whatever coffee you may want.

hope this was of some sort of help:cheers2:

 

i have never used this machine, but breville is a quality brand, and while this is less fancy than the magnifica, it's also significantly cheaper at about $220

http://cgi.ebay.com/BREVILLE-800ESXL-DIE-CAST-ESPRESSO-MACHINE-NEW_W0QQitemZ130263764615QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSmall_Kitchen_Appliances_US?hash=item130263764615&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1308

as a note to zoomie's suggestion, the stovetop models can work with varying degrees of success. but they will not steam milk, so if you want a hot latte or cappuccino, then they will not be adequate for what you need. if you like black espresso, this might be worth considering.

further, you can simply make your coffee extra strong. you can buy a nice coffee press for far under 50 dollars and simply use double the amount of coffee (or half the amount of water!) as suggested. its not quite the same, but in a pinch it is a suitable alternative to paying a few hundred dollars for a fancy machine!

 

i can vouch for those! they work great. we had someone leave one of those and a bag of espresso beans here and we were very impressed with the lil contraption..

 

I have one of these that I like-it's the Starbucks Barista. They were having a really good sale and the clerk let me use her employee discount.

 

So you are why Starbucks stocks went to hell today..

I use Bialetti Moka makers they rock you can buy replacement gaskets also so they will last for decades.

​

 

I wanted a Bialetti but the GSI that I posted is smaller, makes more expresso and costs half as much.

 

Thank you
I want one with a milk steamer/frother attachment though.

 

Thanks for the advice! Husband won't let me spend 1200 on an espressor machine. I am not even going to ask.

 

No I went...but when I was about to head out for the second time today I stopped myself and then realized why we can't go to ethan allen tommorow and get new couches.

 

We have a Francis Francis it works good around 800 buck but at least $5 a day at the Starbucks....

 

I like those a lot.

 

yeah there cool looking.

 

like i said....the magnifica's original sticker price was 1200.....but you can get it for far less. under 650 on ebay!

it all depends on how much you're willing to spend. you can get something to meet your needs

 

I have a cheapo mr.coffee one:
http://www.mrcoffeestore.com/detail/COF+ECM20

I like it -ut I wouldn't recommend it in the league of the others mentioned here- I like it mostly for the milk steamer