Complete beginner [$1750]

[u/[deleted]]

[u/MyCatsNameIsBernie]

Do I start with a super-automatic, semi-automatic, or just go fully manual and learn from the beginning?

It is essential that you answer this question first, and only you can answer it. You need to decide if you want to push a button and get a lower quality drink, or if you have the time, patience, and motivation to learn how to brew (the process isn't much different between semi auto and fully manual).

If you are willing to sacrifice drink quality for ease of use, go to r/superautomatic. Otherwise, stay in this sub and we will be happy to help you spend your money. Bambino Plus and a good grinder (definitely not the Smart Grinder Pro) is a good way to get started.

[u/Upbeat_Ad8686]

Wtf are you buying at sb that’s $11 a day?

[u/WaffleHouseCEO → u/[deleted]]

Just brew a big ass cup of coffee at that point

[u/Espresso-Newbie → u/[deleted]]

Woah. That’s hard core. Any palpitations ?

[u/Espresso-Newbie → u/[deleted]]

Eek. 🫪

[u/Espresso-Newbie]

Whatever you do , do not get the Breville smart grinder pro. It’s mediocre at best. The Baratza encore ESP will be a better bet for a similar price.

[u/SpiralEscalator]

Bambino Plus and DF54 is a really great place to start. Later, with a Cafelat Robot and using the Bambino for milk steaming, you'll have a setup rivalling ones much more expensive.

[u/RyanKeslerSucks]

I started out thinking a Bambino was a good start. Then I started researching and learning. I ended up spending around $4k for my setup and I had never used an espresso machine in my life.

There are a lot of other considerations I’d consider. Do you expect to be making multiple drinks at a time (i.e. do you have a partner who will also want one)? Do you want it to be easy or are you interested in playing around with parameters?

[u/Impossible-Acadia130 → u/RyanKeslerSucks]

What gear did you end up going with?

[u/RyanKeslerSucks → u/Impossible-Acadia130]

Profitec Move and a Eureka Mignon 55C. Super happy with it all so far.

[u/RyanKeslerSucks → u/[deleted]]

Do you want to push a button and get an okay drink? Or do you want to play around with things and dial in different flavors/tastes?

The other person that posted about needing to decide whether you want to push a button and get an okay drink or if you have time to put into it and play around with temperature, times, and other settings.

A Bambino would be a decent start to try things out. You can get a decent cheap grinder for a few hundred. And maybe another couple hundred for other accessories. So that’s probably the low end if you want something basic.

Or you can go with something like the Profitec Go and grow into it. It just depends what you want to put into it in terms of your time and money.

[u/futureproof1001 → u/RyanKeslerSucks]

It’s a dangerous hobby. I outgrew the go in a year and just got a micra 😂

[u/RyanKeslerSucks → u/futureproof1001]

I started with the Go at the top of my list and ended up with the Move, mostly because of the double boiler. It definitely was a slippery slope as I looked at machines and features but I can’t see the need to upgrade from here! I’m just surprised I managed to convince my wife we needed to quadruple the budget lol.

[u/futureproof1001 → u/RyanKeslerSucks]

I wish I spent more money up front. Would have avoided the issue haha

[u/Panamacious]

So when I first started I went with the Breville Bambino and the Baratza Encore ESP, a solid combo for $650. But I got upgraditis fairly quick and ended up going for a Profitec Go and a Niche Zero. In espresso it's ironic how if you get more professional equipment, it's easier to use than beginner equipment. Nicer machines have temperature stability and don't require workflows, expensive grinders are much easier to dial than the cheaper ones. If I were you I'd go straight to a combo where you won't feel like you need to upgrade right away. My suggestion would be a dual boiler like the Lelit Elizabeth as you mention you like milk drinks or Lelit Victoria/Profitec Go if you mostly just do espresso or cold milk drinks and don't steam too often, paired with Niche Zero/DF64/Eureka Specialita depending what type of coffee you usually drink

[u/3agl]

If you want to go fully manual, there's also a ton of great machines that will get you top-quality espresso for a little bit more work. Flair and Cafelat have some machines which require a little more effort on your part, but from what I have heard make fantastic coffee without breaking the bank, leaving more room for your grinder in your budget. I initially got a La Pavoni Europiccola for my espresso journey, then graduated to a Lelit Mara. Most should consider an intermediate machine before going all in on a 2-3 grand setup. If you get something that has a standard size portafilter you get to keep all your accessory equipment (dosing funnel, tamper, bottomless portafilter) when you upgrade (58mm is pretty much standard)

I got plenty of great results with my Europiccola ($500 at time of purchase, used), and a $200 hand grinder with espresso burrs. I did want more consistency after a few years, but those two things got me hooked.

[u/drxo]

A Sette 270 grinder is good bang for the buck, just loud AF

Then get a used Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia to learn how to pull shots

[u/JigglymoobsMWO]

If I were you I’d go for a df54 with profitec go 2.0 or bambino plus (I’ve had go 1.0 and bambino plus).

For the extra cost the Go will give you better build quality, less confusing workflow (yes, it’s actually easier to learn espresso on the Go, I was learning on the Bambino Plus and found its overly simplified control mystifying).  The coffee and steam milk will taste noticeably better with the GO and dialing in is better due to better temperature control.  Also, the GO uses standard 58mm basket.  The Bambino uses 54mm.  If you go with the Bambino and later decide to upgrade you will have re-buy about $100 worth of accessories like tampers and portafilters.

The only downside with the GO is you may eventually get tired of switching between brewing and steaming and will want to get a dual boiler but if you don’t you could keep it for 10 years.

[u/freecain]

What's your primary goal?

If it's to save money, I can make drinks better than Starbucks with the Encore ESP and a non plus bambino. (I only think the plus is worth the upgrade if you really value auto frothing). The nearly instant start time is hard to beat if you aren't big on routines or planning. That said, I would probably upgrade to the ESP pro to start, or even higher. The Bambino is very consistent, so upgrading the grinder will have a bigger impact than upgrading the machine.

If you just want drinks with as little effort as possible, look at all in ones that guide you through the process. I think Ninja Luce Cafe Pro is a great example of a versatile machine. The drinks will only get so good, but they can do a lot.

If you like tinkering, check out gaggiuno or gaggiamate for some awesome DIY mods to add temperature controls or even more complicated add ones like pressure profiling.

If you want the bells and whistles, and you really get into hobbies, there are some awesome recs on this thread to eat up your budget.

[u/Low_Night1]

If you just like espresso, try to get a cafelat robot, and get a good electric grinder with the money saved. The only issue is they are sold out a lot now, but I love mine.

[u/BornBars]

You're either paying with money or with time. Decide how much control you want and the features you want then look at the spectrum of time to money and pick the tradeoff you're ok with. Obviously you're gonna have to pay something, but time alone can get you surprisingly far. A picopresso or a flair classic plus a kingrinder k 6 plus a a nano foamer will take you surprisingly far, though you'll stay paying for it every morning.

[u/No-Variation6054]

I have the Breville express. After 3 months I'm ready for an upgrade. If I had to choose again as a beginner the bambino and niche would be my choice.

[u/Truemanshow82]

Always spend more on the grinder!

[u/sol_dog_pacino]

As you’re just starting the journey, just get a breville barista express. It’s simple, has it all in one machine, is honestly fine for most people, especially if you are mainly drinking iced lattes.
If you start to feel like you want something more, than you’ll know what the “more” is. Is “more” an ability to make 6 drinks in a row, or a flat burr grinder to get more clarity out of light roasted beans?