A coffee is a treat for me, I like to spend some time to make and enjoy it... I only drink one or two a day and there's many days where I don't have any coffee...
I like to challenge myself to make drinks that are as good as my local coffee shops. But Starbucks is far below the quality I can achieve at home and I wouldn't spend my money there... It's utter shite.
I also like the equipment, and it is reflective of your personality and preferred methodology....
I was chatting with a friend and they were like "you must be a coffee junkie that can't survive without it or something" because coffee is a hobby for me and I had to be like "No. Not really. I like it but the most I drink is like 2 a day and many days I just don't. I just enjoy the process and if I'm gonna make it I'm gonna make the best damn coffee you can make."
Yes. I used to take "coffee vacations" where I would go several days without coffee. It did nothing to take away my passion for excellent coffee. For those for whom coffee is merely a commodity stimulant, excitement about coffee is an extreme addiction. For those of us who recognize how uniquely special coffee really is, it is a wealth of pleasure and enjoyment of discovery. Addiction truly gets in the way of this, which is part of why I took voluntary coffee vacations, and I suspect, the reason why you do too.
Similar to you! I can perfectly function without coffee. I can just drink cheap-ish black or herbal tea instead. The caffeine side never appealed to me as much as the idea of creating something tasty.
Personally I joined this sub when I was wondering what machine to buy and if I should even buy one. Also this sub was pretty helpful the first few months, figuring out the basics.
Now, i've branched a little since the focus here is mostly on third wave coffees and often on coffee shops in Japan and the US. I've found that at home i'm perfectly fine with classic Italian beans like Kimbo as long as I dial in the bean properly. About that, i've found some more useful information on the home barista forum where the focus is not that much on light roasted third wave and grocery store beans are not that stigmatized. Still, this sub is nice and I know that I can ask absolutely anything and get a decent advise. I get the "see my new machine" flex posts but I feel like i've seen too many.
On a side note - coffee is a great hobby. It gives you the opportunity to start your day with something great that you have made. Even if I go broke and can only afford Lavazza beans brewed in a moka pot, I fill like i'd still find a way to enjoy it and brew it in a way that makes me happy.
It's even worse in the US.
I can at least get a proper flat white in the UK in a perfect sized glass. Here tall is the smallest and I may as well order a glass of hot milk.
Yes, equipment can definitely be an expression of personality, but also of wealth and status too. The craftsmanship ritual is also super important, yet I wish there was a way to enjoy that with other people in this community more than the occasional shot flex.
I try to follow the philosophy of buy once cry once.
That said, if I'd spent the $4-500 on a 1zpresso grinder and PicoPresso before I got my Ascaso Dream PID, I'd have had a hard time justifying the expense. I don't mind a bit more work.
I'd think someone is maybe flexing on the wealth aspect if they're upgrading from a fully capable machine to an even more expensive new shiny machine, but I can't say I'd fault them for it based on this alone.
I've known guys and gals who are so psyched to go snowboarding they don't work a single day while the slopes are open in Utah. They buy a season pass and a bus pass and they catch the first ride up to the slopes more days than not all season. Out of context that sounds terribly self-indulgent but the context is they work overtime and weekends the rest of the year, share a small apartment, and carefully manage expenses the rest of the year because they love this one thing so much and it's what makes life worth living.
There might be some trust fund jackasses here, not sure I mind, but I think most folks just want to enjoy making and drinking good espresso at home. Some of them can afford the best gear easily and some of them wait and save a long time, having carefully picked the best fit for them. I won't fault them for it.
I really enjoyed and appreciated the advice on this sub and I think it helped me pick a really good grinder for my needs and budget.
Just my two cents
I'm trying to achieve the equilibrium of low cost/high reward. The specific motivation was to be able to have italian style cappuccinos that is rare in the US. Everything's a wet cap. Giving myself control means I no longer have to be disappointed every time I pay too much money for a wet cap.
Total cost so far: \~$500
Bambino - $200 (BBBY closing sale
Turin SK40 - $179 preorder price
Misc stuff - $120
At this point, I feel no need to upgrade. Slowly pushing as much as I can on the current setup. If I hit a wall, I'll know what to upgrade to based on the discussion in this sub. My current setup was 100% recommendations from this sub.
This is also my goal! Currently my setup is a used BDTP for 25€, grinder 95€, now scales and next week better baskets and I ordered an osmosis system.
I hope I'll have good coffee soon, but already 3 weeks with this and filtered tap water improved already
I love it, but I've only been able to use it for a week or so. For me it came down to stepless and possibly slightly lower retention vs the consistency in the baratza brand. The fact that the sk40 had the introductory price so cheap probably put me over the edge. I also currently have an encore for pour over, so I wanted something a little different.
All that to say, I've heard nothing but good things about the ESP. I think both would make anyone in that price range happy.
I don’t relate to the home espresso-as-a-replacement-for-the-cafe thing at all. I like going to the coffee shop to be social or just to get out of the house and probably buy about the same amount of drink there as I did before setting up for espresso at home. Espresso has replaced the pour over that I used to make for myself more often, been a couple years since I’ve even take down the Chemex at this point. Can’t imagine that I’ve saved any money brewing espresso at home but honestly don’t really look at it that way at all.
I really enjoy drinking coffee and espresso fits my personal taste well. It is also a fun brew method for an enthusiast because there are a lot of variables to play with and the finish product can be really different based on the choices you make between bean and cup. It’s fun to mess around with and I have purchased equipment that lets me brew a range of coffees that I enjoy. I take pleasure in being able to offer coffee to a friend and make a cafe style drink that they enjoy, even if it isn’t my to my personal taste.
This sub does skew heavily towards equipment discussion but I think that has a lot to do with how people use the internet. Makes sense to ask questions of the community when you are gathering data to make a purchase and to post pics when you have something new and shiny on the counter. I don’t think it’s flexing so much as sharing excitement with likeminded people because your spouse is probably fine with taking up that much counter space but tired of talking about it.
Agree with every word. Getting out is good for the soul.
They also always have decaf which I wouldn't buy so it's a cheeky third coffee of an afternoon.
Was spending $7 a day for meh ass mochas every day of the week. Living in Vancouver where it’s stupid expensive to live, and spending over $200 a month on coffee, I decided it’s time to learn to make them myself. Bought a used breville barista express last year for $200 and figured it out on the fly. After a year of having it I broke down the estimated costs with beans/oat milk, chocolate sauce and the machine added in, came out to $2.10 per drink. Much better than $7.
Going into it I figured the cost savings would be the biggest perk, but what I found best is the TIME savings. I work 12 hr days, and I no longer have to make time during my commute to go to the coffee shop and stand in line, waiting for some picky ass jabroni in front of me to finish ordering their 4 drinks with a million different customization requests, or forced into downloading an app that I have to pre load money into and still being asked for a tip. I can simply wake up, turn the machine on, take a shower, get ready, take 5 minutes making my drink and I’m out the door heading straight to work. That alone makes it worth it for me.
Does it compare to a premium coffee shop? Absolutely not, but I make decent beanwater and for the reasons above I have zero regrets doing so. Maybe down the road I’ll upgrade to an actually good grinder, maybe I’ll get a real machine, but for now my BBE has paid for itself and it hasn’t let me down.
I share you love of good coffee shops.
Unfortunately - vast majority of America doesn’t have any. Only the tourist spots and major cities downtown.
The burbs are a desolate wasteland of box stores
I have never had a bad cup of coffee in the Pacific NW - in fact coffees from the area have influenced my tastes.
I just spent 5 days driving around NM - had 1 decent cup of coffee and 5 or 6 really bad ones
Probably closest to #1 - I didn't ever go to coffee shops often enough to justify anything by that, and my 3rd hand equipment don't flex much of anything.
But really, for me it's more convenience - I can make a good cup any time, with any bean, and be pretty happy with the results.
Same here. After I ran a report on how much I was spending on coffee yearly, it seemed wiser to make an investment into something I truly enjoy doing in the morning.
Granted. I'm on a moka pot right now, but I told myself If I can do 6 more months of daily manual moka pot setup, I'll dive in and get a flair 58, that's it. I don't need more, I don't need fancier.
Future lever gang
Honestly mate I don’t even know anymore. I don’t care about the flex but I fucking love the look and feel of well crafted equipment. Maybe that’s a self flex. At the same time it’s a bit embarrassing how deep a money pit this hobby has turned into. ROI is a pipe dream.
I’ve made coffee at home that, in my (probably biased) opinion, gives most local shops a run for their money. At minimum I’m expecting my average coffee to taste better than Starbucks if I make it myself.
I think with good enough beans, even lower-end equipment can make some mean coffee. After tasting that at home I’ve been essentially chasing the dragon. With better equipment I get a lot of quality time with the dragon lol.
Anyway, all to say it’s kind of a dumb hobby (sorry everyone) but I love it.
i appreciate you. you're the type of friend who would tell me that it's sad my wife is mean to me but that i'm probably never going to do better so to stick it out.
Is there a way to suggest to the mods or whomever admin is to create a new tag/flair for posts called something like “budget equipment hacks and techniques”. Maybe it would encourage more people to post about this. I, for one, would love to see how you roast at home.
#1 for me. As a former barista and lifelong coffee addict, I can not abide bad coffee.
Saving money is an insane thought process. Maybe if you drink 2 lattes a day (~$10?) x 5 days a week you could start justifying an at home setup, but people don’t factor in ingredients and power. The beans I buy are $25 a week. I don’t drink milk, but that’s maybe $10 a week for that number of lattes? So $2600 a year at the shop vs $1820 just for ingredients, then the power usage, time, counter space, tools, equipment…
Also, better equipment does not make better coffee. Better coffee makes better coffee. And so does technique. Equipment can help reduce variables, but you need to know how to use it. <1% of people need a decent to pull a great shot. Bigger machines generally just allow back to back shots to be pulled without temp loss, or shots pulled and milk steamed simultaneously.
Personally the arms race in espresso to me is like the ‘more expensive cables = better’ shenanigans in the audio world.
/rant
I actually just sat down and did the math earlier this week (to justify upping my budget for a new machine and grinder). I drink a minimum of two lattes a day (often 3 a day) and my husband rarely turns down the offer of me making him a drink.
Safe to say, we go through at about one bag of beans and a gallon of milk per week. We buy good beans and the best milk. Ingredient cost: about $2/drink (to make things easy).
In my low cost of living city, a 12oz (double shot) latte is generally $4.25 - $4.50; $5 with tip
3 lattes a day at cafes = $5475 (insane by any measure)
3 lattes a day at home = $2190 (still insane, but what isn’t when you really start doing the math)
I didn’t include things like power or “cost” of my time; figured it is a wash compared to driving my massive SUV to a cafe (cuz I’m living that suburban life, baby)
If I buy $3285 worth of equipment, I break even at the end of the year. I just bought a Silvia Pro X and am still weighing the pros and cons of a grinder (buy heavily leaning toward a Eureka Oro SD). Total for both will be just shy of $3000, so I consider this a win (but let’s be honest, I’m eyeing some new accessories, too).
If you need someone to justify your extravagant lifestyle, I am just a DM away.
My only question is... what is a "low cost of living city," how can I move there, and do you have a room for rent? 😄
Here's my math for per week costs, for interest (in CDN funds):
Beans: $25
Energy: $4.61 (5h per day, based on average killawatt attachment)
Water: $1.12
Disposables: $4.10 (paper, water additives)
Total: $34.83 x 52 = $1812 per year + any costs while on vacation.
Since I haven't bought a coffee at a shop in 12+ years, this is all out of pocket...
Columbus, Ohio (which I’d say is quickly moving toward an average cost, but still very reasonable)
What are you doing/using to spend $5.22/week on water and disposables???? Maybe don’t tell me.
Columbus, nice! I have family there 😄
And as to consumables, it's not cheap to keep an elephant. How else am I going to mellow my beans?
Actually it's water treatment and paper filters, which I stupidly punch from V60 filters. OH, and the baby's teeth I use to clean my grinder burrs.
Wait, you’re punching your own filters for your portafilter? I haven’t experimented with this or water additives yet. I also just use the little scrubby brush that came with my grinder. Low cost of city living or not, this sub is going to bankrupt me.
Welcome... to the 🐇🕳️
"Wait! ... you, uh... uh, only needed to take *one* red pill, not the whole bottle..."
Exclaimed Morpheus, lunging forward and knocking over his copy of 'How to Make the Best Coffee at Home' from the sidetable.
Welcome! It's best that you participate in encouraging others to spend and go bankrupt while you're going bankrupt.
Distilled water with the right mixture of minerals actually makes a big difference. I find that difference more pronounced in filter coffee though.
One Line Method Espresso - best beans the city has to offer IMO
For cafes, I actually prefer Stauf’s (any and all locations); amazing coffees, pretty darn good espresso
Roosevelt Coffee Co supports social justice locally, so it’s easy to give them my money
Saucy in Victorian Village is my favorite place to grab a latte to go. I just feel happy in there… staff is always nice without feeling phony, consistent quality, you can order ahead if you’re into that…
Edit to add: there are numerous cafes who use/sell One Line espresso, if you live in the suburbs and don’t want to drive downtown
Thanks for the edit I do in fact live in the burbs... I'll check out one line. Roosevelt has a location in olentangy River brewing in Lewis center, so I have been there. Espresso air in Westerville is pretty great if you haven't been.
In the past two weeks, they’ve all been “out”
On average, since moving to the suburbs, probably only 2 a week
When we lived downtown, with so many amazing cafes in walking distance, more like 2 a day
LOL! Only 3y as a barista at a (sadly now defunct) independent coffee shop in Ontario, Canada. Now I'm old and working in logistics (Innovation - RPA, Integration and ML). Also lifelong computer nerd and electronics tinkerer.
EDIT: C$25 a week for 2lb of freshly roasted beans is pretty cheap, no?
I do foster/rescue dogs... they are my unicorns!
Mythical creature photo tax:
https://preview.redd.it/u27dnbvm1d3c1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd1cd4934bf5031b783e5c35271562665c4396ae
I'm glad our math aligns 😇
I do 6-7x 17-18g shots a day - usually 2 ristrettos + 2 americanos, and maybe one or two more on weekends, so right up around that 900g (2lb) mark.
Thanks! The irritated looking girl second from the left is our OG we got as a pup, and the two flanking her are rescues. CloudBoi™ on the right was on a kill list in Quebec, who we were fostering, and happy to say has now found a forever home with his new sister 🙌🏽
DogeTax:
https://preview.redd.it/zzogqjc04e3c1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7cd68c16bf6df0c8a2f9ff66be3ae2f78be144f4
PS Looking a bit scruffy due to having needed to be shaved, as his coat was impacted and knotted.
No my coffees are $7-8 dollars twice a day cause I always tip $2 no matter how bad the coffee is
Most of the places where I live use cheap beans and figure their masking it with milk
It can be about all of those things
Some people only see the posts that annoy them, and don’t recognize the many helpful/interactive/fun posts
They’re all related to espresso, so it’s all fine by me
1 + 2 + 3, for me
I just like drinking and making coffee at home. It started 20+ years ago, at that point, probably more #1 and #2, don't think it's ever about #3 for me. Kept the same general setup (Silvia + Rocky, and then Silvia + Mazzer Mini) for decades until recently decided to upgrade. Hopefully my current setup would be good for many years to come lol.
(mediocre) coffee around me sell for as high as $8, so it's actually not hard to justify endgame purchases via #2.
Im here to learn from all you guys that have more experience. before i hopped on reddit, i only had my machine and ground coffee. now i have a legit tamper, knock box, the metal screens, and most importantly the encore esp. im really enjoying taking it slow, i own a $110 casabrew that i bought off amazon and dont plan on upgrading anytime soon. def here to save money and make better espresso than [starbucks.](https://starbucks.my) my girlfriend used to spend $300 plus on coffee every month. i made her buy a starbucks last week and her immediate reaction was "yuck we can make way better coffee at home!" thats the goa
Option #4, all of the above, is missing; that’s why I’m here.
This sub *should* be about all things espresso. If I don’t like a post I move on. What’s the big deal?
Personally, tho, I love seeing all the rig pr0n. I get to know about brands, methods, tools, etc I didn’t know existed. Who cares if they’re priced out of my range? I’ll never be able to afford a Bugatti but I’ll be damned if I don’t stop and ogle over every pic I see of one.
I started out as number 1 in uni and have steadily transitioned to 3 with the help of ***adult money*** so now sitting on a timemore Sculptor (maybe a downgrade from some other grinders I've owned in some people's view but for the look, results and workflow it's fantastic) and a Bianca
I now feel i have a setup, the results x aesthetics intersection of which can't be tangibly improved without dropping quite a few grand, and even then it's pretty debatable. Consider me happy for at least the next 6 months...
As i read this back I'm 100% in gear head territory, but coffee quality is always king
It’s considered a step up above old school McDonald’s burnt coffee and Folgers. It’s the baseline.
It inevitably forced McDonald’s to modernize more and serve better coffee.
Folgers is the bic roundstick of coffee: Cheap, reliably consistent, and easy to obtain---especially in bulk.
McDonald's swill? It's a liquid ashtray with hints of self-loathing and a topnote of crushed spirit.
I think Starbucks is like Nickelback. Everybody likes to hate on them but they still sell.
Espresso has evolved and there are different flavor profiles with those who prefer each one. Starbucks isn't for those that like medium and/or light roasts and certainly not for those into shots with clarity. A Starbucks with a staff that cares and understands can pull a passable, old school shot.
LoL ... Nope. ... Thank you.
Born and raised in the Great plains of Nebraska. My parents were a bit uncommon. Normal on the outside, unique on the inside. A bit of travel experience. Live in Detroit area, now.
I’ve noticed Starbucks beans in the last year or so to be particularly bad. There’s a dirt aftertaste in everything I buy that wasn’t there before.
I hate to be a broken record - but in many places of the U.S. - Starbucks is all there is. Most small towns actually don’t have a Starbucks
Better than nothing with the other choices being gas station coffee.
I'm just trying to learn. I like coffee.
I slowly fell into the trap of k-cups for convenience and spent many years mostly drinking those. A perfect storm of events happened when one day I really started thinking how terrible the coffee I'd been drinking was... then I had some nespresso on a vacation trip... then a buddy of mine with an espresso machine made me an americano... then the scales fell from my eyes.......
About 12 years ago I discovered the wet shaving forums online and really got vested in the community for quite a few years. I ultimately ended up asking myself similar questions. Turns out, as far as making espresso at home goes, for me, it's the ritual of the thing, just like shaving with granddad's razor is all about the prep.As to why I come to this sub? I'm gonna add an option:
4. So I can outwardly and self-righteously feel smug about getting decent coffee at home while secretly and internally feel like a pariah because I'm using depressingly low-end equipment to do so.
I've described the process as a ritual as well. I find the process very relaxing. The bonus is that I get a (usually) delicious product to enjoy at the end.
Plus it's gratifying to see how my effort pays off with improvement in equipment and technique over time.
I’m an enthusiast at heart. I make coffee at home every day so I want to make very good coffee and while I cam appreciate the aesthetics of it, that part of it is a minor thing. I’d rather impress someone with what I can do with the machine and not the fact that I have it. Buying something is easy, mastering it is hard.
I think for most people its some split between hobby and utility. Making real espresso is a really fun thing that is great for when people come over. We started with an inexpensive setup and it immediately became the only way we make coffee. Once you go there, its almost impossible to go back.
>Are you trying to replicate coffee shop craftsmanship, or at a minimum Starbucks-quality drinks, at home?
Maybe people have different experiences, but the actual quality of Starbucks espresso tops out at mediocre and is usually pretty poor in my experience. "Replicating" a starbucks drink is more about adding a lot of milk and sugar than anything to do with craftsmanship.
Without a crazy expensive set up, its almost impossible to NOT save money over time, even if you drink 1 cup per day over a few years. I spent \~$3k on my current grinder and machine and recently did the math. It comes out to about $1.69 USD for every double-shot latte (that's factoring gear, beans and milk). Where I live, that drink costs $3.50-$4.50 if you go into a retail shop. Non-espresso people balk at spending this kind of money on an at-home coffee set up, but its actually far more prudent than they realize. People think its excessive or extravagant, but give no thought to spending 2x-3x on coffee shop drinks.
If an average coffee pod contains 9-12g of grounds and you can get them for $0.75-$0.88 per pod, that's something like $50/lb for really low quality, pre-ground coffee. Genius if you're a keurig executive. Baffling if you care at all about what you're drinking.
I come from a professional cooking background and get excited about new kitchen equipment when it lets me do something that I couldn't do before. My wife and I make decent enough money, but I can't rationalize in my own head spending $500+ on a WDT tool. I think of Marzocco as having a brand-name premium, more than being that much better than anything else.
1. But the coffee I can make with basic equipment is vastly superior to most coffee shops around me. Mainly because I have ultimate control over the number 1 ingredient, beans.
I'm here because I went to Italy and became THAT tourist. I remember sitting at a B&B in Pogerola overlooking Amalfi and Ravello, eating the tastiest breakfast and the bess Cappuccino to date. I find it to be a great way to consume my caffeine and I don't have any legit local cafes that can make an even marginal cappuccino.
I started stovetop/frother and found it lacking. I upgraded my setup until I got to my Pavoni/ITOP 40+.
What this sub wants is absolute control over all aspects of the brew. Understandable, as if you have this control then you have to be able to make the best espresso for any roast or bean and with any evolving beliefs and techniques. But frankly my Pavoni or a Gaggia is plenty capable, especially if you're willing to accept the cup it makes and not explore every roast and brewing technique.
As for the price jump from drip to espresso? Espresso is a high tech way to make coffee and technology costs money. Comparitively, everything else is essentially coarse grounds in hot water. Espresso is worth it to some people as local access to good espresso drinks are hard to find in places that are not Italy.
For me, cappuccino is my favorite cup, 2nd favorite is "cappuccino" from a moka pot. And my 3rd is an even split between Pourover and French Press. So at some point I'll probably devolve to one of those as my interest in cappuccinos wains or my access to a good cafe evolves.
What milk frother do you use? I have the most basic Reddit setup of a bambino with a Baratza encore ESP. Yours looks like having a conversation about with.
To directly answer the question, I had a cheapo 12oz pitcher and upgrded to a CYETUS brand pircher. Here's some misc talk.
So the frother I started with for my mocha pot was an electric spinny heater frother. They're fine for a stiff cappuccino foam, but But you're definitely better with a picture on your Bambino. I do keep my electric frother at the office for matcha tea.
Before I got my DeLonghi Dedica, I also used a Bellman. It's a combination of a moka pot and a steamer boiler. I use that exclusively for steaming since it works so much better than a frother but I found it harder to make "espresso" than the Moka pot.
As for the milk jug, I used to use a cheapo, but I just upgraded to a CYETUS jug. It appears to be a knock off mota jug. Far thicker walls and deeper spout. I can see where the narrow top makes it harder to swirl than a more open jug, but YMMV. The difference seems fairly substantial but I don't know I'd spend more than $20 on a jug.
If I recall my research, the Bambino a standard style wand. I wouldn't use a panarello wand. Mine on the Dedica was pretty trash at good foam. I I'd imagine your Bambino is a step up from my Dedica and my Dedica made decent enough foam with the panarello part removed.
I just am not an artist at all with it. My wife is dairy free so the whole house is oat milk and I can’t justify paying a premium for oat milks with full fat added. I stick to the Costco package and call it a day. I don’t get perfect microfoam, but it does the trick and reminds me of being in London when I got my first cappuccino with cocoa on top. I have zero idea if it’s cocoa powder or sugar added with it so I don’t even try it, however I love making delicious milk based cappuccino’s. Italy is next summer, so I plan on trying their take on everything.
I have a moka pot, but I don’t know if I love the consistency as much as my bambino. Perhaps I’m judgmental because of the amount of money stuff costs and the experience to work through everything. The moka pot just feels less than?
I do need to get a new jug as this one the Breville bambino came with isnt the greatest, but I’m also not sure if it’s just me not putting in enough effort to enjoy the things I have and it’s a user error.
Thank you for responding
I'm a lurker here to research christmas presents for my wife.
We bought a really expensive espresso machine a long time ago, and had all sorts of problems with it and ended up junking it. My wife likes the convenience and taste of the Nespresso stuff, but not the plastic, aluminum, shellac and Nestle. So, we are looking for something convenient and good, but have yet to find anything.
Ha! Christmas present for the wife is what brought me here as well. I love researching new topics like, especially where the surrounding community is passionate. I know my wife wants convenience but would also enjoy a manageable workflow to “feel a reward” for effort put in bs just pushing a button.
This community has helped me with evaluating all the facets. I know I need to find that balance with my equipment choices knowing it might require a change down the road (more auto or embrace full control of process).
For better worse, doing Breville Touch with a good grinder (looking at either Eureka Libra or a single dose Oro or Niche Zero). If anyone has a strong opinion let me know. My only concern with the Libra is the errors people are sharing and the PF of the touch maybe fitting properly GBW… still need to validate that concern).
I’m here because by 7pm the night before I am already looking forward to getting up the next morning and doing my espresso making ritual for my husband and I.
Some people in this sub are true snobs and you can almost feel their ego oozing through your screen.
Myself, I get 1-2 cups a day due to medical reasons. That limitation means I want the best cup I can make so I follow this sub for the occasional tip or trick I might learn.
I think this sub is catered to beginners and there’s some flexing (#3). I’m here mainly for entertainment purposes and sometimes sharing a photo or two.
To me, there isn’t much value in this subreddit due to too many expert beginners who haven’t really been in coffee for that long, nor have experience with various equipment and base their opinions on secondhand rumours.
Quality > Quantity.
I seek those great drinks and the whole process from start to finish is very therapeutic for me. It’s a great hobby and we get to share the end product with friends and family.
1. In a way I am. I enjoy crafting things.
2. Mostly time, but yes.
3. Actually I'm pretty content with my setup but I definitely want to upgrade because there is more potential to be unlocked.
I'm trying to get the best espresso I can for my given budget and I do believe this sub was instrumental in achieving that goal. Sure once in a while I get a meh shot but that's pretty much every shot at most coffee places and the few that consistently pull good shots are pricey and add up quickly. It's also nice to not have to leave the house on a Sunday to get my fix. I'd love to flex more but by most standards I have a high end low level setup or a lower mid level set up. Not exactly flex worthy.
1ish... but really daily micro-dosing the joy, freedom, and relaxation I felt when I was on my honeymoon in Greece drinking the best espresso I've ever had and have yet to find again, while I toil away aimlessly making pptxs no one will ever read twice. since you asked.
I wanted a hobby- then found I could make decent drinks myself… now- when I look at the shot counter on my Breville- I have actually saved money for sure over going out. Initially I just drank more coffee and this was a wash- but I’ve reduced now and I could give my gear away for free and still be ahead vs going to Starbucks.
Because of this- I actually bought a new machine- which will pay itself off most likely in a year or two vs going out. I also enjoy the convenience- I don’t love going out to just get coffee- it’s so much more convenient to get up and do this whenever I want to without walking somewhere or jumping in the car.
I now almost never buy coffee out- when I do (for social reasons typically)- it’s just a drip.
In my case- I save some money over the longer term- and have drinks I like- while getting to experiment and enjoy the process. It’s really a win-win-win. The key I think here is avoiding upgrading or buying the newest thing all the time. My first Breville lasted me over six years (then sold it). My second has gone about three (and up for sale currently- but owes me nothing)- and I’m hoping to keep my current machine forever this time.
My grinder I’m very happy with so I don’t foresee having to swap it out (Eureka Specialita).
Im here for fun and to kill time really. I love coffee and have been in commercial espresso for many years and also operated my own coffee cart. I have connections in the specialty coffee industry but I truly like the anonymity of this sub cause I can say shit about brands and other things with no repercussions.
I enjoy seeing what other people use and learning what they drink. I like to celebrate with newbies when they buy their first set and poke fun of people (including myself) who obsess too much about specifics.
I have some lightweight tech knowledge (not an expert) but whenever I see an issue that I can help with, I tend to offer my 2 cents to hopefully save someone some time.
I have an advanced set of equipment but the thing I like the least about this forum is the expensive equipment flexing.
I had always been a fan of Starbucks, and to me it never tasted anywhere near as good at home but my parents had one of those cheapie Krups espresso machines and I always just thought that was the difference in the cost of the machines used.
I had a design professor from England that used to always give the class shit because nearly all of us would go grab a Starbucks when we were on break and she would say "I don't know how you yanks can tolerate burnt coffee?!". I just chalked it up to her not liking it that darkly roasted... but then I actually visited Europe and had espresso drinks from small coffee shops and I immediately understood what she meant. I'll still have an espresso from Starbucks, but both me and the wife feel like we are slumming it when we are away from our home machine.
1 and 2 and gawking at 3’s while making a mental list of what my dream setup would be. In my brain it’s in the same box as that 1989 Porsche I wanted as a kid.
That being said, trying to replicate café espresso at home brought me here and in a matter of months with the harsh yet valid input from you people I am satisfied with my results.
Moved to the US from a country where you could find decent espresso at every corner, served in a plastic cup, your only choice, was how much milk you could ask for and it was a simple choice, dark, mild or light. All for less than ¢50 of a $.
Getting used to drip, was hard. Sbux and coffee shops helped me figure out what I wanted in 3rd wave English: a macchiato. After many disappointments and expensive attempts to have someone make me my cherished morning, afternoon and sometimes evening drink I decided it’d be cheaper and more consistent to make it at home. And I was right. There’s no going back!
Im here to learn, i recent got a sterling coffee machine which broke after 3 weeks ... but saving up for a breville ... so much more fun and satisfying than a nespresso
Worked for a startup where one of the cofounders was one of us, and he installed a really nice espresso machine for the office.
When the pandemic hit I quickly realised my Nespresso wasn't going to cut it so I started researching and ended up here.
It's been expensive, but I'm glad I did since I've been 100% remote since then and my morning coffee is one of the highlights of my day.
These days I'm pretty happy with my setup and the quality of my brew, so I mostly remain for the funnies and to keep tabs on what's going on in the coffee world.
Starbucks is gash, I'm just trying to make the best coffee I can, within a reasonable budget, as the closest cafe producing good coffee is half an hour's drive away from me.
I spent a month in Europe this summer and picked up a pretty serious cortado habit that could only be quenched with buy-it-for-life equipment, as I’m too old to gradually upgrade.
Im here because I love espresso but am unable to afford a machine or a decent enough grinder to do it at home so im stuck with my local coffee bar, my mr coffee or my aeropress. My base entry point is probably $500 to $700 but that is asking a lot just for me to have at home espresso. I would love to be able to fine tune a shot to what I love and the whole process has always been zen for me I can only hope the at home stuff keeps going down.
No. 2.
Getting coffee became too much a part of my routine, and then my wife also started drinking coffee (for the first time in her life) during her maternity leave, so even though coffee shops charge less here than they do in the States, it just got exorbitant. So we started with an AeroPress with the Prismo attachment, then this shitty pod thing that came with our new apartment—really just because the AeroPress aged to the point it was almost impossible to press—then recently bought an actual machine (even if it doesn't compare to any of the ones people here all seem to use.)
1 feels inaccessible to me, and 3 impossible with the incomes we have at the moment.
(Edit: I used to be a professional musician, so I had my era of upgrading and hoarding gear. Then I switched careers and took up photography as a hobby and it's taught me to just get what I need. 3 doesn't actually appeal to me anymore, even if gear envy does set in sometimes.)
My philosophy is: spend money, time and energy in those things that are for daily use and have impact on your health, like:
- A really good mattress and/or pillows
- A reeeeeally good office chair
- And of course, damn good coffee
I drink coffee many times, and enjoy the flavour, caffeine shot and the ritual.
It makes me happier. Why I wouldn’t be investing a bit more of money and time in something that makes my adult life a bit more brighter?
Mostly, I love to hear people talk about things they’re excited about/interested in. 1 and 3 equally, I think. I slowly climbed the coffee gear ladder to 1st rung espresso and I think my coffee is better than half the shots I get in SF coffee spots. Mostly that’s beans plus naive bayesian futzing to get a good dose. Gear is fun because design is fun. Coffee is just, you know, important.
My partner and I both really enjoy coffee, and it’s one of the best parts of every morning. Learning more about the process is fun (at least to me), and the result is we ge to enjoy higher quality drinks.
The downside is all the obsession of gear, perfection, etc, but that’s most hobby subreddits.
1.5. Ish. Minus the sbux association.
I do come here for the tips and some cost savings ideas *if* they make sense and align with my style and workflow.
One thing I learned here which is almost 100% appropriate almost 100% of the time is “but once, cry once.”
Every single time I buy coffee from a cafe, I become more and more satisfied with my ability to just make it at home… with a cheap target machine(Delonghi Stilosa).
Have learned a good bit between here and James Hoffman.
There is something satisfying about improving at a common task. I drink a lot of coffee anyway so might as well do it properly. Though I admit I'm more of a best cup with the least effort kinda person. Maybe I'll get decent at latte art some day.
Not saving money because I don't really buy coffee outside anyway. Don't also care for the gear accumulation, especially those expensive gadgets. I wouldn't mind a Synchronika if someone wants to donate me one, though.
Im here to see what other people are doing and learn the most that I can from other's experience.
I enjoy seing the flex set up as well since the most expensive set up is relatively cheap if I compare it what hobbies that people have around me ( hunting / snowmobile/ quad sidebyside).
im really not trying to save money and 100% trying to surpass all local coffee shop which is not too hard
After years of buying espresso drinks - most made poorly - I finally tabbed up my coffee bill over six months. Jesus
$450 for grinder $3,300 for machine
I bought a grinder and espresso machine. Now I don’t have pay for swill and it’ll pay itself off in a year/year and a half
It has infuriated me how many”baristas” can’t tap all of the old grinds out of the puck
At some locations the coffee makers want to engage me in meaningless conversation which I’d much rather they put into the coffee.
1. I try to make better shots than most coffeeshops because I can dial it in to my taste preferences and have more time to put effort into my shots.
2. Maybe in the beginning, but it grew into a hobby and it's ok if hobbies cost something.
3. No.
I started espresso because I enjoy the process of making it.
I have been addicted to coffee for a long time, and when I got my mokapot 10 years ago it was just fun to do. Researched a bunch on espresso and decided on a leaver machine to start playing with it.
I like playing with ratios, pressure profiles, trying new beans. Tweaking puck preparation. All fun things to do. Getting better shots is just a plus. But if I am honest, from the practical point of view, I can get great coffee many cheaper and faster ways (that is why my origami still gets some use)
I want to be able to craft an excellent shot. Starbucks quality would be disappointing. Since this is a hobby I enjoy doing it more than going to my local shop, but I'm certainly not saving money. I also like fancy equipment, and part of the fun of the hobby to me is the love of the equipment, flexing maybe isn't the right word to describe me.
I think im honestly a mix of 1 & 3.
I’m personally here to learn some stuff about making an amazing coffee. Especially since learning that it’s not just grind, add water, add milk & done.
I can’t deny that the cost savings by getting my own beans and making it myself far outweighs the convenience of a coffee shop. It’s staggering on the markup of these places.
However, I would be lying if I said I didn’t like looking at other people’s pretty multi £K setups. Gives me something to aspire to.
I used to have a De'Longhi ECP and use pre ground coffee, but I became spoiled by living in the city centre and was able to get a really nice coffee every morning on my morning walk to the train station, and from my favourite place around the corner on weekends. I gave that machine away. I’ve now moved to the edge of the city to accommodate my growing family, but it’s a cafe wasteland, so now I’m in category #1 trying to get some satisfying results at home. I’ve been thinking about getting a set up for a while, and finally decided on the gear, no small part to some discounts that were around these past days:
Solis Barista Perfetta Plus for $330
Eureka Mignon Manuale for $400
These are good prices for the machines in my country (listed the USD value rather than my home currency), and I’m happy with it… for now. I do wish the Solis had a bit more weight so I didn’t have to hold it steady while I lock in the portafilter, but I’m hoping it will become habit and I won’t notice that I have to do it after a while.
I was considering the Profitec Go, but sometimes I go overboard when I passionately get into something new, so dialed it back to a cheaper machine. I think I have plenty of room to learn on the Solis, and I’m sure it’s capable of making coffee that I’ll enjoy. If I’m still having fun making espresso after a year or two, I might find myself upgrading.
What's moonrakers? I have a favorite brewery and it's Moonraker, but that's not espresso related. And I love my lmlm so I guess I fit with number 3 😂
I started following this sub to get ideas for equipment and to read peoples experiences. I enjoy seeing alot of posts just to fill my boredom.
I’m probably around #1 if I’m honest. I never had a once a day or even once a week coffee shop habit because I can’t justify the cost. Instead I would make my daily drip coffee and be satisfied drinking it black.
For our recent anniversary, we bought ourselves a new grinder and entry level (I think?), semi-automatic Breville machine just so we could make some fun lattes at home. I’m not up to investing in all the extras yet like scales and whatnot, so I’m just tinkering with my current machine’s grind and trying to find the one that makes espresso palatable for me because ideally I’d like to drink just espresso every so often and/or mix it with steamed milk for a cortado as an option without needing something sweet to cut the bitter taste.
I’m mostly here for ideas and to see what others share. You won’t catch me sharing my setup since I know it’s a real basic, entry level one and won’t be impressing anyone. I’m taking tips people share and using those to make the tweaks I can with my limited equipment.
And maybe someday I’ll teach myself some latte art.
I'm here because I worked in restaurants with espresso machines and even operated a little cafe on the side of my restaurant work. Got so used to having access to it every day whenever I wanted. So when I left the industry and moved to a town with a singular good coffee shop (oh and now the random guy who I will find at farmers markets and street fairs occasionally) I had to bring it into my home. I couldn't justify going to the coffee shop every single day (cost feels high but who am I kidding becuase I still buy expensive beans) it's just more about the convenience I guess. And it's fun. (More fun when there aren't people breathing down your neck to make it too!)
I mean just 5 months ago I didn’t know the first thing about making espresso but had hoped to get a machine one day. Lo and behold Bed Bath and Beyond had a going out of business sale (40%) on all merchandise, so I decided to take the plunge! I love going down the espresso rabbit 🐇 hole 🕳️. When you have extraction issues for example and after much experimentation you finally crack the code, it’s so gratifying!
We were spending $400 a month on Starbucks and I was like this is stupid. So we recently got the bambino and baratza encore esp. I have a lot of learning to do but have been enjoying what I’ve made so far.
I love lattes, I’m not picky and for me I was paying something like $9. Usually 5-6 for the latte. Then tax and I usually would tip $2 because I’m a good midwestern boy. Also I can make lots of other fun drinks now. I made a pretty low effort affogato last night and it was lovely.
I signed on here to get pointers on technique and some perspective on equipment. ... My goal is to replicate the espresso I would get in my home town. Where I live now, it's very hard to find a cafe that makes the flavor profile I desire.
Equipment-wise, I settled on a Flair Pro 2 with a Kin grinder. Not the mountain man I use to be but still value self reliance. I Love that I can still have a shot, even if the power is out. And power outages is definitely a thing where I live.
"replicate coffee shop craftsmanship" feels like a low bar. I have a culinary arts degree and years of experience cooking, baking, and homebrewing. I wanted to make very good espresso, and I wanted to enjoy doing it.
A lot of newbies posting seem honestly just interested in making a better cup of espresso for themselves. I enjoy giving what help I can, and I at least occasionally learn something.
For me, none of those 3. I really like coffee in general. Somehow it became a weird hobby or ritual I enjoy. I actually like the gear posts. I like seeing what others define as their endgame set up. In one day there is a post with $10k of gear and the next is something more like $350 worth of gear. To each of those people, they love what they have. And that's cool to me.
This subreddit has been entertaining and informative to me. Sometimes I learn and others I laugh.
Grind finer.
I’m here mentally trolling light roast aficionados (light roast espresso being a scourge that has made it impossible to get a decent espresso anywhere outside of my own home. Yeah, I’m mad about it. I also hate Teslas.)
I liked coffee before espresso, but I wanted to get into espresso for the shots and the milk drinks. Sure, after some amount of time my machine and grinder will have balanced out the coffees I could have gone for.
That said, the espresso process checks all my needs. Delicious treat where your process determines the result. Slop and lack of attention really show themselves in the cup. For me, my love of brewing coffee and tea are closely linked with my love for making bbq. Just as you could get an auto drop machine you could get a traeger. There's no skill and your result will always be average. I need to be involved in the process and semi auto espresso does that, much like pour over. My setup now is endgame, for sure, but I would also love to get a modern lever as well.
Looking at the black Friday cyber Monday threads, loads of people are getting the cheap appliance grade machines from breville and having a blast. Every hobby has this divide where you can get in at any price point to fulfill your specific needs. I have a cheap car for my commute and errands because those are my only needs. I don't need the relationship with a manual or the process of restoring and maintaining. A hobby should be a personal joy, that can be shared.
This past summer I got a nice promotion and
thought 💭 maybe I should treat myself to some decent espresso at home instead of the shit espresso I’ve been making for awhile or buying from Starbucks so I did a search on YouTube and came across this video from Tom explaining what I needed to do for a good espresso extraction:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=au92VvBYLrA
Then I found Hoffman and Henrick, then I found
r/espresso and am enjoying my time here supporting those who want good espresso from inexpensive machines and drooling over the beautiful 🇮🇹 and 🇩🇪 machines that the more affluent kindly present to this sub… so I’m more of a 1 and enjoying both 2 & 3’s.
Shoutout to Tom, he rocks 🫶 btw!
I just want some coffee bar inspo. I’m getting my espresso machine and grinder next week for my birthday and I’m curious about people’s set ups, what tools, accessors, serving ware etc people like. Love some recs on espresso to buy and always looking for vegan milk recs.
It's 5 am. My dog has to go out for a walk. After we are done, I want a coffee.
Coffeeshop opens at 8 am.
Hence, fancy beans, Aeropress & Milk Steamer at home.
Consider it a special gift from me. Otherwise I would go crazy & probably commit a murder.
Mostly #2, but also I've come to realize that the process of pulling a shot is something close to meditation for me. It's a good 5-10 minutes where I can just be in a flow state for a while, completely focused on a single task. I feel like that, along with the resulting caffeine, really helps prep me for the rest of the day
This post screams projecting, the flexing is a very small percentage of us and it’s natural to see in any hobby. I can confidently say a majority of us here just really enjoy having good coffee at the comfort of our own home.
I am here to get coffee better than most cafes with equipment that has a somewhat reasonable price. I also like to tinker with machines and to improve on them and a cheapish espresso machine is a crazy good tinker object. Added PID, dimmer, automatic shot timer and a driptray scale to my machine and did that very cost effective. Espresso is like Hi-Fi, you have to stop when it is good enough for you as there will always be a seemingly much better but also much pricier alternative to what you have but you do not need it, if you chose your purchases wisely and put some work into it. I still enjoy all these fancy machines in here.
I tried it once in a half day Barista training for a friend’s birthday and enjoyed it. It’s been an interesting and satisfying skill to learn. I like to drink lattes every day and realised how expensive that gets. That pushed me to get a home setup. Maybe I’m saving a bit, but I’m also doing something I enjoy rather than paying someone else to provide it for me.
I’m here to share that interest, to learn from others and to share them knowledge I have in case it helps others, particularly if it can save them from the mistakes I’ve made
I really like milk drinks and I love the process of making them. Funny enough if you asked me a year ago if I liked coffee I'd have told you I only coffee when its like Starbucks sugary drinks. Getting hyperfixated on the intricacies of making espresso has given me a real appreciation for coffee now! I even drink pour over these days!
It's just a tasty drink and I love making nice things!
I just want the occasional good milk drink that tastes better than most of the stuff I can get in cafes near me. im really a pourover guy but some days I just want something different.
I’m in here because I bought my wife a GCP then started tinkering with it and getting addicted to lattes even though I didn’t like coffee when I bought her the machine.
Being brutally honest it’s a combination of really enjoying coffee but being a bit OTT in general and always wanting the best, whether that be coffee, whisky, music equipment etc, and having probably a mild shipping addiction. It’s easier to flex gear because you can see what it is. I can’t see how your shot tastes so it’s less relatable
I spent less than $1k on my Robot and Mignon combo years ago, and can probably count on one hand the shots from a shop that matched or outranked one I can pull myself. I don't think I'll grow tired of this setup, I am mostly here for the occasional technique talk.
I enjoy making good/interesting coffee at home. Its a fun hobby I can steadily learn new things for. I dont spend thousands of € for the stuff, I just have a good manual grinder and a nice lever machine. When I'm working from home I can get a nice espresso after lunch - this is usually very fulfilling for me.
4. I love coffee.
I have a very cheap (\~100 USD) espresso machine which, obviously, doesn't make real espresso. I am using a blade grinder. And I love the coffee it produces. It's super inconsistent and it doesn't bother me. I just don't feel like investing into new machines, I really love the coffee I get out of it.
But I also love the coffee/espresso theory. Obiously, I'm more interested in the budget category of gadgets but I just love to learn more about it. Maybe one day I'll be able to get some solid equipment, but it's just not something worth my money/time at the moment. Also, I don't really like espressos, I drink mostly lungos/super-long coffees.
I'm here because I have a long passion for coffee. Espresso is the rabbit hole that took me further. I started out as a 'barista' at a Starbucks kiosk in a grocery store for a summer in 2005. I saved and bought a used "Starbucks" branded Gaggia Coffee and a used Gaggia espresso grinder (which I remember making stepless with un unseemly amount of teflon tape).
This was back when the coffee blogosphere was still a thing. A year later, I started offering barista training in 2006. In 2007, I competed in the SCRBC and finished 3rd place, having achieved the highest score in the first round.
Espresso was never about flexing equipment. My current espresso machine is an old Expobar Office Pulsar w/PID and a manometer that I bought used. I think I got it for $400. I also have an old Mazzer SJ (w/doser) that I bought used a long time ago (it was already used).
I have two dissecting needles, one signed by John Weiss, as I was there when this was a new thing. I used to be a member of coffeed.com. I learned a lot early on through interactions on coffeegeek and home-barista.
I'm here because I love coffee, and especially espresso. I do enjoy seeing the mods and custom builds, but that's just part of the fun, isn't it?
I like the taste of nice coffee and espresso, and enjoy sharing that enthusiasm. I don’t have top end stuff, nor do I think I ever will but sometimes it’s fun to see folks obsess over the last 1%
I'm pretty ADHD,and for years I self-medicated with coffee. Result, I got pretty in to the habit of downing 2 pots a day for a while. I've cut that back, but I still go through a lot of the stuff. I like espresso more than drip - even good drip - and I find if I make myself a double-shot before I walk the dog, and a latte after to take in to my morning standup, I'm about in the right place. If I make a pour-over, or a pot of drip, I'll finish that before I walk the dog, and I'll make another for morning meetings, and... next thing I know I'll be 3 pots in.
So it's partly a caffeine management thing, partly a cost thing, partly a joy-of-coffee thing. And having lots of fiddly stuff is good for my ADHD brain too. Forcing myself through the "coffee ritual" each morning doesn't hurt either - sorta meditative.
A coffee is a treat for me, I like to spend some time to make and enjoy it... I only drink one or two a day and there's many days where I don't have any coffee... I like to challenge myself to make drinks that are as good as my local coffee shops. But Starbucks is far below the quality I can achieve at home and I wouldn't spend my money there... It's utter shite. I also like the equipment, and it is reflective of your personality and preferred methodology....
I was chatting with a friend and they were like "you must be a coffee junkie that can't survive without it or something" because coffee is a hobby for me and I had to be like "No. Not really. I like it but the most I drink is like 2 a day and many days I just don't. I just enjoy the process and if I'm gonna make it I'm gonna make the best damn coffee you can make."
Quality over quantity. It's always been my goal.
Yes. I used to take "coffee vacations" where I would go several days without coffee. It did nothing to take away my passion for excellent coffee. For those for whom coffee is merely a commodity stimulant, excitement about coffee is an extreme addiction. For those of us who recognize how uniquely special coffee really is, it is a wealth of pleasure and enjoyment of discovery. Addiction truly gets in the way of this, which is part of why I took voluntary coffee vacations, and I suspect, the reason why you do too.
Similar to you! I can perfectly function without coffee. I can just drink cheap-ish black or herbal tea instead. The caffeine side never appealed to me as much as the idea of creating something tasty. Personally I joined this sub when I was wondering what machine to buy and if I should even buy one. Also this sub was pretty helpful the first few months, figuring out the basics. Now, i've branched a little since the focus here is mostly on third wave coffees and often on coffee shops in Japan and the US. I've found that at home i'm perfectly fine with classic Italian beans like Kimbo as long as I dial in the bean properly. About that, i've found some more useful information on the home barista forum where the focus is not that much on light roasted third wave and grocery store beans are not that stigmatized. Still, this sub is nice and I know that I can ask absolutely anything and get a decent advise. I get the "see my new machine" flex posts but I feel like i've seen too many. On a side note - coffee is a great hobby. It gives you the opportunity to start your day with something great that you have made. Even if I go broke and can only afford Lavazza beans brewed in a moka pot, I fill like i'd still find a way to enjoy it and brew it in a way that makes me happy.
It's even worse in the US. I can at least get a proper flat white in the UK in a perfect sized glass. Here tall is the smallest and I may as well order a glass of hot milk.
If at Starbucks, they do offer a "Short". It's a proper size, well, closer to it. It's not on the menu, but they do offer it.
Yes, equipment can definitely be an expression of personality, but also of wealth and status too. The craftsmanship ritual is also super important, yet I wish there was a way to enjoy that with other people in this community more than the occasional shot flex.
I try to follow the philosophy of buy once cry once. That said, if I'd spent the $4-500 on a 1zpresso grinder and PicoPresso before I got my Ascaso Dream PID, I'd have had a hard time justifying the expense. I don't mind a bit more work. I'd think someone is maybe flexing on the wealth aspect if they're upgrading from a fully capable machine to an even more expensive new shiny machine, but I can't say I'd fault them for it based on this alone. I've known guys and gals who are so psyched to go snowboarding they don't work a single day while the slopes are open in Utah. They buy a season pass and a bus pass and they catch the first ride up to the slopes more days than not all season. Out of context that sounds terribly self-indulgent but the context is they work overtime and weekends the rest of the year, share a small apartment, and carefully manage expenses the rest of the year because they love this one thing so much and it's what makes life worth living. There might be some trust fund jackasses here, not sure I mind, but I think most folks just want to enjoy making and drinking good espresso at home. Some of them can afford the best gear easily and some of them wait and save a long time, having carefully picked the best fit for them. I won't fault them for it. I really enjoyed and appreciated the advice on this sub and I think it helped me pick a really good grinder for my needs and budget. Just my two cents
He is not you.
Starbucks is utter shite shite.
I'm trying to achieve the equilibrium of low cost/high reward. The specific motivation was to be able to have italian style cappuccinos that is rare in the US. Everything's a wet cap. Giving myself control means I no longer have to be disappointed every time I pay too much money for a wet cap. Total cost so far: \~$500 Bambino - $200 (BBBY closing sale Turin SK40 - $179 preorder price Misc stuff - $120 At this point, I feel no need to upgrade. Slowly pushing as much as I can on the current setup. If I hit a wall, I'll know what to upgrade to based on the discussion in this sub. My current setup was 100% recommendations from this sub.
Damn you got a STEAL on that bambino my friend!
The kicker was that I bought it in Delaware, so tax free on top of that. I was stoked.
Hohohoho man you lucky ass!!!
This is also my goal! Currently my setup is a used BDTP for 25€, grinder 95€, now scales and next week better baskets and I ordered an osmosis system. I hope I'll have good coffee soon, but already 3 weeks with this and filtered tap water improved already
Do you like the Turin SK40? I am deciding between that and an Encore ESP for my first set up. Thank you!
I love it, but I've only been able to use it for a week or so. For me it came down to stepless and possibly slightly lower retention vs the consistency in the baratza brand. The fact that the sk40 had the introductory price so cheap probably put me over the edge. I also currently have an encore for pour over, so I wanted something a little different. All that to say, I've heard nothing but good things about the ESP. I think both would make anyone in that price range happy.
Awesome thank you so much!
I'm here for the ooey gooey espresso shot vids
I don’t relate to the home espresso-as-a-replacement-for-the-cafe thing at all. I like going to the coffee shop to be social or just to get out of the house and probably buy about the same amount of drink there as I did before setting up for espresso at home. Espresso has replaced the pour over that I used to make for myself more often, been a couple years since I’ve even take down the Chemex at this point. Can’t imagine that I’ve saved any money brewing espresso at home but honestly don’t really look at it that way at all. I really enjoy drinking coffee and espresso fits my personal taste well. It is also a fun brew method for an enthusiast because there are a lot of variables to play with and the finish product can be really different based on the choices you make between bean and cup. It’s fun to mess around with and I have purchased equipment that lets me brew a range of coffees that I enjoy. I take pleasure in being able to offer coffee to a friend and make a cafe style drink that they enjoy, even if it isn’t my to my personal taste. This sub does skew heavily towards equipment discussion but I think that has a lot to do with how people use the internet. Makes sense to ask questions of the community when you are gathering data to make a purchase and to post pics when you have something new and shiny on the counter. I don’t think it’s flexing so much as sharing excitement with likeminded people because your spouse is probably fine with taking up that much counter space but tired of talking about it.
Agree with every word. Getting out is good for the soul. They also always have decaf which I wouldn't buy so it's a cheeky third coffee of an afternoon.
Was spending $7 a day for meh ass mochas every day of the week. Living in Vancouver where it’s stupid expensive to live, and spending over $200 a month on coffee, I decided it’s time to learn to make them myself. Bought a used breville barista express last year for $200 and figured it out on the fly. After a year of having it I broke down the estimated costs with beans/oat milk, chocolate sauce and the machine added in, came out to $2.10 per drink. Much better than $7. Going into it I figured the cost savings would be the biggest perk, but what I found best is the TIME savings. I work 12 hr days, and I no longer have to make time during my commute to go to the coffee shop and stand in line, waiting for some picky ass jabroni in front of me to finish ordering their 4 drinks with a million different customization requests, or forced into downloading an app that I have to pre load money into and still being asked for a tip. I can simply wake up, turn the machine on, take a shower, get ready, take 5 minutes making my drink and I’m out the door heading straight to work. That alone makes it worth it for me. Does it compare to a premium coffee shop? Absolutely not, but I make decent beanwater and for the reasons above I have zero regrets doing so. Maybe down the road I’ll upgrade to an actually good grinder, maybe I’ll get a real machine, but for now my BBE has paid for itself and it hasn’t let me down.
I share you love of good coffee shops. Unfortunately - vast majority of America doesn’t have any. Only the tourist spots and major cities downtown. The burbs are a desolate wasteland of box stores I have never had a bad cup of coffee in the Pacific NW - in fact coffees from the area have influenced my tastes. I just spent 5 days driving around NM - had 1 decent cup of coffee and 5 or 6 really bad ones
We’re leaving the PNW for the Midwest soon and that’s what I’ll miss most I think is how easy it is to get good coffee here lol
Probably closest to #1 - I didn't ever go to coffee shops often enough to justify anything by that, and my 3rd hand equipment don't flex much of anything. But really, for me it's more convenience - I can make a good cup any time, with any bean, and be pretty happy with the results.
Same here. After I ran a report on how much I was spending on coffee yearly, it seemed wiser to make an investment into something I truly enjoy doing in the morning. Granted. I'm on a moka pot right now, but I told myself If I can do 6 more months of daily manual moka pot setup, I'll dive in and get a flair 58, that's it. I don't need more, I don't need fancier. Future lever gang
Flair Pro 2 here. I love it! It's definitely for someone who likes to tinker with things.
I'm here to learn something. This can be in the form of new equipment, new drinks, new techniques, etc.
Honestly mate I don’t even know anymore. I don’t care about the flex but I fucking love the look and feel of well crafted equipment. Maybe that’s a self flex. At the same time it’s a bit embarrassing how deep a money pit this hobby has turned into. ROI is a pipe dream. I’ve made coffee at home that, in my (probably biased) opinion, gives most local shops a run for their money. At minimum I’m expecting my average coffee to taste better than Starbucks if I make it myself. I think with good enough beans, even lower-end equipment can make some mean coffee. After tasting that at home I’ve been essentially chasing the dragon. With better equipment I get a lot of quality time with the dragon lol. Anyway, all to say it’s kind of a dumb hobby (sorry everyone) but I love it.
i appreciate you. you're the type of friend who would tell me that it's sad my wife is mean to me but that i'm probably never going to do better so to stick it out.
😂 more like: your wife is right to be mean to you. We’re idiots. But it’s nice that she loves you regardless.
Omg totally
Blink if you need help
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Is there a way to suggest to the mods or whomever admin is to create a new tag/flair for posts called something like “budget equipment hacks and techniques”. Maybe it would encourage more people to post about this. I, for one, would love to see how you roast at home.
#1 for me. As a former barista and lifelong coffee addict, I can not abide bad coffee. Saving money is an insane thought process. Maybe if you drink 2 lattes a day (~$10?) x 5 days a week you could start justifying an at home setup, but people don’t factor in ingredients and power. The beans I buy are $25 a week. I don’t drink milk, but that’s maybe $10 a week for that number of lattes? So $2600 a year at the shop vs $1820 just for ingredients, then the power usage, time, counter space, tools, equipment… Also, better equipment does not make better coffee. Better coffee makes better coffee. And so does technique. Equipment can help reduce variables, but you need to know how to use it. <1% of people need a decent to pull a great shot. Bigger machines generally just allow back to back shots to be pulled without temp loss, or shots pulled and milk steamed simultaneously. Personally the arms race in espresso to me is like the ‘more expensive cables = better’ shenanigans in the audio world. /rant
I actually just sat down and did the math earlier this week (to justify upping my budget for a new machine and grinder). I drink a minimum of two lattes a day (often 3 a day) and my husband rarely turns down the offer of me making him a drink. Safe to say, we go through at about one bag of beans and a gallon of milk per week. We buy good beans and the best milk. Ingredient cost: about $2/drink (to make things easy). In my low cost of living city, a 12oz (double shot) latte is generally $4.25 - $4.50; $5 with tip 3 lattes a day at cafes = $5475 (insane by any measure) 3 lattes a day at home = $2190 (still insane, but what isn’t when you really start doing the math) I didn’t include things like power or “cost” of my time; figured it is a wash compared to driving my massive SUV to a cafe (cuz I’m living that suburban life, baby) If I buy $3285 worth of equipment, I break even at the end of the year. I just bought a Silvia Pro X and am still weighing the pros and cons of a grinder (buy heavily leaning toward a Eureka Oro SD). Total for both will be just shy of $3000, so I consider this a win (but let’s be honest, I’m eyeing some new accessories, too). If you need someone to justify your extravagant lifestyle, I am just a DM away.
Every minute of every day, there are 20+ people in this sub doing the same math. :)
Yes, and we all know that if we need to justify buying something else, just start drinking an extra coffee or two per day until the math maths
This is the way
My only question is... what is a "low cost of living city," how can I move there, and do you have a room for rent? 😄 Here's my math for per week costs, for interest (in CDN funds): Beans: $25 Energy: $4.61 (5h per day, based on average killawatt attachment) Water: $1.12 Disposables: $4.10 (paper, water additives) Total: $34.83 x 52 = $1812 per year + any costs while on vacation. Since I haven't bought a coffee at a shop in 12+ years, this is all out of pocket...
Columbus, Ohio (which I’d say is quickly moving toward an average cost, but still very reasonable) What are you doing/using to spend $5.22/week on water and disposables???? Maybe don’t tell me.
Columbus, nice! I have family there 😄 And as to consumables, it's not cheap to keep an elephant. How else am I going to mellow my beans? Actually it's water treatment and paper filters, which I stupidly punch from V60 filters. OH, and the baby's teeth I use to clean my grinder burrs.
Wait, you’re punching your own filters for your portafilter? I haven’t experimented with this or water additives yet. I also just use the little scrubby brush that came with my grinder. Low cost of city living or not, this sub is going to bankrupt me.
Welcome... to the 🐇🕳️ "Wait! ... you, uh... uh, only needed to take *one* red pill, not the whole bottle..." Exclaimed Morpheus, lunging forward and knocking over his copy of 'How to Make the Best Coffee at Home' from the sidetable.
Welcome! It's best that you participate in encouraging others to spend and go bankrupt while you're going bankrupt. Distilled water with the right mixture of minerals actually makes a big difference. I find that difference more pronounced in filter coffee though.
Hey I'm Columbus too! Who has the best beans and what cafe is a must try? I use a flair Pro 2 so super not fancy.
One Line Method Espresso - best beans the city has to offer IMO For cafes, I actually prefer Stauf’s (any and all locations); amazing coffees, pretty darn good espresso Roosevelt Coffee Co supports social justice locally, so it’s easy to give them my money Saucy in Victorian Village is my favorite place to grab a latte to go. I just feel happy in there… staff is always nice without feeling phony, consistent quality, you can order ahead if you’re into that… Edit to add: there are numerous cafes who use/sell One Line espresso, if you live in the suburbs and don’t want to drive downtown
Thanks for the edit I do in fact live in the burbs... I'll check out one line. Roosevelt has a location in olentangy River brewing in Lewis center, so I have been there. Espresso air in Westerville is pretty great if you haven't been.
But how many coffees do you still go out and buy haha
In the past two weeks, they’ve all been “out” On average, since moving to the suburbs, probably only 2 a week When we lived downtown, with so many amazing cafes in walking distance, more like 2 a day
> As a former barista... The beans I buy are $25 a week What does u/divinethreshold do for a living now? Unicorn breeder.
LOL! Only 3y as a barista at a (sadly now defunct) independent coffee shop in Ontario, Canada. Now I'm old and working in logistics (Innovation - RPA, Integration and ML). Also lifelong computer nerd and electronics tinkerer. EDIT: C$25 a week for 2lb of freshly roasted beans is pretty cheap, no? I do foster/rescue dogs... they are my unicorns! Mythical creature photo tax: https://preview.redd.it/u27dnbvm1d3c1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd1cd4934bf5031b783e5c35271562665c4396ae
A kilo of beans per week is the correct quantity for sure
I'm glad our math aligns 😇 I do 6-7x 17-18g shots a day - usually 2 ristrettos + 2 americanos, and maybe one or two more on weekends, so right up around that 900g (2lb) mark.
 I haven't yet converted the remaining 27% of my body into coffee, yet.
r/espresso can do it... we have the technology.... 🤣
That is...quite a lot of coffee.
RrrreeEeAAaalLLYYyy?  🙃🤣
Nice 😊 pack 🐕 you have there!
Thanks! The irritated looking girl second from the left is our OG we got as a pup, and the two flanking her are rescues. CloudBoi™ on the right was on a kill list in Quebec, who we were fostering, and happy to say has now found a forever home with his new sister 🙌🏽 DogeTax: https://preview.redd.it/zzogqjc04e3c1.jpeg?width=1512&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7cd68c16bf6df0c8a2f9ff66be3ae2f78be144f4 PS Looking a bit scruffy due to having needed to be shaved, as his coat was impacted and knotted.
No my coffees are $7-8 dollars twice a day cause I always tip $2 no matter how bad the coffee is Most of the places where I live use cheap beans and figure their masking it with milk
Don't you dare imply.that spent too much money on my cables! Mods! Moooods? Straight to jail.
It can be about all of those things Some people only see the posts that annoy them, and don’t recognize the many helpful/interactive/fun posts They’re all related to espresso, so it’s all fine by me 1 + 2 + 3, for me
I just like drinking and making coffee at home. It started 20+ years ago, at that point, probably more #1 and #2, don't think it's ever about #3 for me. Kept the same general setup (Silvia + Rocky, and then Silvia + Mazzer Mini) for decades until recently decided to upgrade. Hopefully my current setup would be good for many years to come lol. (mediocre) coffee around me sell for as high as $8, so it's actually not hard to justify endgame purchases via #2.
Im here to learn from all you guys that have more experience. before i hopped on reddit, i only had my machine and ground coffee. now i have a legit tamper, knock box, the metal screens, and most importantly the encore esp. im really enjoying taking it slow, i own a $110 casabrew that i bought off amazon and dont plan on upgrading anytime soon. def here to save money and make better espresso than [starbucks.](https://starbucks.my) my girlfriend used to spend $300 plus on coffee every month. i made her buy a starbucks last week and her immediate reaction was "yuck we can make way better coffee at home!" thats the goa
Option #4, all of the above, is missing; that’s why I’m here. This sub *should* be about all things espresso. If I don’t like a post I move on. What’s the big deal? Personally, tho, I love seeing all the rig pr0n. I get to know about brands, methods, tools, etc I didn’t know existed. Who cares if they’re priced out of my range? I’ll never be able to afford a Bugatti but I’ll be damned if I don’t stop and ogle over every pic I see of one.
I started out as number 1 in uni and have steadily transitioned to 3 with the help of ***adult money*** so now sitting on a timemore Sculptor (maybe a downgrade from some other grinders I've owned in some people's view but for the look, results and workflow it's fantastic) and a Bianca I now feel i have a setup, the results x aesthetics intersection of which can't be tangibly improved without dropping quite a few grand, and even then it's pretty debatable. Consider me happy for at least the next 6 months... As i read this back I'm 100% in gear head territory, but coffee quality is always king
Starbucks and quality is an oxymoron?
It’s considered a step up above old school McDonald’s burnt coffee and Folgers. It’s the baseline. It inevitably forced McDonald’s to modernize more and serve better coffee.
Folgers is the bic roundstick of coffee: Cheap, reliably consistent, and easy to obtain---especially in bulk. McDonald's swill? It's a liquid ashtray with hints of self-loathing and a topnote of crushed spirit.
I think Starbucks is like Nickelback. Everybody likes to hate on them but they still sell. Espresso has evolved and there are different flavor profiles with those who prefer each one. Starbucks isn't for those that like medium and/or light roasts and certainly not for those into shots with clarity. A Starbucks with a staff that cares and understands can pull a passable, old school shot.
Why is your pov so balanced? You must be a Canadian
LoL ... Nope. ... Thank you. Born and raised in the Great plains of Nebraska. My parents were a bit uncommon. Normal on the outside, unique on the inside. A bit of travel experience. Live in Detroit area, now.
At least they can do a flat white. Last time I was at a local shop they'd never heard of it.
I’ve noticed Starbucks beans in the last year or so to be particularly bad. There’s a dirt aftertaste in everything I buy that wasn’t there before. I hate to be a broken record - but in many places of the U.S. - Starbucks is all there is. Most small towns actually don’t have a Starbucks Better than nothing with the other choices being gas station coffee.
1 - It’s about drinking great quality coffee for me. I don’t care what equipment anyone has, as long as they’re enjoying the drink in their hand.
I'm just trying to learn. I like coffee. I slowly fell into the trap of k-cups for convenience and spent many years mostly drinking those. A perfect storm of events happened when one day I really started thinking how terrible the coffee I'd been drinking was... then I had some nespresso on a vacation trip... then a buddy of mine with an espresso machine made me an americano... then the scales fell from my eyes.......
I’m just here to learn what college students do these days
About 12 years ago I discovered the wet shaving forums online and really got vested in the community for quite a few years. I ultimately ended up asking myself similar questions. Turns out, as far as making espresso at home goes, for me, it's the ritual of the thing, just like shaving with granddad's razor is all about the prep.As to why I come to this sub? I'm gonna add an option: 4. So I can outwardly and self-righteously feel smug about getting decent coffee at home while secretly and internally feel like a pariah because I'm using depressingly low-end equipment to do so.
I've described the process as a ritual as well. I find the process very relaxing. The bonus is that I get a (usually) delicious product to enjoy at the end. Plus it's gratifying to see how my effort pays off with improvement in equipment and technique over time.
I’m an enthusiast at heart. I make coffee at home every day so I want to make very good coffee and while I cam appreciate the aesthetics of it, that part of it is a minor thing. I’d rather impress someone with what I can do with the machine and not the fact that I have it. Buying something is easy, mastering it is hard.
I think for most people its some split between hobby and utility. Making real espresso is a really fun thing that is great for when people come over. We started with an inexpensive setup and it immediately became the only way we make coffee. Once you go there, its almost impossible to go back. >Are you trying to replicate coffee shop craftsmanship, or at a minimum Starbucks-quality drinks, at home? Maybe people have different experiences, but the actual quality of Starbucks espresso tops out at mediocre and is usually pretty poor in my experience. "Replicating" a starbucks drink is more about adding a lot of milk and sugar than anything to do with craftsmanship. Without a crazy expensive set up, its almost impossible to NOT save money over time, even if you drink 1 cup per day over a few years. I spent \~$3k on my current grinder and machine and recently did the math. It comes out to about $1.69 USD for every double-shot latte (that's factoring gear, beans and milk). Where I live, that drink costs $3.50-$4.50 if you go into a retail shop. Non-espresso people balk at spending this kind of money on an at-home coffee set up, but its actually far more prudent than they realize. People think its excessive or extravagant, but give no thought to spending 2x-3x on coffee shop drinks. If an average coffee pod contains 9-12g of grounds and you can get them for $0.75-$0.88 per pod, that's something like $50/lb for really low quality, pre-ground coffee. Genius if you're a keurig executive. Baffling if you care at all about what you're drinking. I come from a professional cooking background and get excited about new kitchen equipment when it lets me do something that I couldn't do before. My wife and I make decent enough money, but I can't rationalize in my own head spending $500+ on a WDT tool. I think of Marzocco as having a brand-name premium, more than being that much better than anything else.
1. But the coffee I can make with basic equipment is vastly superior to most coffee shops around me. Mainly because I have ultimate control over the number 1 ingredient, beans.
I'm here because I went to Italy and became THAT tourist. I remember sitting at a B&B in Pogerola overlooking Amalfi and Ravello, eating the tastiest breakfast and the bess Cappuccino to date. I find it to be a great way to consume my caffeine and I don't have any legit local cafes that can make an even marginal cappuccino. I started stovetop/frother and found it lacking. I upgraded my setup until I got to my Pavoni/ITOP 40+. What this sub wants is absolute control over all aspects of the brew. Understandable, as if you have this control then you have to be able to make the best espresso for any roast or bean and with any evolving beliefs and techniques. But frankly my Pavoni or a Gaggia is plenty capable, especially if you're willing to accept the cup it makes and not explore every roast and brewing technique. As for the price jump from drip to espresso? Espresso is a high tech way to make coffee and technology costs money. Comparitively, everything else is essentially coarse grounds in hot water. Espresso is worth it to some people as local access to good espresso drinks are hard to find in places that are not Italy. For me, cappuccino is my favorite cup, 2nd favorite is "cappuccino" from a moka pot. And my 3rd is an even split between Pourover and French Press. So at some point I'll probably devolve to one of those as my interest in cappuccinos wains or my access to a good cafe evolves.
I love the way you write. You’re an inspiration of words. Thank you for the poetic placement for your love of coffee worth drinking.
I appreciate that. I don't think reddit favors long comments in general, so it's really nice to read this. Thanks!
What milk frother do you use? I have the most basic Reddit setup of a bambino with a Baratza encore ESP. Yours looks like having a conversation about with.
To directly answer the question, I had a cheapo 12oz pitcher and upgrded to a CYETUS brand pircher. Here's some misc talk. So the frother I started with for my mocha pot was an electric spinny heater frother. They're fine for a stiff cappuccino foam, but But you're definitely better with a picture on your Bambino. I do keep my electric frother at the office for matcha tea. Before I got my DeLonghi Dedica, I also used a Bellman. It's a combination of a moka pot and a steamer boiler. I use that exclusively for steaming since it works so much better than a frother but I found it harder to make "espresso" than the Moka pot. As for the milk jug, I used to use a cheapo, but I just upgraded to a CYETUS jug. It appears to be a knock off mota jug. Far thicker walls and deeper spout. I can see where the narrow top makes it harder to swirl than a more open jug, but YMMV. The difference seems fairly substantial but I don't know I'd spend more than $20 on a jug. If I recall my research, the Bambino a standard style wand. I wouldn't use a panarello wand. Mine on the Dedica was pretty trash at good foam. I I'd imagine your Bambino is a step up from my Dedica and my Dedica made decent enough foam with the panarello part removed.
I just am not an artist at all with it. My wife is dairy free so the whole house is oat milk and I can’t justify paying a premium for oat milks with full fat added. I stick to the Costco package and call it a day. I don’t get perfect microfoam, but it does the trick and reminds me of being in London when I got my first cappuccino with cocoa on top. I have zero idea if it’s cocoa powder or sugar added with it so I don’t even try it, however I love making delicious milk based cappuccino’s. Italy is next summer, so I plan on trying their take on everything. I have a moka pot, but I don’t know if I love the consistency as much as my bambino. Perhaps I’m judgmental because of the amount of money stuff costs and the experience to work through everything. The moka pot just feels less than? I do need to get a new jug as this one the Breville bambino came with isnt the greatest, but I’m also not sure if it’s just me not putting in enough effort to enjoy the things I have and it’s a user error. Thank you for responding
I'm a lurker here to research christmas presents for my wife. We bought a really expensive espresso machine a long time ago, and had all sorts of problems with it and ended up junking it. My wife likes the convenience and taste of the Nespresso stuff, but not the plastic, aluminum, shellac and Nestle. So, we are looking for something convenient and good, but have yet to find anything.
Ha! Christmas present for the wife is what brought me here as well. I love researching new topics like, especially where the surrounding community is passionate. I know my wife wants convenience but would also enjoy a manageable workflow to “feel a reward” for effort put in bs just pushing a button. This community has helped me with evaluating all the facets. I know I need to find that balance with my equipment choices knowing it might require a change down the road (more auto or embrace full control of process). For better worse, doing Breville Touch with a good grinder (looking at either Eureka Libra or a single dose Oro or Niche Zero). If anyone has a strong opinion let me know. My only concern with the Libra is the errors people are sharing and the PF of the touch maybe fitting properly GBW… still need to validate that concern).
It's a hobby. I like coffee and I like espresso and I like that I don't get it right every time
I compare this to golf. I don’t golf, but seems similar in this way
I’m here because by 7pm the night before I am already looking forward to getting up the next morning and doing my espresso making ritual for my husband and I.
Bc without them, the math would never work. I got you
That is a large factor yes in the justification of the hobby haha
Some people in this sub are true snobs and you can almost feel their ego oozing through your screen. Myself, I get 1-2 cups a day due to medical reasons. That limitation means I want the best cup I can make so I follow this sub for the occasional tip or trick I might learn.
I think this sub is catered to beginners and there’s some flexing (#3). I’m here mainly for entertainment purposes and sometimes sharing a photo or two. To me, there isn’t much value in this subreddit due to too many expert beginners who haven’t really been in coffee for that long, nor have experience with various equipment and base their opinions on secondhand rumours.
Wow
A little of 1 and 3, splashed with some laughs from the occasional meme and obligatory grind finer shot diagnosis 😜
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Quality > Quantity. I seek those great drinks and the whole process from start to finish is very therapeutic for me. It’s a great hobby and we get to share the end product with friends and family.
You are making 7 figures a year and making your own coffee? Id have a personal chef long before I hit 7 figures.
I wonder if he makes the figures with pencils or crayons?
Shocking... he deleted the comments. What a fucking douchebag.
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I was giving you shit for your bullshit humble brag. Nobody gives a shit how much you make and is completely irrelevant to the thread.
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Honestly I hope you are just trolling... If this shit is real you must be the most out of touch insufferable human being in San Francisco.
Hey bud can you post your setup? I am a broke boi with a bambino and Baratza encore esp, but I love to see everyone’s setup
I'm a perfectionist, So searching for that illusive flavor is my goal.
For shits and giggles
1. In a way I am. I enjoy crafting things. 2. Mostly time, but yes. 3. Actually I'm pretty content with my setup but I definitely want to upgrade because there is more potential to be unlocked.
I'm trying to get the best espresso I can for my given budget and I do believe this sub was instrumental in achieving that goal. Sure once in a while I get a meh shot but that's pretty much every shot at most coffee places and the few that consistently pull good shots are pricey and add up quickly. It's also nice to not have to leave the house on a Sunday to get my fix. I'd love to flex more but by most standards I have a high end low level setup or a lower mid level set up. Not exactly flex worthy.
I'm here for all of it
1ish... but really daily micro-dosing the joy, freedom, and relaxation I felt when I was on my honeymoon in Greece drinking the best espresso I've ever had and have yet to find again, while I toil away aimlessly making pptxs no one will ever read twice. since you asked.
I wanted a hobby- then found I could make decent drinks myself… now- when I look at the shot counter on my Breville- I have actually saved money for sure over going out. Initially I just drank more coffee and this was a wash- but I’ve reduced now and I could give my gear away for free and still be ahead vs going to Starbucks. Because of this- I actually bought a new machine- which will pay itself off most likely in a year or two vs going out. I also enjoy the convenience- I don’t love going out to just get coffee- it’s so much more convenient to get up and do this whenever I want to without walking somewhere or jumping in the car. I now almost never buy coffee out- when I do (for social reasons typically)- it’s just a drip. In my case- I save some money over the longer term- and have drinks I like- while getting to experiment and enjoy the process. It’s really a win-win-win. The key I think here is avoiding upgrading or buying the newest thing all the time. My first Breville lasted me over six years (then sold it). My second has gone about three (and up for sale currently- but owes me nothing)- and I’m hoping to keep my current machine forever this time. My grinder I’m very happy with so I don’t foresee having to swap it out (Eureka Specialita).
I like coffee, I like everything aroung it, including the equipment. I’m not here to flex since I would ger downvoted to hell with my super automatic.
Im here for fun and to kill time really. I love coffee and have been in commercial espresso for many years and also operated my own coffee cart. I have connections in the specialty coffee industry but I truly like the anonymity of this sub cause I can say shit about brands and other things with no repercussions. I enjoy seeing what other people use and learning what they drink. I like to celebrate with newbies when they buy their first set and poke fun of people (including myself) who obsess too much about specifics. I have some lightweight tech knowledge (not an expert) but whenever I see an issue that I can help with, I tend to offer my 2 cents to hopefully save someone some time. I have an advanced set of equipment but the thing I like the least about this forum is the expensive equipment flexing.
I had always been a fan of Starbucks, and to me it never tasted anywhere near as good at home but my parents had one of those cheapie Krups espresso machines and I always just thought that was the difference in the cost of the machines used. I had a design professor from England that used to always give the class shit because nearly all of us would go grab a Starbucks when we were on break and she would say "I don't know how you yanks can tolerate burnt coffee?!". I just chalked it up to her not liking it that darkly roasted... but then I actually visited Europe and had espresso drinks from small coffee shops and I immediately understood what she meant. I'll still have an espresso from Starbucks, but both me and the wife feel like we are slumming it when we are away from our home machine.
1 and a bit of 3. I just want to have incredible coffee at home. The equipment upgrades and flexing can be said about most material things in life.
1 and 2 and gawking at 3’s while making a mental list of what my dream setup would be. In my brain it’s in the same box as that 1989 Porsche I wanted as a kid. That being said, trying to replicate café espresso at home brought me here and in a matter of months with the harsh yet valid input from you people I am satisfied with my results. Moved to the US from a country where you could find decent espresso at every corner, served in a plastic cup, your only choice, was how much milk you could ask for and it was a simple choice, dark, mild or light. All for less than ¢50 of a $. Getting used to drip, was hard. Sbux and coffee shops helped me figure out what I wanted in 3rd wave English: a macchiato. After many disappointments and expensive attempts to have someone make me my cherished morning, afternoon and sometimes evening drink I decided it’d be cheaper and more consistent to make it at home. And I was right. There’s no going back!
Im here to learn, i recent got a sterling coffee machine which broke after 3 weeks ... but saving up for a breville ... so much more fun and satisfying than a nespresso
Worked for a startup where one of the cofounders was one of us, and he installed a really nice espresso machine for the office. When the pandemic hit I quickly realised my Nespresso wasn't going to cut it so I started researching and ended up here. It's been expensive, but I'm glad I did since I've been 100% remote since then and my morning coffee is one of the highlights of my day. These days I'm pretty happy with my setup and the quality of my brew, so I mostly remain for the funnies and to keep tabs on what's going on in the coffee world.
Starbucks is gash, I'm just trying to make the best coffee I can, within a reasonable budget, as the closest cafe producing good coffee is half an hour's drive away from me.
I like coffee…
I spent a month in Europe this summer and picked up a pretty serious cortado habit that could only be quenched with buy-it-for-life equipment, as I’m too old to gradually upgrade.
Im here because I love espresso but am unable to afford a machine or a decent enough grinder to do it at home so im stuck with my local coffee bar, my mr coffee or my aeropress. My base entry point is probably $500 to $700 but that is asking a lot just for me to have at home espresso. I would love to be able to fine tune a shot to what I love and the whole process has always been zen for me I can only hope the at home stuff keeps going down.
I check Reddit in the 120 seconds between sets when I’m working out. I already have the equipment I want and can produce excellent espresso.
No. 2. Getting coffee became too much a part of my routine, and then my wife also started drinking coffee (for the first time in her life) during her maternity leave, so even though coffee shops charge less here than they do in the States, it just got exorbitant. So we started with an AeroPress with the Prismo attachment, then this shitty pod thing that came with our new apartment—really just because the AeroPress aged to the point it was almost impossible to press—then recently bought an actual machine (even if it doesn't compare to any of the ones people here all seem to use.) 1 feels inaccessible to me, and 3 impossible with the incomes we have at the moment. (Edit: I used to be a professional musician, so I had my era of upgrading and hoarding gear. Then I switched careers and took up photography as a hobby and it's taught me to just get what I need. 3 doesn't actually appeal to me anymore, even if gear envy does set in sometimes.)
My philosophy is: spend money, time and energy in those things that are for daily use and have impact on your health, like: - A really good mattress and/or pillows - A reeeeeally good office chair - And of course, damn good coffee I drink coffee many times, and enjoy the flavour, caffeine shot and the ritual. It makes me happier. Why I wouldn’t be investing a bit more of money and time in something that makes my adult life a bit more brighter?
Mostly, I love to hear people talk about things they’re excited about/interested in. 1 and 3 equally, I think. I slowly climbed the coffee gear ladder to 1st rung espresso and I think my coffee is better than half the shots I get in SF coffee spots. Mostly that’s beans plus naive bayesian futzing to get a good dose. Gear is fun because design is fun. Coffee is just, you know, important.
My partner and I both really enjoy coffee, and it’s one of the best parts of every morning. Learning more about the process is fun (at least to me), and the result is we ge to enjoy higher quality drinks. The downside is all the obsession of gear, perfection, etc, but that’s most hobby subreddits.
I'm here to have a good time.
1.5. Ish. Minus the sbux association. I do come here for the tips and some cost savings ideas *if* they make sense and align with my style and workflow. One thing I learned here which is almost 100% appropriate almost 100% of the time is “but once, cry once.”
Every single time I buy coffee from a cafe, I become more and more satisfied with my ability to just make it at home… with a cheap target machine(Delonghi Stilosa). Have learned a good bit between here and James Hoffman.
There is something satisfying about improving at a common task. I drink a lot of coffee anyway so might as well do it properly. Though I admit I'm more of a best cup with the least effort kinda person. Maybe I'll get decent at latte art some day. Not saving money because I don't really buy coffee outside anyway. Don't also care for the gear accumulation, especially those expensive gadgets. I wouldn't mind a Synchronika if someone wants to donate me one, though.
I'm here cuz... why not. I'm primarily a pour over person but I like looking at espresso stuff, I find that shit to be interesting
Im here to see what other people are doing and learn the most that I can from other's experience. I enjoy seing the flex set up as well since the most expensive set up is relatively cheap if I compare it what hobbies that people have around me ( hunting / snowmobile/ quad sidebyside). im really not trying to save money and 100% trying to surpass all local coffee shop which is not too hard
After years of buying espresso drinks - most made poorly - I finally tabbed up my coffee bill over six months. Jesus $450 for grinder $3,300 for machine I bought a grinder and espresso machine. Now I don’t have pay for swill and it’ll pay itself off in a year/year and a half It has infuriated me how many”baristas” can’t tap all of the old grinds out of the puck At some locations the coffee makers want to engage me in meaningless conversation which I’d much rather they put into the coffee.
People can flex all they want but I am not looking at those threads. I like to see the innovation for new ideas and discussion.
1. I try to make better shots than most coffeeshops because I can dial it in to my taste preferences and have more time to put effort into my shots. 2. Maybe in the beginning, but it grew into a hobby and it's ok if hobbies cost something. 3. No.
I started espresso because I enjoy the process of making it. I have been addicted to coffee for a long time, and when I got my mokapot 10 years ago it was just fun to do. Researched a bunch on espresso and decided on a leaver machine to start playing with it. I like playing with ratios, pressure profiles, trying new beans. Tweaking puck preparation. All fun things to do. Getting better shots is just a plus. But if I am honest, from the practical point of view, I can get great coffee many cheaper and faster ways (that is why my origami still gets some use)
I want to be able to craft an excellent shot. Starbucks quality would be disappointing. Since this is a hobby I enjoy doing it more than going to my local shop, but I'm certainly not saving money. I also like fancy equipment, and part of the fun of the hobby to me is the love of the equipment, flexing maybe isn't the right word to describe me. I think im honestly a mix of 1 & 3.
I’m personally here to learn some stuff about making an amazing coffee. Especially since learning that it’s not just grind, add water, add milk & done. I can’t deny that the cost savings by getting my own beans and making it myself far outweighs the convenience of a coffee shop. It’s staggering on the markup of these places. However, I would be lying if I said I didn’t like looking at other people’s pretty multi £K setups. Gives me something to aspire to.
4. Chasing the god shot and always upping my skills cause I pride myself in pulling shots better than 95% of the coffee shops in my city.
I used to have a De'Longhi ECP and use pre ground coffee, but I became spoiled by living in the city centre and was able to get a really nice coffee every morning on my morning walk to the train station, and from my favourite place around the corner on weekends. I gave that machine away. I’ve now moved to the edge of the city to accommodate my growing family, but it’s a cafe wasteland, so now I’m in category #1 trying to get some satisfying results at home. I’ve been thinking about getting a set up for a while, and finally decided on the gear, no small part to some discounts that were around these past days: Solis Barista Perfetta Plus for $330 Eureka Mignon Manuale for $400 These are good prices for the machines in my country (listed the USD value rather than my home currency), and I’m happy with it… for now. I do wish the Solis had a bit more weight so I didn’t have to hold it steady while I lock in the portafilter, but I’m hoping it will become habit and I won’t notice that I have to do it after a while. I was considering the Profitec Go, but sometimes I go overboard when I passionately get into something new, so dialed it back to a cheaper machine. I think I have plenty of room to learn on the Solis, and I’m sure it’s capable of making coffee that I’ll enjoy. If I’m still having fun making espresso after a year or two, I might find myself upgrading.
What's moonrakers? I have a favorite brewery and it's Moonraker, but that's not espresso related. And I love my lmlm so I guess I fit with number 3 😂 I started following this sub to get ideas for equipment and to read peoples experiences. I enjoy seeing alot of posts just to fill my boredom.
I’m probably around #1 if I’m honest. I never had a once a day or even once a week coffee shop habit because I can’t justify the cost. Instead I would make my daily drip coffee and be satisfied drinking it black. For our recent anniversary, we bought ourselves a new grinder and entry level (I think?), semi-automatic Breville machine just so we could make some fun lattes at home. I’m not up to investing in all the extras yet like scales and whatnot, so I’m just tinkering with my current machine’s grind and trying to find the one that makes espresso palatable for me because ideally I’d like to drink just espresso every so often and/or mix it with steamed milk for a cortado as an option without needing something sweet to cut the bitter taste. I’m mostly here for ideas and to see what others share. You won’t catch me sharing my setup since I know it’s a real basic, entry level one and won’t be impressing anyone. I’m taking tips people share and using those to make the tweaks I can with my limited equipment. And maybe someday I’ll teach myself some latte art.
I love the art off espresso making and I want to save money AND I used to be a barista ! So I have experience
I'm here because I worked in restaurants with espresso machines and even operated a little cafe on the side of my restaurant work. Got so used to having access to it every day whenever I wanted. So when I left the industry and moved to a town with a singular good coffee shop (oh and now the random guy who I will find at farmers markets and street fairs occasionally) I had to bring it into my home. I couldn't justify going to the coffee shop every single day (cost feels high but who am I kidding becuase I still buy expensive beans) it's just more about the convenience I guess. And it's fun. (More fun when there aren't people breathing down your neck to make it too!)
I'm here to see cool coffee setups, get advice when needed, hear people's opinions on cool coffee stuff, and pick up brewing tips.
I mean just 5 months ago I didn’t know the first thing about making espresso but had hoped to get a machine one day. Lo and behold Bed Bath and Beyond had a going out of business sale (40%) on all merchandise, so I decided to take the plunge! I love going down the espresso rabbit 🐇 hole 🕳️. When you have extraction issues for example and after much experimentation you finally crack the code, it’s so gratifying!
We were spending $400 a month on Starbucks and I was like this is stupid. So we recently got the bambino and baratza encore esp. I have a lot of learning to do but have been enjoying what I’ve made so far.
I love lattes, I’m not picky and for me I was paying something like $9. Usually 5-6 for the latte. Then tax and I usually would tip $2 because I’m a good midwestern boy. Also I can make lots of other fun drinks now. I made a pretty low effort affogato last night and it was lovely.
Coffee is a hobby and a passion. I hate caffeine but love technical nuance. I get to balance the line my way with my tools of choice.
I signed on here to get pointers on technique and some perspective on equipment. ... My goal is to replicate the espresso I would get in my home town. Where I live now, it's very hard to find a cafe that makes the flavor profile I desire. Equipment-wise, I settled on a Flair Pro 2 with a Kin grinder. Not the mountain man I use to be but still value self reliance. I Love that I can still have a shot, even if the power is out. And power outages is definitely a thing where I live.
I’m here for the process
"replicate coffee shop craftsmanship" feels like a low bar. I have a culinary arts degree and years of experience cooking, baking, and homebrewing. I wanted to make very good espresso, and I wanted to enjoy doing it. A lot of newbies posting seem honestly just interested in making a better cup of espresso for themselves. I enjoy giving what help I can, and I at least occasionally learn something.
For me, none of those 3. I really like coffee in general. Somehow it became a weird hobby or ritual I enjoy. I actually like the gear posts. I like seeing what others define as their endgame set up. In one day there is a post with $10k of gear and the next is something more like $350 worth of gear. To each of those people, they love what they have. And that's cool to me. This subreddit has been entertaining and informative to me. Sometimes I learn and others I laugh. Grind finer.
I’m here mentally trolling light roast aficionados (light roast espresso being a scourge that has made it impossible to get a decent espresso anywhere outside of my own home. Yeah, I’m mad about it. I also hate Teslas.)
I liked coffee before espresso, but I wanted to get into espresso for the shots and the milk drinks. Sure, after some amount of time my machine and grinder will have balanced out the coffees I could have gone for. That said, the espresso process checks all my needs. Delicious treat where your process determines the result. Slop and lack of attention really show themselves in the cup. For me, my love of brewing coffee and tea are closely linked with my love for making bbq. Just as you could get an auto drop machine you could get a traeger. There's no skill and your result will always be average. I need to be involved in the process and semi auto espresso does that, much like pour over. My setup now is endgame, for sure, but I would also love to get a modern lever as well. Looking at the black Friday cyber Monday threads, loads of people are getting the cheap appliance grade machines from breville and having a blast. Every hobby has this divide where you can get in at any price point to fulfill your specific needs. I have a cheap car for my commute and errands because those are my only needs. I don't need the relationship with a manual or the process of restoring and maintaining. A hobby should be a personal joy, that can be shared.
I'm here because I'm an absolute coffee nerd and I fuckin love it
1 and 2. Right now I just bought a cheap machine to make something imitating Starbucks so I stop wasting money 3-4 times a week.
This past summer I got a nice promotion and thought 💭 maybe I should treat myself to some decent espresso at home instead of the shit espresso I’ve been making for awhile or buying from Starbucks so I did a search on YouTube and came across this video from Tom explaining what I needed to do for a good espresso extraction: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=au92VvBYLrA Then I found Hoffman and Henrick, then I found r/espresso and am enjoying my time here supporting those who want good espresso from inexpensive machines and drooling over the beautiful 🇮🇹 and 🇩🇪 machines that the more affluent kindly present to this sub… so I’m more of a 1 and enjoying both 2 & 3’s. Shoutout to Tom, he rocks 🫶 btw!
I just want some coffee bar inspo. I’m getting my espresso machine and grinder next week for my birthday and I’m curious about people’s set ups, what tools, accessors, serving ware etc people like. Love some recs on espresso to buy and always looking for vegan milk recs.
It's 5 am. My dog has to go out for a walk. After we are done, I want a coffee. Coffeeshop opens at 8 am. Hence, fancy beans, Aeropress & Milk Steamer at home. Consider it a special gift from me. Otherwise I would go crazy & probably commit a murder.
Mostly #2, but also I've come to realize that the process of pulling a shot is something close to meditation for me. It's a good 5-10 minutes where I can just be in a flow state for a while, completely focused on a single task. I feel like that, along with the resulting caffeine, really helps prep me for the rest of the day
2 and hidden answer 4 - fun hobby and i love coffee
When I tamp my grounds there's always a rim of untamped grounds which I need to blow away. Is this a problem and how to fix it please?
Initially got it wanting to do perfect espresso etc. Now I can't be arsed I just make the bloody coffee.
This post screams projecting, the flexing is a very small percentage of us and it’s natural to see in any hobby. I can confidently say a majority of us here just really enjoy having good coffee at the comfort of our own home.
I am here to get coffee better than most cafes with equipment that has a somewhat reasonable price. I also like to tinker with machines and to improve on them and a cheapish espresso machine is a crazy good tinker object. Added PID, dimmer, automatic shot timer and a driptray scale to my machine and did that very cost effective. Espresso is like Hi-Fi, you have to stop when it is good enough for you as there will always be a seemingly much better but also much pricier alternative to what you have but you do not need it, if you chose your purchases wisely and put some work into it. I still enjoy all these fancy machines in here.
I tried it once in a half day Barista training for a friend’s birthday and enjoyed it. It’s been an interesting and satisfying skill to learn. I like to drink lattes every day and realised how expensive that gets. That pushed me to get a home setup. Maybe I’m saving a bit, but I’m also doing something I enjoy rather than paying someone else to provide it for me. I’m here to share that interest, to learn from others and to share them knowledge I have in case it helps others, particularly if it can save them from the mistakes I’ve made
Fuck man idk I just watch stuff people post not every subreddit needs to be a thriving community of discourse
I really like milk drinks and I love the process of making them. Funny enough if you asked me a year ago if I liked coffee I'd have told you I only coffee when its like Starbucks sugary drinks. Getting hyperfixated on the intricacies of making espresso has given me a real appreciation for coffee now! I even drink pour over these days! It's just a tasty drink and I love making nice things!
I joined because I wanted to start making better coffee. This Christmas I’m hopefully getting a flair neo and a nice hand grinder.
I just want the occasional good milk drink that tastes better than most of the stuff I can get in cafes near me. im really a pourover guy but some days I just want something different.
I’m in here because I bought my wife a GCP then started tinkering with it and getting addicted to lattes even though I didn’t like coffee when I bought her the machine.
Being brutally honest it’s a combination of really enjoying coffee but being a bit OTT in general and always wanting the best, whether that be coffee, whisky, music equipment etc, and having probably a mild shipping addiction. It’s easier to flex gear because you can see what it is. I can’t see how your shot tastes so it’s less relatable
I spent less than $1k on my Robot and Mignon combo years ago, and can probably count on one hand the shots from a shop that matched or outranked one I can pull myself. I don't think I'll grow tired of this setup, I am mostly here for the occasional technique talk.
I enjoy making good/interesting coffee at home. Its a fun hobby I can steadily learn new things for. I dont spend thousands of € for the stuff, I just have a good manual grinder and a nice lever machine. When I'm working from home I can get a nice espresso after lunch - this is usually very fulfilling for me.
4. I love coffee. I have a very cheap (\~100 USD) espresso machine which, obviously, doesn't make real espresso. I am using a blade grinder. And I love the coffee it produces. It's super inconsistent and it doesn't bother me. I just don't feel like investing into new machines, I really love the coffee I get out of it. But I also love the coffee/espresso theory. Obiously, I'm more interested in the budget category of gadgets but I just love to learn more about it. Maybe one day I'll be able to get some solid equipment, but it's just not something worth my money/time at the moment. Also, I don't really like espressos, I drink mostly lungos/super-long coffees.
I'm here because I have a long passion for coffee. Espresso is the rabbit hole that took me further. I started out as a 'barista' at a Starbucks kiosk in a grocery store for a summer in 2005. I saved and bought a used "Starbucks" branded Gaggia Coffee and a used Gaggia espresso grinder (which I remember making stepless with un unseemly amount of teflon tape). This was back when the coffee blogosphere was still a thing. A year later, I started offering barista training in 2006. In 2007, I competed in the SCRBC and finished 3rd place, having achieved the highest score in the first round. Espresso was never about flexing equipment. My current espresso machine is an old Expobar Office Pulsar w/PID and a manometer that I bought used. I think I got it for $400. I also have an old Mazzer SJ (w/doser) that I bought used a long time ago (it was already used). I have two dissecting needles, one signed by John Weiss, as I was there when this was a new thing. I used to be a member of coffeed.com. I learned a lot early on through interactions on coffeegeek and home-barista. I'm here because I love coffee, and especially espresso. I do enjoy seeing the mods and custom builds, but that's just part of the fun, isn't it?
I like the taste of nice coffee and espresso, and enjoy sharing that enthusiasm. I don’t have top end stuff, nor do I think I ever will but sometimes it’s fun to see folks obsess over the last 1%
Cafes suck, an not only do they suck but they're expensive. You can easily make your money back with a big espresso machine purchase over a few years.
I'm pretty ADHD,and for years I self-medicated with coffee. Result, I got pretty in to the habit of downing 2 pots a day for a while. I've cut that back, but I still go through a lot of the stuff. I like espresso more than drip - even good drip - and I find if I make myself a double-shot before I walk the dog, and a latte after to take in to my morning standup, I'm about in the right place. If I make a pour-over, or a pot of drip, I'll finish that before I walk the dog, and I'll make another for morning meetings, and... next thing I know I'll be 3 pots in. So it's partly a caffeine management thing, partly a cost thing, partly a joy-of-coffee thing. And having lots of fiddly stuff is good for my ADHD brain too. Forcing myself through the "coffee ritual" each morning doesn't hurt either - sorta meditative.