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My mum's birthday is coming up and obviously I need a present.
She likes espresso (I think. I know absolutely nothing about coffee. I drink tea because I am British) and so the key is a machine that will do this. It can, if neccesary, just make them. I'm guessing a machine that makes them and normal coffee is pricey.I don't want a filter machine because they look just like caffetierres (sp?) but with a plug.
I've looked at these. Are they any good? And do any of them need special coffee (she has brands/flavours she likes that take up space for biscuits in the cupboard)?
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-1905.aspx
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.100-3324.aspx
http://direct.tesco.com/q/R.207-7792.aspx
Absolute limit is £70. Not a penny more.
I think the middle one is the only one that delivers true espresso and the others need special discs to get them to work. The middle one uses ground coffee available from any supermarket...BUT
Getting a great espresso is another issue completely. Its like some sort of black art. You have to dose it right, tamp it right otherwise it tastes like nothing on earth. Getting it right is an absolute bugger.
I ended up spendimh £250 on a delonghi bean to cup machine that makes cafe standard cappucino, espresso etc every time and grinds it straight out of the bean every cup.
If she has the patience though, the middle de longhi is a good buy
luke what about a moka maker - damn near expresso ... look at bialetti moka stove tops. I have a mukka - it does quite a unique take on cappuchinos that i like - and it does strong espresso "style" coffee (for the purists out there )
much better than any of the above disk machines ... i have an even bigger hatred for tassimo - my parents use it and try to pretend its real coffee when i visit - you can taste it straight off .... doesnt matter what disks are used - weak piss tasting coffee ...
The middle one definately doesnt need discs / pods etc. You just pour in ground coffee, tamp it in and hope for the best. Its the best of the three as like trail_rat says, the others just produce an imitation of espresso.
How about a refurb Gaggia ?
http://www.homewares.co.uk/gaggiaspecialists/10080.html
e.g. Gaggia Cubika refurb for £79 bargin 🙂
Bought one of the refurb Gaggia machines allthepies just mentioned - great value and makes a very nice coffee indeed.
To say it was a 'refurb' you'd never know - looked brand spanky new to me! 🙂
sell you my cubika!?
Spey- as it's a birthday present it'd be nice if it were new (or look it!)
If it looks newish then I might well take it!
I don't quite understnad if these machines make a normal coffee as well?
define normal ~? most normal coffees at real coffee places are just espresso with hot water added .... milk and sugar to taste for the nasty folks !
Erm.
Espressos are the small ones, right?
A normal coffee in my head is a big mug of brown stuff.
yeah americano - or espresso with hot water in it for the laymen - it might not be that simple im no expert but when i see them making coffee in coffee shops it all starts life as an espresso shot ... either steamed milk or hot water is added to turn it into all the fancy names ....
im an americano or turkish coffee in the morning wake up fiend ....
got called metro for having a caffitere and grounds in my office drawer ! (to avoid the nescafe!)
Cool.
I think £70 will get you a Krupps one like ours. It's been making 2 cups of coffee a day, 7 days a week for 5 years and hasn't spilt a drop.
Recommended.
You mean Krups. 5 years eh?
she carried you for 9 months and then you nearly split her in two, treat her.............
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from the three it has to be the de-longhi. I got the same one for my folks last year. Makes a great Espresso for the price. you can't go wrong with that one. Check amazon for prices also.
I have the delonghi , makes nice coffee!