Buying an espresso machine is a pleasure rather than a chore. The very act of trying out all the different types of machine (and if that means ordering 3 from Amazon and sending 2 back….well) is a pleasurable experience as far as I am concerned. If anything, there are just to many machines to choose from.

Personally, I usually buy Italian, but there can be some issues doing that, especially further down the price chain. Some of the cheaper machines are pretty feeble and will break at the drop of a hat. They are invariably pretty to look at, but of you are spending less than $200 it is probably worth opting for a German machine – or occasionally American.

My current espresso maker is a La Pavoni and I would not part with it for anything less than a full on professional grade barista espresso maker. These things are pertty, make a superb cup of espresso and are not “too expensive,” considering the engineering that has gone into it. It takes a bit of work to make the perfect shot and requires constant cleaning.

But – that is what you get when you are looking to make the perfect espresso. Anything worth doing is worth doing right as far as I am concerned and this is one of my pet projects – finding the ultimate shot. I am getting close, but not quite there yet. I roast and grind my own beans, which I only ever buy from “fair trade,” suppliers.

There are less expensive ways of making espresso, and perhaps the best is to buy a stove top espresso maker. These things cost as little as $25 and make a pretty darn fine cup of espresso. They do make very strong shots and occasionally you get a few grounds in the coffee, but that just adds to the flavor. Either way, it is best to use only distilled or bottled water – especially in the more delicate machines, which will clog up very quickly – especially if you live (as I do) in a very hard water area. You may find the need to change gaskets as well depending on the type of machine you have chosen, but many of the better ones will last a life time if cared for properly.

Whichever espresso machine you have chosen, a few vital ingredients are needed to get the best from it. 1. It needs to be kept really clean. 2. Use the best coffee you can afford, 3. Use only distilled water.