I am looking to buy an espresso machine. I love coffee and know a good coffeemaker from a bad coffeemaker but have no idea about espresso machines. Most machines I have seen are in the ,000 and up range, but I have seen some online that are only 0 and have great reviews... am I getting what I am paying for and need to really invest or would a 0 machine be okay?

Links to good espresso makers are also appreciated Thanks.

Hey,
Is there any way to make a Latte Machiato at home without all the espresso machines, milk frothers and presses etc. I'm new to coffee and tried a Latte Machiato at work and loved it, but all I have is milk, instant coffee granules and obvious kitchenware (whisks and pans etc.) so is there a way to recreate this drink at home?
Thanks guys!
If so, how?

I am going to be a freshman in college this fall and my parents got me the Nespresso Pixie espresso machine. On the housing website, espresso and coffee machines are not on the list of things not to bring, however it does say not to bring "food preparation machines". I wouldn't really consider an espresso machine a food preparation machine, but just to be safe, are espresso machines generally allowed in dorm rooms?

I am looking for a coffee/espresso machine for my in-laws for Christmas. I know NOTHING about espresso machines, so I am thoroughly confused when I see "pump" and "automatic." They have never owned an espresso machine, but they are avid coffee drinkers (this machine will replace their old coffee maker, which is acting up). What kind of combination machine would be best for a beginner? I would like to keep the cost under 0 also. I keep coming across "DeLonghi's BCO264B Cafe Nero Combo Coffee, Cappuccino and Espresso Maker." Does anyone know anything about this particular one? I am finding that the reviews online are positive and negative. Any information and suggestions will help, as you can tell I have no idea what I'm looking for. Thank you!

Humans and chimps each have some 3 billion base units of DNA in their genomes, differing by only 1.2 percent when compared in this way. Other methods of comparison estimate a genetic difference of at most 4 percent.

"We're not that different," Waterston said.

But we have language, cars, espresso machines and psychotherapy. How could all that result from just a comparatively small number of genetic changes in the overall blueprint?

Waterston acknowledges that scientists are a long way off from answering such questions. But we're getting closer, he says. He noted one gene, known as FOXP2, that may help explain why we talk and chimps don't. An earlier study of a British family with an inherited, severe deficit in speech discovered the cause of the disorder -- an altered form of FOXP2.

"It turns out chimps have the same (genetic) sequence as that family with the speech deficit," Waterston said. Comparing the human and chimp genomes, he said, shows that the speech-friendly form of FOXP2 really took hold in humans some 150,000 years ago.

The Nature report written by the UW scientist and his team ends: "We hope that elaborating how few differences separate our species will broaden recognition of our duty to these extraordinary primates who stand as our siblings in the family of life"

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Chimp-human-DNA-comparison-finds-vast-1181942.php#ixzz1Jk1HGnsA
Moreover, "fact" does not mean "absolute certainty." The final proofs of logic and mathematics flow deductively from stated premises and achieve certainty only because they are not about the empirical world. Evolutionists make no claim for perpetual truth, though creationists often do (and then attack us for a style of argument that they themselves favor). In science, "fact" can only mean "confirmed to such a degree that it would be perverse to withhold provisional assent." I suppose that apples might start to rise tomorrow, but the possibility does not merit equal time in physics classrooms.

http://www.stephenjaygould.org/library/gould_fact-and-theory.html

Why are they so certain of such nonsense when it isn't rational to automatically think that the human race is flawed because of religion?

I'm currently 21 years old, a full time sophomore in a community college and planning on attending a state university in fall of 2011 as a junior. My guess is that I have around 2.5 years of school ahead of me until I get my bachelor in some liberal arts major. Currently, I'm undecided in what I will major in, but right now I'm just getting general studies out of the way. I imagine that I will end up majoring into either Philosophy or Psychology, or something withing writing. None of the majors I am interested are likely to get me hired in a high paying position or a sustainable one.

I'm currently working ~30 hours a week in a coffee shop. I'm really tired of working for people (I have been working in food service for around five years now.) I really want to get out working minimum wage- .00/hour being a slave to customers and business owners. I'd like to start making my own money, and considering I do have the intelligence and expertise within coffee, I figure that I could create my own income.

Small espresso stands seem like a very affordable, low risk, high profit yielding operation. If I bought used equipment (with plenty of research) I think I could buy the entire stand for ~8,000 dollars (don't quote me, I've just begun researching.) I've maintained and operated espresso machines, I know local roasters from previous jobs who could give me a deal (one guy lets his customers use his coffee grinders/pots for free as long as you buy his beans.) My step dad has his own solar electric equipment and he could try to rig up some panels to make it an efficient cart.

So... I feel like I have plenty of ideas on how I could potentially put it together. Place the cart by big sporting events, festivals, holiday events, etc etc. I live by a very large university so it wouldn't be difficult to find events.

My limitations would be as follows:

I have a small car that I would not be able to transport the cart in. I would have to buy/lease a truck or trailer to move the equipment and I'm not sure how I could move it easily without help.

I have hardly any money saved. I may be able to pull together ,000 of my own money, but I doubt much more than that.

I have no real credit established. I have ,500 of credit debt but no student loans. I could pay off all the credit this spring if needed.

Questions:

Would it be possible to get a private loan to start the operation? Or could I get a student loan and use the money to buy all the equipment with plans to pay it all back?

I could work another job part time if needed while I get everything going to have some source of income.

If I can't get a loan I could possibly loan some money from my parents (~4,000 max), but I'm not sure if that is even feasible.

Any suggestions would be helpful. I really feel like I could profit off of doing this. I know the bizz, I'm an excellent barista, and I'm motivated to work for myself.

Thanks!

I've been looking at espresso machines and it says that some of them accomodate pods. So i get that it's a coffee but what difference does it make and what is it exactly?

What are some good espresso machines, preferably under 0? It'd mostly be used to make lattes. It's be great it it had a hot water dispenser too for tea or hot chocolate. I heard that pump-driven ones are better. It has to have easy clean-up too. Also if it has some sort of easy way to switch between the coffees- like one cup stronger, another one weaker (we'd probably use the machine for when guests come and most will probably want different things)
I love the Super Automatic Gran Dama Espresso Center ESAM6600 by DeLonghi, but it costs like ,500 and I definately don't have that much to spend on an espresso machine. If you know a waaay cheaper machine with some of the same basic features then that'd be great.
Lattes need frothing don't they?

I have a stovetop espresso maker (Bialetti), and just got ground coffee that is made for espresso machines (illy), assuming it would also be ok to use in a stovetop espresso maker, like the Bialletti. Am I correct, or should I look for another grind?
** To clarify, I mean the specific grind of the coffee, not the brand.

My understanding is Europeans drink espresso-based drinks and never ordinary brewed coffee. Americans make themselves brewed coffee at home or sometimes buy it from coffee shops--brewed coffee is not as strong as espresso, so it is cheaper. First, is it true Europeans don't drink brewed-at-home coffee (percolator, French press, drip coffeemaker, etc.)? So do they always have to go out for their espresso? Or do people have espresso machines at home?

Yes, I am posting this in a German forum, hoping to hear from true Europeans and not Americans. But if you know of how Europeans outside of Germany consume their coffee, too, please enlighten me.
Mary, good info, thanks. I for some reason thought espresso makers were crazy expensive, but they are within reach for the average Westerner. And I didn't know stovetop espresso makers even existed.

Yes, I was aware some Americans have espresso machines. But I would venture to guess that most have a plug-in drip coffeemaker--or if not that, something like a French press or even an old-school percolator.

I have found the quality of Starbucks coffee to vary tremendously from store to store, so I am not always a fan. I guess it depends on whether the person preparing it knows what he or she is doing. Some smaller local shops in my city are far more consistent and of high quality.
I met some Germans, and they were reminiscing about coffee back home (i.e., in Germany) being "pressurized"--I believe they were referring to espresso.
Yahoo!, if I went to that Jamia person's link (since removed), did I run a security risk? Is s/he collecting personal info? It looked like a Yahoo! Answers page but not quite right....