Kooler
New member
Hello- I am new to your community here and new to espresso machines. However, when espresso based drinks became more popular around 10-12 years ago, I did purchase a Krups basic espresso machine to make mostly lattes. Since my knowledge of the correct terminology is lacking, I do not remember exactly the names of the different parts, but I do remember I enjoyed a lot making the drinks with this machine.
Now, I would like to get an espresso machine, but in researching the various types, I see that machines used for home use have changed a lot. I do have a small Wellness Center right next to my home, and I would like to offer espresso based drinks to clients/patrons along with the current list of smoothies, drip coffee, filtered water, etc.
I am looking in the price range of $1000-$1800 for the espresso machine. From what I can tell with what I think are called "pod machines" (that use a pre-packaged coffee drink and that is used in some of the machines like the Nespresso), I am not interested in this type of machine. From my earlier machine where I had the coffee ground at the place I purchased the freshly roasted coffee from and the coffee was added to a device, packed down a bit, inserted into the drip area and turned so it formed a tight seal. I was able to warm/steam/froth the milk for the various drinks. With my limited ability to explain what I liked about this earlier machine, I am trying to explain the best I can what I do not necessarily have to have with the new machine, but that I do have this past experience, so I am not necessarily interested in a machine that does it all for you. (especially where you put a small pod type container into an area in the machine, close the lid and out comes the coffee, espresso, etc.)
I have looked at Miele home coffee systems like the 5000, 5100, 5200. I realize that some or many of the home machines do much more of the work for you than when I purchased my first machine small Krups machine. I would like to be able to either add the beans to the machine (like the Miele and some other home coffee systems I have looked at) or grind the beams right before use and use that ground coffee to make the drink. I am not too anxious to spend a lot of time in the morning or at the business to make an espresso drink, but I have tried to give an idea of what I am willing to do, assuming I understand how some of the home coffee systems actually work. I would like a good side vent where the container with the milk is inserted and the steam (I think it is steam) warms/heats the milk and then can add a good froth too so that the froth can be added to the espresso or the steamed milk with a little froth can be used for lattes.
I would like a machine that is easy to clean up after each use. One of the main questions I have is if I should buy the coffee bean and have the place grind the beans so that I can use it to make the espresso based drinks, or invest in a grinder (which I have never used because frequently in the early mornings it will just be me who will be drinking one of the lattes/espresso based drinks) or if like the Miele machines I looked at the coffee beans are added to the machine and are ground up right before they are used in the drink. I am not sure how this works as far as just grinding enough for what will be needed and if the beans are left in the machine until the next time and one other questions I have if this type of machine allows for one to adjust how well the beans are ground (fine, super fine, average, courser, etc.
I hope this give you some idea without sounding too basic. I realize it will be to my advantage to use some of the latest technology with the coffee systems that do a lot of the work, but I would like to stay away from the use of pre-packaged containers or pods I think some are called and in my mind the name Nespresso (which I know Miele uses or might even own) and Mr. Coffee are 2 names that I would like to stay away from, due to either quality of the machine, and the fact that the Nespresso machine seems to do everything for you.
Thanks for any help one can give me and maybe if I find a good quality machine, with a good warranty (which I think is important with the newer systems since they do the majority of the work and many things can go wrong with these machines. I hope I have at least given you an idea of what I am looking for without making things so complicated that I have contradicted myself. It would be great to be able to get a machine by Christmas I will use it at my home and bring it to the studio for use there.
Now, I would like to get an espresso machine, but in researching the various types, I see that machines used for home use have changed a lot. I do have a small Wellness Center right next to my home, and I would like to offer espresso based drinks to clients/patrons along with the current list of smoothies, drip coffee, filtered water, etc.
I am looking in the price range of $1000-$1800 for the espresso machine. From what I can tell with what I think are called "pod machines" (that use a pre-packaged coffee drink and that is used in some of the machines like the Nespresso), I am not interested in this type of machine. From my earlier machine where I had the coffee ground at the place I purchased the freshly roasted coffee from and the coffee was added to a device, packed down a bit, inserted into the drip area and turned so it formed a tight seal. I was able to warm/steam/froth the milk for the various drinks. With my limited ability to explain what I liked about this earlier machine, I am trying to explain the best I can what I do not necessarily have to have with the new machine, but that I do have this past experience, so I am not necessarily interested in a machine that does it all for you. (especially where you put a small pod type container into an area in the machine, close the lid and out comes the coffee, espresso, etc.)
I have looked at Miele home coffee systems like the 5000, 5100, 5200. I realize that some or many of the home machines do much more of the work for you than when I purchased my first machine small Krups machine. I would like to be able to either add the beans to the machine (like the Miele and some other home coffee systems I have looked at) or grind the beams right before use and use that ground coffee to make the drink. I am not too anxious to spend a lot of time in the morning or at the business to make an espresso drink, but I have tried to give an idea of what I am willing to do, assuming I understand how some of the home coffee systems actually work. I would like a good side vent where the container with the milk is inserted and the steam (I think it is steam) warms/heats the milk and then can add a good froth too so that the froth can be added to the espresso or the steamed milk with a little froth can be used for lattes.
I would like a machine that is easy to clean up after each use. One of the main questions I have is if I should buy the coffee bean and have the place grind the beans so that I can use it to make the espresso based drinks, or invest in a grinder (which I have never used because frequently in the early mornings it will just be me who will be drinking one of the lattes/espresso based drinks) or if like the Miele machines I looked at the coffee beans are added to the machine and are ground up right before they are used in the drink. I am not sure how this works as far as just grinding enough for what will be needed and if the beans are left in the machine until the next time and one other questions I have if this type of machine allows for one to adjust how well the beans are ground (fine, super fine, average, courser, etc.
I hope this give you some idea without sounding too basic. I realize it will be to my advantage to use some of the latest technology with the coffee systems that do a lot of the work, but I would like to stay away from the use of pre-packaged containers or pods I think some are called and in my mind the name Nespresso (which I know Miele uses or might even own) and Mr. Coffee are 2 names that I would like to stay away from, due to either quality of the machine, and the fact that the Nespresso machine seems to do everything for you.
Thanks for any help one can give me and maybe if I find a good quality machine, with a good warranty (which I think is important with the newer systems since they do the majority of the work and many things can go wrong with these machines. I hope I have at least given you an idea of what I am looking for without making things so complicated that I have contradicted myself. It would be great to be able to get a machine by Christmas I will use it at my home and bring it to the studio for use there.
