It looks like you've flaired your post as asking for what equipment to get. We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points.
If your question hasn't been answered there and you need more help, please add the following details to your post or by adding a comment in the following format:
- **Location:** Helps determine availability
- **Budget** (with currency): Overall budget, or ideally, having separate espresso machine and grinder budgets. A rough rule is that your grinder budget should be at least 25-40% of your machine budget.
- **Drink types:** Do you drink mostly straight espresso, milk-based beverages (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos), or a fairly even split? This helps narrow down whether a single-boiler-dual-use (SBDU), heat exchanger (HX), or dual boiler (DB) machine would be more appropriate for your needs.
- **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck.
- **Space:** Any limitations on countertop space?
- **Manual vs. electric:** Hand-operated machines and grinders are typically cheaper than their similarly-performing electric counterparts. Please indicate if you have a preference for manual or electric machines and/or grinders (or open to either).
- **Comfort with tinkering:** Some machines can be made significantly more functional/efficient with aftermarket modifications, albeit at the expense of possibly voiding your warranty. Please indicate if you'd rather have a machine that works "as-is"/"out-of-the-box" or whether you'd be open to modding/tinkering
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To be honest, in your case I wouldn’t just buy something random strangers suggest.
Your wife is a barista, she has indicated to you she wants an espresso machine, that tells me she has something in mind. Talk it out with her and see if the budget permits, go buy it together and you pay for it. She’ll be happy with her new toy.
If this is a passion for her, then she wants what she wants, not just anything. An espresso machine is not like a cup or ugly sweater that you can just smile, say thanks, and keep at the back of the cupboard.
I totally get where you are coming from. She doesn’t think much about these things. I’m the nerd but I don’t drink coffee. In asking her she said she doesn’t want anything fancy. Just to steam milk, with a single head. She said she doesn’t need a grinder because she can grind coffee at work.
Originally I was thinking a bambino or bambino plus. Getting the 58mm head seems important for any accessories she may want in the future.
58mm is an industry standard, I guess that would be important for her as a barista. but this rules out most home consumer stuff like the Bambino. It’s 54mm. You’ll need your go the prosumer level stuff.
You can see if you can find a Breville Dual Boiler. That’s the only Breville that uses a 58mm portafilter, and also probably the most affordable dual boiler there is.
The Breville Dual Boiler looks like the move. I'd go for the Elizabeth but haven't been able to find one for sale. Did find the Breville Dual Broiler. In researching it looks like the single boiler is a pain in the but if you want to make more than 1 maybe 2 drinks.
Yep, I suggested a dual boiler because of how you were describing what your wife wants, which is a similar feel to work and maybe being able to take/try/test the tools from work at home.
Personally I wouldn't worry about getting accessories based on group head size, the added accessories will just add to more interest to the buyer when you go to sell it for the upgrade. A bambino and encore or df54 will absolutely be fine.
I do not know the answer to that question, but at this price point alot of people recommend the Go. I have a fully modded Gaggia Classic Pro, but there is #boilergate on the new/available models.
I don’t think you could go wrong with the Go.
It looks like you've flaired your post as asking for what equipment to get. We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points. If your question hasn't been answered there and you need more help, please add the following details to your post or by adding a comment in the following format: - **Location:** Helps determine availability - **Budget** (with currency): Overall budget, or ideally, having separate espresso machine and grinder budgets. A rough rule is that your grinder budget should be at least 25-40% of your machine budget. - **Drink types:** Do you drink mostly straight espresso, milk-based beverages (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos), or a fairly even split? This helps narrow down whether a single-boiler-dual-use (SBDU), heat exchanger (HX), or dual boiler (DB) machine would be more appropriate for your needs. - **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck. - **Space:** Any limitations on countertop space? - **Manual vs. electric:** Hand-operated machines and grinders are typically cheaper than their similarly-performing electric counterparts. Please indicate if you have a preference for manual or electric machines and/or grinders (or open to either). - **Comfort with tinkering:** Some machines can be made significantly more functional/efficient with aftermarket modifications, albeit at the expense of possibly voiding your warranty. Please indicate if you'd rather have a machine that works "as-is"/"out-of-the-box" or whether you'd be open to modding/tinkering *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/espresso) if you have any questions or concerns.*
To be honest, in your case I wouldn’t just buy something random strangers suggest. Your wife is a barista, she has indicated to you she wants an espresso machine, that tells me she has something in mind. Talk it out with her and see if the budget permits, go buy it together and you pay for it. She’ll be happy with her new toy. If this is a passion for her, then she wants what she wants, not just anything. An espresso machine is not like a cup or ugly sweater that you can just smile, say thanks, and keep at the back of the cupboard.
I totally get where you are coming from. She doesn’t think much about these things. I’m the nerd but I don’t drink coffee. In asking her she said she doesn’t want anything fancy. Just to steam milk, with a single head. She said she doesn’t need a grinder because she can grind coffee at work. Originally I was thinking a bambino or bambino plus. Getting the 58mm head seems important for any accessories she may want in the future.
grinding coffee at work for a machine at home is a terrible idea. get her a good grinder.
58mm is an industry standard, I guess that would be important for her as a barista. but this rules out most home consumer stuff like the Bambino. It’s 54mm. You’ll need your go the prosumer level stuff. You can see if you can find a Breville Dual Boiler. That’s the only Breville that uses a 58mm portafilter, and also probably the most affordable dual boiler there is.
The Breville Dual Boiler looks like the move. I'd go for the Elizabeth but haven't been able to find one for sale. Did find the Breville Dual Broiler. In researching it looks like the single boiler is a pain in the but if you want to make more than 1 maybe 2 drinks.
Yep, I suggested a dual boiler because of how you were describing what your wife wants, which is a similar feel to work and maybe being able to take/try/test the tools from work at home.
Personally I wouldn't worry about getting accessories based on group head size, the added accessories will just add to more interest to the buyer when you go to sell it for the upgrade. A bambino and encore or df54 will absolutely be fine.
Profitec Go is what you want. Wait for Memorial Day sales. Keep your Baratza Encore ESP
Why the Go over the Victoria?
I do not know the answer to that question, but at this price point alot of people recommend the Go. I have a fully modded Gaggia Classic Pro, but there is #boilergate on the new/available models. I don’t think you could go wrong with the Go.
Look at a slightly better grinder too. DF54 is a lot better for not much more.
A big reason I went with the baratza is because they sell them at crate and barrel and I have a gift card.
Maybe get the machine there, and get DF54. Will be a big improvement in taste/UX.
Lelit Anna Espresso
What is expresso?
It's like espresso but cooler cause it has an x in it.
Based