My new espresso machine. It's as automated as it can get and makes great coffee.
I've been putting off getting an espresso machine for way too long. Rich sent me a link to a near automatic machine that was at a price too low to ignore so I grabbed one. I am still drinking moka, cold brew, and pour over styles but I am pleased to add espresso drinks to the at home routine.
Y'all who know me know I love coffee and that until the past few years I spent a lot of time in coffee shops. I still go from time to time but not as often since Bridge closed. Yes, I know that I was spending a lot of money but it was as much about a relaxing evening out as it was about drinking good coffee. Kinda.. With Bridge gone it has become more about the coffee. Pines (the shop downtown) is nice but it doesn't have the atmosphere to keep me there for too long but it's not uncommon for me to drive in two or three times a month just to get out of the house (I retired from law enforcement and work from home now).
I've heard it said to skip that daily cappuccino or latte if you are trying to save for a large purchase. I believe it now. I figured out that the price of leaving the house solely for the purpose of driving to Pines, staying to get two drinks and driving home is about $15.50 with current prices for drinks and gas.
Now, two of the same drinks at home cost me $1.50.
The machine cost $96 with tax and will pay for itself after only having used it enough to save seven trips to Pines. I haven't tried to figure the price for Starbucks, Yukon, or 7Brew since those are drive thru and leaving the house to get a cup and drink it while driving home isn't something I do.
As I stated in a previous post I still believe that drinking great coffee is a luxury. In the five years since that post daily life has gotten much more expensive and, even with a little more income in my pocket, a lot of luxuries I enjoyed have been put aside. Thankfully even with the addition of espresso to my home routine great coffee is still a very affordable luxury.
A side note here.. If you are scratching your head after looking at the picture of the machine please understand that I still haven't decided where I'm going to keep it set up. There is no shelf space left in the kitchen and, yes, that is an old baking tray under it. I have it on a small bookshelf that would not hold up to very many spills. I may keep it where it is but will have to find a better tray to put under it if I do.
