Can anyone recommend an Expresso Machine?

[Harrison]

I love my expresso in the morning. We had a Delonghi machine for about 5 years that worked ok, but was a single button one cup size shot, so not versatile. When that broke we managed to pick up a cheap second hand but never used one by Dualit. It looked promising and would have been about the same price as the Delonghi originally. One problem.. it's crap! It only successfully makes a coffee about 1/3 attempts, and even then its not great. The basket blocks all the time, and it didn't seem to have enough pressure if you tap down the coffee fully. So I've had enough of it.

So I'm looking for a decent one now. Budget is really £300 max. There's a Delonghi one that is more versatile at that price, but wondered what everyone else recommends. A bean to cup machine would be cool, but I've got a decent Delonghi grinder so that's not essential. Any suggestions?

 

[miggymad]

De'Longhi ESAM 2800 Cafe Corso

It's a bean to cup machine, slightly more expensive than your budget but worth it IMHO. Can make 2 cups at the same time which is a bonus as we are both avid coffee drinkers here.

Argos 906/2135

£319.99

 

[Harrison]

Thanks. I will take a look. In fact I have a lot of Nectar points so could cash those in if buying it from Argos.

 

[Templar]

I recommend Gaggia. More at www.gaggia.com

 

[Sardine]

I recommend Thermoplan , possibly the BW4 but I'm biased as that's the main manufacturer I service/repair coffee machines for.

Might be a slight tad above your budget

https://www.thermoplan.ch/en/products

the previous model BW3 you can still see in most McDonalds / Greggs / Subway ( Some Subways / Green King still use the BW Smart machine ) etc.

Starbucks use there own design Still Thermoplan but called the Mastrena.