This is the first commercial website where i just couldnt find the price, neither the "buy" button ..

I would like to give a strong counterexample to that. I got a Flair 58 lever machine which on the one hand is a beautifully engineered machine (connected to a trash power supply that feels like it stepped out of the 90s but that's another story).

However, it's not the machine for me. I got it when I was deeply getting into coffee, and I'm coming from a scientific background so I wanted to do proper testing of my extractions. That's not really possible with a lever machine. Shots are inherently not reproducible, it's very difficult to get the same pressure from one shot to the next, even with the pressure gauge.

If that doesn't bother you and you're just happy to get decent espresso from a beautiful looking machine, then absolutely go for a lever machine.

But if you have scientific tendencies, if you want to properly test and compare flavors between between and brew ratios, it's not for you.

A prosumer electric machine will give you way more consistent results, although you won't be able to adjust pressure you'll still be able to adjust everything else.

And of course, if you want to steam milk then a lever machine can't do that either.

> Before you spend many thousands of dollars on a machine better suited to a coffee shop, consider getting a minimalist lever machine.

Nope. I agree about enjoyment factor but still: no. Unless you are single and don't like cappu's.

With lever machines it's going like this: you turn it on, wait few minutes, pull espresso... and it is too cold. You pull second and third and those can be good but by 4th espressos are too hot so they are bitter. So it is time to turn off your lever mini-espresso machine... And milk frothing ? n/c

Oh, and boiler size in "lever" machines :) La Pavoni Stradivari is 16... But what you do when boiler is empty ? You have solid piece of metal with temp 90-100 C, how you like to unscrewing and refiling it ? :) And then 5 minutes of warming it to 90's again...

Now cost... 1k up to 2k dollars for lever. So when "many starts" ? For 2k-3k you have more available machines then you want to choose from :>

And belive me: you _want_ a plumbed one. So we are almost in "commercial" territory, there is no way around it.

There are now new generations of "lab" espresso machines but usually they are not cheaper then plain e61. And still some Rancilio made tank is preferable - Epocas are dirt cheap, almost :)

But if someone want cheap coffee gear then Chemex or Hario v60 is perfect option. Perfect! We use it almost daily at home. Or few times a day. :) Almost same amount of ritual like with Robot :)

Full agree on grinders - better one makes difference.

So, 20 years of coffee forums reading in one sentence: espresso machines need to be heavy and they costs.

In secret I can tell: Stradi is still on my wish list :)

And then there is one thing even or maybe especially commercial shops avoid: actual good coffee. You need to pay 2x or 3x or more for 1kg of coffee beans or you just serving black slops. Some chemistry you dilute with milk. Look it is easy to one-time pay 5k for some chrome machine but every day paying for good coffee beans is beyond most coffee shops on the globe...

I agree but for different reasons. As a hardcore light/ultralight roast coffee nerd, I often recommend 'soup shots' over espresso. I've never owned an espresso setup, but the "soup shots" I've pulled with a $45 oxo brewer absolutely are in the ballpark of the best espresso shots I've had from the same roasts brewed with a traditional machine.

> Before you spend many thousands of dollars on a machine better suited to a coffee shop, consider getting a minimalist lever machine.

Agreed. I have a Pavoni Europiccola, and it's made approximately ~11,000 espresso shots (about half of those ended up as milk-based beverages). It makes excellent coffee, and I live in a place where there are a _lot_ of good coffee places around to compare to.

The maintenance is something I do myself, with a few small & inexpensive tools, and a few gaskets I need to replace. The machine will likely outlive me, which is a rare thing to say these days.

I have the same and love it. Another bonus of the Cafelat is no microplastics in my hot coffee. :)

The practical benefit is having basically zero parts.

We got a Flair manual espresso maker after our Gaggia Classic crapped out after a year (hard water buildup, probably). I de-scaled, replaced some parts, still didn't work.

They are fun but at the end of the day the deal breakers are "preheated water" and no steamed milk without more machines/gadgets. Kind of kills the entire point. That said, there are more advanced lever machines that have boilers built in.

No milk though

> a tactile experience that engages the senses

> make sure you have a good grinder first

The mercurial success of Hot Dog on a Stick has taught us that the choices of uniform and workers are factors!

Or just get a Moka pot, which is what most Italians use at home anyway. You can get a decent one for $30-50.

>consider getting a minimalist lever machine

Before spending money on an espresso machine, make sure you have a good grinder first.

When I moved to Europe years ago from the USA I was trying to decide if I wanted an all-in-one or an old-style arm one like you link (they were bigger though with lots of brass and just one arm). I ultimately went with the all-in-one (with ceramic grinders) because I realized I was so tired of grinding my coffee, packing it in, waiting for the espresso maker to warm up, having to stand there while the pump runs (I know this step is different), take the filter off and empty the grounds... if I needed to make 5 coffees for guests it was a big long ordeal. But my Italian all-in-one is super convenient but expensive but worth it. It's been twenty years now and I had to services just once. Select what I want to make, go off to my computer to login while it grinds the coffee, makes the coffee, go pick it up. Simple.