It's easy to look at high-end coffee gear and think that you have to spend thousands of dollars to get a great espresso shot at home. The reality, however, is that while those expensive machines might justify their price with advanced features and conveniences, brewing delicious espresso doesn't have to break the bank.
Here are some ways to get started for less!
All-In-Ones
An all in one like the Philips Baristina combines a brewer and a grinder into one unit. A machine like this is a great way to start your espresso journey because you know the grinder and brewer are purpose-built to work together. While this particular machine doesn't have milk steaming capabilities, it IS very easy to use, and just an all around great options for understanding how making espresso works (and yes, there's a companion milk frother you can get)!
For a lot of new at-home espresso fans one of the biggest hurdles in getting started is finding the right combination of grinder and machine, and with an option like the Baristina you can cut right past that work without it costing a thousand dollars. If you do have a larger budget and want to start with a slightly more advance machine, you could look at the Breville Barista Express. For a more automatic option, Philips' Carina is a great starting point!
Bundles and Standalone Machines
The downside to an all-in-one machine is that it's difficult to upgrade just one half of the grinder/brewer equation, and many users will want that flexibility. This is because upgrading your grinder should actually be a higher priority than your brewer. While high-end espresso machines certainly offer advantages in heat up times, capacity (ability to brew multiple drinks), programming, workflow, and more, at the end of the day an espresso machine just needs to heat water to the right temperature and push it through the puck at the right pressure. This is hardly as simple as we're making it sound, but the real trick to brewing exceptional espresso is the grinder.
Your grinder is what sets you up for success when brewing espresso. Proper, consistent grounds will improve your shots immensely, and its why we recommend spending more on your grinder than your brewer. This isn't to say entry level grinders aren't effective for espresso, but with more precision you'll be able to work with trickier beans, and tease out the full range of tasting notes of a roast.
With all of this in mind, a bundle like this one is a great, relatively affordable starting point for new at-home espresso users. This bundle combines the Breville Bambino - a capable little brewer, with the Baratza Encore ESP. The Encore ESP is an excellent starting point for espresso and we highly recommend it for new users and experienced home baristas. A setup like this is affordable enough to get started on, and can last you many years. If you do decide you want more from your espresso then you'll have the flexibility to upgrade from here.
Accessories
The other piece of the espresso puzzle that you'll see marketed alongside expensive machines is accessories. While these gadgets and tools will improve your espresso experience, they are not necessary to get started or brew great drinks. We've got some tips for you on what to pickup first.
Number one, a scale is an important accessory that you'll want as soon as you can get one. The best way to improve your espresso is with precision, from water temps, to pressures, to grind sizes, measurement is also key. By properly measuring your grounds you can eliminate a variable and get closer to that perfect shot. We recommend something like the Lucca Precision Scale to begin with. We know that this isn't a cheap option, but it will pay dividends in shot quality.
Next, while it's not as key as a scale, having distribution tools will be a game changer for your puck prep. We love the Breville Distributor Duo because it combines a WDT and a wedge distributor in one handy device. A WDT allows you to break up clumps evenly through your puck, as well as distribute the grounds a bit. By following this with a polish from a wedge distributor you can be sure that you've evenly prepped your puck for tamping. This is a relatively new tool in the home espresso brewer's arsenal, but it will make a noticeable difference in your routine.
Other high-end accessories like bottomless portafilters and fancy frothing pitchers can be fun, but they really aren't needed for crafting a good shot. That said, once you have the basics covered you're ready to explore without worrying that you won't be able to get a decent shot made, so have fun!
If you enjoyed this article then you might like some more thoughts on affordable setups in our video below. Be sure to leave us a comment with your favorite budget-friendly gear!