If you want to save some dollars on a first machine, consider a refurbished one. Take a look at the ones on Whole Latte Love or Abbree Coffee. I understand they are under common ownership now -- I've bought from both of them and both of our espresso machines (DH took one to the office) were bought refurbished. I have no hesitation recommending them for retail, best price or helpful service. When we bought ours, Gaggia was one of the brands they were recommending. I can't remember the reason (might have been the adjustable brewing head that let DH brew into an espresso cup and me into a tall mug), but we went with Jura-Capresso. You would probably be happy with either brand, but do check out the refurbished ones. Here is a link that might be useful: Refurbished Models

I have the TCA6300 Benvenuto which has the electronic read out. It makes great coffee and expresso's. My wife has already stated that if we ever divorce she gets the Benvenuto. I just checked the read out and it says we've made 7344 cups of coffee so it really gets a workout. The main thing we found is that you don't want to use real oily beans and a medium roast seems to make the best coffee.

I am a mom and family-only sewer. I have been taking my sewing projects to a commercial embroidery place to have the monogram added. I have to wait two weeks and am not thrilled with the price. I'd love to purchase a small machine that I would use only to add monograms to things like little dresses, hankies, bloomers. If it could do a monogram on towels great, if not then no big deal. I don't want to ever do little pictures or stuff! I do not plan to ever be commercial in any way. I would probably want 4 or 5 fonts and that's it, just to monogram. Any suggestions for a machine? I really appreciate anyone's thoughts!

I'm an espresso/caffe lover and I have often thought about buying an espresso machine for the very reason you are considering one, I spend a fair amount of change on my cappuccino/latte habit. So far I have made do with switching over to french roast and other darker types of coffee. Contrary to how it might seem intuitively, darker roasts actually have less acid and less caffeine, which for me is a good thing. I've also spent a fair amount of time researching on all the variables of good coffee, because I am a science weenie. As you are probably aware, a great machine is only part of the equation for great coffee based drinks, the beans, roasting, grinding and water all come in to play as well. Given that, here is what I have learned, thanks to Dcarch explaining it to me. I'm not sure if this is true with espresso machines, but it is true with coffee brewing machines so I think it is probably true by extension. What you pay for in a more expensive machine is the innards (not sure I know what they all are, but the heating element and the part that transfers the electric current into heat energy). In a cheaper model, they will wear out relatively quickly and soon your machine will not be brewing the coffee at the optimum temperature and you will gradually start getting cooler and cooler coffee. That's why folks initially might love their cheap coffee machine and wonder what all the fuss is about it not making good coffee when it makes perfectly good coffee for them. But come back to them in a couple of years and ask them. Many of the cheap ones just downright break after a couple of years. The irony of the middle level priced ones is you are probably paying for cheap innards with nicer outer features. But do you really need the more expensive machine, that's hard to say. How much will you use it and how do you feel about it having a limited useful life. That's why folks dole out more money for the Breville coffee machines, at least at one time, they had more robust heating elements. Not sure this is even true anymore. I know a lot of people would say to avoid this issue just use a moka, where you can heat the water on your stove. I know for me that would be a sure fire way to burn myself or damage some part of my kitchen! Another solution is to get something inexpensive, see how you like having it and using it, and if it works for you, graduate to something better. On the flip side, I'll bet there are tons of good machines out there "used" because a lot of folks probably buy something higher end and then realize they don't use it or need to devote the counter space to it. I ended up quite happy with getting myself an instant hot water pot and using a french press or pour over coffee filter, because I have a tiny, tiny kitchen and I don't regret not having one of these coffee makers taking up counter space. If I ever do decide to venture into caffe at home (I guess I can't dare call it espresso) I will probably go with a moka to start. I don't know if I will ever have the money to be in the dilemma you're in, I would like to dream that someday I will have a kitchen with a little breakfast bar and my cool espresso machine standing nearby!