pkphilip

I started to drink coffee less and less because it is simply TOO EXPENSIVE to drink outside.

I have a Breville Expresso machine and making my own drink costs under $0.5 per cup. I will be getting a more semi-pro unit + conical burr grinder that costs about $600, so if I drink 5 times a week, the machine will breakeven in 24 weeks :-)

Of course, it takes about 1/2 hour to make my own drink caz I need to clean up the machines. If I don't have time, I just use my dripper or my french press.

Philip

pkphilip

I am using the Breville Cafe Modena and am satisify with the result, the newer Cafe Roma is really the same thing just comes with some stainless cups, and a movable steam wand. I have a modified Cuisineart burr grinder just to do espresso. I agree that it does not have enough pressure to steam things fast enough (so milk gets diluted), however that is the limitation for any thermo-block based machine. Without getting too technical, thermo-block throws off wet-steam and a real boiler (pro/commercial) throws off dry steam.

I am looking at the Gaggia Baby, which is a reasonable semi-pro home model that has a real boiler. I am looking at that machine when I move to my new place. Breville has the higher die-cast espresso machine, I played around with it and it feels heavier and sturdier than the Roma, but I still prefer the Gaggia more.

To me, making a good cup of coffee is a art creation. I actually enjoy the whole process as it can be quite technical and fun to do. It is becoming a hobby now that I start looking around town for some good beans.

Philip

pkphilip

McDonald is not bad at all.

It's a cheap caffine fix.

Philip