True coffee lovers - have you made the switch from traditional pump espresso machine to a bean to cup??

[Ethelfleda]

My current coffee set up consists of a nespresso for every day ‘don’t have the time’ coffee and a Krupps burr coffee bean grinder with a delonghi dedica espresso machine for when I have the time to extract a decent espresso.
Espresso machine now bust (wouldn’t recommend)
Now I am torn between:

1. Straight swap for a better espresso machine - carry on having mind blowing coffee when I can be arsed and mediocre when I can’t
2. Swap for a more sophisticated barista machine that makes espresso a little easier - so that maybe I could have mind blowing coffee every day and get rid of the nespresso save it for emergencies
3. Get one of these bean to cup machines that give you no control over grind size and /or tamp pressure etc but would hopefully be better than a nespresso?

To add - my drink of choice is americano but with one part water to one part coffee (double shot espresso) I like it like oil.
I wouldn’t use a steam nozzle too much but may dabble if I’m feeling fruity.

What are your recommendations?

Or this one:

Ok I'm going to give the opposite end of the budgetary scale! I have Lakeland's own bean to cup machine. It sells for £99.99 and I got a tenner off mine with a voucher. I only drink one cup of coffee each day so there's no need for anything fancy. It does a really good grind and the flavour is excellent i.e. not burnt/weak. I buy beans from a local coffee merchant that has been in business since 1817.

Doasyou love your name.Reminds me of the Waterbabies book I had as a child.
Thanks so much for these links. Yes it's the microcosm I'm after

Microfoam!!!!

Moka pot ! Moka pot !

Really, I grew to hate machines. Nespresso just not nice and I don’t rate the environmental impact. Other machines with their neediness annoy me too - decalcify me ! empty my grounds ! fill my beans !

Give me the simple physics of the Moka pot any day.

I buy Lavazza Rossa coffee for every day and have a Pact subscription come once per month for a treat.

OK we have just bought Sage machine
Coffee recommendations gratefully received
Ours allows us to tamp - any tips?
Any tips with milk frothing?

Going against most advice, I am using M&S single origin Peruvian beans and I get a great cup of coffee - crema and all (look at my pic upthread!)
My limited experience with freshly roasted beans hasn’t been great so far and they’re 4x the price!!

brrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Even though I’ve just spent in excess of 500 quid on a coffee machine, I totally get where you’re coming from actually. I like to mix it up with coffee too and have been thinking of buying a Mokka pot for those days. It does make good coffee. It’s all down to taste I guess. And ritual

Didn't know it was called a moka pot but agree it is the best coffee I have had.

@Ethelfleda

OK we have just bought Sage machine Coffee recommendations gratefully received Ours allows us to tamp - any tips? Any tips with milk frothing?

Going against most advice, I am using M&S single origin Peruvian beans and I get a great cup of coffee - crema and all (look at my pic upthread!)
My limited experience with freshly roasted beans hasn’t been great so far and they’re 4x the price!!

M&S may well be an exception...I love M&S!

@Beemail1

Doasyou love your name.Reminds me of the Waterbabies book I had as a child. Thanks so much for these links. Yes it's the microcosm I'm after

I had that book read to me at school by a teacher a very long time ago, so I must have embedded it in the depths of my memory, as I was not thinking of it when I chose my username.

Just upgraded to the Barista Pro after the Express conked out after 6 years and 10k+ cups of faithful service. We get our beans from Monmouth Coffee

Also, invest in a milk jug thermometer to make the perfect microfoam without burning the milk

@titsmcgee

Also, invest in a milk jug thermometer to make the perfect microfoam without burning the milk

I think the Sage machines now come with a jug that has a built in thermometer on the outside.

@titsmcgee

Just upgraded to the Barista Pro after the Express conked out after 6 years and 10k+ cups of faithful service. We get our beans from Monmouth Coffee

I was wondering what the difference was between the pro and the express and see that the pro has digital displays.