I’m currently brewing in an Aeropress, and considering one of the lower end espresso machines.
But based on a few comments from James Hoffmann about him drinking filter coffee at home, I’m wondering if an espresso machine is something that people end up using every day, or if people are brewing with simpler methods and just making espressos when they’ve got time on the weekend or people over?
What’s your experience, did you buy a machine and it mostly just takes up counter space, or is it a daily source of joy?
I use a flair lever machine and use it every day. It’s quick, easy to clean, fine for several shots in a row, has no capacity for doing anything with milk
The longest part of it is boiling the kettle to fill it, three double shots is pretty quick if the grinder can grind quick enough, though I deputize one of the people I’m making coffee for to feed the grinder for the next shot
The best part of a lever machine is with a little practice you can pull any pressure or rate profile
Clean up is so much easier - tap out the portafilter, wipe it out, wipe off the bench occasionally for spilt drops and grounds, compared to the effort for cleaning an immersion machine