• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

I want a little and cheap espresso machine

Liz Wolf-Spada

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,094
Reaction score
2
Points
423
Location
Wrightwood, CA
I bought a little Mr. Coffee and it doesn't work. The frothing arm doesn't steam or heat up. I've tried two different grounds of coffee. I'm disappointed and taking it back to Target on Wed. What suggestions do my fellow Tuggers have? It needs to be small (no room for much on our overcrowded counter), doesn't have to make more than one or two cups at a time and should be EASY to use.
Thanks,
Liz
 

Nobylspoon

newbie
Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Austin, TX
I lived in Italy for 3 years and I noticed that most Italian families dont use machines for their espresso they use a french press. I picked one up for about $15 and it makes the best espresso. If you want steamed milk with it they also have something similar thats about the same price that froths the milk.

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=113088&RN=831

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=14703217

As far as grounds I highly recommend Illy or Manuel.
 

stevedmatt

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
701
Reaction score
1
Points
228
Location
NJ
Just had espresso from my moka pot tonight and it was as good as ever. If you do decide to go this route, be sure to use a medium heat, not high, when brewing the espresso. Some bitterness occurs when you brew it too fast. I think this is the best and cheapest method for making espresso.
 

Liz Wolf-Spada

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,094
Reaction score
2
Points
423
Location
Wrightwood, CA
One of my concerns about the French Press is that the ones I have seen are aluminum and that didn't seem like a good idea with something as acidic as coffee. Or are the newer ones stainless? I do want something to also froth milk. What is the difference between using a pump and the other way, like my Mr. Coffee? A friend has an old Salton which works great, but it is an old one.
Thanks,
Liz
 

Jbart74

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2006
Messages
328
Reaction score
1
Points
16
Location
Springfield, MA
Free Machine!!

Liz,

I have a Krupps Il Primo Espresso/Cappacino machine that is tiny, makes 2.5 cups at a time, and froths some mean milk. Well, it did last time I used it about 2 years ago. Do you want it? It takes up less space than a dinner plate and if you're interested, it's yours. Send me a PM with your address and I'll get it off to you by Thursday. If you don't like it, throw it away. I was about to because we just don't drink the bean anymore.
 

Ginny

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
143
Reaction score
0
Points
376
Location
Twin Cities, MN
I think having a pump-driven machine controls the temperature and pressure of the water better, which is important in extracting the flavor and oils from the beans.

Here's a wikipedia article about espresso, which explains the brewing process.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso
 

falmouth3

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,417
Reaction score
22
Points
38
Location
Burlington, MA
Liz,

I have a Krupps Il Primo Espresso/Cappacino machine that is tiny, makes 2.5 cups at a time, and froths some mean milk. Well, it did last time I used it about 2 years ago. Do you want it? It takes up less space than a dinner plate and if you're interested, it's yours. Send me a PM with your address and I'll get it off to you by Thursday. If you don't like it, throw it away. I was about to because we just don't drink the bean anymore.

Wow. That was very generous of you!

I joined my local Freecycle group and people are giving away good stuff that they can't use anymore. One person was giving away a working 16 cu. ft. refrigerator, including delivery. People can be so nice!

Sue
 

Conan

TUG Review Crew: Elite
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
3,138
Reaction score
595
Points
498
Location
Connecticut
These are used in Italy and are cheap to buy - - not actually espresso but the coffee is very similar, since the water passes through the grounds bottom-to-top as steam. I don't know if they're commonly made of steel vs. aluminum.
ITAL12CUP_MAIN.jpg
 

silvib

TUG Member
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
633
Reaction score
0
Points
16
Location
Florida
The coffee machine shown above is great! We used one like that all the time we were living in Spain. Obviously it doesn't have anything for frothing milk. Now I have a small Mr. Coffee expresso which has been great, but you get the best results with the coffee that is ground especially for expresso machines. I use La Llave which is very nice. It's popular in FL at least with those with a hispanic taste in coffee, it's not bitter and full of flavor.
 

Nobylspoon

newbie
Joined
Oct 30, 2008
Messages
32
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Austin, TX
These are used in Italy and are cheap to buy - - not actually espresso but the coffee is very similar, since the water passes through the grounds bottom-to-top as steam. I don't know if they're commonly made of steel vs. aluminum.
ITAL12CUP_MAIN.jpg

That is just what I was refering to in my post. You will find one of these in every home in Italy, sitting within an arms reach of a bottle of grappa of course :D
 
Top