Sorry to revive the old-ish thread, but does anybody have recommendations of sites/stores to buy the higher quality machines and burr grinders?

The big-name web retailers do not seem to have large listings of coffee equipment. (I found some decent-looking grinders but "need" white or brushed-stainless finish to match the kitchen or else the wifey would expel it to the cornfields...)

Also does anybody have more than hypothetical/anecdotal evidence that the full-auto machines are bad news? Granted many of them are hella-expensive, but I have seen some in the $600-800 range. Having an integrated water tank, grinder, tamper and emptier/trash-bin sure sounds cleaner and simpler esp. for those of us who are running out the door bleary-eyed in the a.m. and don't have time to deal w/ a manual.

coffeegeek.com is your friend. They discuss things like semi-auto vs. all manual like we discuss lift points for 911. The other place you might try where people talk about coffee way too much is the alt.coffee forum -- go to Google groups, can't miss it.

Some recommended sites from CG (off the top of my head) for potential purchase/research of coffee stuff:
WholeLatteLove
AabreeCoffee
ChrisCoffee
EspressoParts

FYI -- I got my Solis Maestro Plus on eBay for $100 (retail is usually about $150) and it works great. YMMV, and ultimately, the SMP is the absolute lowest possible quality grinder to make adequate espresso.


Hope that helps,

Dan

In addition to Dan's excellent advice, a few more sites:

http://www.1st-line.com/
http://esiespresso.com/
http://www.visionsespresso.com/

good luck, Evren

When U go to Whole Latte Love pay specail attention to the Salvatore Machines....compare them against the reast. Alose you can go to Salvatore.com...The machine is completely hand built using commerical grade components throughout. What is more they are made just up the road from you in Solvang, CA.

I can appreciate a good cup of coffee, really I can, but I've always used coffee for the effect, rather than for the flavor. With that criteria, coffee brewed two days ago works just fine.

hey, i thought seattle was the friggen coffee capital? or was it beer?

For cheap can coffee, I really like Yaucono from Puerto Rico. http://www.yaucono.com Excellent, especially when mixed with a little warm milk and some sweetened/condensed milk.