After burning out a little Krups 2 cup French Press maker after 7 years I went with the above.
The Salvatore Logic:
1. After reading reviews of people who had bought high end machines, they invariably said they wish they had gone straight to the high end machine without dicking around with the cheaper machines.
2. The machine and grinder are used everyday. (2 mugs of Latte a day...)
3. Cost $1475 plus $225 for Mini Mazzer Grinder (resold by Whole Latte Love) for a cost of about $1700.00
4. Apx cost at Starbucks for a Mug $2.00 X 2 X 365 X 7.3 years = $10,658.00. Even if one had to subtracted out the cost of Milk, Splenda and Coffee..the savings are substantial. I figure the cost of material is reflected in my low cost of a mug at Starbucks.
5. By buying your own Esspresso machine there has ben a savings of nearly $9000 over going to Starbucks everyday for the same period of time. Further the machine has worked flawlessly for 7.3 years of ownership. With cheaper machines one might not have the same low cost as the longetivity of the machine might not be as long.
Question was the iniatial cost of the Salvatore worth it? The answer is yes it has because it has been used everyday, there are savings over going to Starbucks which have long ago paid for the machine and there is a certain satisfaction of owning and using such a fine piece of machinery. Would I have bought it again the answer is YES..