Lot of good wisdom here. I started down this rabbit hole years ago with a $25 thermoblock machine. I upgraded to a $200 single boiler pump machine later and loved it, then built a dual-boiler PID-controlled monster. Then it was a big HX machine, and now I use an Alex Duetto.
Lessons learned:
- Don't skimp on the grinder. A good quality burr grinder will make consistent coffee, while a cheaper one will consistently make you unhappy. Getting the grind right really does matter.
- Roasting your own beans is neither challenging nor expensive, and it has a HUGE impact on the flavor of your coffee. Look up "dog bowl heat gun" coffee roasting; I use an old Kitchenaid mixer instead of a dog bowl, but it's the same thing.
- After you've got good beans and a consistent grind, temperature control is the next most important thing. But if you're not grinding well, or the beans aren't fresh (within about 7-10days of roast), you might not even notice.
So practical recommendations? The Aeropress may not be junk, but it's really hard to make good coffee with it. Budget, say, $150 for an introductory machine with a pump and a thermoblock or small boiler. If you're a Pelican (e.g. DIY-inclined), don't be afraid to install a PID controller; they're usually cheap and it's a great way to get better temperature control out of a cheap machine. Don't worry about the E-61 grouphead at this point, but try to get one that's the same size (avoid the little bitty cutesy ones).
Unless you decide to get serious, you may be ok getting pre-ground coffee at your local shop, as long as you get small doses (like a day or two's worth of coffee, not a month). Sooner rather than later, though, you should watch the auctions for used grinders (Mazzer Mini is your friend!). Budget about $200 for a grinder. Mine's lasted for, I don't know, 12 years now, I think, so it's really a long term investment.
Good luck.
Dan