Thats the truth. The wattage difference didn't sink in until I used an electric kettle in england. A whole kettle of water boils in like a minute. I guess it makes sense what with all the tea they drink. It sure felt like water boiled more than twice as fast.

If I ever buy a bigger espresso machine I'm defiantly getting a dedicated 240 line for it.

So I did some online research of the Breville that you linked earlier and couldn't find anything but positive reviews and comments. I saw that BedBathBeyond sells those things and we have a load of coupons... So we head over to their local store and in the same mall is a high end kitchen shop (Sur La Table) that I know sells espresso machines. Sure enough they have a table lined with Jira automatics (wow $5600 for the top model) and free coffee samples. At the other side of the table are the semi-automatics and the single serve (Nespresso) options. We leave convinced that Breville is a decent product and $415 later walk out of BBB with our https://www.wholelattelove.com/breville-bes870xl-barista-express.

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I like that it comes with it's own burr grinder but is not dependent on it for ultimately making an espresso. Getting the right grind is critical and changes from bean to bean. We get it home, unpacked, cleaned, and prepped. It took me 3-4 tries to get the grind and volume settings correct but now pulls a double shot of Pete's espresso like a champ. Sure it's messy (coffee grounds) compared to the Jura and single serve machines but it fits my needs, has a quality appearance, and is simple to operate.

To appease the karma gods my wife did buy a copper whisk and a new lid handle for our Le Creuset dutch oven from the fancy place. ;) I'm still going to get a new portafilter for the old machine we have and give that to our daughter for her college apartment.

I’ve been tempted to buy that Breville to replace my old Saeco. Glad to hear you’re pleased with it.

Congrats. Slippery slope.

Doesn't make much sense to me to integrate a crappy grinder - i'm now on my 4th grinder and finally happy. Is really amazing how much difference the grinder makes. See if you can demo one at home.

I demoed the new brevilles. With high end grinders I had trouble pulling good shots with the 870, but the 920 was cake to use. I was just pulling shots, no steaming, I suspect the 870 isn't so temp stable or the unit I demoed wasn't working well.

Biggest problem is how they drive you to buy expensive beans.

I disagree. Try 100% Columbian from Eight-o-Clock

Darn whipper-snappers and yer fancy foo-foo drinks.
Back in my day men drank COFFEE! ;)

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I take one of these camping. Its a lot more fiddly then a french press, but way easier to pack.

All the guys on our Baja trip made fun of me for bringing it on a dirt bike tour - but they changed their tune when they didnt have coffee in the morning.

If there is a Trader Joe's near you they have a whole rack of reasonably price whole beans. Columbia, Kenya, Costa Rica, Kona, Bolivia, etc.

Red bag - brown stripe

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Coffee tip if you’re in the Dayton OH area. Press Coffee bar roasts their own beans under the Wood Burl Coffee brand. They do not, I repeat, do not roast their beans to a campfire aroma but actually let the flavor of the beans come out. Had a nice Ethiopian French press this morning.

They were just named best coffee in Ohio by Food & Wine magazine.

I’m going to try their cappuccino tomorrow, my go to beverage for measuring the quality of a cafe.

Yeah... just about every morning I pull a shot where I stop and smack my lips and curse because it tastes so good. There is something in good espresso that lights me up. I bring a hand grinder, beans, miletta cone when traveling, cup in the morning, but never lights me up like good espresso.

The problem though is that anything but the best beans makes for horrible espresso, no/bad crema, you can taste every rancid burned detail. Much better to make drip.

We've been hooked on vivace dolce blend (Espresso Vivace | Product categories | Coffee For Home) for years and years. Hate the price and occasionally we switch it up but always come back. At $30/week i figure the joy it gives is significantly more than expensive wine that we don't drink.

I'm no connoisseur. Black, drip coffee for me every morning.

I actually look forward to the hunting and fishing trips where we make our coffee on the propane stove with a percolator. That's good coffee.

My son uses an Aeropress in the field with the USMC. I might need to try that.