Just found this exchange on the web that supports my statement “If you looking for the great espresso, great saving and great hobby, but not socializing – get your own espresso machine”

Is making espresso more expensive than making coffee?

by Gary
(Penticton, BC)
QUESTION:
I find I can no longer justify the price of dropping by at my local coffee shop and buying a cappuccino or latte. So I’m thinking of buying a home espresso machine. My question is – will it cost me more to make an espresso at home than it does to make a regular cup of coffee in my drip brewer?

ANSWER:

Gary,

Great question. The short answer is that it won’t cost you more to make your own cappuccino.

The high price of espresso-based coffee drinks in coffee shops is more to do with the atmosphere and “performance” of making your drink. Also, in a commercial setting, those shops are having to cover the cost of expensive equipment and the salaries of their baristas.

At home the cost of the coffee for your espresso is no higher than the cost of the coffee you buy for your drip brewer.

So yes, you can make a great cappuccino or latte for the same price as a regular cup of coffee.

That said, you’ll probably pay more for an espresso machine than you did for your drip brewer.

You don’t have to spend a fortune, but you should read a little about the espresso machine and make sure it is pump driven. Inexpensive espresso machines force the water through the tamped coffee grinds simply using “steam” pressure. Not good. You won’t get a quality espresso that way. Decent home espresso machines typically have a “15-bar pump”.

Source:http://www.coffeedetective.com/is-making-espresso-more-expensive-than-making-coffee.html

Espresso in Italian means “coffee prepared under press”. It is a very simple word, but not a very simple process!

For preparing a real “Italian espresso”, Italians in general use dark roasted coffee (this is an established tradition).
Espresso that is prepared from a blend of dark roasted coffee usually has a very distinguished bold taste and aroma that the Italians drink at any time of the day. In other countries, the majority of the people drink espresso usually in the morning in order to wake themselves up and get energized before the workday begins.

Coffee beans by Italian roasting are a little bit oily. This gives them some shine and gives them their dark brown color. Although dark roasted coffee has less caffeine than the medium or light roast, the opinion of the Italian roasters is the dark roast has a stronger, unique taste. What a pleasure it is to wake up and get your favorite drink. But what to do if the quality is poor or varies day to day?

Get your own espresso machine!