Knowing 40% of sod all about coffee….which machine makes the closest coffee to a starbucks caramel cappucino?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/DeLonghi-Magnifica-ESAM4200-Espresso-Cappuccino/dp/B001EOMZ5E

Although this has been as low as £229 back in December. Currently cheapest on Amazon.de @ £260

Why change? for what your needs are you seem to have all bases covered. Spend the £300 on something else…

aeropress for £25 and spend the change on something else? Big improvement over French press coffee imo.

Thought with £300 budget though may as well sell the grinder and have morning black gold hit from the press of one button 😀

I got a DeLonghi Treviso for £40 6 years ago. At some point during that period it decided not to reach full pressure any more, I think, but the coffee’s still fine; just comes out slower.

£300 gets you 7 of those 🙂

Why the obsession with saving money? How about you get a waitrose card and go and queue for a free coffee instore?

Or how about spending the money and enjoying good coffee at home? Which if you want an espresso then neither a stovetop or aeropress will make one.

A gaggia classic is the stock answer because they are very good for the money with proven internals and a commercial grade chromed brass group head and portafilter. Spares and mods are freely available as they have been popular for a very long time and a proven design.

You say you have a grinder but if it’s a blade grinder not a burr grinder it will be useless for espresso so you may have to rethink that.

You say “black coffee” but don’t say whether you want espresso or espresso based drinks. Personally I only drink black coffee but rarely have espresso – I mostly use a Haria Clever Dripper, an Aeropress or a V60 depending. If you do want an espresso machine then MrSmith has given you the answer.

If you’re not sure, it’d be worth trying an aeropress or cone dripper as they’re handy for camping as well.

So it looks like the 2015 gaggia Classic has had a makeover and has plastic spouts on the portafilter and no over pressure valve/3 way solenoid. If you buy one don’t get the new model.

Gaggia Classic or Rancilio Silvia Espresso machines.

I’ve bought modded 2nd hand GClassic with Auber PID kit mod and bottomless portafilers etc for £250, and man … I have discovered new world of flavours . Coffee never been this good.

Obviously you need to have a good grinder for such a fine coffee. Grinders do make a difference into fine tuning your shots.