Coffee Appreciation

That was the other machine on my shortlist, went with the Elizabeth for the smaller footprint.

Aye, I mean obviously I would agree.
But I spent a pretty long time researching for a dual boiler machine that wasn’t mental money, of course even a grand is mental to most.
It’s why I’d asked earlier if anyone here was actually using a home machine in the higher price brackets. The Elizabeth is making the best coffee I’ve ever tasted anywhere.
I used to work in hospitality and have used a lot of different commercial machines that cost many thousands, but if they are poorly maintained and operated by a muppet then they end up bashing out shite espresso.
I’d argue that a modified Gaggia Classic or similar can produce an espresso of the same quality of machines costing at least ten times more.
As mentioned before, spending the real big bucks, I think, comes down to nerding out and having a desire to have the supposed absolute best.
I often see the ‘wallet inspection’ phrase thrown about on the forum when someone is upset by how a stranger has chosen to spend their own money on a bike. It always makes me laugh, who gives a fuck, let people do as they wish with their cash and buy that twelve grand bike and so on. Anything that helps make you happy.
But I can’t help feel that coffee machines made for home use that cost 4/5 grand really are in wallet inspection territory! Again, buy whatever makes you happy, no judgement from me, but I’d love to know what the cost price is to manufacture something like a Linea is?
Ok, rant over.

I’d considered the Silvia pro x too but it seemed like there isn’t really a great deal between the two.
I’d thought about buying a brand new single boiler machine and modifying the life out it, but the eventual cost isn’t far off something like the Elizabeth.