Coffee Machine (cappuccino, espresso, lattes)

For that price range, your best bet is probably a Nespresso machine with the milk frother accessory. It's not a single button machine (i.e. it won't make the whole drink for you, you'll have to do the espresso and milk separately and then combine), but will get the job done consistently. I prefer the original capsule machines to the vertuoline, but it's a matter of preference.

Nespresso Essenza Mini I've had this one for 2 years with no issues

Aerocino Milk Frother
P.S. all of the Nespresso machines from the cheapest to the most expensive produce exactly the same quality of espresso shot.

Any good espresso isn't coming out of a $250 machine. The pod style makers make very meh coffee, but if you're going for Starbucks quality, then you don't need anything high end

What would be the "one step up" from the Nespresso type machines if I did decide to go higher?

Lattissimo1

This one looks like the original version of what TDTOM mentioned but about half the price.

Good coffee is an expensive pursuit. Sort of like high-end audio.

You can improve your brewed coffee experience with one of the Nespresso machines. They make so-so coffee and have a few flaws to good coffee.

1- the pods are pre-ground old coffee (freshness is paramount)

2- The pods are undersized for a proper shot of espresso.

3- You are stuck buying expensive pods

My advice is to keep your eyes open for an affordable "Super-Automatic" machine. Breville models get high marks at a reasonable price. The superautomatics work by you loading whole beans into the hopper. It grinds, tamps, and pulls the shot for you. You are now open to the world of available whole bean coffees.

I am also a fan of SeattleCoffeeGear.com. They are an authorized repair facility for the Philips / Saeco machines that are solid. That means they have open-box deals as well as refurbs pop up.

Refurb Superauto

I would recommend a baby gaggia. I have had this machine over the years.

A little late to this but...

quote:

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Any good espresso isn't coming out of a $250 machine.

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This was the consensus when researching machines a few years back. The minimum recommended was the Breville Barista Express. I got it for about $430 on ebay and it is my favorite kitchen appliance by far. I've easily gotten my money's worth and it is still chugging along, lax maintenance and all.

I probably mentioned it previously, but spend some time on Seattle Coffee gear's website. Watch some video reviews there.

Seattle Coffee Gear Holiday Deals