Some history:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espresso_machine
Pump style:
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11240026&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=&lang=en-US&s=1

Hope this helps.

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For some reason, I can't pull that CostCo product up.

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http://www.costco.com/Common/Search.aspx?whse=BC&topnav=&search=expresso%20machines&N=0&Ntt=expresso%20machines&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US

Once there, just search "expresso machines" if it doesnt come up. Its about 899 for the pump style.

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Oh cool. I see what you mean.

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As a fellow caffeine addict, I'd be hesitant to recommend the full auto stuff, as while they make consistently OK coffee, I've yet to find one that made good coffee. Like you I think the pods are a rip off and almost always are full of whatever is cheap, not what's tasty!

unless you like making coffee for lots of people, I'd suggest considering one of the Japanese vacuum based coffee syphons. They work by a flame underneath that boils the water pushing it up into the funnel where the coffee grounds go, leaving a vacuum filled bulb. Then when all the water is in the top section, blow out the flame and the vacuum sucks the water through the grounds and the filter paper.

It is very gentle on the coffee so it never burns but also makes a surprisingly strong brew. My only recommendation is to go for the Hario branded ones.

As an added bonus it helps make your kitchen look like something from a mad scientist's lab so you can cackle "The Fools, I'll show you all!!!!!" as you brew your life giving tonic.

links here....
http://www.coffeeco.com.au/syphonbrew.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_coffee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIvLZP0_wZo (home made youtube vid)
http://www.harioglass.com/english/products/index.htm


Since you like iced coffee, consider one of the cold filter methods such as those described in http://ineedcoffee.com/06/coldbrew/ - it's strong, much less bitter, though arguably not as rich in flavour, though if you're a white coffee drinker, then you won't notice it.


If you want a more conventional espresso machine, I'd go with the "La Pavoni Romantica" in brass (http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/lapavoni/brass.htm)

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I don't think I generally want to wait 12 hours or make coffee in bulk and I prefer a pretty rich shot, but I might have to try out the cold brew method just for the experience points. Thanks so much for the info on it!

If I had a really beautiful house, I might feel like I need the La Pavoni. All their machines look like art. But I honestly prefer a pump machine.

Much as I would like to appear to be a mad scientist to others, I think I would set my hair on fire some morning I really needed a coffee.

You can see why I'm having trouble picking a machine. Doh.

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oh, one more thing - one useful site is coffeegeek.com

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I have been reading that site waaaaaaaay too much. I think this might be one of those rare examples of too much information. Coffee Geek makes me come up with a reason to reject every option. So I keep upping my budget and then rejecting the next one.

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Pretty much anything that http://sweetmarias.com/ sells is top quality.

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Cool link! That site has some interesting stuff, especially on roasting.

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Try this: http://www.saeco-usa.com/
They have different models, and I heard from my friends, who have such machine at home or in ofice, that they are really good.
Another good choise: http://www.epinions.com/Coffee_and_Espresso_Makers--reviews--spidem

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Oh cool, I'll check out the reviews there. I think Saeco makes all the Starbucks machines too.

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Scott got a refurbished Jura Imprezza Z5 with his bonus earlier this year and it's pretty damn awesome. It's fully automatic as far as cleaning and all that annoying crap goes.

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Do you find that you can get a nice rich shot out of it? I've heard that you have to use more dry beans or something on the super-automatics.

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