Many people just blindly buy a cheap home espresso maker without thinking of its quality. They see the low price and all the apparent features and figure it is a good deal. After all, having an espresso maker is better than not having one.
Wrong!
This mindsight is not the best way to go about buying an affordable espresso machine. Before you make any purchasing decision you should at least do a little bit of research, so that you are not wasting your money.
For instance, most affordable espresso machines use steam to power the brewing process. While this may look good on paper, steam actually is not able to generate enough pressure to brew a proper shot of espresso. Look for pump-driven machines instead, as they can generate 15, 16, or 20 bars of pressure, which is more in the range of full-bodied espresso.
Also, plastic machines break easily and often negatively affect the taste and smell of your espresso shots. Try to get a machine that is made out of stainless steel, so as to avoid these problems.
Finally, there are lots of great articles on how to find the best espresso machine under 200 dollars. Read about what to look for, take a look at customer reviews, and think before you commit to buying something.
As long as you follow the above advice, you should be able to find a great espresso machine under 200 that can produce good-quality espresso for years to come.
