Espresso Machine Newb advice

[Junglepeanut]

So I am not a picky coffee drinker, I will take whatever sludge that is brewed and drink it straight with nothing in it. My wife on the other hand has me put so much cream/sugar in that there is truly no coffee left. With that in mind I have been kicking around getting an Espresso machine to try and find a happy place for both of us/something new to play with. I have read a ton and see coffee snobs (not trying to be derogatory just categorizing) are very strict and really won't give advice beyond their standards. I am looking for something very beginner/basic and budget friendly for now. I know the common theme is self grinding machines are evil but I know me and would prefer the ease of this especially when making my wife drinks that will be drown out. I have very limited space to store multiple items and little patience to deal with the extra steps when it won't be coffee in the end anyway. On the other hand I would like to maybe step up from the gas station level coffee I drink now. With all that in mind I was eyeballing the delonghi Magnifica Start. Seems to cover the bases and has the options I need.

Anyone have any experience with this machine? Another recommendation that fits the bill in the $500 range? Or good reasons to not go down this road? Any help would be appreciated....

[BLachance75]

Have you considered a Nespresso machine.

[Junglepeanut]

I actually have/had one, it's what I made my wife's drinks from. The cost of the capsules for what I got out of it just didn't seem to make sense to me and I never found one I enjoyed enough to buy in bulk. I should probably pull it out and give it another go though

[flyweightnate]

I recently got away from Nespresso and got a really common machine, a Gaggia Classic (a 2013). It's good, and could be better with more work. I needed to buy a grinder too, though.

A friend has a Breville unit with a built in grinder and I'm impressed with it. He probably spent more up front, but less when you consider I've already changed to a different filter handle and added a temperature controller. It's a "thermo block" which means more if you're picky. I think it's going to be the consensus pick if you want to do "semiauto" instead of full automatic.

Siress got a Chiba auto that he mentioned in the coffee thread. Might be good. I tried a cheap Gaggia auto and was disappointed abs returned it; the coffee was almost like an Americano at its best but my wife didn't mind (after adding her pint of milk and sugar). The good autos are thousands.

[chops]

Entry level espresso snobbery is around 1k for a machine like a profitec Go and $230 for a grinder like a DF54. The ceiling on this stuff is nonexistent

That being said, the breville stuff is totally serviceable and perfectly fine for most people. Getting good beans that suit your tastes is going to make the biggest difference.

[RedLeaderSB]

Skip the expensive machine, aeropress with metal filter and fancy no drip cap. That’s what I’m sticking with.

[Jimmydee]

This is what I want to start doing. I’ll have to get one

[BenoitOWN]

Jimmydee I have one aeropress setup for sale, cold brew attachment(puck puck) and a metal filter(and what left of my paper filter), I can add my roasted coffee with it.

[BenoitOWN]

I wouldn’t go with a delonghi but breville given the choice.
I do like the simplicity of a e61 group head with a heat exchanger and yea sky is the limit with those. Better servicability and maintenance on the long term.

lelit, profited for entry level. Rocket is a good brand but priced premium.