So about ten years ago I had been using the aero press many times a day for my new wife and I. We got a grinder for it and it was great. I found a used gaggia classic that was being sold as is but looked brand new. It was like 100 USD or so. I grabbed it and found a wire had loosened up.

That was the start of my espresso journey. I have bought 4 or 5 of those, they never die bad enough that you can fix it, these were for friends and gifts all used and repaired by me so I could get good at it.

My wife and I were hooked...

Then back in 2016 I bought a dead 2 group commercial one. I had plans to build one but gave up. I suck at welding and small boilers are hard to find.

Then we wanted something nicer then the gaggia, for steaming milk so we found another 2 group commercial machine very very very used but working for about 700 USD got it in our kitchen and wow amazing. Plus being old you could replace anything on there with cheap bulk components you found online.

Sadly most people should not get 2 group machine. They are big. Like really big. 2ft by 3ft or larger and throw a lot of heat. Great in winter but not in summer. Because of these issues we sold that and found a nice single group one in that prosumer level.

For most of the past ten years I have made my wife 2 or more mochas and myself at a min 2 espresso drinks from mochas to Americanos.

If you like coffee go for it. Go inexpensive but do NOT get a steam powered machine make sure it has a pump to push the water. Some steam ones Im Sure work, but the pump means less chance of getting too hot water going through the beans.

Gaggia classics are great and resell value is good. They are hard to find that cheap anymore but they are all fixable and even the old gaggia coffee are great and upgradeable to match the more modern features. Just did one for our friend.