Fellow · Coffee & Espresso
Ode Gen 2 Flat Burr Grinder
Upgrade the grinder before the machine. Everyone learns this backwards.
$250–$500
Shop Now →The Boyfriend Coffee Obsession · /home-espresso-setup/
The Boyfriend Coffee Obsession: a home espresso setup that ends the rabbit hole
Every man who gets into espresso buys three machines. The first is too cheap, the second is a compromise, and the third is the one he should have bought. This page skips to the third.
The other thing everyone learns backwards: the grinder matters more than the brewer. A thousand-dollar machine fed by a blade grinder makes worse coffee than a modest machine fed by good burrs. If you can only buy one, buy the grinder.
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Buy the grinder first
Sixty-four millimetre flat burrs, single dose, quiet enough to run before anyone else is awake.
Then the machine
Dual boilers so he can pull and steam at once. PID so the temperature is actually the temperature. Italian-built, rebuildable, and the last one he buys.
The machines people actually buy
The standard first real setup, and the grinder that matters more than it.
Breville · Coffee & Espresso
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, Brushed Stainless Steel
Grinder, portafilter and steam wand in one machine. The standard first real espresso setup for a reason.
$500–$1,000
Buy This for Him →
Breville · Coffee & Espresso
Breville Barista Pro Espresso Machine
Thirty-second heat-up and a digital grind display. The Barista Express with the waiting removed.
$500–$1,000
Buy This for Him →
Breville · Coffee & Espresso
Breville Infuser Espresso Machine
No built-in grinder, which is the right call if he already owns a good one. Better pressure control for the money.
$500–$1,000
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Baratza · Coffee & Espresso
Baratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
The grinder that ends the 'is it the beans or the machine' question. Buy before upgrading the brewer.
$100–$250
See Price →
Nespresso · Coffee & Espresso
Nespresso Vertuo Coffee and Espresso Machine by De'Longhi
For the man who wants good coffee and no hobby attached. Push button, walk away.
$100–$250
Buy This for Him →
CASABREWS · Coffee & Espresso
CASABREWS Compact Espresso Machine with Milk Frother
A hundred and twenty dollars to find out whether he wants the six-hundred-dollar one.
$100–$250
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OXO · Coffee & Espresso
OXO Brew Conical Burr Coffee Grinder
A hundred dollars and burrs rather than blades. This matters more than which machine he buys.
$100–$250
Get It Here →
Nespresso · Coffee & Espresso
Nespresso Pixie Espresso Machine by Breville
Twenty-five seconds to heat, and it fits a counter with no room left.
$100–$250
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De'Longhi · Coffee & Espresso
De'Longhi Milk Frothing Pitcher, Stainless Steel, 17 oz
The pitcher is what actually decides the microfoam, not the machine. Seventeen ounces is the size that works.
Under $100
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Hario · Coffee & Espresso
Hario V60 Pour Over Coffee Starter Set, Size 02
Under twenty-five dollars, and it makes better coffee than most machines costing forty times that.
Under $100
Buy This for Him →
Hario · Coffee & Espresso
Hario V60 Ceramic Pour Over Coffee Set, Size 02
Ceramic holds heat better than plastic, which is the whole argument for the upgrade.
Under $100
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TIMEMORE · Coffee & Espresso
TIMEMORE Basic 2.0 Espresso Scale with Timer
Weighing the dose is the difference between repeatable espresso and guessing. Fifty-five dollars.
Under $100
See Price →
Zulay · Coffee & Espresso
Zulay Handheld Milk Frother
Twelve dollars. A quarter of a million ratings. The cheapest upgrade to any coffee.
Under $100
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Normcore · Coffee & Espresso
Normcore 58mm Spring-Loaded Coffee Tamper
Calibrated spring means the same pressure every time. Removes one whole variable from his shots.
Under $100
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Weightman · Coffee & Espresso
Weightman Espresso Scale with Timer, 0.1g
Dose in, yield out, seconds elapsed. Fourteen dollars is what separates guessing from brewing.
Under $100
Get It Here →
Cosori · Coffee & Espresso
Cosori Gooseneck Kettle with Temperature Control
Set the temperature to the degree and pour where you aim. Seventy dollars for the whole pour-over ritual.
Under $100
Get It Here →
JoyJolt · Coffee & Espresso
JoyJolt Savor Double Wall Espresso Glasses, Set of 4
Double wall keeps the shot hot and the glass cool. Sixteen dollars.
Under $100
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Bodum · Coffee & Espresso
Bodum Pavina Double Wall Espresso Glasses
Bodum invented the shape everyone copies. Slightly better made than the copies.
Under $100
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Airscape · Coffee & Espresso
Airscape Coffee Storage Canister, 2.2lb
The plunger pushes the air out, which is what actually keeps beans fresh.
Under $100
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Espresso Setup FAQ
What is the best home espresso machine?
For someone who is serious and buying once, a dual boiler with PID temperature control like the Rocket R58 Cinquantotto. Dual boilers let him pull a shot and steam milk simultaneously, which is the difference between making one flat white and making four.
Should I buy the machine or the grinder first?
The grinder. Grind consistency has more effect on the cup than any other variable, and a good grinder improves every brewing method he owns, not just espresso.
What is single dosing?
Weighing out beans per shot instead of keeping a full hopper. It means fresher coffee, no stale retention, and the ability to switch beans without wasting any. The Fellow Ode Gen 2 is built around it.