Many people spend a few dollars every day buying espresso drinks and wonder if they can save that money by making these drinks at home more cheaply. Unfortunately, many people give up when they see espresso machines selling for $100 to $200 dollars. The truth is that these expensive machine are typically unnecessary for making good espresso. You may think that every Italian family has a $1000 espresso machine sitting on the counter. The truth is more banal: Most Europeans use a simple stovetop espresso maker that costs about $20.
The traditional models are made by Bialetti though other companies provide similar devices. They way they work is simple. They have a space at the bottom where you add water. They you add ground espresso beans into the middle. When put on the stove, the water is converted to steam and forced through the coffee. When it reaches the top of the device, it condenses as liquid coffee.
Though it won't be as perfect as an expertly pulled shot from a world class barista at the town coffee house, it's certainly acceptable for most Italians and will probably work for you too.The best part is that these devices cost $20 to $30, have no moving parts, and don't need electricity! This goes to show that the most expensive solutions are not always the best. Espresso machine companies would like you to believe that you can't get good espresso by spending anything less than $200 but this is simply marketing and flies in the face of the facts that almost every Italian knows.
Making Espresso at Home Cheaply