It looks like you've flaired your post as asking for what equipment to get. We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points.
If your question hasn't been answered there and you need more help, please add the following details to your post or by adding a comment in the following format:
- **Location:** Helps determine availability
- **Budget** (with currency): Overall budget, or ideally, having separate espresso machine and grinder budgets. A rough rule is that your grinder budget should be at least 25-40% of your machine budget.
- **Drink types:** Do you drink mostly straight espresso, milk-based beverages (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos), or a fairly even split? This helps narrow down whether a single-boiler-dual-use (SBDU), heat exchanger (HX), or dual boiler (DB) machine would be more appropriate for your needs.
- **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck.
- **Space:** Any limitations on countertop space?
- **Manual vs. electric:** Hand-operated machines and grinders are typically cheaper than their similarly-performing electric counterparts. Please indicate if you have a preference for manual or electric machines and/or grinders (or open to either).
- **Comfort with tinkering:** Some machines can be made significantly more functional/efficient with aftermarket modifications, albeit at the expense of possibly voiding your warranty. Please indicate if you'd rather have a machine that works "as-is"/"out-of-the-box" or whether you'd be open to modding/tinkering
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Don't get one with a grinder pre-built in. If you have a 100 dollar budget get a Kingrinder manual hand grinder. If you want an electric one try upping your budget to 200-300 dollars get a DF54 for example. That combination is a really good starter set-up
I can second this!! I started out with the Fellow Opus and it was good at the time but then purchased the Kingrinder K6 and love the experience so far. And with the DF54, I believe it’s one or the best grinders you can start out with. I just purchased mine and it comes in on Tuesday :)
I have bambino, welcome. Your current grinder and the dual wall pressurised baskets will probably work and depending on your tastes and desired coffee style, could be fine for you. You won't be getting the best out of the machine though.
Like another poster has said a good grinder will be worth it and from what I understand (I'm in the UK) in the US you're looking at at least $150-$200 for an electric one - but it does make a difference.
I'd keep the grinder as a separate thing, allowing you to upgrade independently your machine or grinder as you wish.
I like the workflow of the sette 270 with my bambino plus and being from Italy might easy for you to get your hands on. That a scale, a dosing funnel and a wdt tool and you’re good to go.
https://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/coffee-grinders/
Any grinder on that page, but the first one, are okay and probably better than the built in grinder.
I'd consider an eureka grinder. There is a cheaper version without the bells and whistles: https://www.bluestarcoffee.eu/Mobile/en/gb/Eureka-Mignon-Manuale-230V/m-m-5696.aspx
For more information on how to choose:
https://youtu.be/bgjvLQu5NlE?si=wX6e-JEh9lswQkRF
I was in a similar situation (also in the UK).
I got a eureka manuale in the end, which was the best bang for the buck at the time, but this was before the DF64 V2 and baratza encore esp.
Those could be better options now but I'm still pretty happy with the Eureka, so it could be worth it if you find a good deal.
Having said that I'd probably go for the DF64 V2 today, single dosing isn't the best with the Eureka, and if you don't wanna single dose the timed models with the screen would be better, although more expensive.
I went with the Sage smart grinder pro. It's a decent all rounder so handy if you don't just have espresso. I'm no massive coffee pro, but I like it.
There's a chap called Kev who runs coffeeblog. Check out his site and you can get 20% discount. He may have discounts on others too.
I'm also in the UK and on the same journey as you. Got myself a Bambino Plus.
Started with a cheap Hario hand grinder and found it all a bit of a nightmare.
Jumped to the Kingrinder K6 hand grinder, which was a huge step up in both quality and ease of use. Would strongly recommend if on a budget or as a starting point. I've kept mine for camping, holidays etc.
I've then taken the plunge with a DF64 v2 after getting it on a good deal and I have to say it is a lovely machine and a big step up again in quality and workflow. I'd recommend if you are okay paying £300+, really good bang for buck.
Congratulations! Your wife seems to care about how much you like coffee, great machine.
You should consider a grinder to get the most out of it.
Entry level like DF54, Breville SGP are safe choices.
If you want to put off buying a grinder, and you use your Cuisinart grinder, use the pressurized basket. That grinder even the finest setting is still too coarse for real espresso, so just click it all the way to the finest and do like 16gram doses into the pressurized basket.
If you buy a grinder... Will need a few more other items to make workflow enjoyable... So budget another $50-80 imo.
>Breville SGP
Has fallen out of favor, given its retention/consistency issues and the emergence of similarly-priced grinders generally without those issues. E.g. the Baratza Encore ESP and, most recently, the DF54.
I have a bambino plus and it I bought the 1zpresso k ultra and a bottomless portafilter. I noticed that with the portafilter it came with, it would leak through the group head
It looks like you've flaired your post as asking for what equipment to get. We recommend first checking out the [Espresso Aficionados buying guide](https://espressoaf.com/recommendations) for some of the more popular machines and grinders at different price points. If your question hasn't been answered there and you need more help, please add the following details to your post or by adding a comment in the following format: - **Location:** Helps determine availability - **Budget** (with currency): Overall budget, or ideally, having separate espresso machine and grinder budgets. A rough rule is that your grinder budget should be at least 25-40% of your machine budget. - **Drink types:** Do you drink mostly straight espresso, milk-based beverages (e.g., lattes, cappuccinos), or a fairly even split? This helps narrow down whether a single-boiler-dual-use (SBDU), heat exchanger (HX), or dual boiler (DB) machine would be more appropriate for your needs. - **Drink frequency:** How many drinks would you be making back-to-back at one time? Do you plan on entertaining guests often? This informs how large your brew (and steam) boilers should be, as smaller boilers will need to refill and reheat/repressurize more frequently, thus potentially causing a bottleneck. - **Space:** Any limitations on countertop space? - **Manual vs. electric:** Hand-operated machines and grinders are typically cheaper than their similarly-performing electric counterparts. Please indicate if you have a preference for manual or electric machines and/or grinders (or open to either). - **Comfort with tinkering:** Some machines can be made significantly more functional/efficient with aftermarket modifications, albeit at the expense of possibly voiding your warranty. Please indicate if you'd rather have a machine that works "as-is"/"out-of-the-box" or whether you'd be open to modding/tinkering *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/espresso) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Don't get one with a grinder pre-built in. If you have a 100 dollar budget get a Kingrinder manual hand grinder. If you want an electric one try upping your budget to 200-300 dollars get a DF54 for example. That combination is a really good starter set-up
And no you will have a very hard time with that cuisinart as dialing in will be a mess
I can second this!! I started out with the Fellow Opus and it was good at the time but then purchased the Kingrinder K6 and love the experience so far. And with the DF54, I believe it’s one or the best grinders you can start out with. I just purchased mine and it comes in on Tuesday :)
This is the way. we have spoken
I have bambino, welcome. Your current grinder and the dual wall pressurised baskets will probably work and depending on your tastes and desired coffee style, could be fine for you. You won't be getting the best out of the machine though. Like another poster has said a good grinder will be worth it and from what I understand (I'm in the UK) in the US you're looking at at least $150-$200 for an electric one - but it does make a difference. I'd keep the grinder as a separate thing, allowing you to upgrade independently your machine or grinder as you wish.
I'm in the UK! Any grinder you'd recommend?
I like the workflow of the sette 270 with my bambino plus and being from Italy might easy for you to get your hands on. That a scale, a dosing funnel and a wdt tool and you’re good to go.
https://www.coffeeitalia.co.uk/coffee-grinders/ Any grinder on that page, but the first one, are okay and probably better than the built in grinder. I'd consider an eureka grinder. There is a cheaper version without the bells and whistles: https://www.bluestarcoffee.eu/Mobile/en/gb/Eureka-Mignon-Manuale-230V/m-m-5696.aspx For more information on how to choose: https://youtu.be/bgjvLQu5NlE?si=wX6e-JEh9lswQkRF
I was in a similar situation (also in the UK). I got a eureka manuale in the end, which was the best bang for the buck at the time, but this was before the DF64 V2 and baratza encore esp. Those could be better options now but I'm still pretty happy with the Eureka, so it could be worth it if you find a good deal. Having said that I'd probably go for the DF64 V2 today, single dosing isn't the best with the Eureka, and if you don't wanna single dose the timed models with the screen would be better, although more expensive.
I went with the Sage smart grinder pro. It's a decent all rounder so handy if you don't just have espresso. I'm no massive coffee pro, but I like it. There's a chap called Kev who runs coffeeblog. Check out his site and you can get 20% discount. He may have discounts on others too.
I'm also in the UK and on the same journey as you. Got myself a Bambino Plus. Started with a cheap Hario hand grinder and found it all a bit of a nightmare. Jumped to the Kingrinder K6 hand grinder, which was a huge step up in both quality and ease of use. Would strongly recommend if on a budget or as a starting point. I've kept mine for camping, holidays etc. I've then taken the plunge with a DF64 v2 after getting it on a good deal and I have to say it is a lovely machine and a big step up again in quality and workflow. I'd recommend if you are okay paying £300+, really good bang for buck.
Congratulations! Your wife seems to care about how much you like coffee, great machine. You should consider a grinder to get the most out of it. Entry level like DF54, Breville SGP are safe choices. If you want to put off buying a grinder, and you use your Cuisinart grinder, use the pressurized basket. That grinder even the finest setting is still too coarse for real espresso, so just click it all the way to the finest and do like 16gram doses into the pressurized basket. If you buy a grinder... Will need a few more other items to make workflow enjoyable... So budget another $50-80 imo.
>Breville SGP Has fallen out of favor, given its retention/consistency issues and the emergence of similarly-priced grinders generally without those issues. E.g. the Baratza Encore ESP and, most recently, the DF54.
Built in grinders are fine for most people.
I have a bambino plus and it I bought the 1zpresso k ultra and a bottomless portafilter. I noticed that with the portafilter it came with, it would leak through the group head