Doc Searls describes his Starbucks Barista espresso machine. It’s his third machine, list price $399, 2 year guarantee, and “if you use it heavily it should last at least that long”. We have a 10 year old Bosch Espresso Cup (mostly plastic, cost DM 99 at the time) and a €1.99 milk frother. And we buy pre-ground espresso from our discounter. What are we missing?
Espresso Love
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
The “Aufschwung”. If you don’t start spending it will never arrive
the deep hole in your pocket that you get from buying a $399 coffeemaker every two years.
The great feeling to drink something special?
The wonderful knowledge to own a machine that could also be called “jewelery”?
The security that your friends might dislike your espresso but would never dare to critisize the machine it comes from?
Yes, Lilli, people have made fun of us for our espresso machine, but that was back when we didn’t know how to use it.
You get to keep the $400. You get to miss better coffee.
It’s a simple trade off.
By the way, as I just explained in the appended blog, these machines have been lasting about 5-6 years.
Merry, happy, etc.
Thanks for the clarification, Doc. It was the 2 year bit that caught my attention.
Of course, the coffee here in Europe is already better.
I remember the difficulties of finding good coffee in the US. Locating the nearest Starbucks is one of the first things we do when we stop by.
Is the main appeal of the Starbucks Barista espresso machine that it removes at least 98% of the coffee taste, producing a beverage similar to that available in any Starbucks retail outlet? That is, “coffee” for people who don’t really like the taste of coffee?