Julian Vrieslander > wrote:

>Unfortunately, a lot of people form their opinions of espresso (and
>other fancy coffee drinks) from what they have experienced at Starbuck's
>and other big chains. Really good espresso is hard to find. It
>requires good beans, expert roasting and blending, and a competent
>barista working on well-maintained clean equipment. You'll know it when
>you find it.

>I live in Seattle, where there are espresso joints everywhere. The
>stuff served by most of them (including Starbuck's) ranges from mediocre
>to drek. But there are a few shops that stand out. If you come here,
>try a straight shot at Caffé d'Arte, Espresso Vivace, or Zoka.

Thanks.

I go to Caffe d'Arte each time I'm in Seattle.

One motivation for getting an espresso machine now is that
I have access to a good coffee source (Blue Bottle, which I
can pick up every Tuesday and Saturday and it's always roasted
1 or at most 2 days previously.)

One model I'm considering is the Briel ES42F but I'm still
in the research phase.

Steve