~$4,000-$4500 Coffee Machine and Grinder Recommendations

invisibli on 08/05/2026 - 11:39

Hey everyone!

My wife and I are looking for a coffee machine and grinder for home use. We are looking to spend ideally no more than $4,000, but can stretch it slightly to $4,500. I've done a lot of research, but have just ended up more confused than anything.

Usage wise, during the week we will be making about 4 to 6 milk based drinks a day, 2 back to back. On the weekend, we can make anywhere between 4 to 12 milk based drinks a day, with up to 8 back to back. Will occasionally make espresso shots too.

I am happy to spend a bit more time fiddling around with it, but my wife isn't as interested. She just wants something easy to use that will make a good coffee.

Grinder wise, for simplicity sake, we are thinking of the Fiorenzato AllGround Sense as we like the GBW function on it. We wont be switching beans, so having a consistent amount of coffee grounded each time is very appealing. Open to suggestions though.

For the machine, we are at a total loss. I was originally thinking the Profitec Pro 600, but that is no longer sold, and the lever action isn't 'beginner friendly' for my wife. This made me lean to some more volumetric machines like the Ascaso Steel DUO PLUS PID, but the weak steam power is less than ideal.

If the grinder and machine together come out a little more expensive than the budget I mentioned above, thats okay as we are planning to buy both at the same time and are hoping the store we buy from will provide a discount to fall within our range.

We are not interested in a moka pot, something like a Breville Barista Express, or anything with a grinder and machine in one.

We are hoping to get some suggestions for the coffee machine and the grinder, so all input would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!

Electrical & Electronics Coffee Grinder Coffee Machine

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  • Wiadro on 08/05/2026 - 11:44

    You realize this is ozbargain, not ozispenttoomuchonacoffeemachine?

    my Breville Barista Impress Express makes like 6 a day during the week and prob 10 during the weekend… i spent $500 on it from FBMP like 3 years ago, i dont see the need for an upgrade.
    it makes great coffee when the beans are fresh

    • 42
    • michaelTito on 09/05/2026 - 16:56

      That’s a lot of coffee to drink per day.

      • 4
      • Wiadro on 09/05/2026 - 19:14

        It’s yum

        • 5
      • iDroid on 13/05/2026 - 11:45

        3 - 5 cups a day to get health benefits associated with a lower risk of premature death, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and neurodegenerative conditions.

        And is considered only a moderate intake.

        • 0
    • starburstyellow on 09/05/2026 - 21:39

      I too have the Express Impress. Super happy with mine and bought for <$600 3 years ago. Makes great coffee. Just wish the milk frother was the new kind but no regrets for the all in one nature and no mess with the tamp.

      • 0
    • Kamsi on 10/05/2026 - 23:09

      Damn that is a lot of coffee drinking, and I thought I need to cut down my coffee intake which currently 2 cups per day.

      • 0
      • ATTS on 11/05/2026 - 16:52

        Did u also stop getting the so high feeling from the coffee also

        • 0
    • Dr Phil on 10/05/2026 - 22:24

      To which point I can vouch for the old Aldi Espressi Coffee machines.
      Great machines for the price (OB special) and great coffee pods too.

      However…..The new Expressi coffee machines are total CRAP!

      • -1
  • CantonasKungFuKick on 08/05/2026 - 11:50

    Breville Smart Grinder Pro and a Bambino Plus would give you two separate machines and make a great coffee, and save you 3k.

    • 17
    • Silentin on 09/05/2026 - 21:00

      Those kitchen appliances are built to break (and are ridiculously expensive to service).

      A real espresso machine will last decades with minimum maintenance, which you can perform yourself.

      With your budget you can get a nice dual boiler and coffee grinder. Prioritise the grinder - will probably cost most than the espresso machine.

      • 2
    • colin5000 on 09/05/2026 - 09:38

      This is the answer. The fancy Italian machines are sexy and sophisticated but you need a PhD in brewnomics to operate them not to mention the time to boil. Your wife will not care for it!

      • 1
    • Swedish Chef on 10/05/2026 - 12:43

      This combo is my daily driver. I recommend it to all my family and friends. I've had it for 6+ years and they won't die and if it does, I would immediately go out and buy another one. The grinder was the real game changer getting my parents to use the machine when I bought as a gift. The auto timed dosing means they can just press a button and have the correct amount every time.

      Nothing comes close to the easy of use and quality for the price in my opinion. This is coming from someone who spends way too much time watching coffee videos online and spent thousands on a roaster so that I could experience "the best". Now I just get the ALDI dark roast beans because it's so cheap and decent quality. Occasionally I'll roast a batch to treat myself.

      • 0
    • Reticent on 12/05/2026 - 09:53

      Bambino can’t be beat for the price. I’d opt for something better for the grinder such as a specialita

      • 0
    • kobeduck on 14/05/2026 - 09:17

      Exactly! Especially since OP only "occasionally make espresso shots too". You really want to splurge buy 250g high quality beans, grind it to the right setting. Your wife wants convenience the Bambino Plus will froth the milk for you.

      • 0
  • Downvoter on 08/05/2026 - 13:19

    4k Jesus wept

    • 15
  • tenpercent on 08/05/2026 - 11:54

    Just get yourself a jar of Blend 43 and a milk frother.

    • 10
    • Ponsonby on 08/05/2026 - 13:41

      and put the $5k towards your mortgage or saving for a deposit

      • 2
      • prophet on 11/05/2026 - 09:30

        This is the way.

        • 1
    • brandt on 17/05/2026 - 20:21

      I blame OP and his wife for inflation along side Trump's gulf war.

      • 0
  • c64 on 08/05/2026 - 12:31

    I'll be brutally honest here. If you are only budgeting $4-5k on a coffee machine your coffee will always be mediocre. You need to spend at least 2-3x more to get a decent brew.

    • 10
    • mskeggs on 08/05/2026 - 12:37

      Plus wages for a decent barista to run it for you.

      • 13
      • tenpercent on 08/05/2026 - 12:47

        And wages for a decent lawyer to deal with complaints because you wolf whistle at her too much.

        Your honour, I was just mimicking the sounds of the coffee machine

        • 5
  • coffeeinmyveins on 08/05/2026 - 14:39

    spend more on the grinder than you'd expect. that's where most of the quality control comes from, not the machine.

    and don't buy one of those automatic ones. buy a manual. i don't understand people who get the breville automatics and say it makes a good coffee. what world are they living in?

    I have a rancillio silvia and associated rocky grinder and it's a perfect duo.

    • 8
    • stratbargain on 09/05/2026 - 12:39

      I have a Silvia and rocky too but isn’t the rocky renowned for being a pretty average grinder? There are much better ones on the market now.

      I’d love to upgrade but can’t justify it at the moment

      • 1
    • Some Random Guy on 09/05/2026 - 17:55

      +1 for focussing on grinder rather then machine.

      Get a quality flat burr grinder (check James Hoffman on YouTube).

      And then get literally any espresso machine ever (can it do 9 bar pressure, can it hold an 18gram basket, can it pull for 25-30secs and that's that).

      On your new machine spend some extra dollars on bottomless portafilter etc.

      • 1
    • ForkSnorter on 08/05/2026 - 15:09

      Not sure what you mean by “Breville automatics”. Do you mean the Barista Touch, Oracle, etc.?

      With the Barista Express, Barista Pro or Dual Boiler, the process is pretty similar to using a Rancilio Silvia: grind, dose, tamp, lock in the portafilter, pull the shot, steam the milk. The main difference with the Express and Pro is the built-in grinder and some convenience features.

      Personally, I think you can learn to get good coffee out of any of these machines. You learn the quirks of the machine and adjust your process around it — grind, dose, beans, milk, shot timing, and so on.

      • 0
    • Nebargains on 11/05/2026 - 12:20

      I have a second hand Silvia V3, I've had it for 7 years, maybe 8? I forget when I got it.

      Great machine, parts are easy to find, easy to service if you need to.

      That said, it would not suit someone who says they have to make 8 coffees back to back (guests I assume). Just has a very poor workflow for that. Realistically anything more than 2 is going to be a massive PITA.

      • 0
  • JIMB0 on 08/05/2026 - 12:41

    Are you also planning to learn how to use it properly and buy decent beans? If not your money will be wasted on the machine by an inexperienced operator using stale supermarket beans.

    • 7
    • invisibli on 08/05/2026 - 12:44

      Yes. We use good beans from a local roaster, and have been making coffee for many years already on my parents machines. Have also signed up for classes

      • 4
      • stabfish on 08/05/2026 - 13:59

        Which machines have you used and are familiar with?

        What did you like/hate about them?

        Your price range is the sweet spot where the bulk of medium to higher end home machines sit, which is probably why you currently have choice paralysis. All quite similar, all with individual quirks, all capable of making great coffee.

        Look for a machine recommended for higher volume steam capability (prob dual boiler or hx) with features you are familiar with and like, and avoid attributes you don't like.

        Do you want to use your whole budget? Definitely not required.
        Do you care about aesthetics?
        What lifespan do you expect for your money? Repairablity comes into it.

        It's been a few years since I've used it, but Coffeesnobs forum might be a good place to ask questions.

        • 6
        • invisibli on 08/05/2026 - 14:19

          I have used both a Breville Barista Express and an Expobar Office Control.

          Dont like the lack of PID on the Expobar, the shot to shot consistency isnt good. Indifferent about HX (happy to do cooling flushes). Not thrilled about the heat up time.
          On the BBE, I dont like: the lack of steam power, inbuilt grinder, plastic externals. I like the pre-infusion time option, and the software.

          Id rather not use the whole budget, but happy to as well. Aesthetics are neither here or there, itll be more hidden.

          • 0
          • kiitos on 08/05/2026 - 15:55

            @invisibli: It sounds like a Breville Dual Boiler would solve those niggles and give you lots of buffer for a good grinder and bathtubs of beans.

            • 5
            • stabfish on 08/05/2026 - 18:41

              @kiitos: I agree, Breville Dual Boiler would be a good starting point.

              Won't the bank, or your heart if it doesn't meet expectations. There's decent enough demand in the secondhand market it wouldn't be too hard or costly to sell it and try another option.

              But Breville is a bit plasticky and I'm not sure on repairablity.

              • 3
          • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 13:23

            @invisibli: Another vote for the Dual Boiler OP. I was in your situation a few years ago, upgrading from a Barista Express and very happy to pay $3-5k on the machine alone. The competition made absolutely no sense given the Dual Boiler could be had for under a grand on sale (I paid $750, brand new). It offered so many features that other machines did not. It has temp control for brew temp and steam temp, advanced pre-infusion control for duration and pressure, auto start so that its ready to go when you wake up, fine tuning of pump power and temp calibration. A 30 minute reversible mod will give you flow control that Slayer Machines that cost $15k offer.

            Massive community of enthusiasts who have built guides on how to repair and maintain the machines at home, giving it a span of a good 8-10 years. Breville recently upgraded a common failure point of the O-Rings, meaning it requires even less maintenance now. The Euro machines require expensive servicing each year, on top of the significantly higher price.

            The other big factor for me is that it comes up to temp in 3 minutes. Most of the prettier and nicer feeling Euro machines takes 20-30 minutes. I don't want to wait that long for a cup of coffee!

            With the massive budget you have left over, you'll be able to get an incredible grinder, that will make a much bigger impact to your coffee than upgrading the espresso machine. Option O and Zerno would be nice in this price range.

            • 2
            • Smol Cat on 11/05/2026 - 08:52

              @poppingtags: Are you serious about some of the fancy machines taking 20 mins to come to temp? Coz that is a ridiculous wait. I thought they’d be super fast due to the price point.

              • 1
              • poppingtags on 11/05/2026 - 11:19

                @Smol Cat: Yup, 20 minutes is usually the minimum time required - most recommend 30. People really love jumping through hoops to romanticise these outdated and overpriced machines. They cost more to buy, cost more to maintain and service, all with a feature set that is worse, without giving you the ability to make better coffee. Even if you were to buy a new Breville Dual Boiler every 8 years, you'd still end up saving a bunch of cash vs most of the Euro Machines initial outlay and ongoing servicing and parts costs.

                • 1
  • darkkito on 08/05/2026 - 21:08

    for between 4-5 assuming you you have all relevant accessories, and based off of your no fuss just pull and grind with only one bean (where is the fun in that, I do hope you change your beans and try different things)

    You have two different options.

    One is buy locally, other is buy internationally. Popular choice amongst australins is https://www.espressocoffeeshop.com

    They do have a pretty good warranty and from what I understand if your machine does have issues they are actually willing to pay for the shop fees but please double check with them as it may have changed since I purchased.

    I have purchased numerous grinders and a lelit mara x with no issues previously.

    I'm not going to comment on which brand you should get however the questions you might want to ask is

    Vibration vs rotary pump. I probably can't go back to vibration pump anymore just because how loud they are compared to rotary. From what I understand Rotary pumps to have better durability too.

    The grinder being timer vs grind by weight is actually indifferent in a home setting if its a quality grinder, Cafes typically using grind by weight as due to the sheer volume they use, over time the settings can gradually change whereas in home setting it would hardly budge.

    What type of coffee will you be drinking? what roast levels?
    I have both a conical and flat burr grinder because they have different flavour profiles, I prefer the body and sweetness achieved from a conical burr compared to the clarity and acidity from a flat burr for milk based coffee.

    If you do decide to buy internationally, you will have a much easier time achieving your desired requirements but you won't get any local warranty.

    LET ME TELL YOU HOWEVER YOUR COFFEE TASTE WON'T BE ANY BETTER COMPARED TO A BREVILLE DUAL BOILER.
    Considering labour fees are anywhere between $120 - $150 per hour and a service typically costs $300, you can see how the math doesn't really make sense.

    A breville dual boiler if taken care for will easily last for 5 years. thats $220 a year vs initial cost of a nice coffee machine $4000, service every 2 years ($350), something breaks?(labour fee $150 per hour + parts)

    You also need install a under the sink water filter to reduce scale otherwise you will run into massive scale issues regardless which coffee machine you purchase.

    Let me know if you have any questions!

    • 7
  • MS Paint on 08/05/2026 - 12:09

    That's 4500 coffees from 7-Eleven.

    Must be nice not to have kids.

    On a more serious note I would be joining a dedicated coffee forum or group with your questions and budget.

    • 6
    • djones145 on 08/05/2026 - 19:20

      batman has entered the house

      i just purchased a cafe…. seemed easier.

      • 4
    • Nillionaire on 08/05/2026 - 16:18

      You're underestimating OzBargain. There's already multiple people that popped up in this thread that's familiar with products in this price range to help OP :)

      • 3
    • invisibli on 08/05/2026 - 12:44

      Seems that way, didnt even think of that. Thought i'd ask here but think ill have to ask a coffee forum

      • 1
      • ThadtheChad on 11/05/2026 - 09:09

        Ozb is amazing for a lot of things, recommendations for higher end things isn't one of it.

        It has a fairly large (and vocal) demographic of tightarses with some very pronounced "sour grapes" syndrome.

        ========================

        Edit: I stand corrected. There are some excellent recommendations in the comments, it's just unfortunate that the shitposts were at the top.

        • 0
        • rumblytangara on 12/05/2026 - 08:02

          It has a fairly large (and vocal) demographic of tightarses with some very pronounced "sour grapes" syndrome.

          The sourness is from underextraction ;)

          But yeah, came into this thread expecting "get a Bambino and save $$$" and was not disappointed.

          • 1
          • ThadtheChad on 12/05/2026 - 08:50

            @rumblytangara:

            The sourness is from underextraction ;)

            I had a nice chuckle from this. Thank you for the good start to the day!

            • 0
      • boomramada on 08/05/2026 - 13:34

        In your case, 7-Eleven coffee would be better. Having good coffee is not all about the expensive machine; it's a bit of coffee bean, grind, art and the machine. So you're telling us that Maccas make great coffee since their machine is like $30K+ ?:)

        • -6
        • Wiadro on 08/05/2026 - 14:16

          So you're telling us that Maccas make great coffee since their machine is like $30K+ ?:)

          dont insult the rich person

          • 0
    • fry001 on 10/05/2026 - 08:10

      2250 coffees from 7-Eleven. They are $2 each now. ($1.50 if you have the app)

      • 0
      • tenpercent on 10/05/2026 - 12:53

        $1 with Telstra Plus.

        • 0
  • Derrick Crane on 08/05/2026 - 17:05

    You are drinking far too much coffee.

    • 4
    • tenpercent on 08/05/2026 - 23:18

      All this coffee talk has made me go for a late night brew.

      • 1
      • WhyAmICommenting on 09/05/2026 - 09:29

        How did you sleep?

        • 1
        • tenpercent on 09/05/2026 - 11:44

          How did you sleep?

          Like a baby… woke up several times, wet myself, had a cry, suckled on some…

          /s

          • 3
  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 08/05/2026 - 20:58

    Don't buy Breville.
    Buy a single boiler around ~2-3k
    Buy a grinder around ~800
    Enjoy.

    • 4
    • Gunnar on 08/05/2026 - 22:27

      The Breville Dual Boiler crowd are having several heart attacks seeing this

      • 10
      • poppingtags on 09/05/2026 - 15:37

        There is no better machine for enthusiasts in terms of bang for buck in Australia. Because Breville is Australian, we get it for the best price in the world, unlike all the other machines which are hit with the typical Australia tax.

        Does it feel as nice to use as a beautiful E61 machine from Italy? No. Does it come up to temp literally 10x faster? Yes. With a little bit of maintenance it can also last a solid 8-10 years.

        • 3
        • Some Random Guy on 09/05/2026 - 17:58

          Does breville get made in Australia?

          • 0
          • poppingtags on 09/05/2026 - 21:18

            @Some Random Guy: No, not made in Australia - Breville is an Australian company, and we get excellent support and prices here.

            • 1
            • Some Random Guy on 10/05/2026 - 03:21

              @poppingtags: How do we get the best price if it's not made here???

              • 0
              • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 13:11

                @Some Random Guy: I'm not entirely sure, but the only explanation I can think of is because Breville is based in Australia. Australia was their primary market for decades. They've probably negotiated better margins with retailers, and given the volume they bring down and possible tax breaks for local companies, they're able to offer it at literally the best price on earth. It's a well known benefit of the Dual Boiler in Oz.

                • 0
        • Powershopz on 10/05/2026 - 23:28

          It's absolutely outrageous how much Breville (or Sage in the UK) mark up their products for the US/UK market. Learnt it from TikTok comments that are always bashing how 'expensive' the machine is.

          e.g. BDB pricing

          AU Market: $1300 AUD
          UK Market: $1900 AUD
          US Market: $2200 AUD

          • 0
          • poppingtags on 11/05/2026 - 11:24

            @Powershopz: and that's RRP, I managed to buy mine 3 years ago for about A$750 on sale + giftcards!

            Paired it with the Timemore 078s that I got at its Kickstarter price of $750 delivered, and haven't looked back.

            • 0
        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 10/05/2026 - 11:52

          Breville dual boilers are cheaply made in China and cut costs in every aspect. They're also slow and far more likely to extract a poorer drink.

          Many better options out there.

          • -5
          • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 12:59

            @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: Absolute rubbish, of course its built to a price - and that's one of its advantages. They're literally faster than any of the Euro made machines, they come up to temp in 3 minutes as opposed to the 30 minutes most Euro machines require. They have excellent PID temp control, with customisable settings for brew temperature and steam temperature and advanced pre-infusion control. A 30 minute reversible mod will give you flow control, a feature that you only start to get on machines 5x its price.

            Maintenance can be done at home with a few off the shelf parts, as opposed to the Euro machines that require expensive servicing, typically once a year.

            If you were extracting poor drinks with the Dual Boiler, that's a shortcoming of your ability, not the machines.

            Show me a better machine for the $1000 this costs, I'll wait.

            • 3
            • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 10/05/2026 - 15:28

              @poppingtags: You could literally copy and paste your comment onto a thread on Holden Captivas.

              It's built cheap in China with proprietary and less reliable parts. In no world is that an advantage.

              Keep on waiting.

              • -5
              • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 19:17

                @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: What a surprise - literally nothing to back up your rubbish takes.

                I spelled out in basic terms why you're wrong, you have nothing to add other than parroting the same point again.

                Can't even offer a single machine that's better, after claiming "Many better options out there"

                • 0
                • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 10/05/2026 - 22:11

                  @poppingtags: What a surprise, you won't address the actual arguments I made.

                  Cheaply made in China
                  cut costs in every aspect.

                  Prove me wrong. You cannot, because all the E61 machines you rubbish are designed and built superior in every aspect.

                  Then I'll entertain your demand for a better machine for the *$1200 it costs. But what's the point? My original post actually addressed what OP was seeking for their budget. No one asked for a $1200 budget import suggestion.

                  • -2
                  • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 23:03

                    @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: I'm not here to address your inability to comprehend a straightforward explanation. I've addressed both points in my previous reply, you've addressed nothing aside from repeatedly trotting out meaningless "China bad" platitudes.

                    I know you can't recommend a better machine for the price, because there isn't one - let alone the "Many better options out there" you claim to be sitting on. You have nothing useful to offer in this discussion.

                    • 0
                    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 11/05/2026 - 13:25

                      @poppingtags: You're not here to address OP's query either. You jumped on my comment because you got butt hurt. How about you post a recommendation that addresses OP's query and move on with your life?

                      • -1
                      • poppingtags on 11/05/2026 - 14:02

                        @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: I did address OP's question. I recommended going with the BDB, the point of near zero improvement to quality of cup per additional dollar spent. The majority of the budget, as anyone who knows anything about coffee would tell you, should go towards a high quality grinder - something that would actually make a difference to the quality of coffee extracted.k

                        The fact that you think 75% of the budget should be blown on an overpriced machine, and 25% of the budget should be spent on a grinder just shows how little you know about this topic. Like I said previously, you've contributed nothing of value to this discussion.

                        Keep hiding those "many better options out there" too, very helpful.

                        • -1
    • Some Random Guy on 09/05/2026 - 17:58

      Spend more on grinder less on machine…

      • 1
  • chew_chew on 08/05/2026 - 12:14

    Mazzer philos + fellow espresso 1 (for ease of use, but no dual boilers).

    Or Meraki, if you don't mind built in grinder.

    • 3
    • invisibli on 08/05/2026 - 12:45

      I've seen the Fellow Espresso 1 pop up a little bit now, might have to look into it. Thanks!

      • 0
      • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 14:05

        OP beware, Fellow are notoriously bad with repairability. Their $250 kettles often fail just outside of the one year warranty, I would not trust them with an espresso machine, especially a V1.

        • 4
    • truebunny on 10/05/2026 - 19:59

      Philos + breville dual boiler

      • 0
  • macca9123 on 09/05/2026 - 12:58

    I bought a Lelit Mara heat exchange machine and a Lelit grinder over 8 years ago. Both are still going strong. The Mara is a pretty compact machine so it doesn't hog the bench space. Cost me a bit over $3,000 at the time. As others have pointed out above, I would spend a bit more on the grinder as that will yield you a better brew. I got mine through Jet Black Espresso in Sydney and did their barista course to learn the basics. Having a local coffee roaster also helps for fresh beans. I put the machine on a wifi controller timer switch so it turns on in the morning and by the time I'm dressed and in the kitchen it has heated up long enough.

    • 3
  • carlJack on 08/05/2026 - 12:59

    Wendougee Lita and Zerno Z1

    • 2
    • poppingtags on 10/05/2026 - 14:06

      Would be very hard to beat this combo!

      • 0
  • Save Medicare on 10/05/2026 - 08:31

    BDB + $3000 grinder (98mm ultra)

    • 2
    • invisibli on 08/05/2026 - 12:46

      As much as I love the look of the Bianca, it is already over our price range without the grinder

      • 0
      • Stewardo on 09/05/2026 - 00:57

        Have you considered getting a second job?
        Short term pain for long term gain!

        • 3
      • alitadark on 10/05/2026 - 09:51

        I bought one second hand for 3.3k. I paired it with a single dose grinder though.

        • 0
  • Desleydee on 08/05/2026 - 15:44

    I've just been through this and recently upgraded from the Rancilio Silvia. After going down many rabbit holes and follow up advice from East Link Espresso, I decided to get the Quick Mill Pop up and Eureka Mignon Specialita. My partner isn't that interested either, but finds it easy to use.
    My coffees are way more consistent and more delicious than the Rancillio!

    I make a similar amount of coffees per day and you don't need a dual boiler for your usage. Pour the back to back shots and then froth the milk. The Pop heats up in less than 30 seconds.
    What I love about the Pop up is the dial to adjust the shot pressure, it works surprisingly well!

    Other ones I was looking at was the Profitec Go and Lelit Victoria. The eureka mignon libra looks great as it automatically weighs the beans.

    Actually, seeing you do 8 back to back on weekends maybe dual boiler is the way to go! Consider the Quick Mill Rubino or Lelit Mara

    • 1
  • Nillionaire on 08/05/2026 - 16:13

    Aesthetically do you prefer stainless steel or black or something else?

    • 1
  • Geoff01 on 09/05/2026 - 08:35

    If you have a spare $4k just to make coffee you have way to much money and being on oz bargain is funny. Get on a proper coffee forum.

    • 1
    • Muppet Detector on 09/05/2026 - 21:31

      Perhaps he can afford the posh coffee machine because he utilises bargains in other areas of his spending.

      Sort of like why you might use skim milk in your milk based coffee/drink. Because then you can have the coffee AND the piece of cake.

      • 2
    • Nillionaire on 10/05/2026 - 08:14

      Get on a proper coffee forum

      As evidenced by the replies on this post, there are many people here familiar with coffee at this price tier.

      you have way to much money and being on oz bargain is funny

      That's ridiculous. Bargain hunting can be done at any level of wealth, at any product price range.

      • 1
  • conan2000 on 09/05/2026 - 17:52

    I have a Crem One dual boiler, which is probably just within yuor price range with a decent grinder: https://www.coffeearoma.com.au/products/crem-one-coffee-mach… it has been great and I paired it with a Eureka Mignon Libra: https://www.coffeearoma.com.au/products/eureka-mignon-libra?… having the automatic weight measurement on the grinder is great, and kept my other half happy. Ensures very consistent results.

    I was a barista for 6 years, and if you know what you are doing, I find the investment you are looking at well worth it vs something like the Breville machines if you have the funds to do so. The grinder is the more important investment though, so make sure you don't skimp there.

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  • bargainy on 09/05/2026 - 22:30

    Anything with an E61 group and without any electronic automation. Boiler size is important if you want to make more than 2-3 cups in a row. I’ve had an ECM Giotto for nearly 30 years. They just keep going. Add a Mazzer doserless grinder or equivalent.

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  • Lancerx on 09/05/2026 - 23:09

    You got a cafe to run?

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  • jonkvh on 10/05/2026 - 08:49

    Years ago, when I drank coffee, all I did was buy the most basic breville.

    Then went and bought a second hand cafe grinder, but replaced the flat burr grinder, that would last a lifetime for home use. After that, just ran it on distilled water. Best coffee (long blacks) I'd ever had.

    It comes down to 3 things; fresh coffee bean, the grinder then the how clean the water is.

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    • pufffdragon on 10/05/2026 - 14:10

      Never tried distilled water. Always just use filtered water. Is it a night and day difference?

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      • jonkvh on 10/05/2026 - 15:01

        It made a big difference. Never had scale problems. Crema was always present.

        Only problem was running a basic heat pump machine too often, meant that the water could go above 66 Degrees in temperature, which meant burning, since the distilled water helped drag out more oils from the bean, so more oil plus higher temps meant it was easier to burn than usual. It's something you had to keep an eye on.

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        • pufffdragon on 10/05/2026 - 15:32

          Thanks, I will give it a go. I distill alcohol, but I might swap to distilling water instead now 😁

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          • jonkvh on 10/05/2026 - 16:36

            @pufffdragon: Honestly, try it. My old man use to distill his own alcohol. The Methanol I'd end up with from him, I'd use to clean motherboards etc.

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  • stuarty9 on 12/05/2026 - 05:28

    I've had a few different machines over the years, including the Breville dual boiler and for the price you cannot go wrong.

    I currently have a ECM Technika V + DF83V single dose grinder (Profitec and ECM are the same company..) I've plumbed in my machine with a filter, pressure valve etc and its game changer. Rotary pump is next level with regards to noise and everything is just so smooth. You also cannot beat the pressure that comes out of the steam wand. Brilliant machine that retails for just over $5k however got a pretty good deal on it a few months back. The machine could easily handle your coffee demands, it sits at the proconsumer level that many workplaces use in their office. No issues with back-to-back brews either.

    As for the grinder I like the single dose. If you care about your coffee you'll be weighing everything anyway so the single dose just means that I weigh prior to the beans going in. Zero retention, allows for changing of beans on the regular (which I don't do however wanted to future proof things) however as beans age you will be playing with the grind so again single dose is super handy here. The variable RPM also makes a big difference.

    Tbh if this is your first machine, I would start out on something like the Breville dual boiler and in a couple of years graduate to a nice German or Italy E61 machine. I only say this as you can learn a heap on the DB and until you get into the coffee nerd side of things, you won't notice a heap of difference. If you can get a DB at a good sale price you'll be able to sell it in 12-24 months and not lose a heap of $.

    Try coffeesnobs forum, or at least spend sometime on there reading and researching. There is a heap to the coffee space, and you can spend a massive amount of $$, so make sure you do your research would be my advice.

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  • RMB9 on 08/05/2026 - 12:36

    Check out the meraki. If i was spending that coin, thats probably where ill go

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    • maverickjohn on 10/05/2026 - 23:46

      Nahh that's still Breville level build quality.
      Likely to break down in a few years.
      Also built in grinders are a big no no. Heat transfers to the beans and likely will result in worse coffee.
      Conceptually looks great but I wouldn't trust that it would go the distance like an e61 will.

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  • 7ekn00 on 08/05/2026 - 15:05

    Cheapskate, this is a cheap rip off of the Javabot if you can't afford an actual one ;)

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    • tenpercent on 09/05/2026 - 11:46

      Looks like a pod machine on a cart with a robot arm as a gimmick to pick up the cup to make it seem fancy.

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