I have an espresso every morning and currently pay €2.50 for it at the Italian place around the corner. My girlfriend thinks I should get one of those Delonghi machines, but I'm not sure if it makes financial sense. Does it require a lot of maintenance and how expensive are coffee beans compared to café prices?
For me at home, it pays for itself after about half a year - you quickly save back the €300-400 initial cost if you'd normally spend €2.50 a day. Good beans cost around €5-8 per kilo at the supermarket, that's just a few cents per cup, way less than at the café. DeLonghi machines are pretty low-maintenance, the main thing is just descaling regularly and rinsing out the brew group - no big deal. If you want to keep it simple, there are also fully automatic models, they're more convenient than those portafilter things.
The math works out, but you have to be honest with yourself about whether you'll actually use the machine. €2.50 a day is around €900 a year - so a Delonghi really does pay for itself relatively quickly. That said: good espresso beans from the supermarket cost maybe €5-8 per kilogram, and you only need 18-20 grams per cup, so a single cup really comes out cheap. That's the financial part and it checks out.
The real problem is maintenance and reality. Espresso machines need regular backflushing, the portafilter has to be dry, limescale buildup can become a nightmare - and honestly, a lot of people forget about this or don't do it carefully enough. The machine needs to be looked after after every use, otherwise the espresso eventually tastes like nothing or doesn't run properly anymore. That takes discipline, and not everyone has it. If that puts you off, then going to the Italian place is less stressful and you just pay your €2.50.
But if you're the type who regularly cleans their equipment and doesn't ignore the manual, then it's definitely worth it. Only then you shouldn't go for the cheapest option - better to invest in something a bit better, because the budget machines will frustrate you faster. Maybe test it out at a friend's place or a café first to see if the effort won't be too much for you.
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