Robot (Regular)

Cafelat Robot (base model) has no plastic, though it does have a silicone gasket. Barista models have a FEP tube for the pressure gauge.

+1 for the Robot. I'm biased, but IMO it's endgame material, as long as you're into the process and don't mind using another device to steam/froth milk.

I spent some time trying to make do with a moka pot after having a great flat white from Starbucks and other coffee shops, and finding some of them amazing and I spent a lot on them until I realized how inconsistent shops are in making them. I finally decided to get a Cafelat robot manual espresso maker. I then got a DF 54 grinder after trying to use a Kingrinder K2 manual grinder on medium roast beans. Medium roast beans are very hard to grind and if you try light roast beans, I guess they’d be even harder. But if you go the route of making your own espresso, you’re going to eventually want to explore different flavor profiles of different kinds of beans, so you really will want a decent electric grinder. As to the espresso machine, the robot was especially appealing to me because of the easy cleaning factor, and good espresso-making even by a beginner like me. I did a lot of research and I got the mittens and everything I could think of to lessen my frustrations. It also took me awhile to take it out of the box and set it up and try it, I kept just using the moka pot until I got up the nerve. Only because I know I can get extremely frustrated when I’m trying something new and different and I wanted to enjoy the learning process and not regret the purchase! And I have not regretted it, nor do I regret the grinder. I am having some retention issues with the grinder. I have the V2 most recent version, and started having a static issue which is not uncommon, so I just bought an RDT spray bottle for that, and I bought a WDT for the grounds since I was using a fork before to break up any small lumps. Even with the static issue with the grinder, I would still recommend it. It’s a very nice piece of equipment and I like the grind and the adjustability. I don’t know if that simplified anything for you, but it has been my journey over probably the past six months. Oh, and I gave up on steaming options, I had been using an Instant pot milk steamer frother, and I loved it, but it broke after just a few weeks and I find all of them highly unreliable. I haven’t found a solution for that yet.

The Robot is fantastic and it’s built to last forever.

This is the answer!!! A little bit to go on your budget and you can get the regular robot.

Almost 5 years ago I bought a Cafelat Robot manual lever machine. I could wax poetic for days about this trusty little workhorse. No 20 minute preheat time, no boiler corrosion/scale, no leaks, no electrical faults. I add 100 g of water to my pour over kettle, and start it heating. By the time I've ground my beans and done Puck preparation, the water is at temp and I'm ready to pull a shot. The workflow is easy, quick, straightforward, and cleanup is a breeze.

I'd argue for the Cafelat Robot manual/lever machine. I've had mine about 5 1/2 years now, use it each and every day, and am still enamored with it. No pre-heating for 20 to 30 minutes, no boiler scale/corrosion worries, no electrical faults, no leaks, etc. It's kind of like a good cast iron skillet in that you can pass it down to your kids some day. The only failure point on it is a silicone piston gasket, which are cheap and plentifully available.

The Robot comes with a packet of 111 Molykote food-safe silicone for lubricating the piston gasket. Out of ignorance, I ignored it, never lubed the gasket, and it lasted for 4 and 1/2 years. So it's like there's almost no maintenance whatsoever in upkeeping a Robot. As for milk, I microwave the milk for about 40 seconds, to get it up to 60c. Then hit it with a [foaming wand](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07L7215D1) and it's good to go.