3700GENSE™

I bought a Casabrews 3700 Gense, $179, Fellow Opus grinder, $199, bottomless PF. It’s 58mm so full 19-19g. It works beautifully once I got the feel of it. With this budget set up, I have retired my. Nespresso machine. This setup makes superior shots. Just sharing my experience.

My usual budget machine post is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/espresso/comments/1pemyi9/comment/nshft26/ But I'll extrapolate some algebra into levels and see what the sub thinks. Each step represents an improvement in both ease and quality/taste, from cheapest to decent cheap: 1. $170 = 1Zpresso Q Air Manual hand grinder ($70) + Casabrews 3700 ($100) 2. $300 = Baratza ESP ($200) + Casabrews 3700 ($100) 3. $350 = MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250) + Casabrews 3700 ($100) 4. $480 = MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250) + De'Longhi Dedica ($230) 5. $550 = MiiCoffee/Turin DF54 ($250) + Breville Bambino ($300) 6. $650 = Eureka Mignon Facile/Zero ($350) + Breville Bambino ($300) 7. $850 = Eureka Mignon Facile/Zero ($350) + Breville Bambino Plus ($500) My opinion is that ***grinder*** is more important, but you need at least the Baratza ESP for an electric, so go with a hand grinder below that. The DF54 gets slightly better ratings, so the extra $50 is probably worth it. Not perfect, a fraction slow, a bit of retention, a little loud, not too strong. But good enough grinding until you can get up to a Eureka Mignon (my personal preference) or other decent options into that $500 range. For ***machine*** I've seen a number of good reviews for that super cheap Casabrews, basically a throw away for as long as it lasts, but many say you can spend more and get less. Lance reviewed the HiBrew with decent marks for ultra-cheap, Dedicas are very popular, and I like my Bambino Plus as end game until I have money to burn for a La Marzocco Linea Mini. ;) I'll be curious about what people would swap in and out based on experience. EDIT: I updated some prices from Christmas sales, none are as cheap now. Note all these electric machines prices regularly swing throughout the year and can be found cheaper on sale or refurbished, and I usually wait and/or take that risk.

I'll go against the grain here... I have a casabrews 3700 basic machine I picked up for $90 and a crappy kidisle grinder I got on Amazon for $75. I upgraded to a non-pressurized basket and got a tamper and wdt tool so that was maybe another $75 collectively. I buy really good locally roasted beans for $36/2lb bag. The drinks I make are good. I enjoy it much more than drip or cold brew and don't have any desire to go to the cafe. At the end of the year I will probably get a grinder for $3-500. The next upgrade will be a better machine. I am sure I can make better shots with better equipment but what I am pulling right now is by no means bad. Total cost: maybe $350 including beans so far this year. I have probably pulled 150-200 double shots. So figure $3 per drink with room to dive deeper into the hobby later when I feel like it. The machine is barely adequate but whatever. The grinder is not super fine tuned but I can grind fine enough to choke the flow on the basket without being on the finest setting and the grind setting I use pulls tasty shots. Worth it.

I have a grinder and make decent espresso with my casabrews 3700 https://preview.redd.it/bnicfndkpv2g1.jpeg?width=2268&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3e19870f79b89d0540ab86e23cc3ed3a99225ee7 I just want a new machine

Reviews sound all over the place because honestly, every machine in this range cuts corners somewhere, just depends which one you notice first. Bambino Plus and Gaggia Classic are still the go to if you wanna keep things simple and well tested. But if you're not stuck on big brands, Casabrews 3700 is honestly one of the best budget machines. It gets along fine with most decent grinders and can handle milk drinks decently once you dial it in. Not perfect, but way better than you'd expect at that price. just swap the basket when you're ready to level up. Either way, give it a few weeks and you'll be pulling nice shots at home.