Stilosa Series

A cheap machine like the DeLonghi Stilosa or ECP can be good if you replace the portafilter, baskets, get a WDT tool, a decent grinder... If it's 120 for the machine, at least that same amount should be spent on a handgrinder and accessories. For you, I'd recommend a KinGrinder P1 grinder for 35€, a Vietnamese Phin dripper, a mokka pot, and replacing the tools you like with newer or improved versions. Trust me, I went from instant coffee to working as a barista for a few months, then back to instant and restaurant coffee, then Dolce Gusto (pods), selfground drip, French press, pour-over, mokka and the latest a DeLonghi ECP 33.21 with a P1 grinder and all the basic accessories with a KinGrinder K6 on the way. It's an expensive hobby.

I would go with an entry level machine like the DeLonghi ECP series or the Stilosa. Then I'd get some of the most useful accessories for it (an unpressurized basket, a good tamp, a bottomless portafilter, a scale with a timer that fits on the machine, a dosing ring, a WDT, or a blind shaker, a puck screen, etc). Let's say 120 for the machine and 120 for the accessories. Perfect for your use case. I know cause I went the same route; Instant, Dolce Gusto and French press, Drip, Pourover, Senseo, Mokka, French press, ...

Love my stilosa!

Espresso at home really goes one of two ways, a super automatic machine you dump beans into and it does the rest, or a new hobby you invest hours and effort into but pays off in the end if you're really into it. You can make a great latte on a secondhand DeLonghi Stilosa you pick up on Marketplace for $50 if you buy a good espresso grinder and good beans to ensure you're starting with a worthwhile product. You really need to put in the energy to learn the machine, make some minor modifications, and do some fiddling with how you time things to get the best results. The Nespresso suggestion isn't the worst if you aren't interested in a new hobby or an expensive super automatic.

I have a Kingrinder k6 and Delonghi ec260, you can get both for about 200e so probably about 200$ aswell, and i makes perfectly good coffee, especialy for lattes. You just need an unpressurized basket abotu 20bucks and a small modification for the stema wand witha zip tie, but even with out it, the milk steaming is perfectly accaptable. My gf cant tell the difference between the coffe shope late and my latte (we did a blind test). So for 200$ you can have everything you need, for great latte drinks.

I'd get Delonghi Stilosa. Most basic budget machine. and a cheapest Amazon burr grinder. * Stilosa has a boiler, and easy to use. I've had one of these for 15+ years (maybe 20???) and fixed it multiple times. I'm in the Midwest and hard to find a repair shop. So put that into perspective. * Basic burr grinders are very easy to mod and grind finer. * None will break your bank. For latte drinks, you don't have to go wild in price. These basic machines will give you good base for lattes. But as it goes, the more expensive gears you have the better and so much easier to make a drink. Especially if you are a straight espresso shot drinker, with light roast beans, you don't want a cheap machine.

Delonghi Stillosa is the most cheapest you should get in this sub. Or get MokaPot. * Next up is Delonghi Dedica, then Breville Bambio, then Gaggia Classic etc. Stillosa is a boiler machine. Which makes it very good for an entry. Just make sure water in the basin is not cold, and preheat the machine for around 10 minutes to warm up the grouphead.