Still a very hard coffee nerd, and after a few years of brewing with everything from a V60 to a siphon, it's time to try espresso. Due to my lack of counter space and limited budget for something I'm still entirely unsure on, I decided to grab a Breville Barista Express. Blah blah blah integrated grinder, Breville is the suck, etc. Yes, this isn't a pro level machine. Yes, this isn't a stepless ultra-accurate grinder. Yes, it's a single boiler. But guess what? It was less than 600 bucks, and it has a really small footprint, the integrated grinder means I don't have to dick with my current SmartGrinder when doing drip, and will wholly satisfy my needs to explore espresso and decide if I want to put more money into a prosumer machine and a separate grinder.
More pictures to come, but the above is my first attempt at a milk drink, and I was quite surprised at how well it turned out. I'm rolling with Smile Tiger natural process Ethiopian Kaffa, grind setting 8, 16 grams in, ~28 second extraction. Good crema, good flavor, but the milk could have gone a lot hotter. Was surprisingly pleased with the foam I was able to create on my first try! Will be looking forward to more tests over the coming days! Lots to learn!