It's not really a discussion about equipment, but more about the journey I’m proud of—entering the espresso world with no money but a lot of passion.
It all started when I saw a reel of someone pulling a magnificent shot. They had matte black gear worth 8k, 500€ in puck prep accessories, and a beautiful extraction that made me salivate. I loved everything I saw. It made me want to create something that magnificent myself, even though the only coffee I drank at the time was instant coffee mixed with milk. I soon realized, however, that this is an incredibly expensive hobby if you're just chasing the aesthetic.
Thankfully, you don't need a 1000€ setup to pull a nice shot. I looked for cheaper options and found Lance Hedrick's tier list on budget machines. I started hunting for a second-hand De'Longhi ECP and found one for only 40€, located just a three-minute walk from my house. I couldn't have been happier.
Next, I needed a grinder. In that price range, only a manual one would do, so I found a Timemore C3 ESP on AliExpress for 45€. It was an absolute steal—a solid grinder with incredible build quality that I recommend to anyone who can't afford 100€ for a Kingrinder K6. I also ordered all the necessary puck prep tools for around 40€, and I was set. I still remember that excitement vividly.
But as you know, that initial excitement eventually fades, and you start wanting better gear. Since everyone selling used espresso equipment knows what it's worth, I decided to use my skills in repairing electronics. I started looking for broken machines, which opened up a whole new world of options:
- Sage Barista Express: Found for 70€, repaired for 23€. I sold my old De'Longhi setup for 90€ to cover it.
- Ascaso i1 Grinder: Got it for free! It had horrible retention, so I sold both the Timemore (60€) and the Ascaso (90€) to trade up.
- Sage Bambino Plus: Found for 50€ with a clogged thermojet. A new part cost 70€, making it an instant buy. I sold the Barista Express for 300€, giving me plenty of profit to find a high-end grinder.
- Sette 30: Bought broken for 50€, repaired it, and sold it for 120€.
A week later, I found the "holy grail": a Timemore 078s for 500€ with the original box. I negotiated it down to 450€. It’s immaculate. I sold the included turbo burrs for 90€ and put that money toward LeBrew Espresso Sweet burrs. That is my current setup, and I absolutely love it.
Recently, I’ve seen Sage Oracle Jets going for around 600€ at auction, which is crazy given the 1800€ retail price. As I write this, I’m waiting for an auction for a Sage Oracle Dual Boiler. Wish me luck! If I win, I’ll sell it along with my Bambino Plus to buy a Fellow Espresso Series One and the Sworksdesign 49mm conversion kit. Having a smaller diameter means using less coffee for the same puck depth, which is perfect for my budget. Plus, the heat-up time and profiling on the Fellow are exactly what I’m looking for. After that, I’ll save the rest until the BOOKOO Moto 80 comes out, sell my 078s, and buy it on release.
I love coffee, but the feeling of finally owning the equipment you see in videos through hard work and "flipping" is incredible. I hope my experience gives ideas to others in the same situation.
Thanks for reading and, as Lance says: I hope you brew something tasty today!