There is, these days, a nearly bewildering array of choices when it comes to home-use espresso machines. We won’t even touch on the various other brew methods, or the choice of high-grade beans to use, although it is worth mentioning that buying whole beans is better! And the price points vary widely as well. Something perfectly good and durable can be had for under $500. The best, complete with bells and whistles, but still under the $5,000 mark, is indeed possible. It is the DeLonghi Gran Dama Avant. It is all push-button excellence, from the grinder through the milk steaming and frothing, and on to the actual shot of coffee itself. In a pleasantly compact form, it delivers high pressure, and high performance. Avanti!
