amateurs, rank amateurs.
been seriously addicted to coffee since the 60's.
For a real buzz get cuban coffee.
Starbucks is overroasted, bitter and overblown. Yah they started the
whole coffeebar thing here in the states and I thank them for that.
The secret is to get a good grinder, the coffee maker is less important.
You want a burr grinder, slow speed so it doesn't burn the coffeebean
as it grinds, and keeps the static down.
Buy fresh roasted beans, Whole Foods roasts daily and keeps
the beans for about a week.
For an espresso machine I'm thinking of a Gaggia,
although I have a Mochka pot (stovetop) that
makes excellent coffee, no crema tho.

the key is the grind, a good grinder will
get you closer to coffee nirvana than
an expensive machine (saeco).

Marty