The best Christmas gifts any coffee freak can get. Or give.

Ok for those of you last minute shoppers who still haven't gotten me anything...

Presenting the Starbucks Barista espresso/cappuccino machine, and its companion grinder:

This is my third Barista machine. The first was called the Estro Vapore, but it was almost identical. The unit has a two year guarantee, and if you use it heavily it should last at least that long. Starbucks (which bought the Italian company that makes the unit) has been steadily improving the quality over the years, without changing the basic well-proven design. (My last one, for example, had a brushed-metal surface on basic steel, and developed a rust problem. The current model, shown above, also available in a variety of colors, is solid stainless steel, and sturdier than its predecessors.

Simply put, the Barista is the best machine for the money on the market. You have to spend a lot more to get a better machine. Take Peets Coffee stores, for example. They sell a commercial-grade machine for about $1200, plus a Gaggia machine for $350. I've met some people who swear by the Gaggia; but for me it's too tall and too plasticy. The Barista fits nicely under a counter, making it easy to move out of the way.

The Barista does two things a good cappuccino machine needs to be able to do: 1) steam milk properly, with real steam from a wand that's long enough to reach down into a steaming flask — and not some annoying "frothing" gimmick; and 2) produce strong espresso, in a dark black stream that tans to crema, from properly ground beans, and quickly.

The Barista grinder is a relatively new product, sold only in Starbucks stores (it's not on the Web site, for some dumb reason) and it's so durn handy it knocks me out. First, it's easy to pour out one mix of beans and put in another (impossible with my old grider). Second, the grind settings are accurate and easy to adjust. Third, the ground coffee accumulates in an easily removable little container. Fourth, it's not too big. All huge plusses. It also grinds very evenly, which is a must for proper espresso extraction.

For additional opinions, check out the ratings at CoffeeGeek.com, Epinionsandelsewhere.

I plan to add text detail to this how-to picture gallery I'm uploading now; but I need to go shopping first.

As for coffee, Starbucks varieties are generally fine (I like Cafe Verona best), but nothing in the U.S. beats Peets. Nothing. Don't even bother trying. I've sampled hundreds of local coffee shops all over the country, and haven't found a one that's Peets equal. (Unrelated: both Peets and Starbucks Web sites are remarkably bad, considering.)

If price is no object, and aesthetics matter hugely to you, the hand-made Salvatore machines are impossible to beat. Amazing. I've written about them before, here.

[Doc Searls]

Comments

[Richie]

Wow. What an awesome gift for a coffee freak. I bet it can make a tasty peppermint mocha drink too. :)