Talk Coffee Blog — 2026-02-05

Why is that espresso machine more expensive?

A text heavy one this time. We're reluctant to post photos of the insides of equipment in fear of stepping on toes, but they're out there… Seek, and you will find! **We're all living in tough economic times and this is impacting espresso equipment choices.** Ten years ago, potential clients often arrived with extravagant budgets, seeking heirloom machines. In these more challenging post-COVID days of higher interest rates and escalating household expenses, it's tougher. What may once have been a $5–10k budget may well be a $2k budget. Whilst you can set yourself up with good coffee for a relatively modest outlay, is it false economy? Are you choosing short-term landfill over a family heirloom which will deliver decades of great coffee with some regular maintenance and a little love? ## What We Look for When Evaluating a Machine When we evaluate an espresso machine as a candidate for our range, a number of factors are considered - and there are unfortunately brands that don't progress b