Hey Aidan, my $400 Gaggia Syncrony Logic is now 11 yrs old and still works like it’s brand new. Just keep it fed, 1 button to turn it on, and 30s later a quick double-tap gets me a perfect double espresso. Drop the feed tube into a milk container, push the handle back, and you’ve got a latte in 30s (and it never touches my mug). Gaggia and Breville make some pretty good super automatic machines in the $600 range as well.

I went from Mr. Coffee to a basic De’Longhi espresso machine to a Gaggia Classic (pre-Pro and it’s still working fine after 20 years), to a $400 Gaggia super-automatic Syncrony Logic (11 yrs old, still like new). I have the choice of playing barista with my Classic or hurry-up-and-get-to-work with my Syncrony. I care about both the environment and my wallet, so I’ve never considered anything disposable. (Even my spent pucks go into the garden.) Fun, great coffee, cheap*, and environmentally friendly.

* Cheaper than disposable pods/cups and your neighborhood ‘tarbucks.

Hey Aiden. There are some more high duty cycle super automatics to consider, but also there’s a machine from De’Longhi called the True Brew, and it is essentially a super automatic, but for drip style coffee instead of espresso, that’s a machine to consider.

Confession time: I was the one who originally recommended a Keurig for our office. It does get a lot of use, but honestly, we’ve gone through three machines in the last three years because they keep breaking down. Not exactly a great track record. Now, I’m inspired to dive into some research and see if there are better options out there for light office use (we’re a team of five). Most of the crew leans toward regular coffee over espresso, but I’m assuming there are machines that can handle longer coffee-style drinks, right? If anyone has recommendations, I’m all ears.

On a related note, we have a client who runs a coffee roasting business, and I’m realizing how amazing it would be to source beans directly from them instead of funneling money into giant corporations for what’s usually subpar coffee. It feels like such an easy win to support a small business and upgrade the quality of what we’re drinking every day!

I would also like to say how excellent this article is, very readable and enjoyable to read.