OT: Espresso machines

@dman777   Linea Mini is very interesting machine.  It has unusual design being heat exchanger machine with two boilers.  I guess professionals believe that brewing water has to come fresh.  They call water in the boiler "dead water".  In my ECM Mechanika Max brewing water comes thru heat exchanger placed inside od large steam boiler.  Brewing water is fresh, but temperature is dropping (cold water coming in), especially with double coffee.  In Linea Mini water comes thru two heat exchangers - thru steam boiler and then thru brew boiler.  Steam boiler heats up exchanger to high temperature while brew boiler heat exchanger equalizes it.  That way brewing water is fresh and temperature is even, while steam boiler is at max.  Linea Mini was over my budged (and space on the countertop - it is big), but perhaps one day.  Everything that Marzocco makes is top quality.

I use ECM Mechanika Max with flow control (rotary pump), plumbed with Rancillo Rocky single dose grinder.  This grinder works like new for over two decades, but grinder is extremely important.  Uneven grind produces acidic (too coarse) and bitter coffee (too fine) at the same time.  I plan to upgrade grinder one day.  Something like Mazzer will be used one day by your grandkids.

As for the French Press - aromatic oils carry taste, paper filters remove them.

Main question for the Espresso choice is the way they operate. Cheaper ones create pressure either by spring in the portafilter or narrow orfice, while more expensive machines require coffee to be compacted (right grind) to limit flow and create pressure.  Such machines use three way valve to evacuate water form the portafilter after extraction (dry puck emptied to knock box).  These machines require back-flushing and occasional cleaning with chemicals.  Rancilio Sylvia is good simple inexpensive machine with 3-way valve and 58mm portafilter.  

There is a lot to learn/know, and lose money, but it is not as bad as audio.