lrodrig Senior Member Joined: 1 Jan 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Commerce City Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Jan 1, 2011, 11:18am Subject: Espresso machine prices
Why have they gone up so much in the last few years. I've been reading through old threads on the coffeegeek forums to get ideas for the right machine for me. These older forums have prices that are way lower for the same machines today. What gives? Exchange rate? Inflation?
I've lurked these forums for a couple of years now but I'm definitely a newbie. Just curious really.
European made. Check the US$ vs the Euro. The Euro has appreciated; the dollar depreciated. Recently, the Euro has slumped a bit but there is always a lag as retailers work out their inventory.
lrodrig Senior Member Joined: 1 Jan 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Commerce City Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Jan 1, 2011, 3:19pm Subject: Re: Espresso machine prices
Interesting, thanks for information. I've been putting off purchasing new equipment for the last couple of years and now I'm kicking myself because prices are way up. So now I have to decide again if I should wait and hope prices go down or hurry up and get a new machine now, especially of the HX variety. It also seems like there isn't that great of a selection of used machines on eBay or craigslist recently.
Posted Sat Jan 1, 2011, 5:09pm Subject: Re: Espresso machine prices
lrodrig Said:
Interesting, thanks for information. I've been putting off purchasing new equipment for the last couple of years and now I'm kicking myself because prices are way up. ...
lrodrig Senior Member Joined: 1 Jan 2011 Posts: 10 Location: Commerce City Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Jan 1, 2011, 6:45pm Subject: Re: Espresso machine prices
Good question. I currently drink most of my coffee at work (super automatic). On the weekends I tend to have 2 maybe three drinks a day with only one made at home. The only reason I don't drink more at home is because my current setup is cumbersome. I use a hand grinder and a Starbucks Barista with a NPP that is starting to need more repairs so is very inconsistent.
I tend to drink way more diet soda than I should. Recently I started thinking about going back to drinking more espresso / coffee instead but the thought of doing 3+ drinks a day on my current setup is not appealing. That's what got my started on a new machine. Unfortunately cutting out the soda and weekend coffees it would still take me 3-4 years to recoup the cost. Maybe more when you add the price of beans...
Posted Sat Jan 1, 2011, 8:35pm Subject: Re: Espresso machine prices
lrodrig Said:
Interesting, thanks for information. I've been putting off purchasing new equipment for the last couple of years and now I'm kicking myself because prices are way up. So now I have to decide again if I should wait and hope prices go down or hurry up and get a new machine now, especially of the HX variety. It also seems like there isn't that great of a selection of used machines on eBay or craigslist recently.
Posted Sat Jan 1, 2011, 11:23pm Subject: Re: Espresso machine prices
There are decent setups to make coffee at home that don't cost your choice of two limbs (an arm and a leg are the popular choices). Think about:
A refurb Baratza Virtuoso grinder and an Espro Press. It's one cup at a time, but for ease of use it is about the best coffee that can be had. It is everything a press is without the bitterness from the sludge that passes through the screens of most presses. Total cost about $230
A Baratza Refurb Vario and a Mypressi Twist. The Twist uses N2O capsules and at about $0.10 per double it's not bad. Wonderful device. Total about $520 and you will have a grinder that will serve all your needs. The Twist also works well with the refurb Virtuoso - that would be about $300.00.
Metal has been shooting up for a lot longer than that! I built my steel shop building 5 years ago and in the span of only 6 months, the price DOUBLED due to materials costs! Not only has the price of metal gone up.... the quality has gone down, lots of imports from China, the U.S. steel industry is all but dead, thanks a lot ECO nuts.
Sorry about the above, don't get me started about the "green" excesses.
I've spoken to a couple of retailers in the last few days and they are also giving me the impression that supply is constrained because lots of manufacturers cut back during the recession. Now that people are started to spend money again the supply chain has not caught up. Any thoughts on this?
I'm really debating wether or not I should wait for a few months and see if prices come down because supply is up. But that may be a mistake. I did this same thing 1.5 years ago and proceeded to put off the purchase because prices went up.
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