Overheard a guy at the cafe say his espresso machine cost more than his car

I was waiting for my latte and this dude starts bragging about dropping $4,000 on a La Marzocco home machine. I get wanting good coffee but my 2003 Honda Civic got me to work for 5 years and cost $2,500. Makes me wonder if people even think about what they really need before they buy. Anyone else feel like the gear hype is getting out of hand?

2 comments

2 Comments

ryantorres5d ago

Guy says his espresso machine cost more than his car, and my first thought is: how bad is his car?" For $4,000 I'm guessing it's a lawnmower with plates. But honestly, does a home espresso machine ever pay for itself in the long run, or is it just a shiny way to burn cash before noon? I'd rather spend that money on a decent used Camry and keep buying $2 drip coffee from the gas station. At least the gas station coffee doesn't make me feel bad about my life choices.

martinez.kim5d ago

Tbh @ryantorres, I get what you're saying but I went down this rabbit hole last year with a $500 machine, not $4k. After about 18 months of making 2 lattes a day, I did the math and I'm actually saving money compared to the coffee shop. Not gas station coffee though, that's a different universe. The real catch is you gotta actually use it every day and not let it sit there collecting dust. If you're the type who brews once on Saturday morning, just stick with the Camry and the $2 cup.