Moka brewer
Hi troll;
Your question leads to several mutually exclusive concepts (such as best AND cheapest).
> The Best way to make espresso requires a commercial quality espresso machine, fresh roasted coffee, a suitable grinder capable of micro-small fine/coarse adjustment range, appropriate tamper, timer that measures 1 second increments, a measuring cup or graduated shot glass, some training (or at least good written instructions), skills practice.
> The cheapest way to make espresso will not yield the best quality espresso, will not yield an espresso coffee that even resembles espresso properely prepared.
> Any espresso maker less than $50 (or less than $100 for that matter) can not brew espresso by definition. The grinder will cost more than that.
> A useful model of home/light commercial use espresso brewer must have a means to provide 9 bars of water pressure to the brewing chamber (portafilter). This is necessary because esPRESSo is brewed by forcing PRESSurized hot water through the ground coffee. The pressure can be provided by an electric pump driving water into the boiler, or by a hand levered piston driving hot water through the coffee portafilter.
If you wish to make cappuccino, caffe latte and other steam heated beverages, the machine also needs a system that includes two thermostats or even dual boilers. The dual temperatures are necessary because coffee is ideally brewed at 200 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit (just below boiling temperature) and the steam required to heat and foam milk for cappuccino, etc is only generated by much higher (above boiling water 212 degrees) temperatures which would create a poor tasting coffee brew.
> Try doubling the quantity of ground coffee you add to your french press, then try brewing with half the water as well. That means first step 4 level tablespoons coffee per cup (standard recipe is 2 tablespoons per cup and a coffee cup is 6 ounces, not 8 ounces), then step two adjust to brew with less water. This extra-strong coffee may yield a suitably strong beverage, although not an espresso.
> Try brewing coffee in a Moka pot. Some people call this type of coffee pot a stove-top espresso pot, but it does not brew a true espresso. You can get an inexpensive aluminum moka pot for less than $20 and a nicer stainless steel pot for under $100. It brews with steam pressure driven water and yields a somewhat harsher tasting beverage than a well prepared espresso, but it might be all you hope for in your price range.