Decent DE1

Espresso machine: Decent DE1+ XL- Small machine, immense amount of customization, ability to create a profile that wife could reuse. Serious concerns about maintenance and longevity with a very tech driven machine. Runner up: Profitec 700 - can pull great shots, E61 group, solid manufacturer and longevity/reliability.

First espresso setup was a Gaggia Classic and Rancillo Rocky. Upgraded and tweaked it as far as I feel like it could go before upgrading to the Decent DE1+ and Eureka Specialita.

Decent DE1+, Nuova Simonelli G60, Nicoletti 75% Arabica - 25% Robusta, 22gr in - 44gr out, Loveramics Egg 10oz

EDIT: Some of you have asked for the original image. Here it is:

[Nice Coffee

Decent De1. pressure, temperature, and flow profiling a whole host of other features purely dedicated to getting the best possible espresso (for you). That would probably be your end game.

The Appartmento is a fantastic daily driver that will last as long as you take care of it, and will teach you a bunch in the process. Now, that being said, I'm at the point in /my/ coffee career where I'm about to pull the trigger on a Decent DE1+ so I can play with more variables like pressure profiling and temperature. Granted, a DE1+ is more than double the Rocket. There are also a few aftermarket E61 gauges you can get to help you monitor brewhead pressure, highly recommended for ~$50.

I am the inventor and lead designer of the Decent Espresso DE1. It's a very non-standard machine, so I might not be a perfect match for your needs, in terms of what I know. But, I am happy to discuss espresso machines with you, and help where I can.

4) Decent DE1 Pro version 1.1 + Specialita - another noticeable leap in espresso extraction quality along with my prep technique as I delved further into the rabbit hole. Workflow is also much improved. Being an early Decent adopter was a lot of fun.