You won't find a true espresso maker for 200$. Maybe a machine that makes strong coffee but not espresso.
I have a delongi superautomatic. About 1000$ in Canada. Expensive? Yes. Worth every penny. Has intregrated burr grinder, milk frotter (makes lattes without you). It is a rabbit hole. When the first one broke (after many years of use) and the service shop told me it would take 3 weeks to fix it i went straight to costco and bought another one. Thats not an indication of my finances but tells you how awesome and addictive a true espresso is (much like bbq)-you cant live 3 weeks without it. Another interesting point: no one in my family questioned the purchase of the 2nd machine (we always disagree on things to buy). Now i have a working spare and dont plan to sell it.
I got a few people hooked up once they taste it and left deep holes in their pockets. No one called me to complain.
As for coffee...find a source of whole bean coffee that roasts when you order. After 2 weeks roasted coffee loses a lot of flavour. I buy large batches and freeze it.
I have a delongi superautomatic. About 1000$ in Canada. Expensive? Yes. Worth every penny. Has intregrated burr grinder, milk frotter (makes lattes without you). It is a rabbit hole. When the first one broke (after many years of use) and the service shop told me it would take 3 weeks to fix it i went straight to costco and bought another one. Thats not an indication of my finances but tells you how awesome and addictive a true espresso is (much like bbq)-you cant live 3 weeks without it. Another interesting point: no one in my family questioned the purchase of the 2nd machine (we always disagree on things to buy). Now i have a working spare and dont plan to sell it.
I got a few people hooked up once they taste it and left deep holes in their pockets. No one called me to complain.
As for coffee...find a source of whole bean coffee that roasts when you order. After 2 weeks roasted coffee loses a lot of flavour. I buy large batches and freeze it.