[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":274},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fdocs\u002Fbuying-guide-machines":3},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"description":266,"extension":267,"meta":268,"navigation":269,"path":270,"seo":271,"stem":272,"__hash__":273},"docs\u002Fdocs\u002Fbuying-guide-machines.md","Buying Guide: Espresso Machines",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":259},"minimark",[9,13,28,33,98,102,217,221,247],[10,11,5],"h1",{"id":12},"buying-guide-espresso-machines",[14,15,16,17,21,22,27],"p",{},"The right machine depends less on price alone and more on ",[18,19,20],"strong",{},"how much milk you steam"," and how much control you want. Read ",[23,24,26],"a",{"href":25},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fdocs\u002Fmachine-types","machine types"," first for the architecture behind each pick, then match your habits below.",[29,30,32],"h2",{"id":31},"match-the-machine-to-how-you-drink","Match the machine to how you drink",[34,35,36,50,62,74,86],"ul",{},[37,38,39,42,43,49],"li",{},[18,40,41],{},"First machine, tight budget"," → ",[18,44,45],{},[23,46,48],{"href":47},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Fpico-machine","Pico"," ($249). Single-thermoblock, pressurized baskets, ultra-compact. Forgiving and cheap; brew-then-steam if you occasionally want a cappuccino.",[37,51,52,42,55,61],{},[18,53,54],{},"One person, precise shots, occasional milk",[18,56,57],{},[23,58,60],{"href":59},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Fsolo-machine","Solo"," ($349). Single boiler with PID for stable brew temperature and a real 58mm basket. Wait 60-90s between brewing and steaming.",[37,63,64,42,67,73],{},[18,65,66],{},"Milk drinks for a household, no dual-boiler budget",[18,68,69],{},[23,70,72],{"href":71},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Fflux-machine","Flux"," ($549). Heat exchanger brews and steams at once with strong steam. Pull a 2-4s cooling flush after idle; brew temp is a touch less precise.",[37,75,76,42,79,85],{},[18,77,78],{},"Frequent, back-to-back milk drinks with best temp control",[18,80,81],{},[23,82,84],{"href":83},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Fduo-machine","Duo"," ($649). Dual PID boilers: simultaneous brew and steam, adjustable brew temperature, no cooling flush.",[37,87,88,42,91,97],{},[18,89,90],{},"Enthusiast who enjoys the ritual",[18,92,93],{},[23,94,96],{"href":95},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Flever-machine","Lever"," ($799). Manual spring lever with natural pre-infusion and a declining pressure profile. Hands-on and steam-capable.",[29,99,101],{"id":100},"comparison","Comparison",[103,104,105,127],"table",{},[106,107,108],"thead",{},[109,110,111,115,118,121,124],"tr",{},[112,113,114],"th",{},"Model",[112,116,117],{},"Type",[112,119,120],{},"Price",[112,122,123],{},"Simultaneous brew + steam",[112,125,126],{},"Best for",[128,129,130,149,166,184,201],"tbody",{},[109,131,132,137,140,143,146],{},[133,134,135],"td",{},[23,136,48],{"href":47},[133,138,139],{},"Single thermoblock",[133,141,142],{},"$249",[133,144,145],{},"No",[133,147,148],{},"First machine on a budget",[109,150,151,155,158,161,163],{},[133,152,153],{},[23,154,60],{"href":59},[133,156,157],{},"Single boiler + PID",[133,159,160],{},"$349",[133,162,145],{},[133,164,165],{},"One person, precise, occasional milk",[109,167,168,172,175,178,181],{},[133,169,170],{},[23,171,72],{"href":71},[133,173,174],{},"Heat exchanger",[133,176,177],{},"$549",[133,179,180],{},"Yes",[133,182,183],{},"Household milk drinks, mid price",[109,185,186,190,193,196,198],{},[133,187,188],{},[23,189,84],{"href":83},[133,191,192],{},"Dual boiler",[133,194,195],{},"$649",[133,197,180],{},[133,199,200],{},"Frequent milk, best temp control",[109,202,203,207,210,213,215],{},[133,204,205],{},[23,206,96],{"href":95},[133,208,209],{},"Manual lever",[133,211,212],{},"$799",[133,214,180],{},[133,216,90],{},[29,218,220],{"id":219},"a-few-practical-notes","A few practical notes",[34,222,223,226,229],{},[37,224,225],{},"If you rarely steam milk, a single boiler is no compromise — the money is better spent on the grinder.",[37,227,228],{},"Steam frequency, not just budget, is the real dividing line: heavy milk use is where HX and dual boiler earn their price.",[37,230,231,232,236,237,241,242,246],{},"All 58mm models share standard accessories — check ",[23,233,235],{"href":234},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fdocs\u002Fcompatibility","compatibility"," before adding a ",[23,238,240],{"href":239},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Fbottomless-portafilter","bottomless portafilter"," or ",[23,243,245],{"href":244},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fproducts\u002Fprecision-basket","precision basket",".",[14,248,249,250,254,255,246],{},"Once you've chosen, get set up with ",[23,251,253],{"href":252},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fdocs\u002Fgetting-started","getting started"," and learn to ",[23,256,258],{"href":257},"\u002Fbrewcraft\u002Fdocs\u002Fdialing-in","dial in",{"title":260,"searchDepth":261,"depth":261,"links":262},"",2,[263,264,265],{"id":31,"depth":261,"text":32},{"id":100,"depth":261,"text":101},{"id":219,"depth":261,"text":220},"How to choose among the BrewCraft Pico, Solo, Flux, Duo, and Lever by budget and how much milk you steam.","md",{},true,"\u002Fdocs\u002Fbuying-guide-machines",{"title":5,"description":266},"docs\u002Fbuying-guide-machines","GbN0urkXfAFy_gC5i-NeKHQV78z3FPU5-927XtUKiIM",1784149344336]