from the Triple Venté Dept.

I've switched to making a lot more lattés than filter coffee at home this year. My espresso machine is a cheap little $55 one, exactly the same make and model as the one I had in the UK (that cost £100!*). It may be cheap and simple, but it works, and produces good espresso, and good milk foam.

However, I'm starting to think that once I'm working again, and settled (in any one of a number of countries), I'm going to treat myself to a new espresso machine.

There's an Italian brand, FrancisFrancis**, that does a machine I'm crazy about. It's a kinda retro design, with nice big chunky switches, and a pressure gauge. It's called the X1 and is available in a number of colours.

X1

This image of the X1, comes to you courtesy of Craystone Investments Ltd in the UK. Click here to find out how you can get an espresso maker from them.

Of course, if we're going to get serious about this, maybe I need the X2.

*Yet another example of how British consumers are constantly being ripped off
**Yes, that's really the brand name, hence the article title.