While I have only really been into the espresso scene this semester(September-December 2025), I have quickly developed a deep appreciation for the art and science behind making a perfect cup of espresso. Now that I am though, it makes complete sense given my love of machinery and engineering.
I love the process of “tuning the parameters” of my coffee like descending the gradient of a complex function. Adjusting grind size, dose, yield, and time to find that sweet spot where everything aligns perfectly. It’s a beautiful blend of precision and creativity.
I have always been a coffee person, but this has made it difficult to just be a “any” coffee drinker. I find myself craving the rich, concentrated flavors of espresso over the more diluted taste of drip coffee. The ritual of pulling a shot, the aroma that fills the room, and the satisfying crema on top all contribute to the experience.
I am not a rich college student by any means, so my setup is a little limited. I had done a lot of research for getting the most bang for my buck, and I am very happy with what I ended up with. For the main machine, I am using a Bambino Plus from Breville. For the grinder, arguebly much more important, I am using a Baratza Encore Esp. The bambino would have been a lot, but thanks to my roomate getting a strong bestbuy discount I was able to get both for 200$ each.
However, coffee snobery is so much more than the main machines. There is a whole sleue of accessories that can make a big difference. The point of no return for espresso snobbery is the WDT tool. This little needle tool allows you to break up clumps in the coffee puck before pulling a shot, leading to a more even extraction. I also have a precision scale to measure my dose and yield accurately, a special tamper/evener combo that makes it impossible to tamp unevenly. Eventually I hope to get a bottomless portafilter to help diagnose channeling issues.
For reference, this is what you can pull when you have a bottomless portafilter:
