Ok, last question on this subject! I've had a CC1--which was either a lemon, or just frustrating--that died. I replaced it with a Breville Barista Express, which I've liked ok, but am a little frustrated with the steaming and seems redundant as I already have a grinder. I have my eyes on a good deal on a Gaggia Classic with a PID and replacement wand for $400.

BUT

In the midst of all of this, my wife says "why don't you just get a really good machine and stop worrying about it?" By "really good", she's talking around $1500. We can afford that, but we're both pretty frugal, so I didn't even think that was an option. So now I want to look at a third option.

What's your recommendation? Our needs: we mostly drink milk drinks (spent a year in NZ and fell in love with a good flat white, which we're both pretty picky about), 2 at a time, 1-2 times a day. I'm interested in good espresso, but honestly don't have a great palate for it at this point. My reasons for looking at a prosumer level machine are: -durability -looks (my wife doesn't care at all about this, but I love the Rocket Apartemento) -good steaming capability (the barista express is lacking here -hassle-free consistent shots (my CC1 was horribly inconsistent and drove me crazy, despite a decent grinder (Vario) and trying to keep all other variables constant (weight-click tamper, etc). Like I said, maybe a lemon?)

I know some love the Gaggia, some love the Barista Express, but are these going to fall short in the above? Or is that extra $1000 going towards things that only true espresso aficionados can appreciate?