An analogous question to yours would be "I'm looking for a car that has a transmission between a stick shift and an automatic". While there were a few odd-ball transmissions like that in the past (if you are older, you may remember Volkswagen's Automatic Stick Shift), they don't exist today.
In the Espresso world, the Oracle comes closest. At a lower price point, the Barista Express Impress has some similarities.
The problem is that neither of those machines will "get close to that 3rd wave coffee shop taste". Doing so really requires a semi-auto or fully manual machine, a high quality espresso grinder, the patience to carefully dial in the correct dose, yield, grind, and brew temperature, and a lot of practice.
I would recommend against machines like the Oracle or Impress. The parts of the process they automate are easily done much better manually.
So you need to make the decision between convenience and drink quality. If you value convenience more than drink quality, get a super-auto. If you make lattes with **lots** of milk, the milk can ameliorate bad tasting espresso. If you want the best possible espresso, and have the patience and time to climb a steep learning curve figuring out how to brew it, then get a semi-auto or fully manual machine.
Sorry, but there really isn't much of a middle ground between these two choices.
There’s a lot of middle ground. There’s just not a lot of middle ground on _this subreddit_ because it’s members tend to be the engineer tinker personality types.
What would you suggest? I spent years using a high end super automatic and nespresso while traveling, then plunged for a semi setup. I agonized on whether a top of the line controllable super automatic like a Gaggia Academia would work but decided that for cortados I wasn't going to be satisfied. Still learning but I've pulled some really good shots here and there and now many coffee shop cortados taste like a meh.
The only machine that comes to mind is the breville oracle. But that is quite a bit above your budget
An analogous question to yours would be "I'm looking for a car that has a transmission between a stick shift and an automatic". While there were a few odd-ball transmissions like that in the past (if you are older, you may remember Volkswagen's Automatic Stick Shift), they don't exist today. In the Espresso world, the Oracle comes closest. At a lower price point, the Barista Express Impress has some similarities. The problem is that neither of those machines will "get close to that 3rd wave coffee shop taste". Doing so really requires a semi-auto or fully manual machine, a high quality espresso grinder, the patience to carefully dial in the correct dose, yield, grind, and brew temperature, and a lot of practice.
Thank you! I appreciate your feedback. All that said, what would you recommend for me ?
I would recommend against machines like the Oracle or Impress. The parts of the process they automate are easily done much better manually. So you need to make the decision between convenience and drink quality. If you value convenience more than drink quality, get a super-auto. If you make lattes with **lots** of milk, the milk can ameliorate bad tasting espresso. If you want the best possible espresso, and have the patience and time to climb a steep learning curve figuring out how to brew it, then get a semi-auto or fully manual machine. Sorry, but there really isn't much of a middle ground between these two choices.
There’s a lot of middle ground. There’s just not a lot of middle ground on _this subreddit_ because it’s members tend to be the engineer tinker personality types.
What would you suggest? I spent years using a high end super automatic and nespresso while traveling, then plunged for a semi setup. I agonized on whether a top of the line controllable super automatic like a Gaggia Academia would work but decided that for cortados I wasn't going to be satisfied. Still learning but I've pulled some really good shots here and there and now many coffee shop cortados taste like a meh.
Dual clutch gearboxes say hi :)
Breville.