Coffee crisis

My coffee maker has started leaking water from the espresso tank when it’s under pressure. I mean, it still makes espresso, but leaks water onto the counter. So I have to replace it before it goes entirely belly-up. When I first noticed it, I was royally ticked off, but then I recalled that I bought the machine in 1990, with money from my first job after grad school, & it cost maybe $150 then. So that thing owes me nothing.

I have no time for any kitchen equipment that’s not multi-purpose—toaster oven instead of toaster, no Panini maker or hot dog cooker—so the ideal solution would be to replace the entire machine, which is an espresso-coffee combo. But I’m not looking to shell out $500 at the moment for anything that doesn’t involve the words “Saab” & “transmission”, & as the coffee maker works, I’m going for the espresso-only option.

I would have just bought another Krups machine—after all, you can’t argue with 21 years of solid service. But the consumer ratings on the Web have been really bad on both the quality of the equipment & the customer service, so that’s out.

& of course I could still pony up north of $1000 for a home espresso maker—well, I mean, there are machines on the market going for that, but I am still in possession of most of my senses. The way I look at it, whatever I get is interim—nothing’s going to last as long as my last one. Once I find a permanent (ish) gig, I should give it all due honors & a Viking funeral.

But if my options are a new machine or paying $4 per cup at a coffee shop, it’s a no-brainer.

I just hope it lasts long enough for the replacement to get here.