I must be making my points because you keep moving the target.
I'm talking about pulling shots of espresso; that's all I've ever talked about. I've said that multiple frou-frou drinks are a different situation, one in which the SBDU machine cannot compare with HX & DB machines.
Please limit your posts to the topic of the original post - making quality espresso. We can discuss frou-frou drinks in another thread if you wish?
Hahaha, that's so funny...
Because I had to go back to see what your original post was (I included it at the bottom of this post so you don't have to go back to your first post) and then to be sure I wasn't confused I had to look at the title of this entire thread, (I'll save you from looking up, waaaaaay up, it says 'high budget or low budget espresso equipment) which leaves me scratching my head thinking the post I made fits into your thread... doesn't it? Or did you really mean your thread title to say 'Please don't apply logic in this thread, everyone must agree that my Gaggia's are dragon slayers'.
So, for clarity, is this thread about racing junkers, spending money, focusing on quality espresso, or selling Gaggia's?
Read your initial post and let me know...
"Back in the day;
New competitive shooters would spend $300 to get an accurized Gold Cup .45 from Bob Chow, when the chief armorer of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Detachment at Ft Benning could sell them an accurized surplus Army .45 for $125. Both guns would hold a 4" grouping at 50 yards while on a mechanical rest.
Some street racers would spend $3000 - $5000 for a new Olds 442 that would go from 0 - 60 in under 5 seconds, while the knowledgeable racers would buy a junker, toss in a blue printed big-block Chevy & 4-speed, and go racing for titles and win.
Similarly, today some folks spend $1000 - $7000 for great espresso machines, while others prefer to build theirs themselves using the same premium quality parts in the expensive factory built espresso machines.
What's my point? Just because you can buy a great looking factory toy, don't bet the farm when you come up against a home-built hot rod in the hands of a knowledgeable builder/user."