I want to spend $500 for espresso machine and grinder... suggestions?

[mosesbotbol]

I don't think the Rocky/Silva is out of your range. It's the minimum that will get the job done with an epresso you can be proud of.

My machine is over 10 years old and all I have replaced is the thermostat and grouphead gasket. Both I did myself with little effort. The Rocky grinder works well for drip coffee.

In all honesty, at this point I use the espresso machine just on weekends. I do not have enough time to make lattes and then fill out thermas' for the day with french press. I have draw a line in the sand somewhere. But with 100's of lbs coffee gone through, it still runs great.

I am not as picky with beans as I was. The cost is just too much since I use the french press the most. $10 a lb is my cut off. I love Costco's Guatamalan; just rocks for all types of coffee methods and is like $6 a lb. Their Rowandan does the trick too.