Been challenged to get a decent coffee setup for work. Budget is £300. I am guessing a Gaggia Classic and Grinder? It isn't too hard for everyone to learn and keep clean is it?
the only problem with a single group-head espresso machine is that it can be quite time consuming, especially when making coffee for multiple people.
(Having pre-heated the machine for 10+mins) and made sure it has fresh filtered water in it, you can then only make 2 small espresso (or 1 double) at a time. You then need to leave the coffees lying around whilst you bring the boiler up to steam temp (as the small machines only have a single boiler), drain of the water from the steam wand and then steam the milk.
Having made the coffee (but before you sit down), you have blow out and clean the steam wand and at the end of the day, rinse the basket and use an angled brush to clear the coffee grinds out of the group head. You will also need to descale it periodically using the proper descaler.
It also tend to make a bit of a mess with coffee grinds getting everywhere. And you also need a bin/knock-box to empty the spent coffee into.
it's not trivial and its easy to see why netpresso-type pod systems have caught on in recent times.
I don't know how many people you are thinking will want to use it all at the same time or how wedded you are to espresso based coffee so hard to advise further.
I wouldn;t be without my Rancilio machine and grinder combo tho. It's all part of the craft and great fun. But I am sure there are plenty of people who have bought an espresso machine and then realised what a damn faff it can be at times when all you want is a decent coffee.!
It you all want to drink a coffee together, I would get a grinder (with a range of grinding, not just for espresso) , kettle and nice drip filter and carafe or a large french press.
