What an excellent question! What if you are a lover of fine espresso, but don't yet have the cash to invest in a fancy home machine? That doesn't necessarily leave you out of the running, but you do need to have some knowledge of how to brew espresso at home for a premium product.

One cheap alternative is the use of a stovetop espresso maker. These are items that are much less expensive than a home espresso machine, from around $50-$100 versus $500. This is the perfect starter choice if you want a quick cup of espresso without investing in a larger machine or waiting in line at Starbucks. The DeLonghi EMK6 Alicia Electric Espresso Maker provides you with an easy selection, and you can brew 3 to 6 cups of fresh espresso at once. This uses a similar brewing process to an authentic Italian technique, and it will provide a rich and full espresso product, somewhat like Turkish Coffee. Since it is electric, it is quite easy to use, and all you have to do is fill up the bottom chamber with water, and add espresso grounds to the filter. This machine will work quickly and efficiently to brew fresh espresso, and you have the option to adjust the water levels to determine the volume you are brewing.

Another valid choice is the Bodum Chambord 12-Cup Stove Top Espresso Maker. This is a more traditional stovetop espresso maker, and it allows you to place the device directly on the stove to brew fresh espresso. This is quite economical because it is so small and compact, but it will still brew a fresh espresso shot every time. This machine works by pouring fresh water into the water container, and then inserting the filter filled with fresh espresso grounds. You will then place this machine directly on the stove over medium heat, and the water will boil and create pressure to push it through the fresh espresso grounds into the top chamber. This is a fast and fresh extraction process that produces almost instant espresso.

The bottom line is that if you are a lover of fine espresso, you still have the opportunity to enjoy it as often as you would like at a lower cost. These are quality methods and alternatives to espresso brewing so that you don't necessarily have to invest in a larger machine. One other advantage to a stovetop espresso maker is that it does not involve any specific skill in espresso brewing. If you feel intimidated by many of the larger espresso machines that are manual or semi-automatic, then that is something that you will not have to worry about with a stovetop espresso maker. These are machines that allow you to brew espresso very simply, and all you have to do is add fresh water and espresso grounds.

So which stovetop espresso maker is right for you? Either way, these devices provide you with the opportunity to brew espresso with ease and at a lower cost!