Espresso: the Master Class
IF YOU'RE GOING to do a thing, do a thing. If that thing is espresso, do it with Gaggia's masterpiece, the Achille ($1,300, gaggia.com). Unlike the automatic gizmos we've seen recently, with which anyone can make horrid espresso, here the quality of espresso you produce is proportional to your skill. Connoisseurs will find the Achille's lever-operated design affords absolute control over application of water to grounds, essential if you seek espresso nirvana. It's not just coffee, it's a way of life.