Same experience for me! Never worked as a barista but it was actually a super fun and educational journey to learn all things espresso and coffee.
I bought a Mignon Zero grinder and a Delonghi Dedica with a non-presurrised portafilter for about $500 for both. Both are beginners friendly and for home use. I've learned all about dialling an espresso, the amount of coffee to put it, the duration of the extraction, the amount of coffee to get out and what role the cut of the coffee plays.
I've calculated that the investment will pay back it-self in a few months, ~5-6.
I bought a Mignon Zero grinder and a Delonghi Dedica with a non-presurrised portafilter for about $500 for both. Both are beginners friendly and for home use. I've learned all about dialling an espresso, the amount of coffee to put it, the duration of the extraction, the amount of coffee to get out and what role the cut of the coffee plays.
I've calculated that the investment will pay back it-self in a few months, ~5-6.