A manual machine will make the best coffee. We have a rancilio Silvia which is the only domestic machine they make. Best coffee.
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Same here and it is very easy to operate and get better coffee than most cafes can make.

We got my mum a pod machine from Target that takes the Piazza D'oro pods which seem to be reasonable in quality and have a good range for my step-father who only has decaf and hot choc for when the kids stay. It takes the n'espresso ones too but we don't use Nestle products in the our family so she doesn't get them.