Coffee

Don't buy any of the pod based coffee machines, they're comparatively cheap up front, but they'll cost you more in the long run and give you a much more limited selection of the kinds of coffee you can have.

I'd say if you want to push a button and get a coffee, look into bean-to-cup machines. If you don't mind doing a few bits a traditional style espresso machine is going to give you a load of flexibility, and can generally be a bit cheaper than a bean-to-cup (though they can also get much more expensive!).

If you don't mind it being fully manual, perhaps look into pour-over or aeropress kit. Definitely a much cheaper step than buying a machine, and lots to learn from using those methods

I like the Aeropress. Simple and versatile.

It should be orange and say Moccamaster on the side.

With drip machines the trick is finding one that gets the water hot enough for proper extraction. Most of them do not. As mentioned elsewhere in the thread, the Mocca Master is the gold standard here, but it's expensive.
Of course, the easiest way to get boiling water is with a kettle, and if you can forego the convenience of a drip machine there are a bunch of brewing methods where you supply the water. The French press, the Aeropress and the Hairo V60 pour-over are popular options.

The main thing, though, if you're serious about the flavor of your coffee, is to grind your own beans.

Had a delonghi ec580 and sage grinder and now have a lelit victoria with timeless 64s and hario v60.

Just get a plastic hario v60, cheap gooseneck and a good hand or powered grinder. V60 delivers effortless, delicious coffee every time with the hoffman technique. Espresso is a money pit that is not worth it unless you really fucking love pure espresso.

There are many devices for making single or double cups of coffee. I think the aeropress and v60 are great options.

Depends on you budget. Personally, I feel like the Clever Dripper and the Hario Switch are the best choices for making good coffee for someone just starting out.

Assuming that you're looking for filter coffee, the Specialty Coffee Association and European Coffee Brewing Center both have certification programs for home coffee makers. None of these machines should be a barrier to getting a great cup of coffee, so you can comfortably focus on picking a machine based on price/aesthetic/convenience features from either of these lists. Even if you don't want anything from these lists, looking at their guidelines will be helpful in knowing what to look for when selecting a machine. Naturally, the lists are nonexhaustive and only feature machines that have paid for the certification testing.

If you're interested in manual brewers, some of the more accessible brewers would be the Clever Dripper, Ceado Hoop, Aeropress, or the Hario Switch. None of these brewers gets much benefit from using a gooseneck kettle, so you won't need to jump too far down the rabbit hole.

That’s a really slippery slope! I’m also in Queensland, and have been in various states of the coffee journey for nearly 20 years.

My current setup, that really works well for me, is a delonghi dedica ec685m and a smeg CFG01 grinder.

I also import beans from a mates coffee plantation in PNG.

I love the coffee I brew, and it only took me 14 years to get to this point!!

My point is, experiment, go slow. Bean quality is probably more important than most other things.

Another thing to consider is how bulky your coffee gadgets are.

I don't have space for a dedicated drip brewer.

I had an opportunity to buy a siphon brewer from a thrift store, but I decided against it, because I have nowhere to store a large delicate glass thing.

I use 3 coffee brewers in rotation.

All 3 brewes are quick and easy because I have a hot water pot that keeps some water at 195F/90.5C, and can get up to boiling 212F/100C in a couple of minutes.

I think this is the most critical part for me trying to get out the door to work in the morning, because who likes to wait for water to boil?

1. French press - Cheap and easy to find: Usually brew 4 minutes, but that can vary with the beans.

2. Aeropress - So quick and satisfying to use. Brews nice and smooth compared to my French press, but I like both brews. Some recipes call for brewing as little as 10 seconds, so it's even quicker than the French press.

3. Cucumella - Italian flip over coffee brewer makes a smaller, but stronger cup, about 2 minutes for all the water to drip through the grounds in my tiny 1-2 cups device

I also have a Baratza Encore grinder, but I think store bought grounds are just fine.

Buy the best grinder you can afford. Buy a machine with the change. Kinda joking, but the quality of the grinder is what's gonna get you from "ok" to "amazing" flavours.

For drip coffee makers, most are pretty similar. The main differences come down to capacity and a few convenience features. If you're open to trying other methods, you might also enjoy pour-over, cold brew, or French press. The Hario V60 is a great option for pour-over, offering more control over flavor and brew time.

If you're into espresso, just keep in mind that good espresso machines can get pricey. Look for one with consistent pressure (around 9 bars), a quality grinder, and a solid build. Manual espresso machines offer the most control, while automatic ones are more beginner-friendly.

Depends on how you like your coffee and what kind of quantities you want to be able to brew.

I like pourovers and use a steep-and-release brewer most often which makes one cup for just myself. I also own a v60 carafe for brewing bigger batches.