Hello mcrae, There are a number of places in Sydney and Brisbane (and surrounds) that sell machines, and many other places (Canberra, Melbourne) have people who are happy to courier machines to you. I presume your reference to 'partly manual' means you don't want a so-called superautomatic where you push a button and grab a coffee, but instead you want more hands-on control over tamp, shot time, shot volume, etc. What sort of drinks are you planning to produce, and how many at a time? Your budget of $500 will buy one of the Gaggia pump machines that can produce reasonable drinks. It will also buy a range of thermoblock machines. Perhaps your better bet is to do some internet-based reseach on machines. For a broad approach, I'd start with the consumer reviews at www.coffeegeek.com. That will give you a good idea on capabilities and what you get for your money. It's easier to recommend or suggest places to see or buy when brands or models are mentioned because most resellers stock a few brands and so it can be difficult to perform brand-against-brand comparisons. Also, do you have a decent burr grinder? It'll be difficult to produce good espresso without one. Regards, Gary
