Say the newbie in question decided that it is best to have a decent grinder, one that won't need to be upgraded for some time. He/she spends their entire budget on a good quality grinder, say Lux or Iberital. The best option to go from there is either a french press or espresso pot. I don't know why there's such a stigma attached to plungers, they will make a quick cup, add some warmed milk and you have an ok cup of coffee. Same thing goes with a pot, albeit a bit more work. Italians have been using pots for years, and there's no complaints from them. Though how some of them prefer charcoal for coffee is beyond me :-X Since the newbie cannot possibly afford a 'dream machine,' it may still be in his/her best interests to at least get a piece of equipment that will probably never need to be upgraded. That's how I would approach the problem of a smaller budget, rather than a piecemeal solution that you have to add on, and upgrade every time you are disappointed with the end results. I believe you need a firm base to start from, whether it be grinder or coffee machine. If you can't afford the machine, go with a grinder. Don't be ashamed to say you have a Zass manual grinder. They are inexpensive and very aesthetically pleasing. They will deliver a decent result. Also, don't be ashamed to say you enjoy plunger coffee or coffee from an espresso pot. From the humble plunger to the top of the line commercial machine, they all produce coffee-flavoured water.
