Espresso at home is the coffee hobby with the steepest learning curve. The grinder costs more than the machine if you want decent shots. The technique takes a month of daily practice. The reward is shots that beat most café espresso.
Where to start
Spend two-thirds of your budget on the grinder. A Niche Zero, Eureka Specialita, or DF64 produces espresso-grade grinds. Below that, the shots are inconsistent regardless of the machine.
What matters most
Use the basic recipe as a starting point. 18g in, 36g out, 25-30 seconds. Adjust grind to hit the time. Coarser if too slow; finer if too fast.
What to skip
Beans rest 1-3 weeks before they pull predictably. Fresh-roast espresso is gassy and inconsistent; week-old beans are usually the sweet spot.