""The Germans," Marisa Benvenuto says, "take this incredibly seriously." They treat the purchase of an espresso machine like that of new car. Unfortunately, they also expect it to function like a car. "You can't just set up an espresso machine and coffee grinder and expect them to work the same way all the time," she explains. The way espresso must be ground and brewed depends on the weather, the temperature, the humidity, the mix and quality of the beans. Without a certain passion and knowledge, even the most expensive espresso machine can end up being a wasted investment."