So it's been a few weeks since this was actually purchased, but it's been very recently that I actually "mastered" some form of barista art (the term "art" is used very... very loosely here). Either way, this thing makes amazing espresso for Erika and I in the mornings:

http://www.mrcoffee.com/Product.aspx?pid=52

It's an actual factual 15 bar pressure-based espresso maker (as opposed to semi-forced steam, which we used to have). The difference in quality of the espresso is night and day. Normal folk may not blog about such a thing, but hey... coffee drinker since the age of 3, so...

Oh, and the beans are Amalfi Coast Espresso from good old World Market. Whee!