I'm not saying it subjectively. It's an objective comment. One is coffee and the other is coffee ground "tea." Might as well use instant. BTW, you can make an "Americano" with an espresso machine - just add more water when you're done.

And, I'm by no means a coffee snob. If you hang out in forums with people who are, it can often get pretty dicey.

Italians may not know anything about wine making, but they can make some nice coffee and coffee machines. Using an espresso machine is faster than a French press and there's also less mess (or and/or items) to clean. For super no-fuss a lot of people really love their pre-pack/pod/puck machines, such as Nespresso, K-Cup, Tassimo, etc...