Moving my last lever related post from here: Lever Vs Pump vs Lever to the below.

So … based upon the benefits I’m hearing from this Forum, I’m starting to think about a lever machine. However I do not have the kitchen counter space or budget for two espresso machines (one pump, one lever); that would draw well more than rolling eyes 🙄from my wife. More like 😡

I am the sole espresso machine user in the household; I rarely have more than 2 guests that are keen to have an espresso drink. So I don’t need a machine that can produce multiple shots, quickly.

Moreover I have yet to produce an espresso only shot that I have enjoyed. They’ve been good enough for (and sometimes delicious in) milk drinks, but that’s as best as I’ve done. If a lever can help me up my espresso game (compared to what I can achieve with my Lelit E) and pour 2 shots for my before work AM coffees at a reasonable pace, I’m all in.

IF I were to head down this path (there would need to be significant net benefits to do so) I would need to sell my current Lelit E and then spend more or less the same amount of money as one would today pay for a new Lelit - say 1,200 GBP or so. I have my daughter’s wedding to pay this year so major machine upgrade costs are just not in the cards.

I know very little about lever machines but think I would need the following features:

Spring lever ??
Sufficient water reservoir
Brew water and/or group head heating and temperature control
Accurate pressure gauge
Temperature gauge
Steam boiler and wand
??

Do not know at all what is achievable within my budget range.

I’d also like to be able to keep/reuse my 58.5 mm baskets and tampers if possible. @tompoland advises that this is probably not possible. Oh well.

Any thoughts on pros and cons of going down this path, and suggestions or links to further reading are welcome.

And what machines with what features should I be looking at?