To the question of, "Do we really need espresso coffee machines?", I often wonder if, as a nation, we are progressing more and more in our drive to be "independent" to the point where our houses are going to grow so big because every commodity and service we will want to be "in-house." Are we going to have our own shopping centers in our houses? Mechanics? Doctors? Lawyers? It truly seems that that is the direction.

Although espresso coffee machines are neat, and I recently saw one that my parents bought, I wonder why you really need them. They are a pretty good investment out of your disposable income and, unless you really drink espresso every single day religiously, do not seem to be worth that chunk of change just so you can have yet another appliance lying around the house unused.

So, does America need espresso coffee machines? I don't think so, but many seem to disagree. They are a hot little commodity catching on faster than a Starbucks barista can serve you up a double shot.