Your post is Exhibit A for why some things are left to professionals. Hope the pets have recovered, and you've learned a valuable lesson: Not all DIYs are worth it, especially when it comes to the sacred espresso.

lol, imagine going through all that and still not getting a decent coffee. Should've just chewed on the beans. 😂

It's one thing to experiment, but think about the pets, man! Glad your DIY espressno didn't turn into a disaster-presso. Give your pets some extra treats to make up for the scare!

As someone who's behind an espresso machine daily, I can't help but laugh. Your heart was in the right place, but espresso is an art and a science. Maybe try a Moka pot before you build your next contraption?

You've just summarized every one of my DIY projects. Great concept, less than great execution. I admire the tenacity though. Two hours of pumping — that's dedication. Could've used a pressure gauge maybe?

Wow, kudos for trying! I've done some wild DIY stuff, but never dared to mess with my coffee ritual. I guess it's back to the drawing board, or maybe just back to saving up for a real espresso machine, eh?

I'm cringing so hard right now. Why would you put yourself through that for a shot of espresso? There's a reason why those machines cost an arm and a leg – they're complex! Gotta hand it to you for the attempt, but let's leave the coffee to the pros, yeah?

Dude, I felt the secondhand frustration just by reading your post. Thought about doing something like that once, but I guessed it wouldn't end well... Sorry about your coffee disaster, but thanks for the heads up!