Upgrading from Breville Barista Express [No Budget]

👋 Hey fellas, trying to get some advice on my next espresso setup now that I’m going down the rabbit hole!

Been thinking a bit about what I value and what I want in my next setup and in order:

1.) Quick heat up time for basic operation, no more than 3-5 minutes ideally. This is the most important to me as it’s a basically a precondition for using the machine.

2.) Form Factor: looking for machines that are roughly the same dimensions as BBE and Baratza Virtuoso since aesthetics are pretty important to me and I live in a tiny NYC apartment. There’s wiggle room on width and height but depth would need to be relatively similar.

3.) Simple workflow but gives room to treat espresso like a hobby for those spells where I have the time.

4.) Ideally a single dose grinder that can switch between pour over and espresso. I find myself never making pour over just because the BBE is fast and convenient as compared to aeropress/kalita-wave brewers I have, but ideally I’d like to get back into other forms of brewing.

Anyway, that’s my spiel. Right now the options I’m considering are an Oracle Jet (plus maybe a grinder down the line) or an Ascaso Steel Duo + P80. I like the Oracle a lot as a concept where it’s mostly automated (and the in built single tap grinder is clutch for those groggy mornings) but you can go through a more laborious process when you’re feeling up to it. On the other hand the ascaso feels more premium and has less plastic in the hot water line, and it has a much better hot water spout which I love (I mostly make americanos + I use the BBE spout all the time for tea)

Anyone have other thoughts or suggestions?