Are cheap $100 espresso machines worth buying?

Reviewer consensus is that budget machines like the CASABREWS 3700, Gevi, and De'Longhi Classic can make enjoyable milk drinks and are fine entry points, but high-trust testers and specialist subreddits repeatedly note inconsistent extraction, weak steam pressure, and a need for careful grind dialing. They're best framed as learning machines, not café replacements.