Coffee. I'm in a coffee producing country. It could be as cheap as grabbing a bag from the coffee institute (really good and cheap), a cloth filter and call it a day. Instead, I'm on my second espresso machine, fourth grinder, second portafilter set, and have all the doodads to make it just how I like it.
I am starting to become more interested in coffee, but even so I don't think I want to put this much effort into my coffee. Coffee gives me energy, so it can't be too difficult.
Started like that for me. Used to buy shitty coffee cups from the gas station. Upgraded to a moka pof, then to french press, chemex, v60, aeropress, and landed on espresso about two years back. Slippery slope
So the other day my brother came visiting and brought with him a new portafilter for my run of the mill espresso machine. We messed around with setting the grinder, measuring the exact amount of coffee, and so on and we did get a decent cup of coffee. Thing is, I can live with my old bad coffee, my peasant taste buds don't really tell the difference, so I'd rather spend my dough on the other 99 things that deplete the bank account.
But to you, who make a passion out of brewing coffee, more power to you!
Oh I started that way too. I'm not as deep into the rabbithole as I could be, but I've gotten far enough I know how to make a good enough cup of joe (which by all accounts of people whom I've made coffee for, is pretty damn good). I've had to balance that hobby with my other hobbies, and well... It turned out to be my cheapest hobby, sadly.
Don't listen to the others. What you are doing is good. I, too, am obsessed with a decent cup.
Just yesterday, I was out with my wife and we went to a coffee shop. I got a superlative cappuccino and picked up a pretty expensive bag of beans meant for espresso. So good.
When I was younger, I could never afford this sort of thing, but as I get older I can't really enjoy a lot of other things and don't need to spend much to live other than basic expenses. :)