On Fri, 26 Jun 2015 07:51:53 -0700 (PDT), Kalmia
> wrote:

>What item(s) do you own which you balked at, price seeming high, but has turned out to be a great tool?
>
>Me: Rubbermaid high heat rubber spatula.
> Bread machine

The one item I have that probably fits that description is my Rancilio
Silvia espresso machine... although IMO is excellent value for money
and not all that expensive (probably around AUD$1200 now at a guess).

I bought mine second hand, but the quality is such that even after
making at least two double lattes each morning for the past 7 years,
it has never missed a beat. I have had to replace the group gasket,
but that's all and any machine would need a new one after that amount
of use anyway.

It is all stainless steel and brass construction, and you can buy
every single part online. Built old school style, easy to work on and
fix if necessary. And it produces coffee the equal of any other
machine out there. It's hard to find quality products built this way
these days, especially for the price.