I'd add that the water is as important as the coffee. If your local water is lousy, your coffee won't be worth a hill of beans. I can recommend a fine Texas company that makes and sells great home water filtration products. I just hook 'em up to the faucet under the sink and forget about it until a get a postcard telling me its time for my annual filter change.

On a related note, I just got an expresso machine. (Just a home steam version -- I KNOW -- but my needs are few.) I haven't played with it yet, as I haven't picked up any good expresso beans yet. Can anyone point me to a good web site for learning how to make good mochas and so forth?