Nevermind spending over $20, if your spending under $20 on an espresso machine then you're in for some pretty bad espresso! If it's non espresso coffee, then yes fair enough.
As for just crushing the been. All the grains have to be the same uniform size or else half the coffee will be over extracted and half under extracted!
All reviews of coffee gear are conducted by me, Nick
Usborne, after trying the equipment for at least one week. For all coffee the
reviews, the beans are ground and tasted by me, with help from my wife. None of
our reviews are paid for.