One of my ex's would get espresso beans from the local store (starbucks). And used a cheap $50 espresso machine (Krups XP1020), which she bought herself... after she returned an expensive one and I had purchased/she disliked.. Which isn't all too expensive considering...
But the kinds of coffee I've had which are similarly strong... Perhaps Turkish Coffee? No filter to speak of. All filtered coffee tend to come out tasting like bad tea.