Yup, that would be fun with hot coffee! Fortunately, the coffee itself isn't the problem. Just the temperature.
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Let’s talk coffee
- Thread starter jmattbassplaya
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Yup, that would be fun with hot coffee! Fortunately, the coffee itself isn't the problem. Just the temperature.
How a $150 cup of coffee at a Portland café sheds light on a coffee pricing crisis - OPB
That's an interesting read for my fellow coffee lovers, and will give you something to think about.
-Mike
That's an interesting read for my fellow coffee lovers, and will give you something to think about.
-Mike
Hey guys, just an odd question I guess, but are lower end Breville espresso machines decent?
I'm at a point where I'm recognizing in some ways that I can afford some nicer things than I've got, and crappy tire has a few of their machines at about %30 off. I think it was there "duo temp pro," "cafe roma" and I forget the third model but it's got a grinder built into it. I'm thinking of crossing off the one with the grinder - I'd rather deal with a mediocre (but acceptable) espresso machine and pay more for a separate, decent quality grinder, than risk getting suckered into a combo that might have both things be mediocre. But if the other two are halfway decent I might think about it more seriously.
I dunno, I'm really just entertaining the idea at the moment, our kitchen barely qualifies as a nook so we can hardly afford the space.
I'm at a point where I'm recognizing in some ways that I can afford some nicer things than I've got, and crappy tire has a few of their machines at about %30 off. I think it was there "duo temp pro," "cafe roma" and I forget the third model but it's got a grinder built into it. I'm thinking of crossing off the one with the grinder - I'd rather deal with a mediocre (but acceptable) espresso machine and pay more for a separate, decent quality grinder, than risk getting suckered into a combo that might have both things be mediocre. But if the other two are halfway decent I might think about it more seriously.
I dunno, I'm really just entertaining the idea at the moment, our kitchen barely qualifies as a nook so we can hardly afford the space.
Sure are.
We had the model that was one step below the one with the grinder, the BES920XL. It was nice, but too automated for me. I prefer more control of the variables. However, those machines are quite nice for someone who just wants to push some buttons and let the machine do most of the thinking and work.
I totally agree with you about not buying a combo unit. Keep the grinder separate. If you want to get serious about a grinder, I highly recommend a Baratza Vario. Yes, they are not cheap, but you are not going to find something better in that price range. If the price of the Vario makes it out of the question, get the Encore. If that is a no way as well, Cuisinart makes one for about $40.
-Mike
Looked up that BREBES920XL. Okay, maybe a bit rich for my blood at this time, the one with the grinder was priced at half that, so I'm thinking we're talking entirely different price points - the ones I'm looking at are $200CAD and $400CAD respectively.
Good to hear they're a solid brand, though, it raises one's eyebrows seeing an espresso machine at the same place I buy motor oil from.
Maybe I'll stick with the moka pot for now and save my pennies for the $2000 machine.
I don't think you need a $2,000 machine. Those cheap ones can pull a good shot too, but you need to know what you're doing or you might as well stick with a Keurig, haha.
-Mike
Miss me with the Keurig, I thought I could make it work with the office machine with one of those refillable cups but it just can't extract properly - and it's not just flavour, I swear the stuff has no caffeine either. I've been using a Vietnamese style "phin" filter and it can make good stuff, and being stainless steel it won't break when I drop it like the French press.
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I like those Vietnamese filters, they do indeed make good coffee if one knows how to handle it. I am sure you do.
If you want to put in the effort to learn the machine, I recommend a la Pavoni. They are fairly cheap used, have minimal parts that can be break, and any that do are replaceable. Once you learn how to use it properly, you won't pull a better shot of espresso. We have one that's from the 50's, maybe the 70's, and hands down it pulls the best shots I've ever had.
Bonus is they don't take up as much space. We use one in our tiny home to give you an idea.
-Mike
La Pavoni, I'll look into them. There's a glut of coffee/espresso startups, and while it's great to see I try not to be a huge consumer at this point, and I don't want to get stuck buying a bunch of stuff because it either broke or because I'm getting fomo on the next best thing. All it needs to do is make good espresso for a long time, and be fixable.
At any rate, I'm just rereading on the Vietnamese filter right now, I've honestly just been using it as a make shift pourover. It turns out there's an actual method to it.
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Well, la Pavoni has been around far longer than any of these automatic and semi automatic machines out there now. I believe it was around 1905 Mr. Pavoni introduced his lever action espresso machine to the people of Italy. It's coffee making simplified. All the machine consists of is a boiler, lever, and a group (the head where the coffee is brewed). There isn't much that can break and if it does it's fixable rather easily.
No fancy knobs, buttons, electronics.
However, la Pavoni does make semi automatic and automatic machines as well that you may like if a lever action machine doesn't appeal to you. In that case, Gaggia is another name worth investigating.
As you search, you want to understand unpressurized and pressurized portafilters and why you'd use each. It's also important to understand the pressure the machine can produce, measured in bars. Nine bars was the standard for years, but that's been changing.
I wouldn't say it's complicated, but it's similar to finding the right combo of bass gear for the tone you're looking for.
-Mike
By the way, my apologies for going over the top with those responses. Coffee to me is what bass guitar is to y'all.
-Mike
-Mike
I will never not appreciate more detail than I asked for.
I'm in the business of managing people's paychecks, EVERYBODY wants to say they're in "financial distress," NOBODY wants to prove anything to me. Can't help anybody without numbers.
I think they can be decent, but I personally don't like them. I'm a big Gaggia Classic fan for a cheap, semi-professional coffee machine. I want my coffee maker to specialise in coffee, not coffee, donuts, hand mixers and everything else under the sun. I've been using Gaggia Classics for about 20 years now. Had a few second hand machines, over time and bought a new one a number of years ago when the boiler went, and kept the old one for parts.
One thing I like about Gaggia's is the price, and the 58mm portafilter, which means that you can get any commercial basket or add on, and it will fit. Breville has its own 54mm (i think?) portafilter, so your baskets and other bits need to conform to the Breville standard.
However, some of those dual boiler brevilles can make some great shots, and work well if you need to make a lot quickly. However, if you are making 1-2 at a time (morning coffee for a couple for instance) and maybe do that a few times a day, a single boiler Gaggia is excellent IMHO - they jsut aren't good for parties. However you do need to match it up with a good grinder to get results. But that is the same with any machine, a good grinder will make a huge difference.
Good to hear differing opinions, I do like what you're saying about more standardized replacement parts.
I don't necessarily intend on replacing the firmware with some custom Unix build or whatever to fine tune the thing, but knowing that if something goes kaput I can just take it apart and replace or readjust it myself is a big plus.
I'm also seeing a few units being sold on FB marketplace, I think if I buy anything it'll be through that avenue.
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FWIW Gaggia Machine Company makes a nice little machine just above your price point. Absolutely fantastic shots from Gaggia machines, but the machines themselves are a bit quirky.
Edit: someone beat me to it
Edit: someone beat me to it
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My first two Gaggia's were second hand through Ebay (before Facebook). They were great and lasted. First one was a set of Gaggia Grinder, Machine and stand for both for both of them. This machine lasted be I think 6-7 years, the person selling it only had it for a few months and decided that manual machine's weren't for them and they were selling to get an automatic machine.
That one died, my partner left it on for 9 or so hours with no water.. So I got another second hand machine that was nearby, and this one I think they couldn't work out how to use it properly, or didn't want to spend the time learning a manual machine, and also was in great condition. When the boiler died in that one after another 6-7 years, I was going to get it fixed/replaced, but it was the Friday before a long weekend, and it was 200 bucks more to get a new machine, or save that money and be coffee-less for a long weekend, plus time to fix the old machine.. So I sucked it up and bought the new one so I wouldn't be without coffee, and kept the old machine for parts.
. It also means I have backup trays, portafilters, baskets and so on.I'm all for second hand machines to start with, learn what you want, and either keep it and modify them, or when it dies get a machine more to your liking.
Gaggia FTW.
. I think they make fantastic shots for your home. However, not good for parties if you need to pump out coffee for 5+ people in a short period of time. Great for a couple, or someone that makes a few shots throughout the day.
Here's my setup.. Eureka Classico Grinder and Gaggia Classic machine.
