Apr 6, 2008
Help Veronica and me stay caffeinated, recommend a machine
Usually Veronica and I usually just head to one of the 38 cafés in our neighborhood to get some coffee, but after a while the mediocre baristas just can’t stack up to the Rituals and the Blue Bottles, which are just out of reach for the daily routine. So we’re about this close to picking up a home machine, except I’m still hesitant to drop the coin being that pulling a proper shot can be a somewhat daunting (yet enticing) task. So here’s where I defer to the home espresso brewers in the house. The candidates of machines we’re looking at (no particular order):
- Solis SL-90: Supposedly not a bad Swiss-made auto machine, and it’s got pressurized and non-pressurized filter baskets so newbs like us don’t suffer at the onset (but can theoretically ease into pulling a proper shot with a non-pressurized basket). Still, I hear it’s a generally mediocre machine — plus it doesn’t feature a 3-way solenoid valve.
- Breville 800ESXL: Cheap n’ pretty Aussie machine with high quality parts and a pressurized basket. Has to be modded to take non-pressurized baskets though, and even then generally seems to be thought of as a wolf in sheep’s clothing for budding coffee nerds. It’s a tempting buy, but it also doesn’t have a 3-way solenoid valve and I keep hearing “avoid!”
- Gaggia Classic: A very well respected machine, but supposedly prone to breaking down and no option for pressurized baskets. Bah.
- Rancilio Silvia: The most beloved consumer espresso machine and so, so pretty — but also difficult to master. I don’t necessarily trust us to get our tamps and grind just right, so my inclination is to go a little more user-friendly and sacrifice some of the sheer Rancilio awesomeness.
Your recommendations for a machine (hell, and grinder!) are much obliged. As you can tell, we’re looking at mid-range single-boiler consumer models.
I'm an editor and technology critic in the midst of founding a new web startup: 
I don’t have a espresso machine, but I highly recommend the KitchenAid Pro Line Grinder. Very consistent grind at not too steep a price. I found mine for around $100.
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KPCG100NP-Coffee-Grinder-Nickel/dp/B000JLFLXQ/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1207545452&sr=8-1
Yeah, we’re feeling fairly solid about the KitchenAid, at the top of our grinder list right now.
Rancilio. Because *you can mod it*
http://www.rafeneedleman.com/rafes_blog/2005/11/popularity_is_t.html
Hi Guys,
I’ve spent about 6 grand on various espresso machines over the last couple of years because I was avoiding the leap to getting the Silvia [I too was unsure whether or not I had the skill, or patience to master the vaunted 'Miss Silvia'], but broke down recently and bought it.
It took about a week and a half for me to get the grind ant tamp the way I like it, and now I just leave all of the settings where they are and it works great for me. I got the Rancillio Rocky grinder, and it’s great, though I wish I had bit the bullet, and went for the Mazzer Mini [just for the overkill geekiness].
Hope it helps a bit…
Tim
Leo Laporte mentioned the Francis Francis on a previous Windows Weekly. I know your looking for mid-range, but Leo says you can’t mess with perfection. Looks pretty nice to me!
http://coffeegeek.com/proreviews/firstlook/francisfrancisx1
http://www.espressopeople.com/bybrand/francisfrancis/francisfrancisx1
Good luck with the search and let us know what you end up going with!
All of them probably make a good coffee and have less influence over the taste then the choice of coffee bean does. So, go the good looking one. I like the look of the Breville.
from your given description (I am not a coffee nerd, but love to load caffeine into my bloodstream everyday), my first impulse would be to go after the fourth option, Rancilio Silvia as it is pretty much the best one out there, but effort needs to be put into using this machine, the other machines look pretty mediocre when stacked up against this one, but the ultimately decision rest on you and Veronica. You have no idea how wrong I often am when recommending a product. XD
Ok so I saw a question about this on Veronicas twitted, and its a subject that is near and dear to my heart. I don’t know to much about the machine you mentioned however I do know that most counter top units make weak expresso, I live right outside of Miami so I’m a little spoiled when it comes to good expresso but I do understandthe need to take it in house. Being a coffee geek I chose the Braun Tassimo, I adore it, it makes a great cup of expresso as well as excellent coffee. And don’t think you have buy the expensive brand disks to get a good cup of coffee because the Maxwell house brand is very good.
You won’t go wrong with the Braun Tassimo it costs $129, now I’m sure that machine they sell at Starbucks makes some killer joe but $999.00 isa bit steap for a coffee machine much rather buy a MacBook
Oh, plus: It makes awesome coffee. It’s not difficult to master. It just takes a little understanding of how espresso works. And if you two can’t grok it, nobody can.
Andy has a good coffee grinder write-up here.
I can say with fairly good confidence, that much north of $600 doesn’t improve the quality, the style maybe, but not the coffee. Here is what I went through ofor my purchase, http://tinyurl.com/6gtlm2 hope it helps
User friendliness won’t matter as much once you’re used to it — which will be most of the time you own it. Looks (and the coffee!), however, you’re going to be stuck with. I like the Rancilio, based on the descriptions.
For me, I’m looking for a do-it-all coffee machine: give me a place to dump in the beans a couple of times a week, a button to press, and a place to put the mug :) then and only then will I retire the Tassimo.
Just make sure the basket and tamper are both made of cast iron and not cast aluminum. It’s linked to Alzheimer’s and is amphoteric so it oxidizes with both acids (like coffee) and bases. Many of the machines on the market have cheap aluminum baskets. The link between aluminum and disease may be tenuous but it’s best to have a quality cast iron basket and tamper just to be sure. IMHO.
If you drink your coffee anything like the way Cali Lewis does… then just stick to instant.. coffee machines are a waste.
At the pricey end of the scale, but it’s a great coffee machine. I own one myself, and would thoroughly recommend it. I’m sure they’re available in the US as well.
http://www.fivesensescoffee.com.au/shop/equipment/isomac-la-mondiale
http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress_story.htm
Very cheap alternative but amazing what good coffee is made with one of these. The aeropress from the guy that invented the Aerobie flying disc. Check it out.
i say breville or solis. here’s why. learning to make really good coffee with a non-pressurized portafilter is hard. you have to practice at it. work at it. but you two have to work hard at other things already, like your jobs or video games. so ask yourself this. do you really think you’ll work at learning to make a great cup of coffee with the rancillo, or is it more likely you’ll try, get frustrated give up and just go back to walking down to blue bottle? then ask yourself this. even though the rancillo could make great coffee, would you be happy to have really good with a whole lot less effort using a pressurized machine. it’s true. it will never be as good as blue bottle, but it will take alot less time to get out of the “gross, this totally sucks” zone. and then fine tuning is fairly effortless.
if however, you have been thinking “i really want to put some time into learning how to make a great cappucino”, then by all means, go for the rancillo. with time and effort and an inquisitve nature, you will be rewarded.
oh, and i 100% agree with everyone who said get the kitchen aid pro grinder. i have been nothing but happy with mine.
I have a deep-seated confidence that anyone who can navigate the tricky world of Web 2.0/New Media Marketing/whatever-the-current-buzzwords-are media/marketing/infotainment… well, what I’m really saying is, you guys are smart and savvy people! Don’t sweat the learning curve! You’ll figure out how to “draw” the perfect shot (or better yet,DOUBLE SHOT) in minimal time. Baristaa are a bit like geeks… they will try to WOW you with the technical expertise required to do something that really only takes a bit of focused effort to master. Besides, Veronica is so cool that anyone in their right mind would spend nights and weekends for free to teach her how to use any manner of equipment. I’m sure I’ve said way too much here, but Veronica is just soooo cute! I can’t help myself. Why if I were 30 years younger… Oh, never mind…
I’m a huge fan of the Ascaso Dream…it didn’t make your list, but I’ve been happy and without worry for quite some time now….
http://tinyurl.com/5x4ul4
Ranchilio Silvia
I read a review once and they said it is the kind of machine you will leave to your children in your will.
Sound dreadful I know but it will last through time.
Difficult to master but if you like to drink coffee, it’s not like you won’t learn how to do it right.
Grinder: Just make sure that you get a burr grinder with decent adjustments and you’ll be fine – that’s really about all that matters with the grinders. I’ve been using this one for a few years and love it.
Espresso Machine: Here’s where people value more things and names a great deal. I’ve been using this Starbucks branded Saeco machine for 9 years now, two to three Esspresso, Americano, Latte, and or Cafe con Leches every day and it’s worked like a charm. It’s totally manual but does a great job.
A good friend uses this Jura and it’s amazing, damned near fully automated – I think it even wipes your ass for you. It also costs about $3000 more than my machine… But I will say that the convenience of machines that do metered shots is really great. When (if) my machine ever kicks the bucket I’ll get a new machine that does metered shots, you can find nice ones for under $1000.
Be sure to grind your coffee frequently for good taste, and experiment with beans – I think you’re in San Francisco which has a local store of my favorite beans, Torrefazione. I’m not sure of the exact location, but the store was on the west end of the financial district, oddly the website doesn’t list locations anymore, I hope they didn’t shut them down. Starbucks bought them out a few years ago, but their coffee is still tops. Many will tell you that illy is the best, that’s cool – I’m not going to tell them it’s not, but I far prefer Torrefazione.
Enjoy!
I went through the same decision process a couple of years ago – and made up my mind on the Silvia. I went to the store and the salesman actually talked me out of the (more expensive) Silvia and recommended the Gaggia Classic instead – based on the amount of time I was willing to commit to playing around with the machine to get a ‘perfect’ espresso. I have been using the Gaggia regularly since then and have been very happy with it. Don’t worry about the lack of a pressurized porta filter on the Gaggia – I found that it takes very little time to figure out a decent tamp and grind.
Also, don’t forget to get some high-quality beans, as that will influence the quality of your espresso even more than the machine itself.
Whatever you decide – enjoy your coffee fix :)
I have and love the Sunbeam EM6910 it has both pressurised and non-pressurised baskets. Good build, great coffee. Its matching grinder EM480 is a conical burr and my uncles Rocky is only slightly better.
Handy thing is that you can pour the expresso while doing the milk. Does great latte and flat whites, the silvia is much better (err…easier) for large volume textured milk.
After using the Siliva for last week end I would not trade my sunbeam for it. I would have to go to a much larger/twin boiler. Just like not having to wait for temperature to be reach again between pours.
http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1163496688
I signed up for the Illy a Casa coffee subscription program about 6 months ago, and got the ~$700 Francis Francis X5 for $150. It’s a total bargain, and the machine works great using the ESE espresso pods (no tamping or grinding necessary) OR with standard ground espresso… plus the Illy coffee is some of the finest you can get. http://www.illyusa.com/AB1666000/memberships/EMP_Print.cfm
get the new clover machine. you can try a cup at Intellientsia coffee in silverlake (los angeles) or chicago. here is link:
http://cloverequipment.com/whyclover/why_clover.aspx
its so good, starbucks is buying the company.
I would love to help but any consumer espresso machine I have used is no good.
The best machine/coffee I ever had was at work:
The Coffee: Miscela d’Oro
The Machine: LaPiccola – Cecilia Professional 1 Group
See the machine here: http://tinyurl.com/55aer3
Good luck.
Don’t get the breville, a friend of mine has one and it is LOUD. Like, wake the spouse in the middle of the night loud. I know all coffee machines are not quiet appliances, but for me this was worse than a commercial unit
I strongly suggest getting grinder that ‘grinds’ and not one with blades that simply ‘shreds’ the coffee. Sometimes they are referred to as coffee ‘mills’. I found a pretty good affordable one here in Australia for about $70 by Breville.
I have a Nespresso Concept D290 which is pod only. Ordering the pods is a pain since I live in Singapore but I can live with that since the resulting espresso is quite heavenly.
I have no opinion re the espresso machines; the only one I’ve used is multi-k and I’d never drop that much on a coffee machine (especially since I’d just brew americano in it). As a sidekick, however, for regular coffee-coffee, a siphon brwer from Yama glass can’t be beat. at like $40 the quality of cup/price ratio is insanely high.
Not being a coffee drinker I’m probably not qualifed to comment, but here goes.
I’ve spent way too many Australian dollars on coffee machines cause my Boyfriend loves the stuff.
The last two we have owned have both been Nespresso machines, http://www.nespresso.com/ but as you only have one Nespresso store in all of America I guess it’s not so great for you, having said that, you generally would order your coffee online anyway and have it delivered.
My Boyfriend swears by the stuff and has had many friends join him in being Nespresso machine owners. He even bought one to use at work even though they have a Cafe-grade coffee machine in the office and now he has a cavalcade of users who use his machine and not the general office one… so I guess the coffee is good.
It also has a pretty highly-rated bars of pressure. I think, but don’t quote me, it’s 19 bars and produces the best cremer of all domestic coffee machines… see how he even has me thinking about these things!
Oh and FYI most of us Australian’s don’t consider Breville to be all that great a brand. They are pretty average as far as consumer products go.
The only home machine that makes a decent cup (italian style not starbucks) is the DeLonghi Magnifica. It’s terribly expensive, but it does everything from grinding to deciding amounts, etc. It’s kind of hard to set up and you have to be careful, but after that is simply the best.
I owned a very nice high-end machine for a while, until it broke down and I couldn’t get parts for it any more. The Rancilio Silvia is the only “real” machine on your list. The Gaggia would be fine but it is small and doesn’t hold heat as well as the Silvia. Don’t trust anything with a pressurized basket, you’ll quickly find out that it is not worth it, you’re better off going to Starbucks because the coffee just isn’t very good unless you’re grinding/tamping properly. A pressurized basket is just a shortcut to avoid that step and — yuck. Thin, bitter coffee awaits.
But I will echo what someone else says above: the Aeropress, a $30 plastic press, sort of like a pressurized French press, makes great coffee once you get used to it. Get yourself a really good grinder and an Aeropress, you’ll still be saving money and making great coffee. I steam milk in the microwave and froth it with a hand-held frother, my lattes are better than almost any store-bought coffee, and I am super picky.
Get the Rancillio. I’ve had a Rancillio Rocky grinder for about 3 years and it’s an awesome machine. In my research I came to the conclusion that the fanciest espresso machine in the world wouldn’t hide the fact that you have a poor grinder. To suggest that you can’t get the hang of any of these machines is outrageous.
If only someone else in my house appreciated coffee as much as I do…
I’m going to stick with my recommendation of the Silva. It might look intimidating, but the fact of the matter is that if you are not buying a super-automatic machine then all of the machines are going to have a learning curve. Get the Silvia, you won’t be disappointed.
-Josh
I am thinking about getting the Aeropress Coffee Maker @ $25.99 or the Yama Tabletop 3 Cup Vacpot Coffee Siphon & Vacuum Pot @ $49.67.
I have the Saeco Classico and it’s performed wonderfully for the past 3 years. http://coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/saeco_classico
Rancilio Silvia: It’s really not that hard to master, just takes some practice, and well if you drink enough espresso you’ll get good in no time. I live where there is a few bad shops nearby and a nice coffee shop in my building, but at home taking time to make a good cup of espresso is well worth it.
As far as grinding, mill/burr grinding is the only way to prevent a burnt taste, as you can pick up mill/burr grinders at a decent price easily. I have a low-end burr that works very well and out performs any blade grinder you’ll find, even the $300 models.
“Too Much Coffee Man” comic book FTW!
Seriously, my spouse loves da coffee!
We tried all sorts of Cheap to many $$$$$ machines, but in the end all that seemed to matter was two things.
1. make sure your both very comfortable using it.
Make sure it’s easy and you can figure it out quickly! After all who wants to do brain surgery to get some CAFFEINE!
2. IT MUST BE EASY TO CLEAN! This was perhaps the biggest deal breaker for us. Coffee; Espresso is great until you have to disassemble 500 parts to clean the FRANKIN THING! Then it gets old very fast!
My set up for what it’s worth. I get (to my taste) an ideal and easy cup with this gear and none of it is ruinously expensive:
1) Machine: Francis Francis X5 (http://tinyurl.com/5z9u9p). I paid a hell of a lot less than the $600+ tag, so it’s extra sweet how well it’s performed. I hear the cheaper and more space conscious X3 (http://tinyurl.com/6duzhc) is just as good (same internals).
2) Grinder: Baratza Maestro (http://tinyurl.com/6mwlye). Does everything I need it to (espresso and drip) for ~$100. Had the Capresso Infinity for 3 years; worked but still nothing but trouble. Maybe I had a lemon. THey’re about the same price, though, so I’d rec the Maestro. Regardless, make sure you conical burr grinders and lots of grind settings.
3) Tamper: Don’t forget this. It needs to fit perfectly in the basket and be nice and heavy. This is like mine and I’ve had no complaints about it: http://tinyurl.com/5dvxno
@Dave Aeoropress makes awesome drip (it’s my non-espresso rig), but not espresso. Just not. Can’t muster either the pressure or the crema to be anything close to a competently pulled shot.
I’ve had the Breville 800ESXL for about 18 months and don’t have anything bad to say about it — if you know me then you realize this is unusual. I use it at least twice a week.
As others have said, getting an espresso machine without a decent (ie, burr) grinder is nearly a waste of money. I have not checked out the latest and greatest, but I picked up a Rancilio Rocky grinder which has been a trouble-free workhorse for many years. The thing is a rock!
But I am interested in this question since I am about ready for a new espresso machine as well.
Obsession alert: You and V both seem to have slightly obsessive personalities (ie, when you get into something, you REALLY get into it), like so many of us, and this is one of those deep oceans of potential obsession. Great fun, though (not to mention the major savings on retail drinks!).
I’m going to have to say the Rancilio just because being called “the benchmark” is a rare quality of consumer appreciation. To even know that modding it has already been explored makes it that much more appealing, just be sure to drink a nice strong cup before you start drilling.
It also looks like YouTube is full of Rancilio know how. If anything, its an art form, as all brewing should be because it is just good fun! Can you do the “porta filter wiggle?” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhxvDusY3jk
I adore my Gaggia Classic. I’m actually drinking a double espresso right now.
If my house were on fire, I’d probably burn to death trying to decide whether or not to take my Gaggia or my Macbook.
Honestly, I haven’t tried those other machines. I can just tell you this, my machine has never broken in the four years I’ve owned it. If you’re worried about reliability, I learned something recently that I wish I knew when I bought my machine.
KithcenAid makes an espresso machine in their Proline series, but KitchenAid doesn’t make it, Gaggia does. It’s a Gaggia twin broiler machine, in a KitchenAid enclosure. It’s about $600, and I’m not sure if you’ve delt with KitchenAid regarding warranties, but they’re amazing. I have a friend that has the KitchenAid Proline machine, and I don’t tell him this, but I’m a bit jealous.
I’m sure you know this, but I have to say it. The best espresso machine in the world is going to make s*it coffee if you have a s*it grinder. Don’t forget to get a good burr grinder!
Ryan, I want to add one extra benefit of making your own that is a bit more “touchy/feely”. Every morning I get up and make a cappuccino for myself and a mocha for my wife and we hang out together for a bit before kids/work/life gets cranking. Sometimes in the evening as well, we have a post-dinner mocha (basically a dessert drink) while watching a movie or reading. It has become almost ritualistic and very comfortable. A shared indulgence.
Not to say that the “cafe scene” does not also have some great features and we love those as well when we are out and about, but there is that “at home” aspect as well that we love.
So, who is planning on being the master Barista, you or Veronica? or both?
Just to throw a wrench in the works…
My wife and I have used countelss espresso machines over the years, and we’ve settled on a cold-brew system called the Toddy. The simplicity of the system is beyond measure. You brew a pound of coffee at a time, which will last you a couple weeks or more. Steps: 1) buy course ground coffee, 2) dump in brew container, 3) fill with water, 4) leave for 12 hours, 5) drain. Now you have concentrate coffee that you can use in several ways; dilute with hot water for a “regular” cup of drip coffee/americano, add milk (hot or cold) for a latte, add ice and water for a iced americano. The benefits are:
Easy. In the morning we pour in 2 shots of coffee into a 20 ounce cup, add 2-4 pumps of flavor (I bought pumps online), and fill with ice and milk or water. Alternately, you can microwave water or milk for a hot latte – we just prefer iced.
Cheap. The system costs $30. (Correction, they’ve gone up to $37)
Smooth. Because it’s a slow brew system, there is much less acid in the coffee than with regular espresso, so it will be a smoother cup of joe.
The downside. It does not produce foam. So, if you like foam with your latte, or you like cappuccinos, this is not the system for you. Also, coffee aficionados will turn their nose up at this system as it’s not true espresso. And they are probably correct – however, it makes a damn good cup of coffee, and it’s super simple in the morning when you are bleary-eyed and stumbling for a pick-me-up.
Linky:
http://www.toddyproducts.com/shop/product.php?productId=67
Rancilio Silvia hands down! Master that sucker and reap the rewards.
Coffeegeek may be overwhelming, but here’s a bit from its founder (Mark Prince) from the Washington Post last September (http://tinyurl.com/4gulpx):
Chat Plus: Espresso Makers
Wednesday, September 5, 2007; F02
Washington: Any suggestions for a decent at-home espresso maker? There’s quite a variety out there, and I’m not looking to spend more than $150. Thanks!
Joe Yonan: I took your question to Mark Prince at Coffeegeek.com, a Web site that posts incredibly detailed reviews of just about every machine that comes down the pike. The surprising news (to me, anyway) is that even though his favorite espresso makers can cost more than $1,000, Prince has found entry-level models at your limit (and a little higher) that he promises can turn out a decent shot.
He suggests you look at:
? Krups XP-4030 (about $150).
? Gaggia Carezza (about $200).
? Krups XP-4050 (about $250).
In all three cases, check prices online, because they can vary considerably. “Please stress that these are my minimum recommendations,” Prince said. “If people are really strapped and they want decent espresso at home, this is the cheapest I can recommend.”
He had another plea: Consider investing $100 in a better coffee grinder, which will make all the difference — especially with a lower-end espresso maker.
Unlike simple blade grinders, which create uneven pieces and can heat up coffee beans, distorting their flavor, so-called burr grinders crush the beans more evenly without heating them. Although some cost several hundred dollars, Prince suggests you consider the Baratza Maestro Classic ($100 to $150).
“The insider secret about espresso at home is that it’s about the grinder, not the maker,” he says.
Eeek! I’m sorry that I can’t be of service in the coffee department, as I don’t drink it. However, I can tell you that the title should be “Help Veronica and me stay caffeinated,” as, without Veronica, it would be “Help me stay caffeinated.” I just had to proofread a bunch of papers, so I’m sorry for the grammar correction!
Mapping technology professional with a passion for individual rights, espresso, firearms, science fiction, gourmet food and minimalist constitutional government.
I just purchased a La Spaziale Mini Vivaldi II a few weeks ago after extensive research. I started out looking at Silvia, and then kept upgrading. I went with the huge jump in budget after repeatedly reading that nicer machines make it easier for a beginner to quickly gain the ability to consistently pull great shots. I wanted to minimize my variables. Silvia’s w/o the PID mod require temperature surfing for really good shots on a consistent basis (according to popular report). If you like milk drinks, especially if you will both want milk drinks at the same time, single boilers will slow you down a bit. You’ll need to either steam the milk first and then brew, or pull your shots, wait for the boiler to heat up more, and then steam the milk. If you plan to have guests and want to make several milk drinks or more, a single boiler will likely get old fast.
I have the KA Proline grinder, and found it works GREAT for non-espresso, and if you mod it (pull the step pins out and wrap the adjustment threads with Teflon tape), and move the burs closer together than the factory setting, it works “ok” for espresso. Hardcore espresso enthusiasts will scoff at it though. I likely will end up getting a nicer model (Mazzer Mini perhaps) and then keeping my KA Proline for non-espresso coffee once I get the budget. I’m already tired of not being able to dose directly into my filter basket and instead having to dose into the glass receptacle and then dump the coffee from that into my basket. I also suspect that the grind quality might be keeping me from pulling the amazing shots I was hoping for, though what I am making is vastly superior to all of the big coffee chains I have tried.
I found the folks at the Home-Barista.com forums to be extremely helpful in making my decision, as were the reviews on CoffeeGeek.com.
Before you take the plunge, think carefully about how you will use it. I started looking for a machine for weekend only use, but within a couple of weeks of my purchase I put it on a timer and have it ready and waiting during mornings and evenings and keep it on all weekend. Once I learned to pull good shots consistently, I really liked being able to make a cappuccino before work most days. With the double boiler, I have plenty of hot water for a bowl of instant oat meal in the morning, or a cup of hot tea at night before bed. My wife loves it when I steam milk for her hot chocolates too, and most of these uses are things that I hadn’t thought of when I first started looking for a machine. Had I gone with a single boiler, I’d probably already be looking to upgrade by now.
Well, I don’t have a very expensive machine but I love it. It got me through my PhD and I bought a new one, same model, this year. The quality/cost ratio is very good. The Breville Café Roma. I know, I know it sounds like the entry level. However, it makes consistently good coffee, nice cream every time and is so easy to master. If you buy fresh and good quality coffee, its very respectable.
I am not ready to move to a higher level machine yet.
[Notes from a friend who spent hours investigating grinders and espresso making]
GRINDERS
Bought the La Cimbali Max Hybrid
(http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/grinders/maxhybrid).
Spend is really personal. Could have spent $300 or $600 on the grinder, as discussed in the forums on various coffee sites, but wanted as close to the best grind as he could get. Assumption was that he’d wind up with feature envy so he went with the Max Hybrid and bought it after reading the Titan Grinder Project information.
ESPRESSO MACHINE
Uses the ~$600 Rancilio Silvia espresso maker.
PROCESS
I normally pull 4 double shots and then froth 1 pitcher of
milk each morning. This routine takes about 20 minutes.
No urge currently to upgrade the Espresso maker.
Ok I am a super coffee nerd, and I know I am going to get flamed for this since it’s a pod machine but I swear by nespresso. I have the Nespresso D300 which is one of the less expensive units. I know all the coffee purist will be totally repulsed at the idea of a pod machine, as I was for so long. But I went to my in-laws and tried it. First let me say the shot’s were perfect. Everything is totally controlled so you cant screw it up. Second the novelty of pulling your own shots wears off pretty quickly, you have to deal with the grinding and the mess and the clean up. After about a month your machines finds it’s way into a cabinet. With Nespresso you just sit the pod in and press the button, and a perfect shot comes out. Just to be fair some of the con’s. The pods are about 50 cents a pop, and you have to order them, unless you live in a big city like D.C. New York, L.A. or san fran, if so you can go to one of there boutiques. But to give them credit when you order online they come the next day. And they have one button ordering so its very easy. Also I am not so sure how environmentally friendly these things are. The web site says they are very bio degradable but I have my doubts. Well anyway do your self a favor before you get one visit, http://www.nespresso.com/
hit me up if you have any questions
Of all your machines, the best built and the most adequate for making fine espresso is likely the Rancillio.
HOWEVER, as much of a coffee geek as I am…with a full prosumer setup at home, at the office we have a Nespresso Cube and would get a super-automatic as well.
The main reason is that out of the whole office, there will likely be one or at the most two people that can make decent coffee from a “real” semi-automatic machine like the Rancillio. We had a ECM Giotto and it was a hassle when I was the only person that could pull a decent shot, and clients can’t be offered a coffee while they’re waiting…um…for me.
My suggestion is to get something that everyone can use withe push of a single button unless you have a whole office of espresso geeks that can pull consistent shots even while sleepwalking.
If you think this is a dumb suggestion, check out how the general quality of espresso has GONE UP since the Starbucks stores moved to superautomatic machines!
Have fun!
Get the Silvia, and do NOT get the Proline grinder. The grinder matters more than the espresso machine—get a Rocky or any other dedicated espresso grinder. The Proline is fine for drip or French press but not good enough for espresso (if you care why it’s the cast rather than machined burrs).
You’d be better off with the cheapo aeropress and a killer grinder than a great machine and a sub-par grinder.
-Stu
Hello Ryan, I work as freelance Barista now and again and used to work for a cool coffee chop in the north of england. I have used a variety of machines and would say that most of the baristas use the classic mocha pot at home. I chucked mine in the bin and bought an areopress a few months back, really pleased with the shot. However, I just got sent this link Handpresso this may well be the boy your looking for! Oh, and remember to get a grinder – the fresher the better.
Trust me, you’ll be back buying $5 cup o’ joes in 4 months time with any of the above stainless steal noise makers. The work. The mess. The work. “It’s YOUR turn!”. Neh. Just drop $79 on a Tassimo at Amazon and try Gevalia espresso, latte or the Mastro Lorenzo crema. Or even a good ol’ cup a fourbucks (Starbucks joined in fall 07′). It ain’t posh… but ain’t that America? Little pink house…
I bought a Gaggia maybe 25 years ago, along with their MDF burr grinder, the black stand with drawer, and a bunch of extra filter baskets. The closest model these days would be the “Classic”. Oh, and a 55mm Reg Barber stainless steel tamper.
Given great beans, this was a winning combination for us. One day my wife poured the water down the grinder by mistake (tough to make morning coffee before you’ve had the coffee) and yet it has survived. We lived in a very humid, almost rainforest area, so the Gaggia case rusted to the point where we decided to replace it although it was still working, and we bought a Gaggia Deluxe. Now, “deluxe” means better than standard, right? Wrong. This one has a funny pressure valve that is leaking, instead of the overflow valve of the Classic. Other than that, it makes great coffee. I would get the Classic if I could do this over.
With the extra filter baskets I can pre-tamp filters and efficiently knock out espresso for everyone in short order. Don’t need inferior pods this way for pretty much the same convenience. And I keep the accessories in the drawer instead of using the drawer to knock out grinds and just clean up the filters with the dishes later.
Not REALLY a Espresso machine due to the pressure standards BUT the Mocha Pot seen in most Italian and Spanish Homes makes an excellent cup of Coffee and won’t break anyones budget, a 4 cup Mocha Pot can be had for $10.
In my Multi cultural House(I’m Mohawk Indian, Italian, French and Scottish, Mrs is Arabic, Taino Indian from Dominican Republic and Haitian) we have 2, 12 cup Mocha Pots and when we have extended family dinners we need to run both pots at LEAST twice after dinner. We also premake, Run the Pot and place the coffee into sealed containers, then when we make our caffe con leche we simply put sugar in the mug then an ounce or two of cold coffee and milk, then thow in microwave for 1 minute per cup. Tastes GREAT and is Quick to do. We are big fans of Bustelo , CostCo sells a 4 pack of vacuum sealed Bustelo for under $10, thats ALOT of Espresso! We like coffee but aren’t Coffee Geeks so your mileage may vary :-)
O:nen ki’ wahi’ Bye for now(That’s Kanien’keha aka Mohawk)
You sound as though you have a fair appreciation of coffee & with it reasonably high expectations.
As a result many of the entry level home machines will disappoint. So i suggest;
Buy a great grinder first. A cheap grinder is a waste of money, in the same way that buying ground coffee is a waste of money. I suggest Rancilio Rocky & above only based on the information you have provided. If this means you cant afford the espresso machine for another 6 months, thats fine. By a Swissgold filter or some other inexpensive device to get your caffeine fix while you save a few more dollars (they make great coffee by the way – dont knock it until you’ve tried it).
Then match that to a great machine. Suggest you look to the reviews on Coffeegeek.com for machine reviews – no point in re-inventing the wheel.