Tell us about your espresso machine
- Thread starter Mick
- Start date
The new Andreja Premium is in place!
My first and current maker is a Semi-Auto DeLonghi EC220. I get a good grind from a Burr that Costco has just sold out of on-line.... Capresso Infinity 565.04. For under $90 it turned out to be of tremendous quality and super quiet. The little DeLonghi provides a perfect pull with a beautiful head of crema. The cheap frother with plastic tip does a credible job of preparing milk (without a pack of large different sized bubbles on the top). I should be happy with my setup but I bought a cheap machine to see what I could learn while I researched the upgrade that I would want to live with for a few years. Every time I pull a shot I want to look in the mirror and ask myself why I want to spend the additional money. The decision was firm in the first place and now after lots and lots of reading I have narrowed the choice down to the Gaggia Classic or the Rancillio Silvia V3. Not sure I want to invest the extra $300 so it may boil or steam down to the Gaggia. I'm not worried about Frothing and Tamping techniques and I am pretty confident the grinder will meet the proper particle size to give a perfectly timed shot. Already have ordered a Motto Professional 58mm Tamper which will be the right size regardless of my final pick. For years I've always enjoyed preparing quality coffee from quality beans so this will be a lot of fun.
- Thread starter
- #184
If you get the Rancilio, or use the standard (non-pressurized) basket on the Gaggia, you will need to upgrade your grinder, so keep that in mind. To me it's a reason to go Gaggia - you can start making espresso on delivery day and then decide if you want to upgrade your gear later.
Also if you do want to go higher end, in the price range of a Silvia is the Crossland CC1 which has a PID that controls the temperature to the degree, which means you don't need to mess with what they call "temperature surfing" on both the Gaggia & Rancilio. It also steams without overheating the entire boiler so you can steam your milk, then make a shot much quicker. I used mine for 3 years and loved it - only swapped when I got the upgrade bug.
I have a Mazzer Mini grinder but I'm waiting for the funds to get my espresso machine.... an Elektra Micro Casa or Semi-automatica!
My first espresso machine was this one. I got a great lesson in how to pull a shot, and got so I could do it expertly. But the machine kept breaking down in every possible way.
I have a Profi machine a got at Starbucks with a built in grinder. It just keeps chugging along. I have never replaced so much as a gasket on it. It does well.
I had some electrical work that needed to be done, but otherwise it's been a workhorse (keeping in mind that I bought it used).It pulls a minimum of 4 shots every day and a max of about 2x that number.
I use a Gaggia Classic with a Rancilio Rocky and I get consistent results. Still searching for the perfect bean though.
Nice set-up, I like that you have a manual grinder too. Which one is it, the finish matches your Gaggia beautifully.
My first machine was a Cremena. It worked fine but was a pain when people came over for dinner so I upgraded to a Caferex. I then bought a single group LaPavoni pub plumbed in machine from a used restaurant supply. Then I got another for spare parts and pid the heat exchanger. The family was afraid of using it... not sure if they were worried it would break, they would hurt themselves or the coffee would just be sub-par. So I now use a LaMarzocco GS3... the family still doesn't use it much as they claim the coffee is much better when I make it.
Not sure I will need to upgrade, but you never know (going to the SCAA show in Seattle is dangerous)
Ruckin.
Not sure I will need to upgrade, but you never know (going to the SCAA show in Seattle is dangerous)
Ruckin.
I don't like you very much.
If I can ever drop bank on a machine like that, I'll be buying a Kees Speedster, but....the GS3 would make a better coffee service machine due to portability, which would be the only confounding factor.
Well, here we go... I picked up a used Via Venezia locally this afternoon.
Mark how's that pavoni pulling?
nice, I looked that up quickly, looks cool. Hope it works well.
And the gs3, ruckin, jealous, I think the shop I go to in Annapolis, ceremony coffee, uses a two group gs3. It's frigging beautiful and every shot tastes delicious..
I learned on a Rancilio Silvia/Rocky and after a few years of improving my technique, upgraded to a Rocket R58/Mazzer Mini. All four were fantastic machines.
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Cool tubes.
Thanks, I enjoy building those clocks in my spare time. It doubles as my shot timer.
I didn't even notice those at first, was in awe of the espresso machine but that is really cool.
