Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread

:D;)



There's an Expobar Lever IV Dual Boiler Machine just gone on there F/S, better be quick.

After a bit of mooching about, I've cancelled the Gaggia and gone for the Lelit PL62 (not the S). Long term buy so I don't mind paying a bit extra for new, and I've put my old Summilux up for sale to fund it :)
 
Going to be end of this week before it ships, didn't realize it was coming from Italy (as it was a .co.uk retailer). Good to know my money is going where it's needed though. Gives me time to window shop for some extra bits like a knock box and scales :cool:
 
Going to be end of this week before it ships, didn't realize it was coming from Italy (as it was a .co.uk retailer). Good to know my money is going where it's needed though. Gives me time to window shop for some extra bits like a knock box and scales :cool:

Please tell me you didn't buy it from Coffee Italia.
 
Yes, only two places that sell it in the UK as far as I can see and one of them is closed.

I would have waited till Bella Barista was open again.

I hope it works out well for you, I've heard many horror stories about Coffee Italia. They always claim to have stock and promise fast shipping, they actually don't carry any stock and just have things shipped direct from the manufacturer. After sales support it meant to be none existent so hopefully you don't have any faults.

I originally placed an order with them, drawn in by the cheap prices. When they didn't ship it straight away and were hard to contact I started to panic, I looked into them and read the stories. I managed to make up an excuse and cancel the order with a full refund. After that I took a visit to BB and had a great experience. My machine came with a special user guide, not just the user manual. If I ever have a problem I'm 100% confident that they will do everything they can to put it right.

Good luck with your purchase, get some pictures when it arrives.
 
I would have waited till Bella Barista was open again.

I hope it works out well for you, I've heard many horror stories about Coffee Italia. They always claim to have stock and promise fast shipping, they actually don't carry any stock and just have things shipped direct from the manufacturer. After sales support it meant to be none existent so hopefully you don't have any faults.

I originally placed an order with them, drawn in by the cheap prices. When they didn't ship it straight away and were hard to contact I started to panic, I looked into them and read the stories. I managed to make up an excuse and cancel the order with a full refund. After that I took a visit to BB and had a great experience. My machine came with a special user guide, not just the user manual. If I ever have a problem I'm 100% confident that they will do everything they can to put it right.

Good luck with your purchase, get some pictures when it arrives.

I had a look around and saw some negative reviews, but nothing too out of the ordinary. Obviously it is shipping from Italy. I'll just look it all over thoroughly when it arrives and take my chances, it's on a credit card.

Main justification for splurging on a machine was for while I'm working from home so defeats the point a bit if I wait :P
 
I would have waited till Bella Barista was open again.

I hope it works out well for you, I've heard many horror stories about Coffee Italia. They always claim to have stock and promise fast shipping, they actually don't carry any stock and just have things shipped direct from the manufacturer. After sales support it meant to be none existent so hopefully you don't have any faults.

I originally placed an order with them, drawn in by the cheap prices. When they didn't ship it straight away and were hard to contact I started to panic, I looked into them and read the stories. I managed to make up an excuse and cancel the order with a full refund. After that I took a visit to BB and had a great experience. My machine came with a special user guide, not just the user manual. If I ever have a problem I'm 100% confident that they will do everything they can to put it right.

Good luck with your purchase, get some pictures when it arrives.

Hmm actually Belle Barista are open, via email only. I've dropped them a mail to see when they might have the Mara back in stock. I could stretch to the ACS Minima which they do have in stock...
 
Hmm actually Belle Barista are open, via email only. I've dropped them a mail to see when they might have the Mara back in stock. I could stretch to the ACS Minima which they do have in stock...

They really are much better to deal with.

I looked at the Minima, it's a great spec for the money and makes a delicious tasting espresso. It was only the look I wasn't too keen on. I also really wanted a rotary pumped machine for the reduced sound and I really liked the idea of a plumbed machine, so eventually increased my budget to the Lelit Bianca.

The Bianca was a lot of money but I shouldn't need to upgrade it for a very long time. I would get the best you can afford so that you won't need to upgrade from, saving you money later on.
 
They really are much better to deal with.

I looked at the Minima, it's a great spec for the money and makes a delicious tasting espresso. It was only the look I wasn't too keen on. I also really wanted a rotary pumped machine for the reduced sound and I really liked the idea of a plumbed machine, so eventually increased my budget to the Lelit Bianca.

The Bianca was a lot of money but I shouldn't need to upgrade it for a very long time. I would get the best you can afford so that you won't need to upgrade from, saving you money later on.

Yeah the finish on the Minima isn't great. When I'm spending this much it does matter to me. BB got back to me, they recommend the newer MaraX, the upgraded model, better temperature control. It's only 30 quid more than the Mara. But...no stock, and apparently the Lelit factory is shut down. I think I'll just wait and see for a few days, seems Caffee Italia aren't crooks or anything, they're just box shifters and potentially after sales service won't be great.

On the plus side, got my Rave delivery. The signature blend is very good, the italian job as well, not quite as keen on the chatswood though.
 
finally got this from Aldi this morning ~£2!... but I'd say as good as Rave Italian, signature always has a more interesting smell to me, but, in the mouth, close call.
aldi apparently put (the only date) best-before as roast + 12months .. mine feb2021.
for rave, expresso use, maybe not filter ? , roast <= 5-6 days is a blond-gush.

very slight chemical smell from the aldi bean, - really inhaling.

elektros have, appartimento @€1300, copper too, oos too

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need to get the metal polish out
 
Yeah the finish on the Minima isn't great. When I'm spending this much it does matter to me. BB got back to me, they recommend the newer MaraX, the upgraded model, better temperature control. It's only 30 quid more than the Mara. But...no stock, and apparently the Lelit factory is shut down. I think I'll just wait and see for a few days, seems Caffee Italia aren't crooks or anything, they're just box shifters and potentially after sales service won't be great.

On the plus side, got my Rave delivery. The signature blend is very good, the italian job as well, not quite as keen on the chatswood though.

The plus for the Minima is that it's dual boiler so no cooling flush. The Mara X looks great though, I'm a big fan of Lelit.

Have Coffee Italia said how long? They probably won't be able to get stock either as the Lelit factory is closed.
 
The plus for the Minima is that it's dual boiler so no cooling flush. The Mara X looks great though, I'm a big fan of Lelit.

Have Coffee Italia said how long? They probably won't be able to get stock either as the Lelit factory is closed.

They said it'll ship end of next week (from Italy). Cheeky as they said in stock on the website, but I feel like cutting them a little slack given the circumstances. If it doesn't ship next week though I'll cancel it and wait for the MaraX from BB.
 
dual boiler at similar price to an hx , they are often using stainless as opposed to higher heat capacity/stabler brass;
the additional power consumption with a double boiler too, even if you can turn off the steam boiler.
I'd be looking for an insulated boiler on a new machine too, after finding my machines electric bill was ~£1 a week.
 
Fancied trying something different from my french press and pre-ground coffee. Picked up a V60 and some beans + grinder.

First cup the grind was too coarse, the 2nd cup a little too fine. Will probably take a little playing to get the right grind. Still taste damn good the San Fermin.


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Fancied trying something different from my french press and pre-ground coffee. Picked up a V60 and some beans + grinder.

First cup the grind was too coarse, the 2nd cup a little too fine. Will probably take a little playing to get the right grind. Still taste damn good the San Fermin.


DSCF8480.jpg


DSCF8481.jpg


DSCF8483.jpg
There are a couple of mods to that grinder which give it much more consistent grind size. I have two grinders - electric burr grinder set up for machine espresso, and that Hario for French press. I don't mind the manual grind on a slow Sunday afternoon when making a whole pot :)

I also appreciate not having to change settings on anything!
 
There are a couple of mods to that grinder which give it much more consistent grind size. I have two grinders - electric burr grinder set up for machine espresso, and that Hario for French press. I don't mind the manual grind on a slow Sunday afternoon when making a whole pot :)

I also appreciate not having to change settings on anything!
Do you have a link? I am finding it gives an inconsistent size of the grind.
 
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