Siliconslave's how to make espresso thread
- Thread starter Siliconslave
- Start date
dedica at £150 ? https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeLonghi-EC685M-Traditional-Espresso-Machine/dp/B06WGTZ874
although I have not recently researched how their models and features have changed (if you buy from amazon make sure it is sold ie warrantied by them)
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Replace relay in my boiler relay my bezzera HX probably done 200K operations and despite wetndry cleaning, was making a significant noise+spark.
didn't have time to research finding a genuine SSR to replace it and was concerned about finding a good heat sink appropriate location
https://iili.io/KQHX6JI.jpg
although I have not recently researched how their models and features have changed (if you buy from amazon make sure it is sold ie warrantied by them)
-----------
Replace relay in my boiler relay my bezzera HX probably done 200K operations and despite wetndry cleaning, was making a significant noise+spark.
didn't have time to research finding a genuine SSR to replace it and was concerned about finding a good heat sink appropriate location
https://iili.io/KQHX6JI.jpg
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- Darkest Norfolk
yer, unfortunately you won't get much espresso machine for £200 - you'd be better going down the pour over / aeropress with the best grinder you can buy. Otherwise keep an eye out for Sage deals over black friday
Are you planning on using pre-ground coffee, and if so any brand(s) you would think to use, or would you want to get into grinding your own beans at some point?
Pre-ground to begin with and I will cause further upset by saying that I am not able to drink caffeine so what I would make for myself is decaf coffee. It isn't as serious to us as it likely is for most in the thread and we are really just after a decent enough machine with a steamer so we can make basic cafe style coffees at home. I just have no idea on what is a good brand having never had espresso machine.
this guys done some good dedica videos i linked before - also takes ese pods which might give a better quality/more ££, drink than pre-ground.
Stick with something pod-based. Pre-ground decaffeinated coffee and a lower-end machine is likely not going to end well.
Nothing wrong with a Nespresso!
Trying to plan for a beginner machine next year when we move house and have some space. Keep telling myself the Gaggia Classic would be lovely, especially with the colours, and whilst it's not an essential to begin with the idea of upgrading does appeal
On the other hand, my OH is less fussed about that sort of thing, and I feel like the Bambino Plus is going to a a) be at least £150 or cheaper when they have deals on and b) be a lot more forgiving for her when she just wants an oat flat white
Thoughts?
On the other hand, my OH is less fussed about that sort of thing, and I feel like the Bambino Plus is going to a a) be at least £150 or cheaper when they have deals on and b) be a lot more forgiving for her when she just wants an oat flat white
Thoughts?
I'm not as experienced as some in this thread, but did take delivery of a Gaggia Classic and DF54 Grinder in early October. Coming from the world of Nespresso which I've been using for over 15 years. And the process of learning to use and maintain it correctly is not to be understated. I imagine that's true of most manual Expresso makers, but then Gaggia with it's lack of a PID and stock OPV spring is going to be a bit more challenging. It also not as well known for its milk steaming and wand. So I think in that sense you need to 'want' to go through the process. If you are looking for an easy daily coffee maker then I'm not sure the GC is it. However as you've highlighted it definitely has a modding community around it and can grow, or be improved. And that infamous durability, range of spares, modding all drew me towards the Gaggia Classic. They do look also lovely in their colour schemes too.
I haven't owned a Bambino Plus but I know that it can be as low as £280 so will be quite a bit cheaper than the Gaggia. Also with its PID, 9-bar pressure and automatic milk steam wand are going to make it more forgiving on a daily basis. I suppose knocks against it are the 54mm portafilter if you ever upgrade (you'd have to re-buy some accessories) and durability. But given it's nearly half the price of the Evo 24 I don't think those are major downsides.
Funilly enough I stopped using my Gaggia not long after I got it becuase I found the world of Aedropress and Hario Switch not long afterwards. I also ordered some cleaning stuff (Cafiza) and bottled water. This weekend decided to make a latte and immediately underextracted the shot! So a reminder of how unforgiving it can be. That said when you do dial it in, you have a fantastic expresso/latte. For me having normal and decaf and two grinders just means I have more to muck up.
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I have a question for the coffee aficionados.
I currently have a Delonghi Magnifica Esam 4200 bean to cup, which I've had for the last 10 years (paid £220 for it back in 2015!). It's never made particularly good espresso (in fact, not very good at all), but my wife likes it because of its simplicity in making milk drinks. We have company a lot, and steaming a big jug of milk and churning out 4 lattes is a lot easier using a bean to cup, compared to my previous setup, which was a tiny electric grinder (single shot size!) and a little espresso machine.
If I drink longer drinks, I have a Hario hand grinder which I've been using for 2 years and an Aeropress which I've been using for 5 years. I'd probably continue to use the Aeropress, but would like to grind doses ad-hoc rather than grinding a week's worth of coffee because it's a bit of a nause now.
I'd like to upgrade, and would like to know what a good setup would be.
I can get a Sage Barista Pro for around the £500 mark which is a pretty reasonable amount of money if it lasts (the Delonghi is still going after 10 years!) but would I be better off getting a dedicated grinder and a separate espresso machine?
If so, what espresso machine + grinder could match the Barista Pro (ish) money, and cater for serving up multiple milk drinks when we have company?
I noticed Pact coffee do a Bambino for £298 with coffee which seemed very reasonable, but is it up to the task of multiple cups?
I currently have a Delonghi Magnifica Esam 4200 bean to cup, which I've had for the last 10 years (paid £220 for it back in 2015!). It's never made particularly good espresso (in fact, not very good at all), but my wife likes it because of its simplicity in making milk drinks. We have company a lot, and steaming a big jug of milk and churning out 4 lattes is a lot easier using a bean to cup, compared to my previous setup, which was a tiny electric grinder (single shot size!) and a little espresso machine.
If I drink longer drinks, I have a Hario hand grinder which I've been using for 2 years and an Aeropress which I've been using for 5 years. I'd probably continue to use the Aeropress, but would like to grind doses ad-hoc rather than grinding a week's worth of coffee because it's a bit of a nause now.
I'd like to upgrade, and would like to know what a good setup would be.
I can get a Sage Barista Pro for around the £500 mark which is a pretty reasonable amount of money if it lasts (the Delonghi is still going after 10 years!) but would I be better off getting a dedicated grinder and a separate espresso machine?
If so, what espresso machine + grinder could match the Barista Pro (ish) money, and cater for serving up multiple milk drinks when we have company?
I noticed Pact coffee do a Bambino for £298 with coffee which seemed very reasonable, but is it up to the task of multiple cups?
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If you don't mind a refurb unit (basically a return maybe that has a small dent) the sage machines can be found super cheap on ebay. I got an Oracle Touch for about £750 and they have most of the uk sold models at 30-60% off retail.
Picked up a bit of a bargain today.
Managed to get a Hario Mugen V60 dripper for £4.29. A new major site kept spamming me with £10, and then £11 off voucher in the past few days. So did a search and amongst the sellers was the Mugen, which works with Hario Switch. Will be trialling it over the next few days. Not expecting it to make much difference, but have a plastic Switch-compatible dripper makes it more portable.
Managed to get a Hario Mugen V60 dripper for £4.29. A new major site kept spamming me with £10, and then £11 off voucher in the past few days. So did a search and amongst the sellers was the Mugen, which works with Hario Switch. Will be trialling it over the next few days. Not expecting it to make much difference, but have a plastic Switch-compatible dripper makes it more portable.