spock me a coffee machine

Siliconslave · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:24

Hey caffine fans i'm looking to buy a coffee machine. I'm currently alternating between using a "presso" hand press thing and a stove top, but neither of them make as good coffee as my Dad's machine, which is a "gaggia carezza silver"

I already have a decent ginder and use fresh from the freeza beans (which are damn nice!) But could do with a nice machine to top it off.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a decent machine sub £150ish? or should i be budgetting more than that?

Live long and prosper
Sam

xander_uk2 · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:28

Should be able to get a decent machine from Krups for the amount your talking

I was eyeing one up in Debenhams yesterday. Think it was £160ish?

Sorry, i'm no expert. Still using my Philips Senso

Siliconslave · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:30

xander_uk2 said:
Sorry, i'm no expert. Still using my Philips Senso

right, you, out!

tried them a couple of times and while they arn't bad, they ain't a patch on a proper freshly grown coffee... Plus i hate the idea of being tied into a specific format of pod that may well go out of fashion in a couple of years

D4VE · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:33

spock you?

Cookie-Monster · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:34

o.k. i'm possibly at the other end of the spectrum to the pod coffee freaks.

currently have an Isomac Zaffiro and a Mazzer Mini as my main kit and roast my beans in an old popcorn roaster

for £160 i would also suggest try Ebay, and not just uk but particularly holland, germany and italy

the guys here have always been very helpful and may be worth a try

http://www.toomuchcoffee.com

Raymond Lin · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:37

www.gaggia.co.uk 's special offers page has their Evolution model for under £100, veyr tempting indeed, that is if i haven't already got my mind set on the Classic.

Siliconslave · 7 Apr 2006 at 12:41

Raymond Lin said:
www.gaggia.co.uk 's special offers page has their Evolution model for under £100, veyr tempting indeed, that is if i haven't already got my mind set on the Classic.

oooh, good find

Cookie-Monster said:
currently have an Isomac Zaffiro and a Mazzer Mini as my main kit and roast my beans in an old popcorn roaster

Mmm, that thing is almost sexual! and will check out the link cheers

D4VE said:
spock you?

figured i'd save the dons an edit

radikal_dj · 7 Apr 2006 at 13:13

I've got a Nespresso Magimix, 30 seconds power-on and your Coffee is ready in 60 seconds - Loads of flavours to choose from and superb customer service from Nespresso when ordering capsules and accessories.

Phantom · 7 Apr 2006 at 13:44

Siliconslave said:
Spock me...
Sam

oh okay then

Siliconslave · 7 Apr 2006 at 13:46

Phantom said:
oh okay then

D4VE · 7 Apr 2006 at 13:47

lol. Queue 3 pages of replies with Spock pics, quotes and general reminissing

Davey_Pitch · 7 Apr 2006 at 13:48

Siliconslave said:
figured i'd save the dons an edit

Finally, someone's catching on

Rotty · 7 Apr 2006 at 14:04

Davey_Pitch said:
Finally, someone's catching on

took long enough

Jazz_UK · 7 Apr 2006 at 14:11

Hi,

I got the gaggia classic through ebay.. makes a good espresso but the plastic steaming arm is a letdown, however you can upgrade it to a metal arm for £10 and get good silky milk after a few attempts.

Also any espresso expert would tell you that you need to splash out on a good grinder... as even with the best espresso machine, if the grind is not consistant then it will make lousy coffee!

Going for another caffine fix...
Jazz_UK

Raymond Lin · 7 Apr 2006 at 14:14

Jazz_UK said:
Hi,

I got the gaggia classic through ebay.. makes a good espresso but the plastic steaming arm is a letdown, however you can upgrade it to a metal arm for £10 and get good silky milk after a few attempts.

Also any espresso expert would tell you that you need to splash out on a good grinder... as even with the best espresso machine, if the grind is not consistant then it will make lousy coffee!

Going for another caffine fix...
Jazz_UK

Where do you get the metal arm from?

Cookie-Monster · 7 Apr 2006 at 14:17

Jazz_UK said:
Also any espresso expert would tell you that you need to splash out on a good grinder... as even with the best espresso machine, if the grind is not consistant then it will make lousy coffee!

So true, a decent grinder and fresh beans are possibly more important than a decent machine.

Siliconslave · 7 Apr 2006 at 14:20

Cookie-Monster said:
So true, a decent grinder and fresh beans are possibly more important than a decent machine.

as i mentioned above i already have a decent (ish) grinder (a Dualit 7200 iirc) and a great source of coffee, a local market stall that has some of the best i've had for ages, freshly roasted every thursday and sold on the friday / sat from vacume sealed packs. Mmmm

Just need to get a nice machine to go with it.... the Gaggia classic is very tempting as it does look so nice...

Raymond Lin · 7 Apr 2006 at 14:49

Siliconslave said:
as i mentioned above i already have a decent (ish) grinder (a Dualit 7200 iirc) and a great source of coffee, a local market stall that has some of the best i've had for ages, freshly roasted every thursday and sold on the friday / sat from vacume sealed packs. Mmmm

Just need to get a nice machine to go with it.... the Gaggia classic is very tempting as it does look so nice...

It's £250 thou, ebay isn't much cheaper either, plus i don't want to risk using a 2nd hand machine.

manveruppd · 7 Apr 2006 at 15:49

Cookie-Monster said:
the guys here have always been very helpful and may be worth a try

http://www.toomuchcoffee.com

Yep, they'll do you right, or, alternatively, the UK sub-forum on www.coffeegeek.com
I wouldn't go for a hand-press though, and I wouldn't TOUCH one of those pod things. If you can't find a good machine at your budget (though I'm sure you will), then it's best to stick with a stove-top and save up for one.