MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 4,626 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Wed May 2, 2007, 10:19pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
Finally, a new guide for the website!
This one started out as a how to, and just grew and grew and grew. Big thanks to Cindy Taylor for her excellent editing job on it.
Also, photos are coming for the Vendors page and the Life of Ownership page at some point this summer.
In the meantime, I welcome your suggestions and commentary on this guide, especially suggestions for things to add or improve on. Now you have something comprehensive to point your newbie friends to, when they want advice on getting a good espresso machine!
CoffeeGeek's comprehensive guide on how to make the right decision the first time when buying a quality espresso machine. Filled with insider tips, budget recommendations, and more.
Great guide for the person entering the world of the Dark Side for the first time Mark! It'll be a great resource to direct people to.
Unfortunately no way will it make the right decision the first time eliminate possible future ugraditis. ;-) But that's ok and the natural evolution of the Journey. As experience grows so may the desire for greater and or different machine capabilites that didn't even have the ability to understand before, even after reading a very good comprehensive buying decision guide like you've written.
Unless of course the newbie decides to purchase the machine pictured at the beginning of the guide! Yeah, that would keep ugraditits at bay for a spell. Atleast until a new generation of machines with variable programable shot pressure profiles or the like hits the market!:-)
mcKoffee Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2001 Posts: 735 Location: Vancouver WA USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Bricoletta, Audrey, LM 3AV... Grinder: Mazzer Major,SJ, Rocky,... Vac Pot: Gold Royal Balance Drip: When it rains...Moka, FPs Roaster: USRC3k,CCR HT, Behmor, Cafe...
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 1:02pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
Since you got into amortizing cost of ownership, with grinders might include the cost of keeping grind quality high over time. For instance say Rocky cost $300 and Mazzer Super Jolly $600. Based on my 100# per year grinding (and knowing how Rocky's burrs wear from 5+ years experience) at the end of 5 years burrs will have been replaced (and have) 4 times costing about $170 inc. s/h making 5 year cost of ownership $470. The SJ with it's much larger burrs now at 5 years need burrs replaced so ~$45 for $645 total still quite a bit more than a Rocky. But at 10 years Rocky will have 5 more sets of burrs ~$205 more totaling ~$675 and SJ one more totaling ~$690. So depending on how you look at it Mazzer Super Jolly only costs $15 more than a Rocky! And from my experience grinders classed in the Maestro range need burrs about every 50# when used for espresso duties.
PaulTheRoaster Senior Member Joined: 2 Aug 2005 Posts: 336 Location: Urbana, Illinois, USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Faema C84 A/1, Conti... Grinder: RR45, Zass, Solis Classic Drip: French Press, Swiss Gold... Roaster: RK drum
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 3:13pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
Nice article. I would only quibble about the part discussing push-button steam controls. Do you really find that you (not just Mark, anyone in CG) uses less than 100%? If 100% is too fast, I think most people (self included) shop for a slower tip instead of trying to open to 60% while steaming the milk ... I mean, as soon as the wand starts steaming, you have to concentrate on the milk, not on adjusting knobs.
All of my machines have always had knobs for steam control, but push-button steam, I wouldn't mind.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 4,626 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 3:39pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
PaulTheRoaster Said:
Nice article. I would only quibble about the part discussing push-button steam controls. Do you really find that you (not just Mark, anyone in CG) uses less than 100%?
When I'm teaching anyone (a class, seminar, friends, even believe it or not, machine sellers who don't know how to use the consumer machines they sell) how to use a consumer machine, one of the things I do show is how to finesse the steam knob while steaming.
On a machine like a Krups or Villaware or a Francis! Francis! or even a Silvia, there's not a lot of room to play with, since they steam slow, relative to a commercial machine or a 1.5l HX machine, for sure, but even on a FF!! or Silvia, finessing the steam knob can make a big difference in the overall texture and sweetness retention in the microfoam.
PaulTheRoaster Senior Member Joined: 2 Aug 2005 Posts: 336 Location: Urbana, Illinois, USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Faema C84 A/1, Conti... Grinder: RR45, Zass, Solis Classic Drip: French Press, Swiss Gold... Roaster: RK drum
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 4:06pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
MarkPrince Said:
On a machine like a Krups or Villaware or a Francis! Francis! or even a Silvia, there's not a lot of room to play with, since they steam slow, relative to a commercial machine or a 1.5l HX machine, for sure, but even on a FF!! or Silvia, finessing the steam knob can make a big difference in the overall texture and sweetness retention in the microfoam.
mcKoffee Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2001 Posts: 735 Location: Vancouver WA USA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Bricoletta, Audrey, LM 3AV... Grinder: Mazzer Major,SJ, Rocky,... Vac Pot: Gold Royal Balance Drip: When it rains...Moka, FPs Roaster: USRC3k,CCR HT, Behmor, Cafe...
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 4:22pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
PaulTheRoaster Said:
Nice article. I would only quibble about the part discussing push-button steam controls. Do you really find that you (not just Mark, anyone in CG) uses less than 100%?
Have you ever tried steaming ~1oz milk (or a tad less) in a 3oz SS pitcher for a no milk waste double shot machiatto? I have and do, but couldn't without steam control! It is tough to get the texture just right though:-)
welone Senior Member Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 12 Location: Zurich, Switzerland Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Olympia Maximatic, Gaggia... Grinder: Compak K10, Gaggia MDF
Posted Thu May 3, 2007, 5:16pm Subject: Re: How to Buy an Espresso Machine
A must for anyone standing at the edge of the infamous 'rabbit hole'. definitely saves a huge read-up when starting!
Concerning the important details of the machine, I would add the absolute boiler size for the lower end single boiler machines. My gaggia classic (with a 3.5 oz boiler) drops 8 to 16 degrees Fahrenheit during a double shot which is quite a different compared to a Rancilio Silvia (12 oz boiler) for which only a few degrees (less than 5 degF) are reported. I'm well aware that the imperative of rock stable intrashot stability is a controversial topic - but nevertheless I've never seen someone advocating for a drop of 10 degrees Fahrenheit during an extraction. On the other hand there are also advantages to small boilers, especially when coupled with a powerful heating element. It's a good option for people who want to have minimum initial heat up time and a quick cool down from steaming to brewing temperature.
[EDIT to add the machine brand] Furthermore there also appeared a steaming microswitch (on the Solis SL 70) which greatly improves the ease and durability of steaming with small boilers (it automatically turns on the heating elements the moment the steam valve is being opened).
looking forward to the next articles ;) thanks for sharing the knowledge
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