The B20 and B30 are superautomatics and superautos aren't too highly regarded around here in general. I read your posting as I'm curious as well. If they are any good I see value in an office environment or for someone who just doesn't want to mess with measuring, grinding, pulling the shot, and cleaning up.
If nobody speaks up here I'd call Whole Latte Love and ask them what they think. Sure they are in business to sell them but think they'd give you the straight scoop. Most of the online vendors have a 30 day policy to return it if dis-satisfied.
The B20 and B30 are superautomatics and superautos aren't too highly regarded around here in general. I read your posting as I'm curious as well. If they are any good I see value in an office environment or for someone who just doesn't want to mess with measuring, grinding, pulling the shot, and cleaning up.
If nobody speaks up here I'd call Whole Latte Love and ask them what they think. Sure they are in business to sell them but think they'd give you the straight scoop. Most of the online vendors have a 30 day policy to return it if dis-satisfied.
Thanks Stu, I fall in the camp of someone whojust doesn't want to mess with measuring, grinding, pulling the shot, and cleaning up ... especially when I leave for work at 5:30 am. A superautomatic is the only way for me to enter the coffee afficiando group. If someone does not chime in, I'll call whole Latte Love. Thanks again.
If you do elect to purchase a supper auto, I’d suggest inquiring if the retailer is offering a one year extended warranty, like WLL is on the vast majority of their Saeco super autos. I’d further suggest paying for your new machine with a credit card that extends the warranties another year, like the Gold AX card does.
To the best of my knowledge, the B20 and B30 are manufactured by Jura for Bosch, which IMHO is a good thing but as in all transactions; caveat emptor.
I'd be very interested to see anything else anyone has to say as well - I'm seriously considering the B30, the Incanto Sirius, and the Capresso Z5, and any comparative impressions would be great.
One of the consumer reviewers on Whole Latte Love said his B30 produced much better coffee than the Jura Capresso E8 he'd previously owned - I know the Z5 is more programmable, has dual boilers, and has the quickie milk-drink device, but are there any real/material differences in the coffee quality between the Z5 and the E8 or other Jura Capresso machines?
Given that the price of the Z5 is 2.5x the price of the B30 ($3199 vs. $1299), I'd want to know that the difference was fairly significant, and given the good reviews of the Bosch, I'm leaning that way. (Of course, I can always go to Williams Sonoma to try the Capresso machines, but they don't have the Bosch and don't offer tests of the Saeco, at least at the store in Costa Mesa...)
Did any of you actually decide to pick up the B30 (or another superauto model) yet?
I'd be very interested to see anything else anyone has to say as well - I'm seriously considering the B30, the Incanto Sirius, and the Capresso Z5, and any comparative impressions would be great.
One of the consumer reviewers on Whole Latte Love said his B30 produced much better coffee than the Jura Capresso E8 he'd previously owned - I know the Z5 is more programmable, has dual boilers, and has the quickie milk-drink device, but are there any real/material differences in the coffee quality between the Z5 and the E8 or other Jura Capresso machines?
Given that the price of the Z5 is 2.5x the price of the B30 ($3199 vs. $1299), I'd want to know that the difference was fairly significant, and given the good reviews of the Bosch, I'm leaning that way. (Of course, I can always go to Williams Sonoma to try the Capresso machines, but they don't have the Bosch and don't offer tests of the Saeco, at least at the store in Costa Mesa...)
Did any of you actually decide to pick up the B30 (or another superauto model) yet?
I purchased a Delonghi EAM 3300, and sent not one, but two of them back. The first simply did not heat the water to the proper temp, the second did the same plus had some leakage around the water reservoir seal. I did, however, buy from an online discounter here in Germany, and they could have been refurbished (I was told by a sales rep at Media Markt that the online discounters don't have to disclose if it is a refurbished machine or not.)
My first choice was the Bosch B20, but it is 4 inches longer than the Saeco, Jura, and the Delonghi, and I have a fairly small kitchen. The price on the B30 was just reduced at the two electronic superstores here, Media Markt and Elsasser/Red Zac. I think it is going for around 550 euro, and the B20 is going for 444 right now. They are marked up more than the Saecos and the Juras (euro - dollar exchange rate) at WLL and other online stateside shops, which I find rather interesting.
My first choice was the Bosch B20, but it is 4 inches longer than the Saeco, Jura, and the Delonghi, and I have a fairly small kitchen. The price on the B30 was just reduced at the two electronic superstores here, Media Markt and Elsasser/Red Zac. I think it is going for around 550 euro, and the B20 is going for 444 right now. They are marked up more than the Saecos and the Juras (euro - dollar exchange rate) at WLL and other online stateside shops, which I find rather interesting.
I am currently contemplating my options. My husband was not thrilled when I got the Delonghi because of the cost, and also commented about how large it was. I have been considering a Saeco, but it seems as if they have a lot of problems, both with breaking and with customer service/repair time. Almost everything I have read about the Bosch machines is good, with a couple of people saying that the coffee could be hotter (that was on Amazon.de, I believe.)
petraidm Senior Member Joined: 4 Mar 2005 Posts: 7 Location: Louisiana Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat Jan 21, 2006, 5:03am Subject: Re: Bosch B30 / B20 (and competitive machines)
Milchkaffee Said:
The price on the B30 was just reduced at the two electronic superstores here, Media Markt and Elsasser/Red Zac. I think it is going for around 550 euro, and the B20 is going for 444 right now. They are marked up more than the Saecos and the Juras (euro - dollar exchange rate) at WLL and other online stateside shops, which I find rather interesting.
Cheap per US prices. Are there any reputable dealers in Europe that will / can ship to US?
There are not a lot of places to buy the Bosch Machines here and neither 1st-line or WLL service the machines or offer extended warranites. If there are problems, you have to send it to Bosch.
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