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Espresso: Espresso Machines
semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

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Discussions > Espresso > Machines > semiautomatic or...

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sandro
Senior Member

Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Latvia
Expertise: I like coffee

Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008, 8:38am Subject: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

I would like to purchase an espresso machine for home, but don't know exactly which one to choose. I'm planning to make 3 or more shots every day (for three persons) and don't know if there are any problems or inconveniences in making three shots simultaneously using semiautomatic machine (I know it can produce only two shots at a time). So, what could you recommend? Should I go for a semiautomatic machine like Gaggia Baby Class (being on a limited budget) or a fully automatic machine would better fit my needs?

kinolau
Senior Member

Joined: 15 Feb 2008
Posts: 147
Location: Rhode Island USA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Pasquini Livia 90S
Grinder: Macap M4 Stepless /...
Drip: Chemex / Cuisinart

Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008, 12:03pm Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

Semi-Auto would just be more flexible and possibly more versatile.

greeneye
Senior Member

Joined: 20 Mar 2008
Posts: 324
Location: Western Australia
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Isomac Tea HX
Grinder: Mazzer Mini/Sunbeam EM450...
Vac Pot: Pullman Tamper
Roaster: Corretto Roaster

Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008, 1:02pm Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

With a fully auto machine you don't have much control over your roasts. For the number of shots you want to produce a manual machine like Rancilio Silvia would give you superb espresso, you will need a good grinder like the Rocky or similar quality to compelent the machine, but the total cost of the two would probably be similar if not cheaper than an auto machine and make far superior coffee. Silvia has commercial quality parts, brass boiler and will last your 20 years plus if looked after properly. Food for thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11

Beezer
Senior Member

Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 418
Location: Fresno, CA
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Quickmill Anita
Grinder: La Cimbali Max Hybrid

Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008, 1:55pm Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

I don't know of any machines with only one group that allow you to make more than two shots at a time, regardless of whether they're semi-auto, full auto or super-auto. It's really no big deal to brew two sets of shots back to back with most machines, though. A Gaggia Baby and a good grinder, coupled with good fresh beans, will do the trick just fine. I prefer semi-autos to superautos anyway. You can control the process much better and the shots can be excellent, even on a fairly inexpensive semi-auto like a Gaggia. Superautos always seem to make weak shots. The convenience factor is high, but you lose the ability to make a really great shot.

Breeze
Senior Member

Joined: 3 Dec 2006
Posts: 556
Location: St. Croix, V.I.
Expertise: Pro Roaster

Espresso: Pasquini Livia S
Grinder: Mazzer Mini/Rocky
Drip: TechniVorm/Krups MB
Roaster: Toper 1 kilo

Posted Fri Mar 21, 2008, 3:01pm Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

Don't purchase a super-automatic. You'll have lower quality espresso, more likelihood of machine problems and MUCH higher repair costs if and when it happens. A semi-auto is the way to go, you'll be happy!

sandro
Senior Member

Joined: 17 Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Location: Latvia
Expertise: I like coffee

Posted Sat Mar 22, 2008, 2:39am Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

Thank you all for your replies. I think I need something like Gaggia Baby Class. Hope it's a good choice.

jacbri
Senior Member

Joined: 18 Aug 2007
Posts: 193
Location: Saint Paul
Expertise: I love coffee

Espresso: Rancilio S26
Grinder: La Pavoni Zip/Astoria Super...
Roaster: Behmor 1600

Posted Sat Mar 22, 2008, 6:37am Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

have you ever entered the world of craigslist? You can get a lot for your money with 7-8 bills. Just a suggestion.

cafewest_tech
Senior Member

Joined: 22 Aug 2003
Posts: 269
Location: Medford
Expertise: Professional

Posted Sat Mar 22, 2008, 7:49pm Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

Hi One question? Does everybody on this site live in the city, because it sounds like it! Did you ever think that other people might live in the mountains and the car you drive won't work for them. Not EVERYBODY DRINKS ESPRESSO! I have never seen a more conceded bunch of people that think espresso is the only drink. More people in the world drink crema coffee than espresso. Besides making espresso is a pain in the butt. Some people would rather be drinking their coffee than trying to make it. A superautomatic might be the ticket for this person. IMO Jerry

roblumba
Senior Member

Joined: 30 Jan 2006
Posts: 349
Location: San Jose
Expertise: I love coffee

Posted Sun Mar 23, 2008, 4:35am
Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

cafewest_tech Said:

Hi
One question? Does everybody on this site live in the city, because it sounds like it! Did you ever think that other people might live in the mountains and the car you drive won't work for them. Not EVERYBODY DRINKS ESPRESSO! I have never seen a more conceded bunch of people that think espresso is the only drink. More people in the world drink crema coffee than espresso. Besides making espresso is a pain in the butt. Some people would rather be drinking their coffee than trying to make it. A superautomatic might be the ticket for this person.
IMO
Jerry

Posted March 22, 2008 link

This is the Espresso Forum on Coffee Geek. If what you want is coffee, then people here are going to be a little confused that you want an espresso machine to make "crema coffee". Drawing from your analogy, it's like a person from the mountains coming into the city and asking for a city persons advice on what multi purpose tractor would they use on their property. It's just the wrong person to ask. They think a tractor is used on construction sites. Anyways, not the best analogy, but I think many of the people on the espresso forum are looking to make excellent espresso, not coffee with crema on it. I personally would want that drink you describe. I would be disappointed every time, especially after having developed a taste for espresso.

In addition, I'm not aware that there is a huge community of people who seek after this drink that you call "crema espresso", so I'm not sure how valid it is to assume that a person can go online and find expert advice on such a drink. If what they are interested in is "crema coffee", then it's going to be hard to approach people who are fanatical about espresso and get advice, because from the very start, a person who doesn't know espresso isn't going to make it clear that what they want is "crema coffee" and the person who loves espresso is going to want to help them get good espresso.

I understand you are in the repair of machines, so you see people of all sorts of coffee tastes. But I hope you can understand that people who love espresso are not necessarily conceded and trying to misguide others. If they are like me, they love espresso and love to see others experience the same taste sensations from a good quality shot of espresso from fresh beans from their local or online roaster.

People have shared food and recipes for ages and communities of people have shared favorite recipes and in some communities like the South, there are very strong preference about BBQ. The online community of people who love espresso, are very similar. It would be like trying to convince a Competition BBQ'er to give teaching lessons on BBQ pulled pork without any smoking wood, and on a gas grill. That would just be simply ridiculous. Of course, some people are fine with that kind of BBQ, but someone from the south (like my wife), would not call it BBQ and would think that those city slickers don't know what they are doing. My wife grew up with BBQ and knows what real BBQ is. By definition, over history, and within a particular culture / community of people, it's gained a certain identity by method of preparation, cooking, sides that go with it, and how you eat it. Same with espresso.

This doesn't mean that every person needs to make competition level espresso, just like every BBQ doesn't need to make competition quality BBQ. It is possible to make decent BBQ on a small smoker and with little effort and without a $2000 hand crafted smoker and real fire wood that takes hours to light. My mom's wife uses a small weber smoker in the backyard. She fills it with standard briquettes and let's it go all night. And it is possible to make decent espresso without a full commercial setup in your kitchen.

But I, like many other's, think many of today's super auto's would not be heading in the right direction. Sure, the repair man will be happy, the local repair guy I talked to sternly warned against buying a super auto. He said that people don't realize that they will be spending twice the price of the machine on repairs. Those things are not build to last like many of the fine single boiler HX machines you hear about on here. And you don't get as good espresso as you would from a semi-auto. So it seems very appropriate that there's not much motivation to go in that direction from this group of espresso lovers.

wideasleep1
Senior Member

Joined: 19 Feb 2005
Posts: 1,057
Location: Sausalito,Ca
Expertise: I live coffee

Espresso: VBMDoubleDomo
Grinder: Mahlkoenig K30 Vario
Vac Pot: nope
Drip: Bodum Press
Roaster: IR1 and 2,SC/TO,Behmor

Posted Sun Mar 23, 2008, 10:50am Subject: Re: semiautomatic or fully automatic machine for home

I think Sandro got great advice, although jacbri's craiglist suggestion seems questionable in LATVIA!! :p Also, I must concede, I think you guys meant conceited ;) Al (part-time urbanite, part-time hillbilly)

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