I bought a machine first. I got lousy results until I bought a capable grinder. There is a night and day difference between a lousy grinder (in my case, a faux-burr), and a real grinder, even with a low end machine. (The lousy grinder gave muddy water, just like I'd expect from pre-ground. The real grinder gave espresso.)
I think in your price range, one of the Gaggia machines has potential. Without a grinder, however, it'll make mediocre coffee.
justpete Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2011 Posts: 34 Location: Toronto Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Feb 27, 2011, 6:50pm Subject: Re: Help me buy a decent espresso machine, please!
wbaguhn Said:
At the risk of sounding like a lecture:
Have you checked out this very helpful guide on how to buy an espresso machine? It covers a lot of things, and helps you figure out which currently available machines you might like.
I bought a machine first. I got lousy results until I bought a capable grinder. There is a night and day difference between a lousy grinder (in my case, a faux-burr), and a real grinder, even with a low end machine. (The lousy grinder gave muddy water, just like I'd expect from pre-ground. The real grinder gave espresso.)
I think in your price range, one of the Gaggia machines has potential. Without a grinder, however, it'll make mediocre coffee.
And yes, I did check out the guide - but I was still over-whelmed with the number of choices. I thought there might be a solid go-to brand that is normally recommended.
My Breville is so bad that it barely heats the water enough to make a decent cup of coffee. I can live with not having amazing espresso, but I definitely need a better machine to get me to a drink-able espresso.
One thing I've learned after being on the internet for so long - if you ignore the trolls, they'll go away.
You got some good recs here, so what was annoying? If you think this place "has to be a the most annoying forum in the history of the internet", I take it you haven't been on the internet that long.
justpete Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2011 Posts: 34 Location: Toronto Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Feb 27, 2011, 7:03pm Subject: Re: Help me buy a decent espresso machine, please!
BigStormGirl Said:
You got some good recs here, so what was annoying? If you think this place "has to be a the most annoying forum in the history of the internet", I take it you haven't been on the internet that long.
There was one brand suggested, and one specific model (which I do like) - both helpful, but the other posts have been more annoying than helpful, and some downright rude as well.
One thing I've learned after being on the internet for so long - if you ignore the trolls, they'll go away.
Clearly not, but it was intended to suggest that there are a number of others who might not perhaps share your point of view.
You don't need help to pick out a machine that looks aesthetically pleasing. Only you can tell what looks good to you. Other than that, it's really quite simple: you stated that you were formerly a barista -- that indicates to me that you already know something about espresso machines (which, in turn, makes me wonder exactly what it is you want to know). So it seems to me that it shouldn't be that hard . . .
That said, apparently I was wrong. It is that hard.
OK, you're in Toronto. Check out (east to west) -- idrinkcoffee.com (Milton, ON) -- Caffe Tech (Edmonton, AB) -- Espressotec (Richond, BC) and find one that looks good to you in your price range.
With a price range of $500-$800, you're in the price range of an SBDU -- frustrating territory to say the least, if you want "great espresso, good steamer." Especially without a decent grinder!
Oh. Wait. I'm not supposed to say that . . . wouldn't want to upset a newcomer.
justpete Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2011 Posts: 34 Location: Toronto Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sun Feb 27, 2011, 8:47pm Subject: Re: Help me buy a decent espresso machine, please!
Perhaps "great espresso" was an over-statement. I just wanted to show that the espresso was more important than the steaming functionality, so I wouldn't be advised to purchase a product with an incredible steamer that only produced so-so espresso. It appears that this was the mistake that set you guys off. My fault.
In any case, I am unfortunately limited by a few un-changeable circumstances with regards to a grinder:
a) I live in a condo, so the real-estate of my kitchen counter is extremely valuable. b) my SO and I drink different kinds of coffee due to a type of allergy - one of us cannot ingest caffeine in it's very potent form in an espresso, so switching beans back and forth to grind when trying to make breakfast is somewhat impractical. c) my current espresso machine is a Breville esp8xpl, which, by all accounts, is a horrible espresso machine due to it's "thermo-blocking" technology
All these circumstances dictate my focus on a better espresso maker, as opposed to a grinder - I thought all the information I provided without going in to too much detail would lead to a number of pertinent suggestions, as opposed to a series of posts "tee-ing off" as to why I was mis-guided in my focus.
In addition, I was a Barista about 10-12 years ago - I can scarcely remember the name of the espresso machine that I used - and I'm so far out of familiarity that I bought this horrible espresso machine.
And ps, what's an "SBDU"?
One thing I've learned after being on the internet for so long - if you ignore the trolls, they'll go away.
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