Chanty Senior Member Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Milwaukee, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Vario, had an MDF Vac Pot: none Drip: none Roaster: I buy beans from many...
Posted Mon Dec 5, 2011, 5:31pm Subject: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
Hi, I have had semi automatic espresso machines (various ones, Saeco Aroma (junk), La Pavoni Lusso and lastly the Gaggia Classic) over the last 10 years. I have not been thrilled with any of their performances to be perfectly honest. I called Whole Latte Love and they are trying to convince me into buying a super automatic--one in particular which is about $849 with the 20% off---the Gaggia Brera unit. Can anyone tell me if they think I'd be making a mistake biting the bullet on a super automatic or if I should just stick with the semi automatic???? I use my Gaggia Classic with my MDF grinder. Not thrilled with the MDF either as I probably need a grind at about 3 1/2 and it only grinds in whole increments. They say the Classic is grind friendly. Not so much.... I'm doing the correct grind and tamping. Thanks in advance.
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 7:02am Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
Linda,
Any superautomatic is going to be a giant step backwards. Since you are not happy with the performance of your current machine, I doubt the Brera will make you happy.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,642 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 7:50am Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
I find your reference to several espresso machines as junk and others as lacking ..... interesting since you don't want to list a grinder in your equipment list, yet you reference a MDF in your post.
Any pre ground coffee is going to be hard to work with and will always yield sub par results. The MDF is not a great grinder, it can be passable but it is bottom of the list when you start talking about espresso grinders.
Honestly, if you don't want to buy and use a good grinder, then WLL may just be on target, at least, you will be grinding before each shot with a grind that will at least be in the ball park of drinkable.
Your Classic will give you MUCH better results if you took HALF of the money you are looking at spending for a new machine and buy a grinder with it.
Then again, YMMV!
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Chanty Senior Member Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Milwaukee, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Vario, had an MDF Vac Pot: none Drip: none Roaster: I buy beans from many...
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 8:58am Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
calblacksmith, I really don't know where you are referencing that I "don't list a grinder in my equipment list"....I stated I had a Gaggia MDF. I also have not a clue on what you mean by preground coffee being hard to work with--as I DO NOT USE preground. I grind my own beans....with my MDF....and now my new Vario. So why the lecture and terse undercurrent on 99% of statements I didn't make? I never said that all the espresso machines I have used are "junk", just the Saeco Aroma--& I stand by that assessment. I had a question initially on the super automatic that a cust. rep at WLL was trying to sell me. I changed my mind after "talking" to a number of members here. This is a site to ask questions AND get information AND give information, right?
Standard Questions: 1) What kind of drinks do you like/want to make? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's capabilities.) 2) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself needing to make at ay one time? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's ability to work continuously.) 3) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself making in any given week? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's durability.) 4) Can you plumb a machine directly into the water supply, or do you want/need a pourover machine with its own reservoir? 5) Do you have a 20-amp circuit available, or only a (standard) 15-amp circuit? 6) What is your budget for a new machine? Does that also include a grinder? If not, what is your budget for a grinder?
Chanty Senior Member Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Milwaukee, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Vario, had an MDF Vac Pot: none Drip: none Roaster: I buy beans from many...
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 12:52pm Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
No, I no longer want a super automatic machine. After talking to a number of people, I understand the shots are awful compared to the machine I have, and I don't need a grinder as I have a Vario (which I'm trying now very hard to work with my Classic).....so again no longer have any desire for a super.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,642 Location: Riverside, Ca, U.S.A. Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: ECM Veneziano A1 Grinder: Many different commercial Vac Pot: 40s era Silex Drip: Milita, Bunn&Curtis... Roaster: Cast iron pan, gas burner
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 1:07pm Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
Take a look to the left side of your screen. Look under your picture (or where your picture would be if you set one up), and name. there is a list of equipment that you own, In the spot for grinder, you have NONE. Under Vac Pot you have NONE Under drip you have NONE Under roaster you have NONE
EDIT, at the time of this post, that was the current state of things. END EDIT
That list of equipment helps a LOT when trying to understand where a poster is coming from, what they understand, how "deep" they are into the rabbit hole of espresso. By not filling in those spaces and worse yet listing NONE, the natural starting point is that you do not have a grinder. After re-reading the thread I saw the reference to the MDF, a starter grinder, not preground and much better than pre ground but still leaving a lot of room for improvement.
In neither your list or in your post do you reference the Vario.
Though I have long ago move on from SBDU machines, the Aroma is not JUNK, it is what it is, a starter class, no frills SBDU machine. Perhaps it was not what you were looking for when you bought it but it is a well built starter machine.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
Chanty Senior Member Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Milwaukee, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Vario, had an MDF Vac Pot: none Drip: none Roaster: I buy beans from many...
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 1:18pm Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
I just re-edited my profile. I had no idea that you were looking at my profile to guage what equip. I own. When I originally joined Coffeegeek, I had a La Pavoni at the time and way back then I was buying preground coffee, so I did not own a grinder.... That was about 6 years ago. A lot (eqpt.-wise) has changed since then, and I never updated my profile stuff, cuz to be perfectly honest, I never ever thought of doing that. Didn't think anyone looks at someone's profile--cuz I don't. I would just try to answer the question they are asking at face value. I never brought up the Vario--because at the time of posting, I didn't own it yet. I did mention I owned the MDF in my original question.
Chanty Senior Member Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 137 Location: Milwaukee, WI Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Gaggia Classic Grinder: Vario, had an MDF Vac Pot: none Drip: none Roaster: I buy beans from many...
Posted Mon Dec 12, 2011, 1:22pm Subject: Re: Brera Espresso Machine advice please before I bite the bullet
Oh, and just one last thing. I did not like the Saeco Aroma that I owned for less then 2 years. I never abuse my equipment, and first the thermostats both burnt out. Next the pump did....all in the matter of less than 2 years and taking care of it. When a machine gives me multiple big problems in a short amount of time I'm not impressed. Maybe I had a lemon, who knows, but I moved on. I understand a home espresso machine will never be equal to a commercial machine. They truly are what they are, and the grinder really makes or breaks the machine.
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