sn_85 Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2011 Posts: 131 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill Andreja Premium Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012, 8:59pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
katit Said:
One small espresso machine surfaced on CraigsList. It's GAGGIA Model: Classic Coffee 12/16/97 Should I get it to try how it works and what something like that should cost?
So you went from an HX E61 that must be plumbed-in all the way down to an SBDU with a tank? I'm not seeing the progression here. Don't do it, you'll regret it because you won't be happy with it. It meets none of the criteria that you've been stating and you'll eventually upgrade. Sooner rather than later I'm betting. Just be patient and save up enough money for the one you really want.
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012, 9:08pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
No, it's different. I thought if he let it go for $100 or something - I can play with it. Not machine I NEED but maybe I can start learning/checking what is it using this little machine. Basically, it's just to try and see, of course it is not machine I will get eventually.,
sn_85 Senior Member Joined: 1 Dec 2011 Posts: 131 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Quick Mill Andreja Premium Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Mon Feb 6, 2012, 11:15pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
katit Said:
No, it's different. I thought if he let it go for $100 or something - I can play with it. Not machine I NEED but maybe I can start learning/checking what is it using this little machine. Basically, it's just to try and see, of course it is not machine I will get eventually.,
$100 is still 10% of your budget. Not an insignificant amount. Both the SBDU and HX machines have their own rituals so you're going to have to learn how to use them differently anyways.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,684 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 Tue Feb 7, 2012, 9:20am Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
The Gaggia... .Well, that is ONE way to go, it is a far FAR cry from what you started with asking about and it really will be a PITA for milk drinks but ....... ??????
Every day with that machine you will be filling the water tank and between each and every time you steam milk, you will refill the boiler then wait for it to cool off so you can pull the next shot, then wait for it to warm up to steam, then fill the boiler, then cool down, then pull.... that is what your life would be like, making moving the HX machine to fill the water tank look like a non issue.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
NobbyR Senior Member Joined: 10 Jul 2011 Posts: 1,612 Location: Germany Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Poccino Opus One, Ariete Grinder: Eureka Mignon Istantaneo,... Vac Pot: N/A Drip: Melitta Linea Unica de Luxe Roaster: N/A
Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012, 9:30am Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
katit Said:
One small espresso machine surfaced on CraigsList. It's GAGGIA Model: Classic Coffee 12/16/97 Should I get it to try how it works and what something like that should cost?
The Classic is not a bad machine by far. But in your initial post you stated that you drink solely espresso based milk drinks. Since you cannot pull shots and froth milk simultaneously with a SBDU, you might get frustrated with it, because like Wayne said...
calblacksmith Said:
...Every day with that machine you will be filling the water tank and between each and every time you steam milk, you will refill the boiler then wait for it to cool off so you can pull the next shot, then wait for it to warm up to steam, then fill the boiler, then cool down, then pull...
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,723 Location: Houston Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto II Grinder: MacapM4T, Macap M4, OE Lido,... Drip: Espro press; Aeropress Roaster: internet
Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012, 12:45pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
katit Said:
I saw it. I'm very lazy person and wouldn't do that. I'd rather spend more money on direct plumbing. I KNOW that I won't do that and it will get old very quick.
Totally appreciate that! I'm lazy too, and want to get my bar plumbed, but until I do, this is my method, rather than pulling the machine out from under the cabinets...which is what it sounded like to me you were going to do until you decided to plumb in. That last part is why I posted the method.
Posted Tue Feb 7, 2012, 1:40pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
You might look at the Quickmill Silvano for $1000. It does not plumb in, but the water reservoir is thoughtfully placed on the side of the machine and easily removed without moving your machine. The Silvano has a thermoblock for steaming which works quite well. I recently played with one and was quite impressed -- also has a PID temp adjustment.
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2012, 10:15am Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
Finally I decided to GO and get expresso machine.
Vario is a known (not changing it) - let's say I can get it for $400 flat
With budget of 1600 - I need to get the rest. In order of priority I have:
Plumbable HX
Automatic
E61
Fits under cabinets
Looks nice
I called Chriscoffee and best suggested was Alex2(open box) + Vario for 2060
I'm more and more leaning towards Bezzera BZ02 with Auto and plumbable for $1350
How would you compare those 2 machines?
What PID on Alex2 really does? It's HX machine, right? Going bezzera will leave me some money for accessories/coffee. Do I limit myself by not going Alex II ?
glcoffee Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Posts: 67 Location: Los Angeles, CA & Taiwan Expertise: Just starting
Espresso: Izzo Alex II Grinder: Vario Drip: Hario V60
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2012, 10:57am Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
katit Said:
Finally I decided to GO and get expresso machine.
Vario is a known (not changing it) - let's say I can get it for $400 flat
With budget of 1600 - I need to get the rest. In order of priority I have:
Plumbable HX Automatic E61 Fits under cabinets Looks nice
I called Chriscoffee and best suggested was Alex2(open box) + Vario for 2060
I'm more and more leaning towards Bezzera BZ02 with Auto and plumbable for $1350
How would you compare those 2 machines?
What PID on Alex2 really does? It's HX machine, right? Going bezzera will leave me some money for accessories/coffee. Do I limit myself by not going Alex II ?
I, too, was torn between an Alex II and a Cellini Evo. They are both great machines. In regards to PID, it really depends who you ask. Best thing to do is call CCS, WLL, etc. and ask them first hand to explain the use of a PID.
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” C.S. Lewis, The World's Last Night ------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ I am Taiwanese.
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