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 Wed Feb 22, 2012, 12:25pm 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 ?
It depends on your 2nd and 3rd criteria. The Alex II is not a full-automatic but it is E61. The BZ02 is full-auto but not E61. Other little things like the no-burn steam/hot water wands and a full articulating steam arm are featured on the Alex II. The BZ02 is only a bi-directional steam arm. I looked long and hard at the Bezzera BZ07 but I could not get past their warranty. 1 year parts and 90 day labor. Pretty anemic to me. I recently picked up a buyers remorse Quick Mill Andreja Premium from Chris' Coffee at a great price and it still featured a 2 year parts and labor warranty. Had 1st-line offered the BZ07 with a similar or even 1 year parts & labor warranty I probably would have gone with the BZ07 because I like the looks and compact size. Being my first real espresso machine I wanted something with good support.
Those other factors may or may not sway you but they are things to think about. It's a $300 dollar difference which is significant but ask yourself in the long run what would make you happy.
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Wed Feb 22, 2012, 12:31pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
E61 vs Automatic - I say Automatic wins for ME - because I know I will like that feature but I'm not sure I will feel difference in E61 :)
$300 is a difference, yes.. Warranty is one thing, but from what I see - Bezzera have pretty good track record and I shouldn't really worry about it.
Guys in this topic made it clear that E61 is an idol, but it's not everything. Afterall I want to make good coffee easiest way possible (automatic). Ideally I want to get that "pretty good" shot figured out. Program Vario, Program Machine and just use it. This way my wife will use it too.
katit Senior Member Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Posts: 34 Location: St Louis Expertise: I like coffee
Posted Tue Mar 6, 2012, 9:17pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
It happened! I got Alex II and Vario sitting on my counter. Not plumbed yet but I will be able to do both water and drain so it will be nice.
Questions that I have right away:
I have cabinets over machine. Wood get's pretty hot if I leave machine ON. There is a lot of steam when I purge machine or use hot water faucet. Is that going to be a problem for kitchen cabinets?
Turning machine ON when needed not an option, too long of a warm up time. I'm thinking about doing timer thing and keep it on 12hr a day (7am to 7pm). Is that viable option? How do you do it?
Hardnes I measured with strip right between 3 and 7. Let's say 5. Seems perfect for coffee but too much for machine. I'm planning to plumb it direct and do cleaning once a year. Is that OK? With 2-3 cups a day.
Other than that - I have issue with tamping/grind but even with my totally off times and bad beans - coffee seems to taste better than starbucks :)
emradguy Senior Member Joined: 31 Mar 2011 Posts: 1,730 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 Mar 6, 2012, 10:00pm Subject: Re: Yet another "help me choose" thread
katit Said:
I have cabinets over machine. Wood get's pretty hot if I leave machine ON. There is a lot of steam when I purge machine or use hot water faucet. Is that going to be a problem for kitchen cabinets?
I wouldn't expect this to be too much of an issue, certainly shouldn't be a fire hazard.
katit Said:
Turning machine ON when needed not an option, too long of a warm up time. I'm thinking about doing timer thing and keep it on 12hr a day (7am to 7pm). Is that viable option? How do you do it?
get a programmable light timer from CCS or your local hardware store (preferably one with a manual bypass - most of them have it), set up your on and off times, then plug it into your outlet...even better, plug it into a small surge protector, like the Belkin one CCS sells...then turn your machine on and forget about it.
skipping the next question (which I didn't paste in the quote) about hardness for someone else with more experience/knowledge...
katit Said:
Other than that - I have issue with tamping/grind but even with my totally off times and bad beans - coffee seems to taste better than starbucks :)
no surprise there. you can make espresso better than starbucks with a $50 krups machine (IMO). anyhow, you're technique will get better. remember to keep it consistent and when you make modifications (because you learned something better), make them one at a time.
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