pcbilski Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2012 Posts: 7 Location: South Africa Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Fri Apr 27, 2012, 5:16pm Subject: Choice between 2 machines, need help.
Hi. Firstly let me say that I love the site, have just discovered it and has been a wealth of information already.
I decided to start grinding my own beans, and I bought a Krups GVX242. I know it doesn't provide the most consistent grind but within my budget constraints it was the best I could find. It seems to do a pretty decent job of espresso grinding, but I'm no expert.
I am currently using a Delonghi Caffe Treviso but it is quite old and I'm wanting to get something newer and hopefully better. At the moment I am trying to decide between the DeLonghi BCO 130 3-in-1 and a Russell Hobbs RH1915 15 Bar Espresso Maker. Now the 1st one does espresso, filter coffee and has an automatic frother but I'm not sure how well any of it works. The 2nd one is just espresso but I am also unsure of how good a job it does. I would like a regular filter coffee maker as well but perhaps it is better to have 2 separate machines? I see myself using the espresso/cappuccino functionality more than the filter coffee. Is it better to get a machine with a steam wand as opposed to the AFD the Delonghi has? My current Delonghi makes pretty good froth and is relatively easy, while the AFD I believe is a hassle to use and clean. Both machines are similarly priced, and can't really stretch my budget any further right now.
I am sure some of you have some valuable input, thanks in advance.
chasemonster Senior Member Joined: 3 Jun 2010 Posts: 364 Location: Chicago Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Rancilio Audrey Grinder: Hario Mini Mill Drip: V60
Posted Sat Apr 28, 2012, 6:21am Subject: Re: Choice between 2 machines, need help.
pcbilski Said:
I am currently using a Delonghi Caffe Treviso but it is quite old and I'm wanting to get something newer and hopefully better. At the moment I am trying to decide between the DeLonghi BCO 130 3-in-1 and a Russell Hobbs RH1915 15 Bar Espresso Maker.
My questions would be, does the Russell Hobbs machine have a pressurized portafilter? And does the Delonghi Caffe Treviso, that you are currently using, have a pressurized portafilter? A pressurized portafilter will help compensate for a poor espresso grinder. If you buy the Russell Hobbs machine, and it does not have a pressurized portafilter, you may run into problems trying to make espresso with your Krups grinder.
If you do find out later that your Krups grinder is not grinding fine enough for espresso when using a non-pressurized portafilter, there is a modification that will help. Here is the link: Click Here
pcbilski Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2012 Posts: 7 Location: South Africa Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Sat Apr 28, 2012, 5:20pm Subject: Re: Choice between 2 machines, need help.
chasemonster Said:
My questions would be, does the Russell Hobbs machine have a pressurized portafilter? And does the Delonghi Caffe Treviso, that you are currently using, have a pressurized portafilter? A pressurized portafilter will help compensate for a poor espresso grinder. If you buy the Russell Hobbs machine, and it does not have a pressurized portafilter, you may run into problems trying to make espresso with your Krups grinder.
If you do find out later that your Krups grinder is not grinding fine enough for espresso when using a non-pressurized portafilter, there is a modification that will help. Here is the link: Click Here
I don't think either of them have pressurised portafilters. I am probably better off sticking to the one I have then until I can get something better. The Krups does a pretty good job, if I get everything right I can get a good espresso out of what I have. Will think about trying the modifications, but looks a bit risky, don't want to break it. Any popular models you can suggest with the pressurised portafilter? Does it really make that much difference?
yiplong Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 79 Location: EU Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sat Apr 28, 2012, 5:22pm Subject: Re: Choice between 2 machines, need help.
pcbilski Said:
I don't think either of them have pressurised portafilters. I am probably better off sticking to the one I have then until I can get something better. The Krups does a pretty good job, if I get everything right I can get a good espresso out of what I have. Will think about trying the modifications, but looks a bit risky, don't want to break it. Any popular models you can suggest with the pressurised portafilter? Does it really make that much difference?
Thanks, will check it out but I'm in South Africa so the brands I can get are quite limited, don't think that's available here. EDIT: OK, had a look around online and I can get it here but for nearly R5000, which is about $625. It retails in the US for $279. There is no way I am paying more than double the price.
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