plom Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2012 Posts: 3 Location: New York Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed May 16, 2012, 12:14pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
Buying my first espresso machine to use at home, I have used a super auto at work (Jura Ena), budget is around $1500, here are my choice of machine + grinder:
plom Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2012 Posts: 3 Location: New York Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed May 16, 2012, 12:15pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
plom Said:
Buying my first espresso machine to use at home, I have used a super auto at work (Jura Ena), budget is around $15000, here are my choice of machine + grinder:
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 Wed May 16, 2012, 1:31pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
Did you mean budget of $1,500? It seems more common, and if it's really $15k you've not come the least bit close to spending it with your current choices.
Is there a reason you've decided on HX? There's nothing wrong with HX, but I was just wondering what your thought process was. I'm guessing cost.
Also wondering how you've decided on the Bezzera? Again, nothing wrong with it, just curious what your decision factors were.
Same for Macap M4. I have one and think it's great, but you'll see many others here talk about grinders just as good for less money, or better for the same money.
Also, there are standard questions you should answer when asking the people on CG for purchase advice...
what kinds of drinks will you make. how many drinks per session. how many drinks per week. if you want to plumb-in the machine or not (whether now or in the future). what your electrical supply to the intended location is.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,685 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 Wed May 16, 2012, 1:42pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
Welcome also! To echo above, why did you decide on that particular setup?
I LOVE my HX machine but it may not be the right fit for you. Have you read our how to buy an espresso machine FAQ? It is in the Guides and How tos menu above.
You should be able to get a nice setup for that budget so what are your needs?
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
plom Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2012 Posts: 3 Location: New York Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed May 16, 2012, 1:47pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
calblacksmith Said:
Welcome also! To echo above, why did you decide on that particular setup?
I LOVE my HX machine but it may not be the right fit for you. Have you read our how to buy an espresso machine FAQ? It is in the Guides and How tos menu above.
You should be able to get a nice setup for that budget so what are your needs?
Did you mean budget of $1,500? It seems more common, and if it's really $15k you've not come the least bit close to spending it with your current choices.
Is there a reason you've decided on HX? There's nothing wrong with HX, but I was just wondering what your thought process was. I'm guessing cost.
Also wondering how you've decided on the Bezzera? Again, nothing wrong with it, just curious what your decision factors were.
Same for Macap M4. I have one and think it's great, but you'll see many others here talk about grinders just as good for less money, or better for the same money.
Also, there are standard questions you should answer when asking the people on CG for purchase advice...
what kinds of drinks will you make. how many drinks per session. how many drinks per week. if you want to plumb-in the machine or not (whether now or in the future). what your electrical supply to the intended location is.
Thanks. Budget is 1.5k, not 15k! I have corrected the OP.
Not particularly set on Bezzera or M4 or HX, they are just initial thoughts, I am open to any suggestions, as long they don't deviate too much from my current parameters. I think I can go with a DB if within price range, at my budget I think I can do better than a SBDU.
what kinds of drinks will you make.
both latte and straight espresso
how many drinks per session.
1-2 drinks. rarely more than 2.
how many drinks per week.
about 2-4 per day, 15-30 per week
if you want to plumb-in the machine or not (whether now or in the future).
have not thought about that, but I think i don't want it plumb-in, don't use frequently enough to justify this
what your electrical supply to the intended location is.
not sure, probably the standard US household electrical supply
this is definitely something to think about. I make drinks once or twice a day, usually 2-3 cappuccinos and lattes per session. I can tell you, it gets really old refilling the reservoir and dumping the drip tray, especially when you're doing your cleaning maintenance.
plom Said:
not sure, probably the standard US household electrical supply
so probably you should plan for 15 amp use. Depending on when your home was built, even if you have 20amp Romex, the location you intend to use is likely a shared circuit.
regarding your intended usage...do you anticipate entertaining much. When we have guests at my house, I end up making up to 8 lattes and cappuccinos in a session, and I can definitely see a huge difference between my current DB setup and my prior SBDU setup at these times. These are also times when I really wish I had plumbing at my "wine bar" (yeah, that was the builders plan, but in reality mine is a dual bar - wine and espresso)
yiplong Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Posts: 79 Location: EU Expertise: Just starting
Posted Thu May 17, 2012, 12:58pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
regarding HX, I think it has certain advantage over DB because the water used to brew is not sitting in the boiler, making it more sanitary. Even with descaling, there is no way to get rid of all that sludge.
calblacksmith Moderator Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 5,685 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 Thu May 17, 2012, 1:55pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
I don't see much, if any advantage of HX vs DB for sanitation reasons. Either machine can make excellent espresso and it more comes down to how you like to work and what fits into your budget and what looks attractive to you.
Proper servicing of a machine will go a very long way to keeping things clean and sanitary.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
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 Thu May 17, 2012, 1:59pm Subject: Re: Newbie buying machine, help me choose!
yiplong Said:
regarding HX, I think it has certain advantage over DB because the water used to brew is not sitting in the boiler, making it more sanitary. Even with descaling, there is no way to get rid of all that sludge.
more sanitary? Not at all. There are no known human pathogens that survive temperatures greater than about 145 degrees F. Since the boiler temp is about 200 degrees F (depending on your machine settings), sanitation is not an issue.
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