RaymondParker Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Posts: 41 Location: Vienna
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 11:03am Subject: the ultimate solution to your problem is...Turkish coffee
Get the best coffee you can afford (thats no problem with 100 bucks) and learn how to brew turkish coffee. That's the way coffee came to be known to mankind in first place- and is the way coffee is consumed (as by the cowboys) in most parts of the world today. And that form of coffee is equal healthy as tasty. No hassle, no technical equipment, no plumbing. Only a solid hand grinder, some nice glass cups, good water, fire and fresh beans.
Intrepid510 Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2010 Posts: 303 Location: California Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 12:09pm Subject: Re: the ultimate solution to your problem is...Turkish coffee
I gotta say that I always hate it when people discourage people on a limited budget to shy away from espresso. While I certainly agree that better brewed coffee can be made at a lesser amount, it's no where near as fun most of the time even on a little steam toy, there is something to the process after all.
While I realize that the poster has already commited to the Saeco, which I believe is a pretty decent little machine. This is one of the few cases where I think recommending the MyPressi Twist would've been a good option at about $130 for a refurbed model, combined with a Hario grinder you're at good espresso for under 200.
JohnLyn Senior Member Joined: 15 Aug 2011 Posts: 228 Location: Golden, BC, Canada Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: La Spaziale Mini Vivaldy Grinder: Vario Drip: Bonavita Roaster: Toastess popper
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 12:17pm Subject: Re: Professional barista, how disappointed will I be with a cheap home machine?
I recently had the opportunity to "train" someone on the Saeco and I was rather impressed with the steam capacity. She caught on to Late art quality milk in no time... way better than the cuisinart I started on! Now if she would only get a proper grinder...
Markarian Senior Member Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 474 Location: Seattle Area Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Modded Nuova Simonelli Oscar Grinder: Vario-W, Mazzer Super Jolly Drip: Moka, Aeropress, Melitta 102 Roaster: Wear-Ever Popcorn Pumper
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 12:44pm Subject: Re: Professional barista, how disappointed will I be with a cheap home machine?
Your welcome, Insomniac. I hope you get a good amount of use out of that machine. They're very serviceable and easy to fix, for the most part, too. The Hario Skerton is a terrific grinder, it just takes a little patience. And if you have a Capresso burr grinder, it should be fine for using the pressurized portafilter. Speaking of portafilters, you might want let someone know to throw these in your stocking this year:
Insomniac20k Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2007 Posts: 35 Location: Maryland Expertise: Pro Barista
Grinder: Capresso thing Drip: I'm not an animal
Posted Tue Nov 20, 2012, 9:04pm Subject: Re: Professional barista, how disappointed will I be with a cheap home machine?
In a disappointing twist, the starter in my car retired and now my budget for coffee equipment is shot.
Silver lining though, I pulled out this old Sunbeam vacpot I got at a thrift store a few years ago and gave up on because it takes a strange cord I couldn't find and I hardwired the sucker up and it works. This is the best coffee I've had in my entire life, so I think I'm satisfied. I guess I'll save espresso for when I have the coin to drop on some better equipment.
I think I'm more drawn to espresso just because I've made thousands of shots of espresso a week for the past 8 years and now that I'm not doing it every day, it feels very weird.
qualin Senior Member Joined: 30 Jun 2012 Posts: 463 Location: Calgary, AB Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Izzo Alex Duetto 3 Grinder: Mazzer Mini Elect. Type A Vac Pot: Looking to buy Drip: Manual Roaster: Considering?
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012, 1:39am Subject: Re: Professional barista, how disappointed will I be with a cheap home machine?
You know what I would do if I was in your shoes?
First, I'd consider just buying a Bialetti Moka pot if your budget can permit for it for the time being. At least that way, you are drinking strong coffee. It won't be espresso, but it'll get the job done. I actually own a Bialetti Mukka Express which I use when I'm out at a friends place when I crave a small cappuccino. All I need is milk, water, coffee grounds and a stove. (BTW, Since Bialetti Moka pots are made from Aluminum, they're not dishwasher safe, as I found out the hard way.. and they don't work on an induction cooktop.)
Then, I'd look through the Buy & Sell forum on this site and keep an eye out for anything that seems to grab your eye. Perhaps you could even barter and trade. Heck, $80 for a machine and $40 for a grinder, I think $120 is a record for low priced espresso set up.
For spits and giggles, you could get a large jar and tape a piece of paper to it, write "ESPRESSO SETUP FUND" on it and dump all of your spare change in there. It's a shame that the USA never fully adopted Loonies and Toonies.. when you start dumping in $1/$2 coins into a spare change jar, it really adds up fast.
RaymondParker Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2012 Posts: 41 Location: Vienna
Posted Wed Nov 21, 2012, 1:54am Subject: You know what I would do if I was in your shoes?
qualin Said:
You know what I would do if I was in your shoes?
First, I'd consider just buying a Bialetti Moka pot if your budget can permit for it for the time being. At least that way, you are drinking strong coffee. It won't be espresso, but it'll get the job done.
...and if you take the "Brikka" from Bialetti, you even get a very nice crema. I use the machine when travelling. Gives a decent shot even in the desert! The only downside is that you need to stay near a stove & ample water supply as the cleaning is as much a mess as the coffee nice.
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