mishkin Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Feb 19, 2013, 12:11pm Subject: Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic
I am thinking of replacing my Gaggia Twin with a new machine. Any opinions on Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic ? Expobar Office Control looks interesting too, but it is nearly as expensive as the Office Lever. I will be using a Rancillio Rocky grinder. Any other suggestions ($1200 or less)? We drink expresso, lattes, and macchiatos so steaming is an issue. Thanks for you input.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Tue Feb 19, 2013, 3:08pm Subject: Re: Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic
Why are you comparing the Alexia -- an SBDU machine -- with the Expobar, which is an HX machine? Wouldn't it make more sense to compare an HX from Quick Mill with the Expobar? (Just askin')
mishkin Senior Member Joined: 19 Feb 2013 Posts: 2 Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 7:31am Subject: Re: Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic
Price range. My wife is tolerant of my vices, but only up to a point. The Expobar seems like the best bet, but I thought that I would see if anyone had a better idea.
ggcadc Senior Member Joined: 25 Mar 2008 Posts: 147 Location: San Diego, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: QM Alexia Grinder: Mazzer mini E, Virtuoso,... Vac Pot: Yama 3 cup Drip: All of them Roaster: Behmor 1600
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 10:25am Subject: Re: Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic
Ive never steamed on my alexia, probably never will. that's why I never even looked at HX machines. If youre steaming get an HX. see if there are any buyers remorse or refurbs that will bring the prices down a bit. theres an oscare for 850 here: http://www.chriscoffee.com/category_s/7624.htm same as I paid for my alexia.
JasonBrandtLewis Senior Member Joined: 9 Dec 2005 Posts: 6,100 Location: Berkeley, CA Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Elektra T1 - La Valentina -... Grinder: Mahlkönig K30 Vario -... Vac Pot: Yama 5-cup Drip: CCD, Chemex Roaster: No, no, not another...
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 3:25pm Subject: Re: Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic
Then you're making the wrong comparison. Between an SBDU and an HX, the HX wins hands down! So why did you choose these two machines in the first place? Something drew you to them. What was it? And why not compare apples to apples, HX to HX?
The least expensive option for a new Expobar Office Lever is $1,199. (I'm still not sure I'd get it, but it certainly is worth looking at.) But if it's budget that keeping you in the $1200 range, why haven't you looked at other HX machines in that same range?
First of all, can we review the Standard Questions: 1) What kind of drinks do you like/want to make? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's capabilities.) 2) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself needing to make at ay one time? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's ability to work continuously.) 3) How many drinks, on average, do you see yourself making in any given week? (This will tell us what you need in terms of a machine's durability.) 4) Can you plumb a machine directly into the water supply, or do you want/need a pourover machine with its own reservoir? 5) Do you have a 20-amp circuit available, or only a (standard) 15-amp circuit? 6) What is your budget for a new machine? Does that also include a grinder? If not, what is your budget for a grinder?
And even before you answer them, I'd suggest you take a look at machines like the Nuova Simonelli Oscar, the Bezzera BZ07, and others . . .
DavecUK Senior Member Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 940 Location: UK Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Wed Feb 20, 2013, 5:55pm Subject: Re: Alexia by Quick Mill v. Expobar Office Lever Semi-Automatic
JasonBrandtLewis Said:
The least expensive option for a new Expobar Office Lever is $1,199. (I'm still not sure I'd get it, but it certainly is worth looking at.) But if it's budget that keeping you in the $1200 range, why haven't you looked at other HX machines in that same range?
I never really understood why it was not a good seller, perhaps it's the looks.
When I reviewed/tested one back in 2006 I was quite impressed with it for the price. I used it for about 3 weeks and it worked flawlessly. It is simple and easy to maintain with the use of Generic components. The pressurestat is not the best in the world (I think it was a Parker Stat), but it could be easily be replaced with the better Mater XP110 and as long as you didn't keep buggering about with it it was usually OK. It's a good machine and if a decent HX is wanted at a budget price, it's a hard act to follow.
In the UK people don't buy it, but then the ECM barista can be had for only £200 more and is a much higher quality machine. However if £1200 is cheap compared to similar machines in the US, then there there is nothing wrong with the Expobar office Lever.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
= No New Posts since last visit 