lordbaltimore Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: at the corner of 22nd and Arapahoe Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed Feb 27, 2013, 10:51am Subject: Saeco Giro series
new to the site and curious about the accepted wisdom regarding the Saeco Odea Giro series coffee/espresso/cappucino machines. recently received one as a gift (shocked to learn they sell for $600- $700), and it's the most advanced device i've had.
are these considered high-end machines? highly desirable brand and model? clue me in.
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 Feb 27, 2013, 1:18pm Subject: Re: Saeco Giro series
Hi and welcome.
OK, you asked to be clued in so here goes.
Your machine, Click Here (www.seattlecoffeegear.com) is a Super auto machine, the market for them is the ease of use over quality coffee market. They are easy to use as you do not do anything but put beans in the top and push a button. However, a machine will never be able to sense what needs to be adjusted the way a human can and thus this is where the skill of the Barista comes in.
While there are a few members here with super auto machines, they are considered a step down here. Sorry about that.
Like I said, a machine can never take the place of a skilled human in espresso. SA machines also tend to be more prone to breaking than the less complex manual, semi auto and auto machines we favor. To that, the built in grinders tend to be "just good enough" rather than the highest quality you can buy. In espresso, the grinder is more important than the machine. Hard to take in, I know but it is true none the less.
Don't let what I said get you down though, if you feed it fresh beans (less than two weeks since they were roasted) you should be able to get some drinkable, OK espresso from it.
Most often, if we advise anyone to purchase such a machine, it would be for office use where you have a lot of people who will use it but have no idea what they are doing and they don't care to learn either.
Oh as to pirce, the starter machines here start at about $300 and some here have machines that are $3500+ up to $7K then to that, grinders for espresso with motors, start at about $300 and also go into several $K
Price is reflective of commitment and the drive for espresso heaven..... YMMV!
OH, welcome to the board. Hang in there and we can help you to get the most you can from that machine.
In real life, my name is Wayne P.
Feed the newbs, starve the trolls and above all enjoy what you drink!
lordbaltimore Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: at the corner of 22nd and Arapahoe Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Mar 3, 2013, 3:40am Subject: Re: Saeco Giro series
thanks. as i read more on here it is apparent that, with regard to hardware the general wisdom is: greater specificity=better results (get the specific tool for the specific type of drink you prefer). may try some different configurations and decide what works.
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 Sun Mar 3, 2013, 5:04am Subject: Re: Saeco Giro series
Saeco specializes in Super-auto machines, but they do make a few semi-auto (ie, real) espresso machines, such as the Classico/Aroma. If you want to get into the joy and anguish that is learning how to do espresso, you could exchange that Giro for a Gaggia or Saeco Aroma/Via Venezia, non-pressurized portafilter (the handle that holds the coffee basket), and a really nice entry-level grinder, like the Baratza Preciso. My first several machines were Saecos, which were solid performers and easy to work on when needing service. But if you just want a machine that makes espresso without actually becoming an artist yourself (not everyone has the time or streak of obsessive insanity), that Giro will sill beat the pants off of Starbucks, provided you use fresh beans.
lordbaltimore Junior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 18 Location: at the corner of 22nd and Arapahoe Expertise: Just starting
Posted Wed Mar 6, 2013, 3:59am Subject: Re: Saeco Giro series
Markarian Said:
Saeco specializes in Super-auto machines, but they do make a few semi-auto (ie, real) espresso machines, such as the Classico/Aroma. If you want to get into the joy and anguish that is learning how to do espresso, you could exchange that Giro for a Gaggia or Saeco Aroma/Via Venezia, non-pressurized portafilter (the handle that holds the coffee basket), and a really nice entry-level grinder, like the Baratza Preciso. My first several machines were Saecos, which were solid performers and easy to work on when needing service. But if you just want a machine that makes espresso without actually becoming an artist yourself (not everyone has the time or streak of obsessive insanity), that Giro will sill beat the pants off of Starbucks, provided you use fresh beans.
Thanks. Glad to hear that it's an acceptable device and agree about the Starbucks comparison! Have already listed it for sale here, however, while i explore options. Am learning that, while i like (need) good coffee, work/kids demands may inhibit the bandwidth necessary to 'do it right'..... still, going to try to find the happy medium.
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