christel Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Montana Expertise: Just starting
Posted Sun Nov 28, 2004, 10:44pm Subject: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
hi everyone,I'm new here. Anyway...I was a barista for a few years,and fell in love with espresso drinks. Now I'm staying home with my kids,so I can't make myself drinks everyday like I did at work. I want to get a machine at home,I'm mainly interested in buying from ebay(I'm in a small town in Montana and we don't have anywhere to buy them)the one I really like is the pressione X150,I've seen alot of them on ebay and the normally retail for 400$ but on ebay go for under 100$. Have any of you used them or heard anything about them?I checked the reviews here and didn't see them. Or do you recomend something else? Are Delonghi good or are they junky?I want to spend under 100$. I've also been looking at Gaggia,which model of them would be good?I want something really nice but in that price range.I mainly like lattes,and mocha(usually iced)but I want a good steam want to make hot chocolate for my kids. What about a grinder?I've only worked with the commercial kind,so what brand should I look for?That would be as cheap as possible but good?Is a delonghi grinder okay?Thanks so much for any help!Christel
Posted Sun Nov 28, 2004, 11:32pm Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
As a former barista you may be a bit disappointed with what the sub $100 market can deliver. Chances are that anything you get for this price you may throw out in a year or so anyway, so one machine is as good as the next. Some machines are fixable, i.e. parts are available and repair centers can handle the repairs, and others are not. But for less then $100, the repairs could equal the cost of a new machine. If you know someone who can do repairs, or can do them yourself, then I would look for any of the following machines. Each can be found sub $100, have parts available from the manufacturer, and would make excellent drinks.
Starbucks Estro machines (Saeco) Starbucks Zia (Saeco Gran Crema) Starbucks Athena (Saeco something or other, same internals as the Barista that sells for $400) Krups Gusto Pump machine Gaggia machines Saeco machines
If for nothing better then the fact that these machines are designed to be trashed once they develop problems, stay away from- Briel Krups (other then the Gusto) Delongi Starbucks Boun Caffe Starbucks Proteo Grande Mr. Coffee Nespresso Etc.
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,768 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 7:30am Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
hmmm...pretty interresting post. A cheapo machine for a (former) pro barista?
Well, I am kinda' partial to the Gaggia model Coffee, and still own 3 of them (!!) though the 3rd has just "crapped out". Basically, all of the Gaggia are pretty robust; the models Coffee and above have steel housings while those below have plastic. The internals are all pretty much the same, i.e. simple and robust, except some of the "upper" models (Classic) also have solenoid valves while those below have simple check valves.
This reminds me...I am also in the market for a new machine...but that is for another post.
christel Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Montana Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 8:12am Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
hi,thank you both for the responses. It sounds like Gaggia might be my best bet. I've seen a few of them on ebay going for a little over 100$,I'll have to check out the coffee model that worldman suggested. I for sure want it to last over a year!Maybe in a year or 2 I will be able to upgrade,but for now we are on a tight budget,also-have either of you heard of the machine I mentioned above,the pressione?Is that a nice one?when I say 100$ range,I'm talking ebay,because alot of them go for less than they retail for. I'm hoping for a new one though. Thanks again!My husband will get me one for Christmas,I just need to clue him in on which one!
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 11:38am Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
Although I have not heard of these machines, I have seen a few around. I am going to take a shot in the dark here, but they look like the old Krups Gusto- and are probably manufactured by Krups or the like. Unless you can find someone that knows a little more about them, I would stick to the Gaggia or Saeco models, esp if you are planning on Ebaying for it. Gaggia and Saeco have quality customer service, and stand behind their products. Since I know next to nothing about the maker of the Pressione, I can't say the same for them.
Check out the Barista Athena- it's not as pretty as the Pressione, but it comes with programable buttons, so it is easier to use, and it has the same insides as the Barista. The Barista is very popular, because it comes in colors, so it sells for upwards of $250 on Ebay, but I have seen the Athena go for as little as $85.
Worldman Senior Member Joined: 16 Nov 2004 Posts: 1,768 Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Expobar Office Control Grinder: Cimbali 6/S
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 1:19pm Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
Christel,
By the way, those 3 Coffee Gaggia has been in use for years and years. I have been enjoying espresso since the late 70s when I was in Brazil starting an office for my former company. I used a stove-top mokka when I came back and went to Krupps steam amchines and then to the Coffee. My 1st Coffee was prboably bought ~18 years ago. The "newest" was bought in 2000 but has been in constant use since then being on all day since mid-2002 when I was running a home based business (recently bought out -WOO HOO!).
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 3:09pm Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
hi christel
i feel wierd advising a newbie (former barista) as i am a newb (former drip merchant) but..
I bought a gaggia baby a few weeks ago and have made 100-150 espressos since
the folk here will remind you about the values of the grinder (i assume you are well aware of this)
I am using a good hand grinder and fresh(ish) beans and have (through trial and error) sorted out a suitable tamp for my grind and am producing very good results
anyway, iwould advise the baby gaggia to anyone from my limited experience... it has its downfalls... poor drip tray design mainly but you pay for the solid construction and quality build and components... to me its a far better bet than the "classic" where you pay ($100 extra) for the steel casing and absolutely nothing else...
maybe im too european (well irish) but i prefer the baby... its plastic.. but a much better design with very "arty" curves...
all the gaggia home machines have quality components.. but the baby and classic have a 3way solenoid, all the others are just a design choice.. thats all
the other gaggia gripe is the "turbo frother" which works for me (for foam) if you take if off you get the wand which is too short on its own but with a little clever angles and well chosen vessel, you can microfoam away!!!
christel Senior Member Joined: 10 Nov 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Montana Expertise: Just starting
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 5:11pm Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
hi again,thanks so much for all the advice. I know it's kinda weird since I worked at an espresso place,but I really have zero experience with home machines.Anyway,can sometime tell me in the next couple hours,what about a refurbished machine?Would that be good?Or better off going with new?Theres a Saeco classico on ebay(it's from whole latte love)it's refurbished but has the paperwork and everything. I'm really thinking of having my hubby bid on it. Right now it's at 50$ it has 4 hours left,can someone give me some input on refurbished machines?thanks soooo much!Christel
I bought my Gaggia Classic refubed and saved $99 off standard retail. There was an issue early on (the first time I tried to use it), but the machine was replaced after a phone call to the vendor. I have had no problems since.
-Tim
looking for signs in the sky following ghosts, following visions
Posted Mon Nov 29, 2004, 8:14pm Subject: Re: newbie needs advice on which machine to get
Well so far no one seems to have discussed grinder models so here's my contribution. Since you are buying on a budget, get a Lux, Astra, Innova or Iberital for just under $300 - don not skimp and buy anything cheaper (unless you are getting 2nd hand) else you will be severely disappointed and will not do justice to your machine (of the machines discussed so far, the Gaggias - excluding Gran and Cubika - are head and shoulders above the others for espresso quality).
The Astra is probably the most solidly built while the Innova and Iberital allow the finest grind adjustment and the Lux is ..well, it's cheap. All will grind very, very well and last just fine in a domestic situation.
Greg
PS Hit the return key a few times when composing your post, Christel - it makes it a LOT easier to read, especially for your longer posts.
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