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**Thundergod** · 27 February 2014, 09:13 AM

Welcome to CS.

Does that budget include a grinder?

I suggest you email the site sponsors (there's a link) and diacuss your wants and needs in more detail with them.

**Yelta** · 27 February 2014, 09:16 AM

Keep in mind bigdaddy that a decent grinder is essential to get a decent brew out of any machine, in fact many would suggest that a quality grinder is even more important than the machine, I tend to agree, I use a Mazzer Mini and am very happy with it.
You could start be looking here grinders

**Journeyman** · 27 February 2014, 11:46 AM

I'm presuming the $2,00.00 is meant to be $2000? You've been using autos - are you looking for another auto or do you want to get more manual in your coffee-making?

Personally, although I haven't owned one and have only tried them in office situations, I would stay well away from machines with built-in grinders.

Do what Thundergod suggests and include your preferred model for making coffee so they have an idea of what to advise. i.e. if you don't want a manual process they can quote for an auto and grinder instead.

**Barry_Duncan** · 27 February 2014, 12:36 PM

Welcome Bigdaddy.

Two thing that most CoffeeSnobs agree on is that we dislike fully automatic machines and pod machines.

There will be a lot of disagreement here as to the best machine for you.

If you want a machine for about two thousand dollars, that is close to the lower prices of acceptable quality machines.

I bought my Breville Dual Boiler machine and Smart Grinder 2 ½ years ago for $1,500 from Dennis Wells, then a CoffeeSnobs Sponsor and it is still going very well. While the first sellers of the BDB in Sydney and Melbourne were CS Sponsors, none are selling them now. They are sold now by many of the big chains of discount electrical stores and department stores.

You want an espresso machine and grinder suitable for entertaining friends at home. Last weekend I provided coffee to about a dozen friends and my Breville worked very well. The separate steam boiler allows me to brew coffee and steam milk at the same time.

The latest BDB, BES920, has faster steaming and the ability to easily de-scale the boilers.

Check with the sellers of coffee machines in Adelaide. Try them out where you can and buy what does what you want, what you would like in your kitchen, within your budget. You have to decide.

Barry

**Delish007** · 27 February 2014, 03:27 PM

Espresso Machines | Espresso Machine Reviews | Seattle Coffee Gear has an absolute fantastic set of videos detailing each m/c, comparing machines vs one another, grinders, crew choices for grinders and machines. Also, learning how to on every subject. Rocket or Quick Mill with a Mazzer, but really for 2k you are bound to light the lamp. Spend at least 40% of the espresso machine on the grinder..grinder(most important) is the Gretzky setting up Messier the espresso m/c.. 99 from Brantford, Ontario greatest of all time..lol Hockey Double Gold Canada.. Ok I'm done!

**chokkidog** · 27 February 2014, 03:53 PM

Welcome to CS bigdaddy,

Check out the...um...'girls at Seattle', settle in; you'll be in for a laugh as they fumble and bumble around the coffee gear.

Useful....... but only up to a point ;-D

The best thing you can do is get your eyes and hands on to some machines at a vendor in Adelaide, try them out, weigh up the pros 'n cons,
research your shortlist here on CS using the search tab (use google as well) and see which ones pull your string.

I will also reinforce the above advice re grinder. Choose it first.

Have fun and keep us 'posted' :-D

**Yelta** · 27 February 2014, 06:12 PM

Originally posted by chokkidog View Post

Welcome to CS bigdaddy,

Check out the...um...'girls at Seattle', settle in; you'll be in for a laugh as they fumble and bumble around the coffee gear.

G'Day Chokkidog, ain't the "girls" a riot, watched a video of em demonstrating removal of an E61 filter screen a while back, had me in stitches, wouldn't let em within a country mile of my machine.

**Javaphile** · 27 February 2014, 06:30 PM

I don't know why people think the 'girls at Seattle' as such a good source for information about machines. When I first ran across them I watched a few vids and quickly moved on as they appeared to me to be nothing but bumbling idiots with little knowledge of the machines they were supposed to be demoing. I wanted to tell them to STFU and RTFM!

I've watched a few of their vids since that people have posted and nothing has changed that I can see. The clue phone is ringing but nobody's home!

Java "Good only for comedy" phile

**Barry O'Speedwagon** · 27 February 2014, 06:40 PM

I think the answer is schadenfreude, Javaphile.

**chokkidog** · 27 February 2014, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by Yelta View Post

G'Day Chokkidog, ain't the "girls" a riot, watched a video of em demonstrating removal of an E61 filter screen a while back, had me in stitches, wouldn't let em within a country mile of my machine.

Evening Yelta!

They are a hoot! The Seattle Scratch and Dent Your Machine Show.

Originally posted by Javaphile View Post

I wanted to tell them to STFU and RTFM! The clue phone is ringing but nobody's home!

Java "Good only for comedy" phile

Too right! But there are some genuinely funny things to see on the net..... I'd rather watch those. ;-D

**bigdaddy** · 28 February 2014, 11:15 AM

Hi folks,

Thanks for the replies...I appreciate the help...

Yes I agree Although I have both and have been known to use them because of their convenience...The coffee is not the best from the pod and Auto machines...But either has to be better than instant, Doesn't it?...

Yes I was thinking $2,000.00 not $2,00.00 as I wrote Journeyman, and I don't mind going a bit more manual, but hey, with the small amount of coffee we drink ATM, The partly Autos would be fine as they take less time to heat up for the first cup I would expect... I've been out of the loop for about 10 years so all the energy saving and newer technology might put that concern to bed but I don't really know now....I'm even OK with good refurbished machines but as I say am flexible...

Thanks everyone for the advise on grinders...That advise hasn't changed throughout the years...I agree a good quality grinder is a must IMO...

The price guide was for the machine only...Grinder cost would be extra....

Thanks folks for your help...If anyone has any more advise please fell free to add to this thread at any time...

Now I'm off to look at those links, reviews, sponsors, and finally will relax watching The Girls At Seattle...I could do with a laugh...

Cheers

**STS** · 28 February 2014, 01:09 PM

Seattle Coffee Gear reviews are really helpful once you've done all your homework and you want to do a final check to see how 'idiot proof' your chosen machine is.

**TOK** · 28 February 2014, 01:12 PM

Originally posted by Javaphile View Post

I don't know why people think the 'girls at Seattle' as such a good source for information about machines. When I first ran across them I watched a few vids and quickly moved on as they appeared to me to be nothing but bumbling idiots with little knowledge of the machines they were supposed to be demoing. I wanted to tell them to STFU and RTFM!

I've watched a few of their vids since that people have posted and nothing has changed that I can see. The clue phone is ringing but nobody's home! Java "Good only for comedy" phile

With respect to that and all that followed. Guys you are all looking at it from CS point of view which believe me, is not the majority of the market place.

To a very large proportion of the coffee machine buying public that don't know one end of an espresso machine from the other or what's involved when they first start out looking for their "cappAcHino" machine, these very much down to earth presenters or demonstrators with all their faults, present as people who are very much down to earth that the clients can "trust".

Even if they aren't your own particular "cup of tea", try looking at them from another perspective.

Internet phenomenon, and I bet they sell a squillion.

**chokkidog** · 28 February 2014, 01:28 PM

Aaah you guys and your internet abbreviations ;-D WRT= 'with respect to'

Well....re the above post #14: The question was posed on CoffeeSnobs so; ......expect a CoffeeSnobs answer.

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