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Coffee machine while away for 8 weeks
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Following up from this, I heard that is been engineered for not being preheated, and that your should just pull the shot straight after turning it on and without running any water through the group or portafilter. It's still packed away as I've had plenty of other new things to experiment with lately, but when I do get it out again that'll be the first thing I try.
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338 I haven't used it enough to get a full handle on it, early impressions are I wish I could turn up the temperature, but there's other ways to skin a cat, assuming you have enough time and cats to practice on. Has a few quirks, like the drip tray needs emptying every other shot or it will overflow when backflushing. Heats up quickly but needs significant flushing to get warm. Other than that it's pretty easy to live with and impressive for the $200 I paid for it (plus accessories like unpressurised basket and PF to suit).
It feels like the sweet spot of effort vs shot output quality is medium roast (or possibly darker I've never tried) at about 7/10, to get more than that the effort goes up considerably, so for only milk drinks it would be great. Size wise it fits in an enviro bag and weighs very little. As a travel/backup machine I rate it.
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Investing in a Flair and a good hand grinder is a great option if you want to stick to espresso. You could definitely re-use the setup. It’s not cheap though.
If you’re willing to try something different, you can make espresso like milk drinks with an AeroPress. A quick search on YouTube will give some good results. It won’t be the same though.
Alternatively getting to know your local barista is also a great option.
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Roosterben thanks for the reply! I read the unpressurised basket is essential but it sounds like your experience was pretty unpleasant all round.
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I did buy a second hand Bambino Plus used for a week in our Caravan. To be honest the auto frother is average, unpressurized basket essential as the pressurized one is crap, got 40 grams out in 10 seconds on pre ground supermarket beans (even with a double tamp with half coffee in then full flow was way too fast). The cheaper model is slimmer, cheaper and prob better steaming control.
With fresh ground beans and unpressurized basket (didn't have one as I couldn't get one in time for the trip) it would have gone better. But I sold it when I got back as the coffee was bad and I went back to plunger coffee for most of the trip.
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Ninja I remember that you purchased a s/h Bambino Plus, what is your opinion of it? Half considering one or a Robot for travel (or just keep my aeropresses). For Espresso only
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My wife and I use to have that issue when I went camping.... who would get custody over the Pavoni.... so come birthday time I got another!
126456836_3854454807932829_1995628233827304794_o by Noel Leahy, on Flickr
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Pick up a Breville Bambino Plus second hand for $250-300, then resell once you're done. Ditto with a Breville grinder. There's always something on FB Marketplace. Won't blow your socks off but will get the job done.
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Thanks for your great suggestions everyone, I've I've some research to do. Level3ninja, I would love to take Silvia with me but my husband might miss her.
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There are milk frothers that heat, swirl and froth the milk, about $30 upwards. Plugs into any power point. Then there is a small battery frother, from $2.50 upwards, but you'll have to heat the milk first in a microwave or stove.
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doesn't get much more portable than a picopresso and an espresso capable hand grinder (1zpresso J-max for example) and the microwave to heat milk, as suggested by Barry O'Speedwagon or possibly a good time to go full coffeesnob and start drinking the liquid gold straight down the hatch
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I take an Espresso Flair and a hand grinder when I'm based overseas. If you are careful with the use of a microwave, you can make a very good flat white (maybe not quite a latte). The Flair 58 would take some of the stuffing around out of the process. LIke Caffeinator, if I'm driving I take the Cremina and Niche....but that's a expensive investment for an 8 week trip.
How good are the cafes where you are going?
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