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Are cheap espresso machines a bad idea?

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  • #61
    Originally posted by ThankDog View Post
    I'm not sure I understand why I would do this when I scrubbed the bottom water chamber and no coffee goes into that, just water and steam coming out?
    Well, you could just run water through it - not having such a beastie I wasn't sure if the coffee re-entered the chamber you scrubbed. My idea was to use it as it is meant to be used to give it time to season. Cheap beans was because I wouldn't be drinking that stuff from naked aluminium if you paid me, just as I wouldn't cook anything I'm going to eat while I was seasoning a cast iron dutch oven or frypan.

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    • #62
      OK interesting thread. I have a 4 year old Breville Cafe Roma. I'm the only one that uses it, I only make espresso, lots of trial an error with beans. It makse consistently great coffee. I have often thought I should get myself a "proper" machine. But I can't bear to part with my Cafe Roma. When it carks it I will be sad. I will cheer myself up with a new Gaggia

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      • #63
        Originally posted by flashpixx View Post
        OK interesting thread. I have a 4 year old Breville Cafe Roma. I'm the only one that uses it, I only make espresso, lots of trial an error with beans. It makse consistently great coffee. I have often thought I should get myself a "proper" machine. But I can't bear to part with my Cafe Roma. When it carks it I will be sad. I will cheer myself up with a new Gaggia
        What grinder are you using?

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        • #64
          In early January I bought a Philips Saeco Poemia manual machine (got one with a damaged carton for $199) and bought a Breville Smart Grinder (also for $199). I have been working my way through about 1kg of fresh beans weekly and have for the most part been generally very happy with the results. I have tried several varieties of beans and only just yesterday tried Fiefy's Latte Art – Organic @ Origin beans which are absolutely amazing and really make everything else I have used so far appear a little ordinary. With my $400 setup and a just a couple of months experience the right beans have seen me go from making half decent capuccinos to the most delicious macchiatos and I couldn't be happier.

          I am still dreaming of upgrading, probably as much for aesthetics and appearances as anything else I think. Though I would love to expand my horizons a bit and try out a proper machine with a non-pressurised portafilter. I have looked at plenty of options and decided I am not going to rush into upgrading to anything less than a Vibiemme Domobar Piccolo (find the Lelit options uninspiring), w
          ould much prefer the Domobar Junior but at about $600 more than the Piccolo?

          I find the Breville Smart Grinder to be great but not sure it would still suffice if I were to upgrade my machine to the likes of the Piccolo or better so could be forced to spend another $500 on a grinder upgrade too. I'm not inclined to spend an additional $2,000 on coffee gear right now given how delighted I have been with the
          macchiatos I have been turning out the past couple of days.

          I might have to wait a year or two I think for my current machine to break or something first I think.

          As for the title of the thread I certainly don't think so given that I feel I am consistently making better coffee with a $199 manual machine and a $199 grinder than I can buy within a 6-mile radius of my house.

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          • #65
            Depends on how serious you are about the quality of the coffee you want to drink

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            • #66
              I posted problem with my EM 6910 and was getting frustrated since I almost perfected the grind to match. It was my second and now looking for cheapy. Then Choice came out in FEB with comparison that puts EM 3820 equal on all counts but higher in coffee temp consistency. Only one thermoblock but hey, its a few more secs. I like big shot with a boot so I can wait for steam. For $130 its a fill in til I work out whether its the board or pump on my 6910.

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