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Around 500$ budget cant decide on machine, first time home brewer, please advise ?
I would look at option 2, only because you are new to brewing coffee. I mean once you get into it, who knows, you might find it too much of a hassle (gasp i know i know).
Alternatively, you could look at the best grinder you can buy (option 3) and maybe a second hand machine instead of the aeropress?
I'm still using my breville ikon even though I changed grinders three times.
That being said, buy from people reputable (e.g. here) - I just spent half a day helping out my friend who was given a BES800 full of muck, and they didn't know what was wrong with it (it didn't even extract liquid, let along a coffee drink). Do the research and legwork, and inspect the machine, and you'll get what you put into it.
Based on the budget (which I understand BUT as other have said spending a lil more might ACTUALLY SAVE YOU IN THE LONG RUN) you have I'd post up a WTB ad in the listing here and see what comes your way. CSers generally treat their gear very well (certainly a lot better than the average Joe Bloggs) and alas are often beset by a nasty ailment known as Upgradeitis. So that is how to best maximise a $500 budget.
When the offers come in - research them on here (generally using search is best as it'd be an obscure bit of gear that wasn't very well chronicled in these parts) and see how you go.
BUT....I would try and scrape together a lil more coin, perhaps closer to $1000, so that you get something 2nd hand that works really well and will last really well. There's an expression,"The poor man always pays twice." So IMHO just something to be aware of as a lil more $$$ will likely give you a lot more benefit. :-)
You wont get much for 500. You would do well to look at a second hand compak k3 circa $250 and i would look at a second hand silvia say 400. Both great machines but will be above your 500 budget. On the other side you will be purchasing machines that will last a long time yet even second hand. Silvias are also easy to repair and replace stuff.
I love how all these people just write off $500 as being 'not enough'. Oh how quickly we forget. Yep, absolutely, if you could I'd suggest spending more too. That's not much help if you don't have any more than $500. If you want to start your journey now then there's absolutely no reason you can't. As someone who has always been on a tight budget I'd say $500 is plenty to get you started.
When I bought my first home espresso machine my budget was about $200 including grinder. I bought a Gaggia Classic for $150, and had to spend $80 on it straight away for a professional descale. A few months later I upgraded the steam wand. Then I got over 4 years of daily service from it before it died. I ended up reconditioning and selling it earlier this year for good money.
I've now got a small heat exchanger machine at home which is just awesome, but I've also got a Sunbeam EM4820 at work with a Sunbeam EM0440 grinder. For what it is the Sunbeam is fantastic so I wouldn't hesitate in buying a higher level one such as the EM6910. And the Sunbeam grinders 0440/50/80/90 are all the same on the inside, the higher level ones just look nicer, have more features and a wider range of adjustment. None of which really matters.
With all that in mind I'd suggest these options within your budget:
1. The Sunbeam package you mentioned (haggle them down a bit if you can or get some extras thrown in).
2. A much better, but 2nd hand grinder such as Compak K3 and whatever espresso machine you can afford with the left over $$ (Sunbeam EM6910 or Gaggia Classic).
3. The best grinder you can afford and an Aeropress, then save up for a better machine some time in the next year or two.
Whatever you decide to go with make sure you do plenty of reading on this forum (and others) to find out how to get the most out of your machine. Little things make a difference - like throwing out the 'crema disk' that's in the EM6910 portafilter, and making sure you don't ever use double walked filter baskets.
Finally, be prepared to want to upgrade in the future. Whatever you get for your $500 could keep you happy for years, but it's unlikely to keep you happy (or last) forever. But hey, that's what it's all about. You could triple your budget to buy a brand new Rancillio machine/grinder package and you'll still want to upgrade at some stage in the future.
All the best, make sure you let us know how you go.
Oh and by the way my current HX machine still only cost me $440. So there's great machines out there for decent prices, you just had to be patient and wait for them to come along.
Oh and by the way my current HX machine still only cost me $440. So there's great machines out there for decent prices, you just had to be patient and wait for them to come along.
I bought my brand new in box BES920 for $600. Unwanted wedding present. But great deals don't come often and you have to bargain hard.
Please suggest, I will be home brewing for the first time
I drink my coffee with milk, a self confessed novice
Option One - Gaggia Classic + a basic hand Grinder
Option two - Breville Smart Grinder Pro + (An espresso machine around 250$)
Option Three - Macap M2M + Aeropress
I am open to suggestions, if you think there is a better combination out there !
If you haven't bought anything yet I noticed the PU6910 bundle is available on eBay for about $500-550 from a couple of different vendors. Also a 2nd hand EM6910 has just popped up on the CS sales page in Whittlesea. Buying off a forum member may give you the chance to try before you buy and you might get some tips on operation while you're there.
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