Espresso Drinker - No milk or sugar required.

[2muchcoffeeman]

Alternate options include the VBM Domobar Piccolo and Diadema Perfetta. Both benefit greatly from Scace calibration as they can be delivered new running hot (or cold). This should be part of the bench test performed on the machine before it is collected/shipped.

I personally like the Perfetta for build quality and ease of access to the element, temp rheostat and OPV. This makes for easy calibration and service. CosmoreX coffee imported these, but I don't think that they do these days.

The Domobar Piccolo can still be purchased new, but it's boiler out if it needs an element. It's otherwise also a great shot machine.

I'm not sure on serviceability of the Zaffiro as I have never had my hands on one. Perhaps Andy can elaborate on this aspect.

In my opinion, all of the e-61 options are far superior to any of the small single boiler machines- with or without PID.

2mcm

[tdunster]

Thanks Andy, great advice and most appreciated.

[Andy]

What you can afford and what will fit on your bench!

Personally I love using big commercial grinders and everything else feels like a toy (a slow toy at that!). Even if you have to buy them secondhand, a big commercial grinder is normally a once in a lifetime purchase and avoids the regular upgrade path. Not much goes wrong with commercial grinders either, if a secondhand one runs, then $100 odd for a new set of burrs and it's like new again until you put more than a 1000kg of coffee through it.

Gotcha for most domestic environments is often the other half's comments like "that's bigger than our kids" or overhead clearance on your bench. Luckily Paula is accommodating to my coffee habit and doesn't mind what I have in the kitchen. At home I have had a Mazzer Robur, a Mazzer Volcano, a Mahlkonig K30 and Compak K6 (baby compared to the others). We are currently running the Mahlkonig at home for the Brazen brewer as the timer is perfect for repeatable brews without weighing coffee each time and it fits under the overhead cupboards well.

Buying coffee gear is like buying a car, the market is huge and varied, set a budget and buy the best you can within that budget.

[tdunster]

Cheers Andy - What grinder would you recommend for such a machine ?

[Andy]

I own a Isomac Zaffiro which would fit that requirement well. I've always thought it was an excellent "shot machine".

They are $1500-$1800 odd and single boiler which makes it more troublesome for milk (make espresso then switch and wait for the boiler to heat higher) but it makes great espresso shot after shot and uses the same sort of E61 group and commercial sized group handle setup that would cost you at least double in a multi boiler machine.

Well work having a look at the Zaffiro and other single boiler machines that are often overlooked by the milk drinkers.

We have a few of the site sponsors who carry these machines, use the Quote Form button at the top of the page to send a query to all the sponsors at once, mention that you only need espresso shots and they might have other suggestions too.

Good luck and let us know what you end up getting.

[tdunster]

I don't have a budget. I'd like to spend $1000 or so but it's not an issue to spend $3000 either. Want something new as well so I can have the security of a warranty just in case I need to exercise my rights under the ACL Consumer guarantee.

[kwantfm]

What sort of budget please?

[tdunster]

I love Espresso straight up in a 90ml espresso cup - without any milk or sugar. What machine and grinder would people recommend for me given I don't need any milk function.
I'm currently using a Lavazza pod machine which I got for free with 80 capsules.
Thanks in advance.