Importing espresso machines

[maheel]

Re: Importing espresso machines

whats with that dose in the Giotto vid? the basket looks empty ?

[brett230873]

Re: Importing espresso machines

whats with that dose in the Giotto vid?  the basket looks empty ?

A single basket surely... but how long was that shot?? Not to my taste thats for sure!

[maheel]

Re: Importing espresso machines

yeah i thought it (the torture) would never end

are singles dosed that low in Giotto ?

not only was it steaming hot and poorly made it sounded like the kitchen sink insinkerater was running the whole time ?

lucky its made from ss... all that shine blinds the users?

[scarey]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Luckily for him the title of the video was "too long a shot from my ECM Giotto."

But that doesnt help make sense of the dose... and a tamper sized to fit the centre depression on a single

[cuppacoffee]

Re: Importing espresso machines

It all makes perfect sense to me....he obviously purchased from a non-Sponsor. ;D

[betterathome]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Different people in different countries dose larger or smaller based upon prefference, I use the biggest basket I could purchase (22g) and fill it right up for my morning does, none of this 8gm per cup for breakfast. Feaks out visitors from our France office. But they also dont approve of mugs and only use cups. So I have do the "purist" shot for them.

Temperature is also a personal prefference thing, and varies between countries and cafes, and  some cafes do low tempteratures, so you can drink your coffee quicker and not loiter on their free wifi, and less risk of burns if you gulp or spill, some do extra hot so the take away isnt cold by the time you get back to the office.  Me I like mine extra warm, but not boiling. So many personal prefferences, some many variables. 

[TC]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Temperature is also a personal prefference thing, and varies between countries and cafes, and  some cafes do low tempterature

Hello better,

I think you may have missed something there. There is a BIG difference between shot temperature and perceived temperature in the cup. You may like to research shot temperature and influence on quality.

A hot shot will generally lead to burned and bitter tasting coffee regardless of what the ultimate temperature in the cup is. Without a massive cooling flush, there is no way that machine will ever produce a decent shot and I suspect its already overheated again by the time he pulls the shot anyway. To be honest, that machine would be an absolute pig. If you see a massive cooling flush like that, the machine is a dud and needs to be tuned or dumped.

If the intrinsic design of the machine is rubbish, no amount of tuning, Scace work or anything else will help make it a good machine.

[betterathome]

Re: Importing espresso machines

I undertand the difference between shot temperature and and temp in cup, depends on the tempertaure of the cup before the shot is put into it, the material of the cup, and the thermal mass of the cup.
I undertand some of the chemisty, and temperature influence (flash backs to uni and fractional distilation), and appreciate (and am trying to develop) the skill that come with grind, tamp and pre-infusion duration.

All Im saying is that lets not put people down becasue their personal prefferences and tastes are different to our own. Maybe that is how he likes his coffee, you might not like his, he might not like yours.

The video isny my ideal, but I respect peoples personal prefferences, and how their prefferences will change along this journey. I know my wine palate and coffee palate changed over years some due to age and number of taste buds which diminish with age, prefferences some through enlightenment from more knowledgeable, and some learning through trial and error. Otherwise there would only be one type of machine, with one grind, and one brand of coffee. Even McDonalds adjust their products for different countries which have their own market prefferences, and some raw ingredient differences, some subtle adjustments, some not.

[maheel]

Re: Importing espresso machines

i think what is being said is that machine is maybe running WAY to hot for any market...

it would be busting well tamped coffee pucks and creating channeling and worse like burning coffee etc
IMO just in no way running at its best

he would be filling the tank every other shot as well

if machines like that were landing here from local suppliers they would not have the good rep (the machine) that they have... that is part of the value of buying from a local who can ensure they are running at there best before they get to the customer.

[A_M]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Caveat emptor

(Let the buyer beware, it is not about suppliers being accountable)

1: Item is almost 100% likely to breach Australian wiring requirements

2: Warranty = Like to see that

3: Savings = Maybe at teh outset

4: Parts support by the Local Agent = Maybe but local suppliers have a commitment to existing clients as to availability of parts etc.

5: Service support by the Local Agent = I would suggest not as they would then open themselves up to litigation if they did not report an item that was in-breach of the Australian Electrical requirements.

And if it was OK or had been certified, the local agent has no background as to configuration. Thus an initial inspection and service inspection may well eat any so called savings that might have been had. Still NO warranty

6: You do it all your self = That is your call.


While I would consider importing for various reasons, it would not be about cost but more about availability = Old / Collectable /Antique etc

The issue I have is that some import and then winge and kick up a fuss on 101 forums when they can not get support and then point the finger at those that at not deserving of the rant :

( Remember when one points the finger it usually means that there are at least 3 fingers on your hand pointing back at you )


Caveat emptor and that should be the final say on this matter.

[maheel]

Re: Importing espresso machines

heres an example about importing i am going through right now...

i got a Kindle (e-reader) from Amazon

the case 4 it i got has a light
light does not work....
ring Amazon (free, and seems to be good customer support)
i have to pay for the new case and they refund the old case.
i see on my Ccard they have charged me shipping again and no refund...
i have to pay for international postage on the old one going back and they "refund" once they get it (i hope)

i actually think (but hope to be proven wrong) that the Kindle is the problem not the case... the Kindle works but was not perfect brand new out of the box.
so i bet i am going to have to pay for another Kindle and then send the old one back and a case and pay postage and maybe get a refund ? :P

if i was to include my time to muck about and stand in the cue at the post office its now cost me about double what i paid for it already.... and i really wish you could buy them local at HN, Myer, DJs etc so i could walk in a replace it.

[Dennis]

Re: Importing espresso machines

heres an example about importing i am going through right now...

i got a Kindle (e-reader) from Amazon

the case 4 it i got has a light
light does not work....
ring Amazon (free, and seems to be good customer support)
i have to pay for the new case and they refund the old case.
i see on my Ccard they have charged me shipping again and no refund...
i have to pay for international postage on the old one going back and they "refund" once they get it (i hope)

i actually think (but hope to be proven wrong) that the Kindle is the problem not the case... the Kindle works but was not perfect brand new out of the box.
so i bet i am going to have to pay for another Kindle and then send the old one back and a case and pay postage and maybe get a refund ? :P

if i was to include my time to muck about and stand in the cue at the post office its now cost me about double what i paid for it already.... and i really wish you could buy them local at HN, Myer, DJs etc so i could walk in a replace it.

Thats a sad tale.

If things continue to go sour, you might like to discuss your chargeback rights with your credit card provider.

Good luck with it.

[TC]

Re: Importing espresso machines

I undertand the difference between shot temperature and and temp in cup, depends on the tempertaure of the cup before the shot is put into it, the material of the cup, and the thermal mass of the cup.
I undertand some of the chemisty, and temperature influence (flash backs to uni and fractional distilation), and appreciate (and am trying to develop) the skill that come with grind, tamp and pre-infusion duration.

Hello better,

Just to clarify, shot temperature actually depends on shot temperature. This happens at the machine and this one is waaaaay too hot for any market. I concur with maheel.

If the shot is ruined at the machine, there is nothing you can do at the cup to improve things other than to sink the shot and start again.

I suspect both barista operator and machine contributed to a dud in this case.

[maheel]

Re: Importing espresso machines

Thats a sad tale.

If things continue to go sour, you might like to discuss your chargeback rights with your credit card provider.

Good luck with it.

yeah was thinking about that, but the service so far is no problem and good, i always focus on downside.... :-/

but if it was $2k + for a coffee machine from XYZ in ??? not $200 i would be sweating a bit more ...

[Dennis]

Re: Importing espresso machines

I undertand some of the chemisty, and temperature influence

You may appreciate this book: http://www.cuppacoffee.com.au/book-espresso-coffee-the-science-of-quality.html

Once you have understood its content, I think you may have a different view.

Apologies for being off topic, though I think the topic has been well and truly covered.

Den ( aka Cuppacoffee )