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If you vary between "give me a coffee now and no one gets hurt" and wish to tinker at will the DE1 is pretty well unbeatapressure / flow / temperature -
I would only add that the DE1 is the only "auto" machine I know of that surpasses a manual lever for flavour in the cuppa. As an ex LM GS3 owner, it could never do that - I used my manual lever Electra for coffee and the GS3 to froth the milk for over a year... not happy LM...
BTW, grinders are way more important than the machine. If you prefer light to medium roasts I would pick any grinder that has an even particle spread and low grind retention. Unlimited budget, probably a big Ditting or Mahlkoenig EK43. Subjectively, I prefer flat burrs, not conical. If you prefer conicals, the Niche seems to be the best cheaper option (this week anyway).
I hope this helps.
TampIt
It helps a lot. Thank you.
I just ordered the DE1PRO.
it was difficult to decide between something so radically different and the well established.
I still haven’t chosen a grinder. I do think I want flat. Which takes out the NZ
DE have some of their now discontinued grinders on sale. They seem good, they’re flat and have the scale and all. They seem like they’re designed to do high volume and I’m doing 4 shots a day to drink anyway.
I was tempted none the less. Anyone used their grinder ?
Othwerwise I like the reviews on the Eureka Mignon Specialita. I like that it’s a good size match for the DE and it’s apparently quite and has flat blades.
Oh I hadn't heard of these. They seem interesting. Have you got one ? Have they been well reviewed ? I must say my initial instinct is that I like the traditional machine, but I'll delve in. They seem to be designed to travel.
Thanks all for the thoughts, it's seemingly more and more ridiculous but honestly after trying to find decent coffee in the various locations I've been it's just been too hard. I just want a bot more control and consistency.
JB
G'day JB
Yes, the DE1 is ridiculously easy to transport - it comes with a proper travel 3/4 sized suitcase (i.e. with wheels and pull out handle). The service from Decent is amazing - it is under continuous development / improvement. At one point there was a minor reliability issue (p/f spring) and a "completely unanticipated" free replacement part dropped in through the mail with a note as to the issue. Also, I can upgrade my DE1Pro's group to the current version for minimal cost - Decent policy must be to allow all owners to access the latest tech when they wish - see below.
If you vary between "give me a coffee now and no one gets hurt" and wish to tinker at will the DE1 is pretty well unbeatable. Mine is just over a year old and my only three quibbles are
1) It will not shoot and froth at the same time (WTF, it is an expensive machine). I have an old 6910 next to it as a milk frother / rapid fire machine for family parties. History repeats itself (see below).
2) It takes about ten seconds between pressing start and getting action after it is warm (hence using the 6910 for parties of 10+ people). BTW, the DE1 warms up in just under 3 minutes (not a quibble!)
3) My DE1Pro is using the V1.1 grouphead. I can set the DE1 for any combination of pressure / flow / temperature I like, however when I press start I am committed to those settings - for better or worse. Annoying when you are setting up a new roast and after one second you know where you went wrong but cannot fix it until after the shot is pulled. The newer V1.3 group allows real time tinkering with pressure / flow / temperature - removes that quibble.
The new DE1Cafe does shoot and froth at the same time, and also reduces the "press start delay" to under 2 seconds. Exit my other two quibbles. Needless to say, I am currently torn between updating my Pro to the V1.3 group (cheap option) or jumping over to the DE1Cafe (longer term option). In that sense, "Decent allowing upgrades" is potentially reducing their own short term sales.
I would only add that the DE1 is the only "auto" machine I know of that surpasses a manual lever for flavour in the cuppa. As an ex LM GS3 owner, it could never do that - I used my manual lever Electra for coffee and the GS3 to froth the milk for over a year... not happy LM...
BTW, grinders are way more important than the machine. If you prefer light to medium roasts I would pick any grinder that has an even particle spread and low grind retention. Unlimited budget, probably a big Ditting or Mahlkoenig EK43. Subjectively, I prefer flat burrs, not conical. If you prefer conicals, the Niche seems to be the best cheaper option (this week anyway).
If size and weight are no problem, then you have a vast array of choices. People on forums are likely to offer choices based on the machines they are familiar with. Personally, I'd be visiting a reputable US vendor and going for a well known, popular brand so it's easier to get parts and service wherever you are. Profitec is a good choice (I own a Pro 600)
The Decent is a machine designed to emulate other machines. They are good (reportedly) but not sure of the learning curve required and the use as a travel machine. Do some research first.
Yeah I'm here for the research.
I guess the problem I have for the next two months is that no one is going to be able to "show" me a machine, and rather impatiently, I'm looking to get a machine ASAP. Hence me being here asking for any advice.
Having looked at grinders it seems the NZ or the Eureka Mignon Specialita would be my two short listers. I had a flat grinder last time and liked what it was doing so I'm leaning towards the Eureka.
I've looked at a lot of forums and reviews on the decent and they do seem really different and quite radical. I'm both torn and excited by them.
I go in touch with them and they can only ship me the V1.1 now, or I'll be waiting for 8 weeks for the 1.3 version. I'm still waiting to hear back from them on what the differences are but I do find them intriguing.
If size and weight are no problem, then you have a vast array of choices. People on forums are likely to offer choices based on the machines they are familiar with. Personally, I'd be visiting a reputable US vendor and going for a well known, popular brand so it's easier to get parts and service wherever you are. Profitec is a good choice (I own a Pro 600)
The Decent is a machine designed to emulate other machines. They are good (reportedly) but not sure of the learning curve required and the use as a travel machine. Do some research first.
Yeah a Decent Expresso machine and a hand grinder like a Commandante C40/Helor 101/Kinu M47 would be super lightweight and produce exceptional coffee. If you can't live with a hand grinder something like a Eureka Mignon E would be the lightest electric grinder. If you go with a hand grinder you only have to worry about voltage for one device.
OK I think I should clarify !
I don't need something THAT portable. I am arriving at a given city and then I want to set up a machine to run for 6-10 months straight.
The issue of freight isn't an issue for me. When I travel I have a couple of pallets of equipment that are work related that travel with me that the company i work for will send on their dime.
So I have no freight costs and its nothing to add 60KGS across two road cases for me when I'm already sending close to 2000Kgs each time I move anyway.
The voltage too I'm less worried about because MOST of my work is U.S. now and the occasional other part of the world so I'm going to go with 110V and deal with it later if it comes to another country.
So apologies for leading you all astray with the "travel" part, but I will travel "in style" and now I don't care about the size or weight.
If you revisit most or all your different ports of call, perhaps you could loan it to someone or ask them to store it for you
Which is almost what I'm doing now. Last machine I left here is close by, but it's her birthday and she just broke up with her BF. I didn't want to be like hey, i'm back after not seeing you for 6 months. give me back my 840. It's kind of what made me change tack and go with a machine / setup that I will travel with.
The Decent Espresso range comes complete with shipping case from the factory.
Cheers
Oh I hadn't heard of these. They seem interesting. Have you got one ? Have they been well reviewed ? I must say my initial instinct is that I like the traditional machine, but I'll delve in. They seem to be designed to travel.
Thanks all for the thoughts, it's seemingly more and more ridiculous but honestly after trying to find decent coffee in the various locations I've been it's just been too hard. I just want a bot more control and consistency.
Some of the in depth machine reviews include comments regarding packaging.( eg a uk site said the prototype packaging for the Lelit Bianca allowed too much movement)
Be aware some are designed/ thought prudent to be shipped strapped to their own pallet.
Yeah a Decent Expresso machine and a hand grinder like a Commandante C40/Helor 101/Kinu M47 would be super lightweight and produce exceptional coffee. If you can't live with a hand grinder something like a Eureka Mignon E would be the lightest electric grinder. If you go with a hand grinder you only have to worry about voltage for one device.
The other option is to go full manual Cafelat Robot or Flair Signature Pro and one of the above mentioned manual grinders. Then you would need a Bellman Steamer, battery milk frother or an electric milk frother.
Have you considered that a machine + grinder is going to weigh the best part of 60kg? Then you would also need a transformer to manage the power supply differences in the various countries. Add on the various barista accessories and you end up with quite a load.
Other options could be leasing instead of buying or reselling the gear when you move on. You could also buy a Breville dual boiler BES900 series. If you revisit most or all your different ports of call, perhaps you could loan it to someone or ask them to store it for you
You would want a well built machine with a solid frame that could cope better with the moving around. You could also consider an ECM Synchronika. Shot timers are a nice to have, not a deal breaker. All mobile phones will have a timer or stop watch app.
Expobar has been rebranded as Crem.
I'm coming from an Expobar Brewtus IV which I had back in Australia which I had for several years and was very happy with.
I've been on the road for a few years, mostly in the US. I have been getting by with just buying a Breville BES870 in each new city I end up in. My job takes me in 6-10 month stints to a new city. Last 5 years it's been New Orleans, London, Atlanta, Chicago, Vancouver and Los Angeles. I usually just leave the machine behind with someone. I often find a lot of my co-workers end up buying the BES as well, I reckong I've sold about a dozen of those for Breville !
I haven't wanted to buy a better machine because of the travelling and not to mention the voltage issues in different countries, but I'm just tired of the limitations of the Breville single boiler.
So I've decided to buy a machine that will allow me to make the coffee I want. I'm going to put it in a road case and ship it with me. (and grinder).
It's only maybe 3 or 4 coffees a day, I'm doing mostly piccolos. Sometimes I'll have a day where I'm doing a burst of doing coffee for others as well (say 4 in a row)
Yeah I know about the Rocket Porta Via, and thought about it for a second, but it's a bit too "portable" for me. I need something that I set up for a few months and then move it, so I plan to get a road case for the machine and grinder and do it that way.
I really liked the PID function on the Brewtus and thought that was great. It seems like for some reason it's really hard to get Brewtus in the US at the moment, I'm not sure why.
So I'm kind of leaning towards the Profitec 700. I like the dual boilers and PID. I like the shot timer too.
The R58 seems to be another option. I guess I wasn't so sure about the external PID control ? And no shot timer.
Has anyone else got a better suggestion ? I know that at this price point they're all going to be "good" machines. I just am not able to LEAVE the house at the moment and I have to buy sight unseen.
I'm going to ask about grinders over in the grinder forum but I'd be looking at something to match this as well.
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