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  • What to buy

    OK I have $2000 to spend on a new coffee machine + grinder. Most of the coffees are milk base but the occasional espresso is required. Usually it will be 2 cups at a time but most weekends up to 4 milk based drinks. Any ideas would be appreciated. I live in Mt Gambier SA, we only have a Harvey Norman with not a great range to choose from, so I will probably by the Machine over the net, most probably from a sponsor to this site!!

    Cheers
    LY

  • #2
    Re: What to buy

    Originally posted by 414459594148725442454C5F432D0 link=1253783918/0#0 date=1253783918
    OK I have $2000 to spend on a new coffee machine + grinder. Most of the coffees are milk base but the occasional espresso is required. Usually it will be 2 cups at a time but most weekends up to 4 milk based drinks. Any ideas would be appreciated. I live in Mt Gambier SA, we only have a Harvey Norman with not a great range to choose from, so I will probably by the Machine over the net, most probably from a sponsor to this site!!

    Cheers
    LY
    Hi LY and welcome,

    The question to as is- How important are milk drinks?

    If youre using your machine mainly for espresso and the odd milk drink and are prepared to wait while the machine comes to pressure to produce steam, you can then consider machines like the VBM Domobar Piccolo and Diadema Perfetta. These will allow you to buy a good grinder- which is critical...

    If milk is important to you, things get a little tough and push you towards heat exchanger type machines. You might consider something like the Simonelli Oscar or Expobar Office semi-auto, but youll struggle to fit a a good grinder in your budget...Worst case scenario has you over budget by a few hundred dollars...

    As for grinders, try for a Rancilio Rocky as a bare minimum. Better still a Compak K3T or similar...

    Please feel most welcome to make contact if youd like to chat about some options...

    Chris

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    • #3
      Re: What to buy

      Thanks chris,
      Yes I must have the milk base the misses and her friends enjoy cappuccinos and lattes on the weekends so with the latter 2 you suggested, will I be able to steam same time as coffee is being made?

      LY

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      • #4
        Re: What to buy

        Originally posted by 606578786069537563646D7E620C0 link=1253783918/2#2 date=1253786489
        Thanks chris,
        Yes I must have the milk base the misses and her friends enjoy cappuccinos and lattes on the weekends so with the latter 2 you suggested, will I be able to steam same time as coffee is being made?

        LY
        You sure will LY 8-)

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: What to buy

          Chris,
          I have had a look at both and are leaning towards the expobar office. Tell me what accessories come with this machine. i.e. tamper scoop etc!!
          If any
          LY

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: What to buy

            Originally posted by 6F6A77776F665C7A6C6B62716D030 link=1253783918/4#4 date=1253788658
            Chris,
            I have had a look at both and are leaning towards the expobar office. Tell me what accessories come with this machine. i.e. tamper scoop etc!!
            If any
            LY
            Nothing of any use other than a single basket. You get a crappy plakky tamper and coffee scoop as I recall. We ditch the dunny plug and replace it with a real blind filter basket

            Chris

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            • #7
              Re: What to buy

              OK
              Chris just reading through a couple of post for the expobar office and came across This problem in the machine.

              "Its pretty good for the price but ships at 12 bar and needs thermosyphon work as it runs hot hot hot. Without a full calibration and thermostability upgrade, its a pig to use. It can be turned onto a nice machine though after the upgrade. We do this on all Office FA & SA machines now...."

              If I was to buy one is this problem fixed or upgraded before it is shipped.
              Hope all the questions are OK
              LY

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: What to buy

                Yes LY,

                We include the upgrade with the Office Semi-auto.

                Chris

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: What to buy

                  Hey There LY,

                  We too had similar issues when contemplating our new purchase, mind you our budget wasnt as much as yours... being that we too are from Mount Gambier and I work within close proximity to your wife, you should pop round one day soon and check out our Machine. Miss Silvia is like a child to us. Neither of us know how we managed to livewithout her... Give me a buzz and we can discuss... ;D

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: What to buy

                    Originally posted by 6F7A6873447544717468731B0 link=1253783918/8#8 date=1254093914
                    and I work within close proximity to your wife,
                    Er...you folks know each other then... :-? ;D

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: What to buy

                      yeah, his wife sits two desks away from me.. I gave him this address to ensure the search for the machine was was fun filled and as confusing as ours..... ;D ;D

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: What to buy

                        Originally posted by 342133281F2E1F2A2F3328400 link=1253783918/8#8 date=1254093914
                        you should pop round one day soon and check out our Machine
                        Thanks tash n josh
                        I will get you girls to set up a time to drop around and sample your coffee.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: What to buy

                          Hey guys, its good to see fellow CSs giving a hand, nice to know ppl still care, also i know that coffee talk are great with advice and theres has helped many times before. I am sure you have read 100 times already but the top 3 things in order to get great coffee are:

                          1. FRESH BEANS
                          2. THE BEST GRINDGER YOU CAN AFFORD
                          3. THE BEST MACHINE YOU CAN AFFORD WITH THE  MONEY LEFT

                          If you do it this way you can learn on a lesser machine then upgrade in a few years.

                          I own a sunbeam 6900, with your budget you should beable to get way out of the thermoblock areana but i would look straight towards heat exchange machines due to the fact you are looking mainly at milk based drinks and boiler machines need priming and some mucking around so ready the machine for steam.

                          Its only my opinion

                          ring some of the site sponsors im sure they will be more than happy to aim you in the right direction

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: What to buy

                            yes this site is most helpful I am reading and learning a lot and I may stretch my budget to $2500 to get a HX machine (to save wishing I went for one in the first place after I purchase) and decent grinder, maybe!!
                            I have got it down to a couple of machines.

                            1. Isomac Tea is looking OK and I have read a couple of good reviews over the net.
                            2. Expobar office e61 lever again some good reviews.

                            Grinder
                            ISOMAC. Granmacinino
                            or
                            Rancilio Rocky- Doserless
                            Any suggestions
                            LY

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: What to buy

                              Originally posted by 7C7964647C754F697F7871627E100 link=1253783919/13#13 date=1254195653
                              ISOMAC. Granmacinino
                              or
                              Rancilio Rocky- Doserless
                              Any suggestions
                              LY
                              I would leans towards the Rocky. I have not used one but did own a Granmacinino for a short time. The most annoying thing was how many grinds in holds in the chute. All grinders do this but the GM moreso than any others I have experienced. Its otherwise a very solidly built little grinder that has a better bling factor than the Rocky.


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