Looking to get a coffee machine for my girlfriend as a birthday present.
Ive done a tonne of research - Im fairly new to espresso myself so I would just like to get some backup from the more experienced.
Some background info:
So based on my research Ive looked at the following machines:
Lelit PL041
- This is the one Im leaning towards. All reports indicate this is a good quality machine for the price. Can get this locally at a good price with good supplier support.
Gaggia Classic
- Seems quite common and popular. Main downsides are alloy boiler it seems. Lelit just as good or better in most aspects?
Sunbeam EM6910
- If this wasnt a birthday present I would definitely be considering it because it does appear to pack quite a few features and I wouldnt be adverse to throwing it away if it breaks down after a few years - however I just dont want to be giving her a throw away appliance for a present. So its probably a no to the Sunbeam.
Rancillio Silvia
- a bit out of my price range - $600 is already a stretch. The Lelit appears to be quite comparable for a better price - major difference being the slightly better build quality of the Silvia.
Saeco Via Venezia
- Looks good and a nice price. Apparently easy to make unpressurised. Smaller unit compared to the others Im looking at. If im willing to spend the cash Im probably better off with the Lelit or similar. Especially as well be looking to hold on to this machine.
So currently Im very close to securing the Lelit - if anyone chimes in with any other comparable options or significant reasons not to I think thats the path Ill take.
Thanks in advance!
Ive done a tonne of research - Im fairly new to espresso myself so I would just like to get some backup from the more experienced.
Some background info:
- She already has a Sunbeam EM0480 which was a past present - shell want to stick to this grinder until it dies for sentimental reasons.
- We currently use a plunger.
- We like to try out freshly roasted local beans and always restock every week or two.
She probably wont be using this machine to make her morning coffee as shes generally up quite early and rushed, so she typically grinds and brews a plunger full and puts it into a thermos to take to work (shes a Nurse) - She enjoys the idea of coffee and trying out different beans - so Im confident a manual espresso machine will be fun for her to use and play with.
- Shell like experimenting with the tools she has, however I doubt shell be into researching different components / mods / upgrades for the machine.
- She wont be so hardcore that shell be looking to get 100% perfect brews and pursue all sorts of means to get it - shell be happy with the process of making an espresso from fresh beans and getting it nice enough.
- This is a present so I want something that is reliable, simple and fixable - she will want to keep it for a long time and will be reluctant to upgrade again for sentimental reasons - shes like that

- Dont really want to spend too much more than $600.
- Im a very electrically / mechanically apt person so I dont mind getting in there and fixing/modding if things to go wrong. First thoughts are to use my Dads metal lathe to machine her up a nice tamper.
- We arent often required to make coffee for more than just the two of us, so it doesnt matter if its not the fastest machine in the world for churning them out.
So based on my research Ive looked at the following machines:
Lelit PL041
- This is the one Im leaning towards. All reports indicate this is a good quality machine for the price. Can get this locally at a good price with good supplier support.
Gaggia Classic
- Seems quite common and popular. Main downsides are alloy boiler it seems. Lelit just as good or better in most aspects?
Sunbeam EM6910
- If this wasnt a birthday present I would definitely be considering it because it does appear to pack quite a few features and I wouldnt be adverse to throwing it away if it breaks down after a few years - however I just dont want to be giving her a throw away appliance for a present. So its probably a no to the Sunbeam.
Rancillio Silvia
- a bit out of my price range - $600 is already a stretch. The Lelit appears to be quite comparable for a better price - major difference being the slightly better build quality of the Silvia.
Saeco Via Venezia
- Looks good and a nice price. Apparently easy to make unpressurised. Smaller unit compared to the others Im looking at. If im willing to spend the cash Im probably better off with the Lelit or similar. Especially as well be looking to hold on to this machine.
So currently Im very close to securing the Lelit - if anyone chimes in with any other comparable options or significant reasons not to I think thats the path Ill take.
Thanks in advance!

Comment