Hi Guys,
Been spending some time investigating options for replacing my automatic Saeco with a semi-auto that produces good quality coffee and stretches milk reasonably. Also need grinder, but think Im happy with the idea of the Compak T3 Touch.
I rarely make more than 2 milk based coffees at a time, and have no problem with the idea of letting the machine warm up for 30-40 mins before use etc. Bench space is not a big issue.
My search initially started astoss-up between the Silvia V3 (hopefully with a PID controller already added) and the Lelit PL41TEM (w PID) (and these are still an option).
Then I managed to convince myself that I might prefer a small HX model, particularly the VBM Domobar Junior.
Obviously, theres quite a price diff (a bit over $2200 for VBM), and from all my lurking Ive worked out that to properly de-scale a HX machine requires a fairly onerous procedure.
Would like to buy local as long as price is vaguely sensible (Im in Canberra, and friends have been happy with their service from Cosmorex).
I guess what Id like is some informed advice as to how whether Im likely to get noticeably superior coffee/milk from the VBM relative to say the Silvio (hopefully with PID)?
Or am I largely paying for the speedier interchange b/w brewing/steaming and boiler capacity? I realise that the skill set of the pseudo-barista impacts all of this.
Finally, with Canberras soft water (39), how often would the de-scaling hassle with the HX machine become an issue?
Sorry for the barrage of questions.
Cheers
Mark
Been spending some time investigating options for replacing my automatic Saeco with a semi-auto that produces good quality coffee and stretches milk reasonably. Also need grinder, but think Im happy with the idea of the Compak T3 Touch.
I rarely make more than 2 milk based coffees at a time, and have no problem with the idea of letting the machine warm up for 30-40 mins before use etc. Bench space is not a big issue.
My search initially started astoss-up between the Silvia V3 (hopefully with a PID controller already added) and the Lelit PL41TEM (w PID) (and these are still an option).
Then I managed to convince myself that I might prefer a small HX model, particularly the VBM Domobar Junior.
Obviously, theres quite a price diff (a bit over $2200 for VBM), and from all my lurking Ive worked out that to properly de-scale a HX machine requires a fairly onerous procedure.
Would like to buy local as long as price is vaguely sensible (Im in Canberra, and friends have been happy with their service from Cosmorex).
I guess what Id like is some informed advice as to how whether Im likely to get noticeably superior coffee/milk from the VBM relative to say the Silvio (hopefully with PID)?
Or am I largely paying for the speedier interchange b/w brewing/steaming and boiler capacity? I realise that the skill set of the pseudo-barista impacts all of this.
Finally, with Canberras soft water (39), how often would the de-scaling hassle with the HX machine become an issue?
Sorry for the barrage of questions.
Cheers
Mark

You should be fitting a water filter anyway, which will prolonge the need for descaling. I even use one in Darwin where the hardness doesnt register on those little test strips.
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