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Upgrading from Breville Cafe Roma to ?????? <$1000 options

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  • Gera
    replied
    great news Krusty182.
    sounds like you made a huge step up there.
    now you might have to upgrade that sunbeam grinder as well

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Originally posted by krusty182 View Post
    You're comparing the Diadema's sell price to the Expobar's RRP
    That's correct and that was in my earlier post. Others may well be shopping within a price bracket.

    Good thing if yours has been done krusty.

    FWIW, I have yet to see one which didn't run hot. We have certainly purchased them in the last 5 years and have had to install restrictors and set every one we have bench tested. We have also performed this work for CS member owners on multiple occasions.

    If things have changed for the SA and FA, that's terrific.

    Leave a comment:


  • krusty182
    replied
    Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
    Nope- We sell it close to RRP of the Expobar
    You're comparing the Diadema's sell price to the Expobar's RRP, which is not really apples with apples.

    The vendor I bought from did a good package to suit my needs well under RRP and, being local, means help is not far away if I need it.

    I had briefly considered the Diadema Jnr, but when I was already so far over my original budget, I couldn't justify taking that next step for little gain.
    Friends of ours have an Expobar already and have nothing but good things to say about it.

    After reading on US forums about how some Expobar machines run hot, I have spoken to the techs at Disave' (who distribute the Expobar machines here in Aust.) and they assure me that all machines they have been bringing in for the last 15 years or more have been fitted with thermosyphon restrictors to regulate the temp of the grouphead. Apparently the EU and US versions don't have them.
    Disave' also told me that they check and set up the pressurestat and pump pressures prior to shipping them from their premises in Melbourne.

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  • NakiChap
    replied
    Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
    Nope- We sell it close to RRP of the Expobar
    Well that sounds great I would definitly be looking at one of your Diademas then,

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Originally posted by Cadan View Post
    Ok I was meaning machines up to $1500 which is where the Expobar semi is, I thought the Diadema was closer to 2K that price range opens a whole lot of great options VBM junior,Isomac tea ........
    Nope- We sell it close to RRP of the Expobar

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  • NakiChap
    replied
    Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
    Yes- It's a very good machine when souped up with thermosyphon restrictors- which they need.

    For those shopping in this price bracket, the Diadema Junior semi-auto is also worth considering. 2 group handles, less plastic and street price is $50 more than the Expobar. It flies under the radar of many prospective purchasers. The quality of finish is fantastic.
    [ATTACH=CONFIG]1686[/ATTACH]
    Ok I was meaning machines up to $1500 which is where the Expobar semi is, I thought the Diadema was closer to 2K that price range opens a whole lot of great options VBM junior,Isomac tea ........

    Leave a comment:


  • TC
    replied
    Originally posted by Cadan View Post
    Good choice Krusty I think the Expobar is the way to go for the price and being HX machine, the other options in the same price range seam to be single boilers which is not as good if your mainly making milk based,

    Enjoy !!.
    Yes- It's a very good machine when souped up with thermosyphon restrictors- which they need.

    For those shopping in this price bracket, the Diadema Junior semi-auto is also worth considering. 2 group handles, less plastic and street price is $50 more than the Expobar. It flies under the radar of many prospective purchasers. The quality of finish is fantastic.
    Click image for larger version

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  • NakiChap
    replied
    Good choice Krusty I think the Expobar is the way to go for the price and being HX machine, the other options in the same price range seam to be single boilers which is not as good if your mainly making milk based,

    Enjoy !!.

    Leave a comment:


  • krusty182
    replied
    Well, thanks everyone for the replies. I should give a bit of an update.

    I went out looking at the EM7000 and the BES840, then went to a couple of local roasters, one who had the Rancilio Silvia and another who had the Gaggia Classic. Looking at the boiler machines it was clear that they were a machine rather than an appliance, ie: built much more robustly and looked like they would have much better longevity than any of the Breville/Sunbeam appliances (no offence to owners of those machines) although the group handle on the Gaggia feels quite lightweight compared to the Silvia. My main concern about the single boiler machines is it sounds like it's a pain making more than a couple of coffees which is my main gripe with the Cafe Roma.

    I was keen to buy something that would last a long time, so with that in mind I went and saw another local roaster who showed me the Expobar Semi Auto and made me a couple of coffees on his unit which is the machine he takes around to demo their coffees to potential commercial clients.
    I was very impressed with the ease of steaming and the beautiful flavour profile of the coffee off this machine along with the promise that you can bang out as many as you want without much fuss.

    Although there are some good machines around the price I was originally looking at, I didn't want to spend that money and still want to upgrade later on, I justify it as an investment by comparing it to a decent surround sound system or similar. So I decided to make the budget stretch to purchase the Expobar.

    I took delivery early this week and now it is sitting under the Christmas tree waiting for Christmas morning.

    Excited? I haven't looked forward to Christmas this much since I was a kid

    Leave a comment:


  • damiano
    replied
    Originally posted by CafeLotta View Post
    Sivia benefits:
    A 58mm filter basket (more surface area), the ability to temperature surf to vary brew temperature, temperature stabilility of brass boiler in Silvia (though longer to heat up), steam pressure (depending on which thermoblock machine), probably robustness and quality of build (for the extra dollars), lack of electronics (less to go wrong though modern day electronics are pretty good), easier to repair.

    As mentioned previously, a boiler machine is less forgiving when used incorrectly but if you take the time to learn to use and maintain it correctly, the rewards are there to be had. In the case of a Silvia, getting the grind and brew temperature just right is essential. As far as prolonging its life, keeping the boiler primed and full before brewing and before and after steaming should be part of your routine. Regular backflushing and descaling are also mandatory
    What CafeLotta said . In addition to that, parts are easy to come by and if you want to go down the modification route (PID etc.) there are quite a few aftermarket kits and installers out there. Speaking as the owner of a Silvia V3, the one drawback (that is, if you really want the machine to live up to it's coffee making potential) is that banging out more than 2 coffees does take a little longer and is quite involved (do a search on temp surfing in a Silvia). I cannot speak for the other machines (although I did consider them prior to the Silvia) but if you have the patience to learn about the brewing and frothing, with good beans, you can reproduce near cafe-quality coffee for the Silvia and definitely better than the Cafe Roma (which I owned prior to the Silvia).

    One other thing is that there are many youtube videos out there for the Silvia which teach you how to temp surf and froth milk properly. It really helped with the learning curve for me.

    Leave a comment:


  • Gera
    replied
    Originally posted by CafeLotta View Post
    Sivia benefits:
    A 58mm filter basket (more surface area), the ability to temperature surf to vary brew temperature, temperature stabilility of brass boiler in Silvia (though longer to heat up), steam pressure (depending on which thermoblock machine), probably robustness and quality of build (for the extra dollars), lack of electronics (less to go wrong though modern day electronics are pretty good), easier to repair.

    As mentioned previously, a boiler machine is less forgiving when used incorrectly but if you take the time to learn to use and maintain it correctly, the rewards are there to be had. In the case of a Silvia, getting the grind and brew temperature just right is essential. As far as prolonging its life, keeping the boiler primed and full before brewing and before and after steaming should be part of your routine. Regular backflushing and descaling are also mandatory
    Well Said! :>

    Leave a comment:


  • CafeLotta
    replied
    Originally posted by krusty182 View Post
    Can anyone summarize the main benefits of a single boiler over any of the thermoblock machines? This price point is the top of the thermoblocks but the low end of the boiler machines. Heat exchanger machines would be nice but start at least $400 above my top price that I want to pay.

    Sivia benefits:
    A 58mm filter basket (more surface area), the ability to temperature surf to vary brew temperature, temperature stabilility of brass boiler in Silvia (though longer to heat up), steam pressure (depending on which thermoblock machine), probably robustness and quality of build (for the extra dollars), lack of electronics (less to go wrong though modern day electronics are pretty good), easier to repair.

    As mentioned previously, a boiler machine is less forgiving when used incorrectly but if you take the time to learn to use and maintain it correctly, the rewards are there to be had. In the case of a Silvia, getting the grind and brew temperature just right is essential. As far as prolonging its life, keeping the boiler primed and full before brewing and before and after steaming should be part of your routine. Regular backflushing and descaling are also mandatory

    Leave a comment:


  • Gera
    replied
    Originally posted by krusty182 View Post
    Can anyone summarize the main benefits of a single boiler over any of the thermoblock machines? This price point is the top of the thermoblocks but the low end of the boiler machines. Heat exchanger machines would be nice but start at least $400 above my top price that I want to pay.
    I was looking at the same machine options not to long ago when looking for a home machine (ended up buying a refurbished La pavoni on ebay for $350), any way from what I read at the time the Silvia would be more consistent in delivering great shots, is more temperature stable and able to froth more milk more effectively than the sunbeam (I was looking at the em6900 at the time). however it does need more care and technique (temp surfing for example) to get it to optimal operation and frothing level. either way I think they are both good option machines but I would recommend upgrading your grinder to a Rocky or Lelit - I am not sure that the sunbeam will cut it for you for much longer. good luck.

    Leave a comment:


  • krusty182
    replied
    Can anyone summarize the main benefits of a single boiler over any of the thermoblock machines? This price point is the top of the thermoblocks but the low end of the boiler machines. Heat exchanger machines would be nice but start at least $400 above my top price that I want to pay.

    Leave a comment:


  • NakiChap
    replied
    Hi Krusty I have had no problem banging out two milk drinks with the Gaggia brew the espresso then switch to steam mode wait about 20 seconds then easily steam enough milk for two drinks

    But in saying all this I have not used any of the other machines you have mentioned and they probably perform better, this is just my opinion on the gaggia which I believe is a very simple machine to use and gives good results for that price range

    My wife cannot tell the difference with her flat white whether I make it on the Minore or the gaggia .

    Leave a comment:

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