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  • Machine Recommendations For A Newbie?

    Hey guys,

    This is my first post, so hi!

    I have been reading lots on this site over the last 2 days (instead of actually working today haha).

    Im currently looking to upgrade from my Nespresso machine (please dont shoot me!).

    It feels like its on its way out and starting to have issues. The coffee isnt overly good but I really like the convenience.

    I dont have a hell of a lot of bench space and I am usually doing 5 things at once so being able to make a fast coffee is what I am looking for. I jumped on here to create this thread to try and get some advice on what would suit my scenario, so here goes.

    I would like a machine that doesnt take long to heat up so I can bang out a long black / ristretto fairly quickly. I do drink milk drinks (Soy) but literally 95% of the time at home it will be black. Space in the kitchen is pretty limited so I cant have a massive machine especially when you couple it with a grinder.

    I have been looking at the Breville Barista Express because of its all in one style system. It is a thermoblock which isnt as good as the boilers as far as I am aware, but it wont take any time to heat up, is that right? Checked out the grinder against the Breville Smart Grinder and they seem to have the same burr in them, but the barista express cant do the coarse stuff for like a french press. This made sense consdering theres no point going that coarse for the machine its built into.

    The second option at the moment is a fully auto machine. I havent done much research on these, but considering im doing long blacks I thought I may be able to get away with it? In the perfect world I would love a fully auto that didnt cost the earth and made a good cup and had a decent grinder, but I dunno if there is such a thing! One i have checked out is the Delonghi Magnifica, not sure how it actually goes though. I wish I could get a cup out of a few of these autos to see what its like!

    So that's where I am at now. I have sent a "quote form" off TWICE today and had no response from the sponsors which I thought was a bit weird. Anyway, sorry for waffling on, so that's my story! Love to hear what you guys think / recommend.

    cheers

    Jacob

  • #2
    I have never met a fully auto machine that would make a decent coffee, but then again they have only been at work where they were usually bought from the company that provides stationery. And I would think a black coffee would require a more forgiving palate than a white of any kind - the milk can mask a lot of issues.

    If bench space is such a premium, maybe look into 'press' style machines or even a drip filter or percolator - espressos tend to take up a bit of room - and a grinder with fresh beans will provide quite good coffee in almost any style of machine. (which might be another issue with full autos - the beans tend to sit in the hopper for days at a time)

    I have a Sunbeam 6910 which is, as near as I can tell, about normal in size for a single group home machine, and it would be about 34cm wide and more than that deep (with the PF handle sticking out) and it needs some rear space so you can open the rear door, so it is not a trivial investment in benchtop space.

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks Journeyman, yeah I have checked out a few of those sunbeam machines including the 6910, myer had a 15% off sale on the weekend, but i could still get it on the net cheaper (they sell rrp!). Can you tell me if the thermoblock systems heat up instantly, as in you dont have to wait 10 - 15 mins for the machine to warm up before making a coffee?

      Comment


      • #4
        Question,
        What's your budget?

        My new dual boiler Lelit PL60 takes no longer to heat up than my old Sunbeam 6910.
        It steams milk in half the time too.
        People don't seem to grasp that most of these machines only have small boilers (250-400ml) and are faster to heat up than boiling 2 cups of water in a kettle.
        I turn mine on of a morning, have a shower, get dressed and then make my coffee and it's perfectly up to temp.

        while the Sunbeam/ Brevilles are a good starting point,
        the shiny Italian machines are far better built, and a second-hand one will operate fine for many years with proper maintenance

        But if you're a black drinker mainly and don;t feel the need for simultaneous steam/ brew, then check out some of the smaller single boiler machines.
        The Rancillio Silvia,
        Rancilio Silvia V2 (Used)
        Lelit PL041
        Lelit PL041E Espresso Machine
        these are very similar machines

        or one with built in grinder
        Lelit Combi with PID (PL042TEMD) - pre loved

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi Robbks, Budget max would be like 1200 I'd say.

          Thanks for the recommendations!

          yeah I do drink mainly black, but I 100% want the option to be able to make a decent cap / latte. I think I can get a way with a single boiler.

          I have been speaking to one of the team at jet black and they have been SUPER helpful. They also advised that the PL041E would be a top pick machine, or the one with the built in grinder. I need to compare this one to the Breville Barista Express. Im sure the Lelit is better, but $500 better? Im not sure.

          Thermo block should warm up faster in the Breville though shouldnt it?

          Comment


          • #6
            FWIW, I think if you're not happy with Nespresso, you won't take too much a step forward with the Breville.

            If you really want to have good black coffee, I'm with the earlier recommendations and those of Jetblack.

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Juvv View Post
              Hi Robbks, Budget max would be like 1200 I'd say.

              Thanks for the recommendations!

              yeah I do drink mainly black, but I 100% want the option to be able to make a decent cap / latte. I think I can get a way with a single boiler.

              I have been speaking to one of the team at jet black and they have been SUPER helpful. They also advised that the PL041E would be a top pick machine, or the one with the built in grinder. I need to compare this one to the Breville Barista Express. Im sure the Lelit is better, but $500 better? Im not sure.

              Thermo block should warm up faster in the Breville though shouldnt it?
              For $1200 i got the dual boiler Lelit PL60T V2 and a Rancillio Rocky Grinder
              and the combo is well worth the $900 extra over my old EM6910 and 0480 combo.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Juvv View Post
                So that's where I am at now. I have sent a "quote form" off TWICE today and had no response from the sponsors which I thought was a bit weird.
                Jacob
                Hi and welcome to CS, Jacob.

                Coming off a pod machine, there's only one way you can go and that's up!
                I hope you get sorted with your machine and can continue your journey in the coffee world.
                The sponsors are all pretty busy people, be patient and you will get replies, in due time!

                ask questions, enjoy the ride :-D

                cheers.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
                  FWIW, I think if you're not happy with Nespresso, you won't take too much a step forward with the Breville.

                  If you really want to have good black coffee, I'm with the earlier recommendations and those of Jetblack.
                  From a sponsor that sells machine, this comment is really not fair. I'm quite disappointed. But w/e

                  Take it from me. I went from nespresso to the Breville dual boiler. The difference is leagues ahead.

                  FWIW, the Breville in my opinion out preforms all others on value.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Thanks ggoosen, I appreciate your input! SEems the Brevilles are pretty damn popular so they must be doing something right.

                    Ive really fallen in love the with Lever machines (elektra s1 micro and the La Pavoni Romantica) They would look awesome in my kitchen. Romantica isnt even really available in Australia, and the Elektra is over my budget for a first proper machine. If I could find one of these are a good price I would probably still snatch it up and learn how to use it !

                    And thanks to Chokkidog, the only sponsor who contacted me was Jet black, so the others must be VERY busy

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Juvv View Post
                      And thanks to Chokkidog, the only sponsor who contacted me was Jet black, so the others must be VERY busy
                      Hi Juvv,

                      I seem to recall you're in NSW? Jetblack are one importer of Lelit and they attend to enquiries from states where they are yet to appoint agents- as well as local NSW enquiries. We are their Vic agent so it was a no go for us.

                      Originally posted by ggoosen View Post
                      From a sponsor that sells machine, this comment is really not fair. I'm quite disappointed. But w/e

                      Take it from me. I went from nespresso to the Breville dual boiler. The difference is leagues ahead.

                      FWIW, the Breville in my opinion out preforms all others on value.
                      Might I suggest that you do a little checking within the Breville range to enlighten yourself on which machine the Barista Express actually is. I suspect you have confused it either with the dual boiler or the Oracle. The OP has set a package budget below that of the Breville dual boiler.

                      My comments stand. Herewith one serving of humble pie.
                      Last edited by TC; 26 September 2013, 10:54 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Maybe you could try one of these! :-D

                        Yep, this is a coffee machine!

                        V12 ‹ Espresso Veloce

                        after all, you did say fast coffee……………….:-D

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post
                          Hi Juvv,
                          I seem to recall you're in NSW? Jetblack are one importer of Lelit and they attend to enquiries from states where they are yet to import agents- as well as local NSW enquiries. We are their Vic agent so it was a no go for us.
                          well that explains it! mustn't be many sponsors in NSW

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by chokkidog View Post
                            Maybe you could try one of these! :-D

                            Yep, this is a coffee machine!

                            V12 ‹ Espresso Veloce

                            after all, you did say fast coffee……………….:-D
                            Haha, I think it's safe to say it would be over budget

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Talk_Coffee View Post



                              Might I suggest that you do a little checking within the Breville range to enlighten yourself on which machine the Barista Express actually is. I suspect you have confused it either with the dual boiler or the Oracle. The OP has set a package budget below that of the Breville dual boiler.

                              My comments stand. Herewith one serving of humble pie.
                              Seriously... Do i even need to go over this..

                              The bes870 is still a reputable machine. It has shot temp as well as volume measurement pre infusion etc. . And before you get all arrogant on me again. Its the machine I had before I got the bdb.

                              Its leagues ahead of a nespresso. Another machine I actually have..

                              So im not sure where you get off making assumptions about what I do or don't know. But they fact of the matter is and my point still stands. A Breville DB or BE would be an improvement on what he has.

                              Comment

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