Best machine under $1200

[kbilleter]

...
there are good functional coffee makers out there for under $500 and our Dehlonghi EC680, so far, appears to be one of them. But of course my opinion could be different in 3 years time.

Depends heavily on your use case I'd say. I'm guessing it would struggle in higher volume situations (or even banging out two double-shot lattés quickly) but if that's not a requirement and you're happy with the output that's great.

[Tassie_Devil]

You guys seriously think serious coffee people are snobs with equipment?

LOL, nothing personal, but I do think SOME people are, but maybe not many who post here because, like you, most are more knowledgeable.

But your post does make me think I should start pulling these things apart myself. I just replaced the battery in our iPhone so am conscious of saving dollars to do repairs myself (Apple wanted over $200 to do the battery replacement).

However not everyone is as skillful as you obviously are and my basic point still holds. Expense does not always correlate with quality and there are good functional coffee makers out there for under $500 and our Dehlonghi EC680, so far, appears to be one of them. But of course my opinion could be different in 3 years time.

[LeroyC]

I bought a Bezzera BZ40P in 2005 for $800. It was made in 1996. I did some work on it initially and spent maybe $80. I have spend since then practically nothing except for a few seals. I recently replaced it with a Wega Mini Nova Classic but I had to put in $210 rotary pump before sale. I will likely get $600 for it. It will still go for another 20 years. The machine still looks new and is for sale if you are in Perth!

My Rocky was bought at the same time for $450. I haven't spent a bean on it and it is still going strong. I will probably get $250 for it.

Both these machines will still be running on someone's bench in 10 maybe 20 years time.

My total spend was $880 $450 + $100 + $210 less sale price $600 + $250.

It cost me therefore $790 for 11 years of ownership. In that time I had some of the finest machines you can buy which looked great on my bench and did some amazing coffee.

You guys seriously think serious coffee people are snobs with equipment?

Spot on. I've had similar experiences.

[wattgn]

I bought a Bezzera BZ40P in 2005 for $800. It was made in 1996. I did some work on it initially and spent maybe $80. I have spend since then practically nothing except for a few seals. I recently replaced it with a Wega Mini Nova Classic but I had to put in $210 rotary pump before sale. I will likely get $600 for it. It will still go for another 20 years. The machine still looks new and is for sale if you are in Perth!

My Rocky was bought at the same time for $450. I haven't spent a bean on it and it is still going strong. I will probably get $250 for it.

Both these machines will still be running on someone's bench in 10 maybe 20 years time.

My total spend was $880 $450 + $100 + $210 less sale price $600 + $250.

It cost me therefore $790 for 11 years of ownership. In that time I had some of the finest machines you can buy which looked great on my bench and did some amazing coffee.

You guys seriously think serious coffee people are snobs with equipment?

[Tassie_Devil]

Mmmm. Interesting thread.

However, in the light of my experience (ongoing) with our $1500+ Breville BES900, that looks as if its life is only 3 years due to planned obsolescence (parts no longer available), I think paying 4 figure sums for a coffee machine is a waste of dollars. Some months ago our BES900 was supposed to be fixed so I paid the over $300 repair cost only to find it did not work at all so back it went and has remained unrepaired. There is discussion on all this in the other thread so I'll say no more on that topic here.

As posted before, I gave up waiting for the repair and purchased a Dehlonghi EC680 for about the same cost of the BES900 "repair".

Yes, there is a coffee making ritual associated with this machine but it is really no different to that with the Breville (said he, trying to remember that experience in the long ago past) and the coffee using freshly ground from the Breville grinder (agree it is essential).

So I say, forget about resale value, and the important corollary to that is NEVER buy a used one as they all have a limited shelf life with heat, water and associated seals etc involved. OK, some brands might last longer than our Breville BES900, but I'm sceptical that ANY machine over $500 is a good buy. I suspect there is a strong placebo effect here in that the coffee appears to taste better from a more expensive machine. I wonder if any double blind tests have been done on this!

Apologies if I'm stirring the pot and being cynical but this site is well named Coffee Snobs because I do feel there is a lot of snobbishness about coffee machines, just as there is about many consumer products.

That said, if a person is happy with their expensive or inexpensive coffee maker then end of story. We all have different tastes and aspirations and that is a good thing. It would be a very boring world if we all thought the same way and agreed on everything!!

[wattgn]

That was my starting point too. Was intending to upgrade when the SB broke but here I am still waiting 6 years later :P

I know someone who knows someone who can make it have a bad accident...

[ST]

My own fascination with coffee started with a Sunbeam, so you might be standing on the edge of the same slippery slope

That was my starting point too. Was intending to upgrade when the SB broke but here I am still waiting 6 years later :P

[chokkidog]

Sorted...Problem is which one to use?

• Behmor
• Aillio
• Proaster Sample roaster
• Has Garanti

Popcorn machine, cheap and easy.

And then when hooked, simply work your way down the list..

When the above list of roasters is already lined up in your shed a popper seems a rather curious choice! ;-D

[l0u0k0e]

Sorted...Problem is which one to use?

• Behmor
• Aillio
• Proaster Sample roaster
• Has Garanti

Popcorn machine, cheap and easy.

And then when hooked, simply work your way down the list..

[readeral]

Has Garanti of course! Just requires a few other accessories of it's own, like a building, and gas supply etc. easy!

If only I could have a Has Garanti..

[TC]

Coffee roaster

Sorted...Problem is which one to use?

• Behmor
• Aillio
• Proaster Sample roaster
• Has Garanti

[trentski]

Now that i have a machine, i need to buy accessories, so.....what's your number 1 coffee machine accessory that you cant live without?

Coffee roaster

[TC]

Can I have #201 please Chris?

Sure Paul,

I think that CS'ers would deem that you have completed #101 now

FWIW, I still prefer the Coffee Catcha- but it's over 2 x price.

Chris

[LeroyC]

That's funny. My first thought was "do you think I have been living under a rock?"
I sell LIDO grinders so of course I have heard of OE. I just haven't seen that funnel before, and I want one!
Cheers - Paul

[emoji28][emoji1303]

[TC]

Yes- the OE funnels sell steadily. A couple of hundred of them have gone to Aussie homes via us.