Best machine under $1200

[symphonie]

Seriously A single boiler as a gift for wife? OP did say the machine would also need to be VERY user friendly.

[wattgn]

Rancilio domestic vs Lelit..... I gave this one a lot of thought. They're close but I like Lelit for the range of machine options and the champion grinder. That grinder is a little gem.
A Rancilio package is a little cheaper though and meets the under $1200 budget.
A few hundred extra $ will serve you well here but I guess that's the problem, there's always another option just a few hundred $ away

I would say this is perfect. It is a good machine and grinder combo capable of doing great espresso and latte, as good as any machine of any price.

I wonder though whether for some people this is too much fiddling. 99% of people just buy a grinder/machine combo with a rubber orifice in the bottom to simulate crema in the cup but in fact is rather underextracted and doesn't compare with a properly done espresso. They then buy ground coffee and then pretend the result is espresso. It isn't but some people are happy enough with the result. If you get a normal portafilter of course without such crema producer and use pre ground coffee then the result is usually even worse as there is no way to control the flow rate. It would be pure luck if it went through at the proper rate even with a good tamp.

My Bezzera was out of action for some time. In that time I used my Rocky Grinder and a plunger to produce great long blacks. Good stuff, not espresso but excellent coffee nevertheless.

I wonder if the OP should forget Espresso as he either needs a wife who doesn't mind fiddling with a Silvia or other machine to get good Espresso.

He may be better just to buy a Rocky grinder or similar then drink nice plunger coffee and leave the Espresso for another time. You can buy some nice roasted beans.

[skidquinn]

Still think the silvia/rocky combo is a great option in this price range. Bang on 1300 combined at one of the site sponsors pages I checked. Quality machines that are very capable and will last the test of time.

Have to agree with this one. OP's question is best machine & grinder under $1200....
Keeping in mind this is a present for his wife, he isn't exactly going to buy her a grinder on its own. So scrap that idea. The best option IMO in the price range is a second hand machine / grinder. But again the gift thing. Scrap that.

So a new machine, new grinder under $1200 ($1300 max) has to be the Silvia + Rocky, right? If you wanted to save $$ for now, you could get a cheaper grinder (maybe sunbeam or whatever).

[mentasm]

Still think the silvia/rocky combo is a great option in this price range. Bang on 1300 combined at one of the site sponsors pages I checked. Quality machines that are very capable and will last the test of time.

[Fard]

A lot of good info here but most are over your budget of $1100.00 with a grinder.
Have a look at the Sunbeam EM7000 and the Sunbeam EM0700 grinder. I have both for quite a few years now and very happy with them. They are simple to use and it pulls great shots and the grinder is a big leap up on the EM480 I had.
I upgraded to these from a Sunbeam 6910 and a EM 480.
If you then get the bug then you can upgrade again to a Rocket type of machine at around $3400.00
Good luck with ever you buy and enjoy your coffee. You should be able to package these of around $1100.00.

[KopiV]

If it was me in your situation, i'd likely buy a grinder a Behmor and some greens and learn to roast them for my wife to enjoy. Machine can come later IMO.

[Rorschach]

Going to chip in here
My first machine I spent 12 months using (good) pre-ground while living with the wife's parents waiting for our house to get built. As it was my first machine, I didn't know the difference (or any better). When I bought a grinder, I did notice the difference but the pre-ground was fine for the time I was using it.

[MrFreddofrog]

This may be a dumb question, but OP are you sure she wants a coffee machine?

You wouldn't be the first to get the WFT look afterwards.

Just checking

[AlMac]

you could even try and snag a 2nd hand mazzer mini or k3 push for a grinder and land around 1200 but of course for a bday present 2nd hand isnt gonna look great.

I have a 12 year old Mazzer Mini. Just replaced the burrs ($70). Works like new, or possibly better than new actually.
Second hand grinder grinder like a Mazzer from a kind and careful owner would be a bargain.

[kbilleter]

Grinder also factors into ease of use. I find grinding directly into the portafilter much easier than spooning out ground coffee.

[timdimdom]

ease of use is a hard question to answer as most of the extra features in machines mean they end up costing more. at your price point it would have to be a single boiler to fit a grinder in the budget somewhere unless you go down the smart duo path.

I'd say its really up to you if you think an appliance that will probably only last 3-4 years is worth the much lower outlay at the start. amortising the cost over 3 or 4 years is easy with something like the BDB price point. even 1 coffee a day for 2 years at $4 minus bean cost lands you near the machine's cost.


otherwise a small single boiler like the lelit or rancillio are your best bet. you could even try and snag a 2nd hand mazzer mini or k3 push for a grinder and land around 1200 but of course for a bday present 2nd hand isnt gonna look great. haha
incidentally: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/coffee-har...der-black.html
and dont forget accessories. :O
a PID can always be added on later to the silvia too


also! a grinder for a birthday present isnt the worst if you think about it. she already has an aeropress

another option would be to get her a machine this year and a grinder next year hahaha. pre-ground for a year while she has more to be desired. or even a stand-in 2nd hand smart grinder until you get her a proper one.
while everyone argues preground is not ideal, we all make our journeys at the pace our wallets set, my few months pulling preground shots, then blade-ground shots with a minore really taught me first hand how important the grinder was.......... you live and you learn

hope this helps.

[AlMac]

Buy a Lelit, Rancilio or Gaggia for quality, working life and re-sale value.

In your budget, all the advice you need IMO (although I'd leave the Gaggia off).

Otherwise you will buy an inferior product, only end up with a machine OR grinder or spend more than you have budgeted.
These machines all have one boiler and you need to flick a switch and wait for the boiler to reach steam point to do your milk, which means waiting around a few minutes. The Lelit grinder may scream like a banshee, unless it's been quietened since I owned one many years ago??
If you do not like this idea, then spend more money or go back to Sunbeam and Breville.
Alternatively, the endless cycle of research and advice awaits (I am great at this and have spent heaps of time doing it - so nothing wrong with that either).

Agree with the "do not use pre-ground coffee". If that's what you want then stick with pods.

[TC]

Not sure she will be that happy receiving something that she cannot use until i buy her a machine?

There are probably hundreds of different ways to make great coffee. Espresso is merely one.

[jymorgan]

Agreed Bruce,

I'd be amongst the first to suggest that the OP purchase a grinder and put a hold on the machine if required...

I acknowledge that people come to this forum with different levels of geek/OCD and that whilst for some perfection is a bare minimum, others are just looking for the next step after Nescafe. I'm thankful that this forum brings some of those people to me.

My bag grinder is the least utilised piece of equipment in our warehouse. If you in directing someone to a source of high quality ground coffee or if a roaster such as myself or Andy by using a bag grinder to provide ground coffee to a customer makes for a troll, then I too am a troll.

Where's my bridge?

Chris

Wait....what? Your suggesting i buy a grinder and not a machine until my budget can accommodate both?

So I'm buying my wife a grinder for her birthday? Not sure she will be that happy receiving something that she cannot use until i buy her a machine?

[TC]

Agreed Bruce,

I'd be amongst the first to suggest that the OP purchase a grinder and put a hold on the machine if required...

I acknowledge that people come to this forum with different levels of geek/OCD and that whilst for some perfection is a bare minimum, others are just looking for the next step after Nescafe. I'm thankful that this forum brings some of those people to me.

My bag grinder is the least utilised piece of equipment in our warehouse. If you in directing someone to a source of high quality ground coffee or if a roaster such as myself or Andy by using a bag grinder to provide ground coffee to a customer makes for a troll, then I too am a troll.

Where's my bridge?

Chris