New machine under $1000

[AussieAnt]

Hows it working out for you?

[murray02]

Ok today I picked up a 2nd hand lelit pl41temd with lelit pl042 mm grinder & tamper for $350...I'm going to use this for a few weeks to see how it goes. Was such a good buy & I could probably get most of my money back if I on sell it. But in the meantime I can see if a single boiler suits my needs. It's got to be better than my seaco fully auto I've been using since my em6910 died. Will keep u all posted & thanks for help advice.

[Casa Espresso]

Hey firstly hope I'm not hijacking this thread...should I create a new one? Well I checked out the lelit PL41TEMD today..while it looks great..I was disappointed in the size of the non commercial group! It was sitting next to the ECM casa 4. The ECM looked fantastic well made with a true commercial group. Unfortunately the machine was not hooked up for a demo.

Now I'm considering the ECM casa 4 as it's only a few hundred more but my budget will probably only stretch for a grinder under the $400 mark. Any opinions on the ECM?

PS had my first cold drip today..freaking awesome

The Casa 4 is certainly a step up over the Lelit PL4 in my opinion. A great package with a Macap M2M.

If budget can stretch an HX machine is always going to be the best option.

We have had dozens of customers , particularly those that have purchased Sylvia's who are back 12 months later saying "I wish I had spent a few hundred more and got an HX machine".

Maybe an Oscar, Bezzera BZ10, Isomac Tea....all of which can be paired with a grinder like the M2M.

Feel free to contact me directly if we can help further.

Cheers

Antony

[degaulle]

Hey firstly hope I'm not hijacking this thread...should I create a new one? Well I checked out the lelit PL41TEMD today..while it looks great..I was disappointed in the size of the non commercial group! It was sitting next to the ECM casa 4. The ECM looked fantastic well made with a true commercial group. Unfortunately the machine was not hooked up for a demo.

Now I'm considering the ECM casa 4 as it's only a few hundred more but my budget will probably only stretch for a grinder under the $400 mark. Any opinions on the ECM?

PS had my first cold drip today..freaking awesome

For sure I would 't pick the ECM If it meant I would have to really skimp on the grinder.
That said, If you can get a deal on say a Quamar Q50 or beyond or don't mind a really good manual grinder and stil can stretch the budget for a machine like the ECM, I would consider an entry level Heat exchanger machine (Expobar Pulser/Control/Leva, NS Oscar) instead. Else for about the same money you could probably get a Bezzera Unica, which is PIDed out of the box and has a commercial E61 group head.

[lenayres]

Hello all,

I've owned 3 via venezia's over the years which with a Rocky Rancillo grinder made us a great number of lattes - (Typically 30-40 a week). They don't make these any more, so I'm looking for new options - $500-800 ish. Gaggia Classic, Rancillo Silva and Lelit PL41TEMD all look like good options. At this stage, I don't think I'll be able to find the time to do some mods (PID etc) to the machines..

Any thoughts and advice?

Cheers
**

I recently upgraded with a Christmas present to myself.....a Profitec 500. So, I have a Gaggia Classic that needs a new home. Any interest?

[murray02]

Hey firstly hope I'm not hijacking this thread...should I create a new one? Well I checked out the lelit PL41TEMD today..while it looks great..I was disappointed in the size of the non commercial group! It was sitting next to the ECM casa 4. The ECM looked fantastic well made with a true commercial group. Unfortunately the machine was not hooked up for a demo.

Now I'm considering the ECM casa 4 as it's only a few hundred more but my budget will probably only stretch for a grinder under the $400 mark. Any opinions on the ECM?

PS had my first cold drip today..freaking awesome

[Javaphile]

Javaphile, how does one make coffee in those temperatures?

Why do you think I have a commercial 2 group machine? It's so on the cold days (-50C) we can huddle around it for warmth!

Does the machine suffer from "frostbite"?

Nope, just the operator!


Java "Always a good idea to test a machine before buying" phile

[murray02]

Thanks 3rutu5 will check them out

[LFM60]

Somewhere cooler eh? How about -34C, would that be cool enough for ya?

Java "How cool is cool enough?" phile

Javaphile, how does one make coffee in those temperatures? Does the machine suffer from "frostbite"?

[LFM60]

mate, simplybeans at Underwood (off compton road) stocks Lelit. I've seen the sub $1000 machines there as well as the mara. Who knows you may even get a demonstration on it

Checked the website and it looks like a place I should visit in the name of research (and of course a coffee).

Thanks 3rutu5

[3rutu5]

mate, simplybeans at Underwood (off compton road) stocks Lelit. I've seen the sub $1000 machines there as well as the mara. Who knows you may even get a demonstration on it

[murray02]

Thanks Paul, they probably are cheaper in the long run due to longer life. I've come to the conclusion a PID is a must..the single boiler is all the budget will stretch to. Just hope it's easy to learn.

[Javaphile]

Hahaha purple envy eh?

Yup! Although truth be told its' color doesn't matter, I'd take it no matter what color it was. It's just an added bonus that it's my local team's color.

With a bit of care the electro-mechanical La Cimbali's can last a lifetime. As best as I can figure my M28 is somewhere around 30 years old and still performing as new. I've had it for a bit over 12 years and in that entire time I've only put about $150 into it and that includes the complete rebuild I did of it when I bought it. Prior to my buying it it was used in a commercial setting from new. They're serious workhorses designed to last for ages with no electronics to die on them.

South East Qld but wishing I was somewhere cooler......

Somewhere cooler eh? How about -34C, would that be cool enough for ya?


Java "How cool is cool enough?" phile

[murray02]

Mal, I'm leaning towards the lelit, love the look of it & built in PID. I was using a sunbeam em6910 before it died. Does these single boilers take a long time to make a coffee? In the morning I don't have much time before work..so it needs to be fairly fast. Is the lelit with a separate lelit grinder a better choice long term than say a breville double boiler? Thanks

[Dimal]

In my opinion, the Lelit offers better 'bang for buck' than a Silvia and is available with more useful options so that you can tailor your machine to something that suits your needs more closely. Lelit also has models that come fitted with a PID Controller right out of the box...

Best though, if you can visit a specialist retailer or three (such as our Site Sponsors) and see the machines performing side by side. Much easier to make the right decision then...

Mal.