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  • #16
    Re: Which Machine?

    HI Coffeemum, good choice on Silvia.....but you will need a grinder, if you use pre-ground you wont get good shots, you need to dial in the grind with Silvia to get good shots. The Sunbeam EM450 does a good job and you should be able to pick one up for $130ish, tell hubby you need a grinder, it is the most important part of making good espresso, without it Silvia will not reach her full potontial and you will end up with gushers all the time.
    Good luck..............................

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    • #17
      Re: Which Machine?

      I am aware that Silvias talents will be wasted until I get my grinder, but hubby is still at the"dont want to know" stage, and therefore not willing to look at any infromation, held captive or not.

      Over the past 23 years I have learned how to get what I want, sometimes it takes a lilttle while, but I get there in the end, and I would rather wait and have him happy with the decision.

      Hubby and daughter may be stooging me and there might be a nice surprise under the Christmas tree. Daughter understands the need, knows what I want and where to get it, and has leant (from her mum) how to get around her father (I can hope).

      It will happen.

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      • #18
        Re: Which Machine?

        You could make some bad coffees with the preground beans then that might convince him that with a grinder things will be much better. We find it difficult to go out and have coffee now because we can usually make better ones at home.
        Merry Christmas
        Crisp Image

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        • #19
          Re: Which Machine?

          Hi Crisp Image, making bad coffee is just one of the many weapons I have up my sleeve, but it is probably going to be the most used, and it may not be intentional, but I will certainly be blaming the grounds, and letting him know (nag) that a grinder will definitely fix the problem.

          I am hoping to be able to produce a reasonable cup with some "just home" coffee, then make comment (pout) that the next brew doesnt taste as good, and the next even worse. Then, I can run out of ground coffee Saturday afternoon (of course) and buy some really cheap supermarket stuff for Sunday brunch, making sure that there is a nice fresh home-made fruit loaf to go with the crappy coffee (whinge). By that stage I am hoping for the "if you must " sigh, and Ill have my grinder as soon as I can get to the shop.

          In the meantime I need to do some more research, Rocky is my choice at the moment, but Im going to look at what is around that may be a little better. Also need to decide on doser or doserless. Looks may be important as well, at the moment any grinder will be living in the cupboard and only coming out for duty, but a good looking one may eventually be allowed to live on the bench.

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          • #20
            Re: Which Machine?

            Dont forget to consider the second hand market - you can often find very well cared for equipment right here! The silvia/rocky combo goes for ~$800 which is exactly your budget as referred to a few posts back... I would never buy a plasticy thing 2nd hand but the rancilios are semi-industrial... as you have seen. I went a few months without a grinder when I first stumbled into the coffee world and honestly its better to think of the coffee machine and grinder as a single unit.. though yes, $800 is a rather large obstacle. But soy lattes are expensive... a coffee a day for three months and youre approaching it!

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            • #21
              Re: Which Machine?

              Hello CoffeeMum

              Love your work     But PLEASE, dont give away too many tactical secrets    
              Ive been trying to encourage my luvly man to read some of the threads here.  Its part of my plot to buy some equipment for home-roasting while retaining domestic harmony  :    
              But if he sees some of your posts.. hell be on to my evil plan in no time  ;D  ;D  ;D

              - Carrie  

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              • #22
                Re: Which Machine?

                Sheesh..... :-?

                What hope have we mere males got against an onslaught of those proportions ....

                Anyway, all power to you "coffee mum" and hope the grinder is sitting under your Xmas Tree ;D

                Mal.

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                • #23
                  Re: Which Machine?

                  I would say a doserless grinder wold be better. Simply the doser can store gound beans which is good if you are constantly making coffees but if you make one or 2 a day then the grounds will go stale in the doser. This is my opinion and I will stand to be corrected if needed.
                  Regards
                  Crisp Image

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                  • #24
                    Re: Which Machine?

                    Recommendations for the $500-$1000 machine normally fall into the choice of the Gaggia Classic, the Sunbeam EM6910 and the Rancilio Miss Silvia (without PID) which is always accompanied by the advice of getting a good grinder first.

                    One brand that also falls into this price range is Nemox with the Dell Opera only getting the occasional mention. This is somewhat surprising as I havent really heard a bad word against it. It also has the bonus of a built-in grinder which reportedly does an adequate job. I realise that few CS sponsors sell this machine but it does appear to tick quite a few boxes.

                    Theres even the Nemox Lux grinder at around $300. Looks like an Ascaso iMini style of grinder. If you couple that with a Nexox Fenice, you still have change from $1000.

                    I have no experience of this brand so cant speak for or against it. Should it be avoided? Im not thinking of buying one, just wondering why it doesnt get much of a mention.

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                    • #25
                      Re: Which Machine?

                      Originally posted by Crisp image link=1228792765/20#22 date=1229505025
                      I would say a doserless grinder wold be better. Simply the doser can store gound beans which is good if you are constantly making coffees but if you make one or 2 a day then the grounds will go stale in the doser. This is my opinion and I will stand to be corrected if needed.
                      Regards
                      Crisp Image
                      You never need to leave grounds in the doser.
                      You only need to grind enough for one cup if you want.
                      If you dont have a doser and need to do more than a couple of coffees at a time youll wish you had a doser.
                      If you have a doser you can grind for one or a few at a time.

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                      • #26
                        Re: Which Machine?

                        Ill second "flynnauss" suggestion for the Nemox Fenice line of machinery...

                        At east one of our site sponsors sells this range of machines which represent excellent bang for buck and are superior to both the Sunbeam EM6910 and the Gaggia Classic in my opinion (from an engineering standpoint).

                        Heres a link to our sponsors page... Coffee Machine Express

                        Mal.

                        Comment


                        • #27
                          Re: Which Machine?

                          You never need to leave grounds in the doser.
                          You only need to grind enough for one cup if you want.
                          If you dont have a doser and need to do more than a couple of coffees at a time youll wish you had a doser.
                          If you have a doser you can grind for one or a few at a time.

                          So I stand corrected however I think I would find that I grind too much (even on a doserless) and would be constantly be throwing out the surpluss. So How do you overcome this. I use to put just enough beans in the hopper but have changed my ways and put in enough for a day or 2.
                          Regards
                          Crisp Image

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                          • #28
                            Re: Which Machine?

                            I used to be able to judge by eye how much to put in the hopper for one shoitbut it was a little inconsistant.

                            Now I measure my beans into a spare basket and toss them in.
                            Havent had any leftover grinds for many, many months since doing it this way.

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                            • #29
                              Re: Which Machine?

                              Hi All and hope you had a merry Christmas

                              [smiley=smiley.gif] [smiley=smiley.gif] [smiley=smiley.gif]

                              I"m Happy Happy Happy! Hubby has finally said yes to both Silvia and Rocky. So Im heading off Melbourne tomorrow  and will be bringing my new friends home.

                              Im really looking forward to making a "real" coffee and have been looking at the roasting threads, might let the dust settle for a couple of weeks before I get some green beans and bring home a new popper. I think my coffee should have a dedicated popper, wouldnt want popcorn flavoured coffee or coffee flavoured popcorn

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                              • #30
                                Re: Which Machine?

                                Congradulations! Coffee Mum,
                                Thats a good purchase now all you have to do is get some fresh coffee and have a go at making great coffee

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