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  • Coffee Machine Gripes

    We laud them, and try to overlook their shortcomings. But lets be honest here, what annoys you about YOUR machine.

    If you were to send a report to the manufacturer, or a potential consumer, what are the negatives youd draw attention to and have fixed.

    Ill kick off with the Rancilio Silvia.

    Ummm

    Lets see...  :

    Thinking....thinking...

    No, thats ok....(must be something there....)

    Oh yes:-

    -Steam knob needs further tightening when cool, otherwise water sprays out when machine is switched on again later.

    -Space between portafilter and drip tray needs to be increased to take two latte glasses without having to tilt them.  
    >
    -Drip tray of course. Too shallow

    -Cosmetically, polished stainless steel or chrome! would be more attractive and easier to clean  (ok, factor in a few more dollars in cost)

    -No visible tank water level.  A see-through slot at the side and a clear plastic tank would solve that.

    --No low-water alarm (ok, added cost, I know)

    --160º C steam is a tad too hot  :-*

    -A little more room for pitcher under the steam wand would be appreciated

    Over to you and yours...
    (Remember, we want the  NEGATIVES ONLY.)
    --Robusto



  • #2
    Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

    Ok, My go on the Solis SL-70

    1. It could do with a 3way-valve so it doesnt spray grinds everywhere every so often >

    2. Cant cut the PF to make it naked, because the handle is suporting from the bottom not the middle. So if it was cut the PF would just fall apart.

    3. Steam wand only goes in and out, harder to learn. But that might be just me. Making it to go towards the side like the silvia would be great.

    Hmmm... I think thats about it. Not much of problem from the Solis

    Oh yes, I got another one

    4. Get rid of the inbuilt tamper and supply with at least a plastic tamper. Cant get enough pressure going upwards

    Thats all for the Solis I think.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

      Sunbeam EM6900R

      1. Non-Standard PF
      2. Pulsations when using the Hot Water Wand (Hard to stop splashes)

      Thats it so far for me.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

        Why not; sounds like fun:

        Synesso Cyncra:

        -Finish off the edges; were tired of cutting ourselves on them
        -Put the steam lever on the front of the machine
        -Get different shower screens; Im sick of changing them every few months (although we do updose)
        -The stock four-holed, pointed steam tip isnt great
        -Deeper drip tray
        -Replace crappy plastic hot water switch with something that looks cooler
        -More reliable probes
        -Make the hot water mix valve accessible without removing the side panel
        -Change the levers so that over time resting your hand on them as you turn the lever on doesnt cause the internal bit to fail to engage the switch
        -Lighting underneath the back top section as a factory option
        -LM portafilters and spouts (ie. rubberised 15 degree handle, narrower spouts with the flat section that can easily be rested on the table for tamping)

        Obviously synesso have a lot to learn from sunbeam ;P Actually, to be fair, most of these issues have already been addressed by Synesso.

        La Marzocco FB80:

        -Fewer menus to scroll through after adjusting boiler temperature (maybe I should RTFM)
        -Change tap on hot water mix valve so that when you turn it in the "+" direction, the water is hotter, not colder ;P
        -Hot water mix valve accessible without removing side of machine
        -Optional higher legs (maybe these are available, though)
        -Use same LM logo as the WBC demitasses had on the bundled espresso cups
        -Include black and white photo of the guys at the factory behind the assembled machine to go with authenticity certificate ;P

        Cheers,

        Luca

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

          Expobar Leva

          - Rubber feet split (fix this quality issue)
          - No visible tank water level. A see-through slot at the side & clear plastic tank would do.
          - Optional lower legs .
          - Optional lower drip tray top (as per photos Ive seen online - possibly older or US market model).


          Comment


          • #6
            Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

            CSers. If this thread is going to work, it can only work if people make honest comments about the machines that they own or have substaintial experience with. If it becomes a comparison of cohuna size, ego or otherwise, were all wasting our time.

            Mods will take the liberty (as we always do) of editing or removing inappropriate or off thread posts and asking questions later. This has been done to this thread.....

            Feel free to make comment about your own machine as suggested in the original post, but please keep the sarcasm or cynicism for another forum...

            2mcm

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

              EM6910 - I still feel that steam power could be a little better. Its better than the 6900 but still not quite as good as a domestic boiler that I have also.

              Cheers

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                Gaggia Classic

                - a decent steam wand.
                - A bigger space between the pf and the base for glasses to fit under .
                - a decent pf handle that doesnt break so easily.
                - a hunky Italian barista to go with it (with cahunas).

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                  San Marino CKX:

                  Cons:

                  1. Runs extremely hot when pressurestat is adjusted slightly higher. Easy rememdy is to tune it back a bit. (500ml flushes vs. about 50-60ml)

                  2. Bend in steam arm makes frothing milk in jugs bigger than 600ml very difficult. Angle of bend also puts the tip a bit too close to the drip tray, making frothing in any jug a bit difficult.

                  3. Pressure gauge is suspect. Mine has failed, despite attempts to fix it. I first noticed the pressure read lower and lower, now the needle doesnt even move.

                  4. Height from grouphead to drip tray is fairly short. I use tallish glasses for lattes, and you have to angle them, making pulling shots a bit difficult.

                  Pros:

                  1. Can be either plumbed in or use water reservoir. I only use the reservoir, the plumbing in our place isnt the best.

                  2. Simple, semi-auto machine. Not a whole lot of electronics to go bad.

                  3. Drip tray drain. You can choose to remove the drip tray each time you use the machine, or hook a hose up and let it drain out into the sink. Much easier to keep clean by flushing the tray.


                  Im pretty satisfied with the machine. It doesnt have all the bells and whistles that newer HX machines have. Its not plagued with the serious problems that earlier models had. It does have its little niggles that you need to work around, but it produces great coffee, and thats all that matters.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                    Sunbeam EM6900

                    - Make it easier to remove that silly plastic thing from the portafilter
                    - Standard size portafilters (I would have thought sticking to standards would be a no-brainer)
                    - Change the drip tray so it catches pressure overflow properly instead of forming a pool under the drip tray.
                    - I find the steam knob position to be awkward - its on the side where youre already trying to hold the jug. I dont have two left hands! Same for the hot water wand.
                    - Some of the plastic parts (especially on the drip tray) seem to have melted/perished and have unsightly bubbles
                    - The instructions! Theyre crap - incomplete, unclear and flat-out inaccurate in places.

                    Weve found that the pressure gauge is a bit conservative - the coffee we like is deemed "over extracted" by the gauge (same as http://www.coffeeco.com.au/articles/sunbeam.html).

                    Herself would change the shape of the steam wand so the end matches professional machines. She also finds the position/movement of the wand a bit awkward and would like the plastic cover to be bigger so theres more to grab. Shed also like to change the noise - its really loud!

                    Its worth noting that were happy with the machine and get some good results. It just needs some things sorted out.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                      Originally posted by robusto link=1167630604/0#0 date=1167630604
                      Thinking....thinking...
                      Wondered what that noise was! :P ;D



                      Originally posted by robusto link=1167630604/0#0 date=1167630604
                      -A little more room for pitcher under the steam wand would be appreciated.

                      Do you not have your Silvia on the nemox tray, Robusto? I find that it gives the machine a better height and heaps of room for the jug.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                        Try levelling the machine Heretic - it never happened to me, but someone on this site had that problem once and corrected it by levellling - the front feet are the levellers - you turn them and they go up and down.

                        Cheers

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                          LaCimbali Junior S1:
                          I love my Junior but it does posess a few "idiosyncrasies":

                          - Drip tray is too small (this machine is the vibe-pump tank version) requiring frequent emptying unless you plumb it in.

                          - Spouts on dual-spout PF are set far apart which is fine unless you want to pour a doppio in which case you need to lift the glass up a little to aviod spillage. (most times I just use the bottomless I had made so its not that much of a big deal).

                          - Its a fairly hot bugger so needs quite a big cooling flush (I havent lifted the hood to see if I can tune this a bit).

                          - No water level indicator window (although it does have a water level sensor that halts operation and lights up an alert until you refill).

                          - I have the machine on a timer for 4:40 AM and sometimes (very rarely) the vacuum valve locks open meaning that the machine will not build pressure (consequently the element stays switched off). All it takes is to open the steam tap and purge, then all is back to normal. Apparently this is common in Juniors and other machines: a minor niggle as it happens maybe once every few months.

                          But Ive tried a fair few machines and I wouldnt swap it for anything else (Okay, maybe an LM if I had the kitchen space and money!)

                          Tim

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                            Originally posted by ozscott link=1167630604/0#11 date=1167693925
                            Try levelling the machine Heretic - it never happened to me, but someone on this site had that problem once and corrected it by levellling - the front feet are the levellers - you turn them and they go up and down.
                            ill give it a try, but ive heard its a known problem with the machine. plus, we have to move it each time we use it so its unlikely to be level each time.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Coffee Machine Gripes

                              ECM Giotto premium.
                              The only real gripe Ive got with the Giotto is the drip tray.
                              1. The tray holds about 1 litre of water, but in reality youd only let it get under half full before empyting it, otherwise youll have water everywhere when you take the tray out. (See point 2)
                              2. There are 2 little bits of rubber in the drip tray tray with an unknown purpose in life (possibly noise dampeners??) These little rubber bits grab at the tray when youre trying to remove it, increasing the risk of a spill. Another reason to have to empty it well before its full  
                              Ive removed these rubber thingys which has made the tray removal easier, but theres a bit more noise, possibly the drip tray rattling when the pump is going.
                              The upside to the tray is the reversible grid, which allows tall glasses to be placed under the pf.
                              A very minor whinge would be the lack of a low water warning light or level indicator, the machine shuts off when the water gets low. (Ive been caught once or twice with that feature whilst steaming milk )  Mental note, check water tank more often.
                              Apart from those small things, Im very happy with it.

                              Comment

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