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  • Looking for first machine - small footprint?

    All,
    Well I came here to research something I thought was going to be an easy decision, however after reading many many threads and still being no closer to a decision I thought Id throw it out to the group to see what you would all recommend.


    The wife has granted me my wish - to be able to get my first espresso machine, however there are some conditions to this purchase.

    We drink milk based drinks and would be looking at 10-15 cups per week (max) and usually no more than 2 at a time, and in most cases will be 1 at a time (I work from home often)

    Her conditions are pretty simple - should be relatively easy to use... she is open to learning, however she doesnt want to have to take a 5 day course to get good coffee out of it. It has to be as small as possible and take up as little bench space as possible.

    We browsed through Myer last weekend and I pointed out the 6910, which she thought was a tad large..... so with that in mind, can you recommend a machine and grinder that have small footprints ??????

    Thanks
    Geoff

  • #2
    Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

    I reckon you cant go past the Gaggia Classic.  I have had one for 13 months, and love it.  It doesnt take long to be making really good coffee, and it is capable of making amazing coffee, if you put the time in.

    The only downer is the bugger of a steaming wand.  The panarello is good for extreme beginners and the incredibly lazy, but you will be wanting to do the infamous Gaggia wand mod pretty quickly.

    I will insert a pretty standard question in here about budget.  You really need to outline what budget you are in. At a guess, if you are interested in the Sunbeam, they retail for $699, I think, so you would be really needing to spend another $180 on a Sunbeam grinder, at the very least.  If your total budget is $699, then you will need to look at spending less on the machine, and definately go the Sunbeam Grinder.

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    • #3
      Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

      I think the ECM Botticelli has relatively small footprint. but I dont know if its out of your budget. Has she seen a Silvia its also a bit smaller then a 6910. as to the learning question. I think with a decent grinder and fresh beans, it doesnt matter how badly she makes the coffee. It will be better then pre-ground supermarket stuff.

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      • #4
        Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

        What sort of budget are you looking at?

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        • #5
          Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

          All,
          Thanks for the replies to date -- the budget would be around 1K for machine AND grinder. However could be stretched further if the wife liked the coffee it produced, and my bonus at work comes in....
          Geoff

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          • #6
            Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

            Mazzer Mini and a Breville Ikon. When upgradeitis hits, youll only need to upgrade the machine.

            However, the ECM KS looks very "cute" and has a small footprint for a grinder.

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            • #7
              Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

              All,
              Thanks for the replies to date -- the budget would be around 1K for machine AND grinder. However could be stretched further if the wife liked the coffee it produced, and my bonus at work comes in....
              Geoff
              I reckon go with a Rocky and a Classic.

              That way, it will take longer for the upgraditis to kick in, and when it does, you can leap-frog directly to a Hx machine, and the Rocky will be able to keep up.

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              • #8
                Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                Hmmm,

                Using that line of logic, I think it would be better to go with a slightly better grinder in the form of a Macap M4, ECM Best, etc.... You would then never need to upgrade the grinder, just replace the burr-plates every 10-15 years or so

                Mal.

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                • #9
                  Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                  Im with you Mal on not having to upgrade but one of the "conditions" was "It has to be as small as possible and take up as little bench space as possible".

                  The Macap would cast a shadow over the Rocky.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                    I guess it would but in the overall scheme of things I thought the Macap M4 would be very compatible "size-wise" with the Gaggia Classic, as with the ECM?

                    Mal.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                      Mal...just a thought about the Rocky...I am finding that my Rocky seems to work just as well with the Faema commercial machine as it does with by EM6910....can anyone tell me whether stepping up (with no steps!) from Rocky provides noticeable improvements on a commercial HX?

                      Cheers

                      PS. The Gaggia classic is a very nice looking machine, if you want a small print - a mate has one and is very happy with it. The grinder would have to be at least the top of the line Sunbeam or better still the Rocky doserless.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                        Im always sceptical about this notion that you need a better grinder for a better machine. I cant see how a sunbeam grinder would give you a worse shot of coffee on a 6910 then it would on a Giotto or a Faema. So long as it can grind fine enough to give a decent timed pour.

                        so whilst a better grinder will make a better coffee on any machine. you might notice/apreciate the difference more on a better machine.

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                        • #13
                          Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                          Gday Oz,

                          As MM67 alludes to, I would let your taste-buds be your guide. I dont believe its the case that many grinders actually grind better than the Rocky, its more to do with fine adjustment capability I think.

                          As you become more adept and acquire more finesse with your Faema, you may reach a stage where you require a finer range of grinding adjustment than the Rocky can provide in order to extract the best from the bean. I guess if Rocky could be easily modded with a Worm-Drive mechanism to facilitate stepless grind adjustment, you would arguably never have the need or desire to replace him. As it happens though, I am unaware of the existence of any such mod, mores the pity.

                          Mal.

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                          • #14
                            Re: Looking for first machine - small footprint?

                            The toothpick mod (jam a toothpick at the edge of the hopper base to lock the grind position) is the only mod Ive heard of for allowing a Rocky to grind between steps. Teflon taping the upper burr carrier can improve the grind quality a bit on some Rockys (and other stepped grinders with brass burr carriers) depending on how much clearance there is bewteen the upper and lower burr carrier threads.

                            I agree with muppet_man67 once you get to the level of the Sunbeam EM450 onwards (and providing there isnt play in the burr mounts due to wear or poor tolerance).

                            The EM6910 is the easiest machine Ive come across for making decent espresso shots due to the thermoblock heating (no surfing possible and temp control is pretty good) and the brew pressure gauge giving clear indication of the grind/dose
                            You really only need to get the tamp reasonable and then dose/tamp to get shots with the same brew pressure reading. The Gaggias are much more finicky to get a really good shot.

                            You could probably get a EM6910 + Lux grinder (similar to Sunbeam but noiser, smaller, less flash, proven design) for a bit under $1000 from David Jones.

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