New Sunbeam Torino triple thermoblock

[TC]

Any advice would be appreciated.

You'd be better to buy a good preloved prosumer machine than a clapped out commercial which does not suit your requirements.

Keep an eye on Coffee Hardware For Sale for some good options.

[magnafunk]

Not everybody has a spare metre of bench space for a 2 group commercial for starters. The warm up time can be a lot longer, if it's 1500 bucks it's possibly pretty old and clapped out. Commercial machines are made for knocking out back to back shots all day long and may run hot in a domestic situation. Also not everyone is able to plumb in which is usually a necessity with a commercial. This is also probably the wrong thread for it

[China]

Looking elsewhere.

Well I am still looking - reading up actually.
i gather that for my purposes I need one of the upper class jobs. A single boiler HX OR a dual boiler. They are expensive. So I have a query.

There are lots of second hand machines around - the type used in cafes etc. some of them have two heads. I gather that these would offer the performance of high end domestic machines - maybe even better. Why wouldn't one buy one of these, say a dual head - for less than $1500 instead of paying twice as much, or more, for the domestic type?

Any my advice would be appreciated.

thanks China.

[gonzo89]

One of the usual resident scumtree lowballers will probably pick it up for $199 (aka market value )

That sounds just about right

[Gazzie]

Hi I bought a torino + grinder last xmas 2015 ($20k @ HN) and think its great,Im not quite a coffee snob but close enough, with adjustable settings and a flow meter I find it works well for me. I drink short blacks and can when required add the fluffy milk etc.
I was unable to purchase the cleaning tablets and it has come up with CLEAN so I used some powder and run the coffee clean and the steam clean however I can't clear the CLEAN stage, anyone else had this problem. Machine still works just comes up with CLEAN instead of READY. I have repeated the cleaning processes several times downloaded instructions as the manual wasn't that clear tried shutting off at the wall socket to no avail.
All suggestions welcome
Cheers G

[TC]

One of the usual resident scumtree lowballers will probably pick it up for $199 (aka market value )

[gonzo89]

Just found a funny ad on 'scumtree'. One of these facade machines with a grinder for $450.
An unused wedding gift apparantly. Can't even hold it's value unused it seems haha

[China]

Well I finally got to see the Torino in action. And my decision is to "go elsewhere". Very disappointing.

[China]

Thank you for your advice.

I am still looking around and will make a decision shortly.

[LeroyC]

Well I am thinking further. Along a different line.

It seems to me that a lot of concern about machines is not only the ability to make the coffee but also to heat milk and to to carry the whole process quicly. The ability to do so depending on the design of the machine having dual boilers, dual thermoblocks or a heat ex-changer.

Now, what would be wrong with going for a single boiler, a well designed well made one and, instead of purchasing an expensive machine, buying a good quality milk steamer/ frother? Would this give a better outcome and a less expensive one?

All advice received will be appreciated.

China.

It is definitely an option worth considering. If you wanted to keep to a strict budget something like a Gaggia Classic with an upgraded steam arm is a good choice for people buying their first proper espresso machine. If you can spend a bit more then something like an Isomac Zaffiro or the Lelit single boiler is what you'd look at. And you don't need a separate steamer as you can still steam with all these machines. Some of them are actually more powerful steamers than a small HX or DB however you can't steam milk at the same time as extracting coffee and there is a small wait while the boiler heats up to steam pressure. I used to have a Gaggia Classic and due to the small boiler it used to be ready to steam in all of about 10 seconds so the wait was negligible. The only real downside is that the whole process is a little slower when making milk drinks so if you entertain guests regularly it's probably better to go with the HX or DB option.

[China]

Well I am thinking further. Along a different line.

It seems to me that a lot of concern about machines is not only the ability to make the coffee but also to heat milk and to to carry the whole process quicly. The ability to do so depending on the design of the machine having dual boilers, dual thermoblocks or a heat ex-changer.

Now, what would be wrong with going for a single boiler, a well designed well made one and, instead of purchasing an expensive machine, buying a good quality milk steamer/ frother? Would this give a better outcome and a less expensive one?

All advice received will be appreciated.

China.

[China]

Thank you for your advice.

China

[noidle22]

I posted photos on the first or second page i think.

Yes a thermoblock machine will reach operating temperature faster than a boiler machine.
Comparing the Torino to a BES920 though, it would only be a matter of minutes between them.
They both have group head heaters which stabilise brew temperature.
The Breville can be set to turn on at a certain time as well which is handy for mornings. The Torino for some reason lacks this feature.

[trentski]

It's all about compromise. If super quick heat up is worth more than taste and longevity of the appliance then maybe it's right for you

[TC]

I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole unless it's on offer at a 50% or better discount on RRP.

When they set RRP, they were clearly taking the pi$$. Better to buy a Breville dual boiler in the knowledge that both are appliances and will end their brief lives in landfill.