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Stepping up from EM6910 to secondhand pointy-end

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  • Stepping up from EM6910 to secondhand pointy-end

    After almost 11 years, my old faithful EM6910 is looking like it needs more spent on repairs than it's worth. I could upgrade to the EM7000 (when it finally appears back in stock) but I'm wondering if a refurbished commercial-ish machine around the $1500-$2000 mark would be a better bet.

    Ideally I'm looking for something relatively easy to live with - not looking to spend my days modding (at-least initially), adjusting, waiting an hour for warm-up, temperature surfing, suffering through deafening noise, alternating steam and shots, etc. It doesn't need to produce the greatest shot in the world, so long as it produces a good shot very reliably (writing this out is just about convincing me that the EM7000 is the way to go, but I'll press on!)

    I generally make 2-3 double shots each morning, another 2 at lunch time, and perhaps an extra 6 in a row here and there when we have guests. Pretty much all milk drinks. I'm using a Eureka Atom grinder.

    I've been looking at Coffee Machine Warehouse, Di Pacci, Espresseur, and Kitchen Equipment Australia and there's an overwhelming amount of stock out there. I guess I'm looking for advice on any brands/models to steer towards/away from, features to require/avoid when shortlisting, and any other suppliers to check (I'm in Melbourne, so anyone with exorbitant shipping to here is out).

    Thanks for reading this far, and for any advice you can offer.

  • #2
    Suggest you take a look at a new Lelit Elizabeth if your budget can stretch a bit over $2k. Dual boiler , 20 minute warm up, ring group (simple maintenance), quiet, PID controlled. You can brew and steam concurrently (as long as you;re not using the steam pre-infusion function). Steam is powerful - vastly better than the EM6910 (I know from hands on experience!)

    This is a reliable and no-fuss machine. Check it out at Jetblack Espresso (importer and site sponsor).

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    • #3
      Originally posted by EdwardC View Post
      ....and there's an overwhelming amount of stock out there....
      Nope- There actually isn't as much out of Europe is/has been unavailable...

      Here's a bargain, well within your range: https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/mar...mara-pl62-1000

      As for new, there is no one perfect single solution. In the 1.5-2k market, I can't think of much other than entry level CIME at circa $1.8k via site sponsor Casa Espresso.

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      • #4
        Originally posted by prh View Post
        Suggest you take a look at a new Lelit Elizabeth if your budget can stretch a bit over $2k.
        Sadly, it can't. More than happy to support site sponsors - Jetblack have a Bezzera BZ99, and Dipacci have maybe 10 used machines in my price range.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Caffeinator View Post

          Nope- There actually isn't as much out of Europe is/has been unavailable...

          Here's a bargain, well within your range: https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/mar...mara-pl62-1000

          As for new, there is no one perfect single solution. In the 1.5-2k market, I can't think of much other than entry level CIME at circa $1.8k via site sponsor Casa Espresso.
          Perhaps I'm simply easily overwhelmed I'm looking at something like 20 secondhand, single group machines in the $1500 - $2000 range from just a quick search. The Lelit Mara looks good, but pickup/dropoff in only in Brisbane rules it out for me.

          Comment


          • Caffeinator
            Caffeinator commented
            Editing a comment
            Yeah- but they often change mind after a machine has been on sale for a whole... No harm in asking

        • #6
          There's this Boema (maybe an older Deluxe?) that's temptingly close to me: https://www.kitchenequipmentaustrali...coffee+machine
          But I can barely find even the most basic information about them, e.g. warm-up times - so I'm guessing not many people are living with them at home.

          Comment


          • #7
            Originally posted by EdwardC View Post
            There's this Boema (maybe an older Deluxe?) that's temptingly close to me: https://www.kitchenequipmentaustrali...coffee+machine But I can barely find even the most basic information about them, e.g. warm-up times - so I'm guessing not many people are living with them at home.
            The Boema (and any similar commercial single group) needs to be plumbed in. Are you able to do this? It’s possible to run it from a tank under the bench, but you’d need to spend some money on a decent tank and non-return valve (the check valve is a must to look after the pump). And you’d still need a hole in the bench to run the hose through so that it’s not dangling over the front and getting in the way. They’re a great workhorse machine, but they really are designed for light commercial use so they have big boilers and need a good 45min to properly heat up. They will also run hot if left on all day (as you’d need to do) with a few hours between each use so you’d be running cooling flushes before each use. I think a prosumer machine along the lines of the Lelits mentioned would suit your requirements better.

            Comment


            • EdwardC
              EdwardC commented
              Editing a comment
              I'd be happy to get a machine plumbed in if it was otherwise suitable, but a 45-minute warm up is a deal-breaker. Thanks for the info.

          • #8
            Originally posted by EdwardC View Post
            After almost 11 years, my old faithful EM6910 is looking like it needs more spent on repairs than it's worth.

            Ideally I'm looking for something relatively easy to live with - not looking to spend my days modding (at-least initially), adjusting, waiting an hour for warm-up, temperature surfing, suffering through deafening noise, alternating steam and shots, etc. It doesn't need to produce the greatest shot in the world, so long as it produces a good shot very reliably (writing this out is just about convincing me that the EM7000 is the way to go, but I'll press on!)
            I know it’s not the commercial machine you were thinking of, but I went from an EM6910 to an ECM Technika a few years ago and my daughter inherited the Sunbeam. The difference in coffee quality was nice, but perhaps due just as much as the jump from the Breville grinder to a Quamar. You have already made the second jump.

            If you are looking for convenience and a fairly quick result, I think the EM7000 is going to make you happier. My ECM takes 30 minutes to reach a stable temp and the process of cooling flushes etc might frustrate you. My daughter told me I don’t need to leave her the ECM in my will - it is too fiddly compared with the Sunbeam.

            Paying 4-times as much for a coffee machine won’t get you coffee that is 4 times better. (I can’t believe I am writing this in this forum)

            Comment


            • #9
              Have you thought about an Expobar? I have the Office at home, takes about 20 mins to warm up, good pressure, water tank, easy access for service. Also parts are standard and readily available. You can steam same time as brewing.

              Had mine 2 years now and hasn’t skipped a beat.

              in your price range too, and you don’t need to buy someone else’s grubby caked boiler.

              https://www.jetblackespresso.com.au/...BoCe0EQAvD_BwE

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