Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Need help choosing a new machine....

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Need help choosing a new machine....

    Hello Snobs,
    This is my first post here and probably has been covered many times before however the field is constantly changing so here goes.
    We have a Sunbeam EM7000 Cafe Series machine that has provided good service for the last 7 years or so but has developed a fault (steam supply pump runs continuously), it also leaks around the group head. We had it repaired about 1 year ago but do not want to spend another $300 on fixing up an old machine. A replacement would after all only be about $700.
    BUT
    I find the model is discontinued and the Torino that sort of replaces it has an awful reputation.
    So
    Where do I go from here. We use the machine quite a bit (3-4 times/day, more ate w/ends when we have guests). Mostly espresso but also milk coffees. We have a decent burr grinder and like to vary our beans but generally go for a medium to dark roast. I could get decent crema and tiger stripes from the EM7000 which allowed customisation of temps and timings (but not pressure) to suit the bean/grind.

    Criteria are then - double boiler, an ability to preset/tailor a recipe, I am not sure about pressure profiles being necessary but I do like to see the pressure and be able to control manually/program the buttons. As it is for home use heat up time is important as is size (not too much larger than the current machine) and noise I also want a machine that will last so a good service reputation and available parts are important. Budget is around $2000 but are flexible.

    Candidates I have identified are

    Breville dual Boiler (might be out of production)
    Cream One Dual Boiler
    Lelit Elizabeth

    A couple of questions - what are the pros and cons of machines with an E61 group head? Is a rotary pump based machine worth the premium. If I was to go to that level then is the Lelit Bianca a good option?

    All suggestions and ideas welcome!



  • #2
    Home heat up is easily fixed with a smart plug. Added bonus is you can turn it on and off anywhere you like.

    E61 group head has a superior because to quote Google improved temperature stability because the group is saturated with the same body of water whose temperature is being controlled in the boiler.

    For me I would never go anything but a rotary pump. They are so silent. I don't fancy being woken up at 6am with a vibration pump going on the machine in the morning.

    Do you need a dual boiler or a decent HX?

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by nickm View Post
      Home heat up is easily fixed with a smart plug. Added bonus is you can turn it on and off anywhere you like.
      Except for the scenario where there is an unexpected/unplanned coffee request and the machine hasn't been pre-heated. That's when the quick heat up time of a Lelit Elizabeth would be appreciated over an E61 machine.

      Originally posted by nickm View Post
      E61 group head has a superior because to quote Google improved temperature stability because the group is saturated with the same body of water whose temperature is being controlled in the boiler.
      Context matters here. If you're comparing an E61 to a non-E61 heat exchanger then the above has some truth to it. But if you're comparing the E61 to a ring group multi boiler where the brew boiler is bolted to the brew group then most E61 machines will struggle to achieve the temperature stability of the ring group (eg Lelit Elizabeth). Now, about quoting "Google" ...


      Originally posted by nickm View Post
      For me I would never go anything but a rotary pump. They are so silent. I don't fancy being woken up at 6am with a vibration pump going on the machine in the morning.
      Not all vibration pump machines are loud. Some use better pump mounts than others which can make a big difference. But the biggest change in these machines recently is the use of a much quieter vibration pump. The Lelit Mara X and Elizabeth both have this pump and I don't think they'll be waking anyone up in the morning. But yes, if you want even quieter then a rotary pump will get you there. Just be willing to pay for it!

      charlie

      Comment


      • #4
        Have a look at the ECM Classika PID for single boiler or if you fancy a HX for more milk based coffee, you can explore the ECM Mechanika V Slim.

        Comment


        • #5
          I've gone through a similar process over the past month or two, also with a broken EM7000 (wrecked collar).

          Not a double boiler, but after much agonising I decided on the Lelit Mara X, which has got some very interesting innovations. It's currently on a truck somewhere, so I haven't actually used it yet, but it's getting rave reviews, both for its features but also for what you get for the price.


          My post might have some useful replies for your decision-making - https://coffeesnobs.com.au/forum/equ...bar-minore-iii

          The Mara X - https://www.jetblackespresso.com.au/shop/p/lelit-mara-x

          Comment


          • #6
            Hard to beat the Breville DB for bang for bucks. Lots available used too. Had one for many years. Even has easy to change temperature control.

            Comment


            • #7
              Thanks to all for your helpful advice....we settled on the Rocket Mozzafiato...dented the budget a bit but we liked the solid build and rotary pump.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by jhaunton View Post
                Thanks to all for your helpful advice....we settled on the Rocket Mozzafiato...dented the budget a bit but we liked the solid build and rotary pump.
                jhaunton what sort of boiler pressure are you getting on your Mozzafiato? Just got mine and am only at 0.8 bar max when manual says "when it gets to 1 bar ...." and that is after over 1 hour of heating.

                Comment

                Working...
                X