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What Machine? The more I read the more confused I get! Help

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  • What Machine? The more I read the more confused I get! Help

    Hello

    Firstly, use. Currently have a Nespresso Pod using Pod and Parcel pods. Worked fine - as I have full Barista options at work. However, with all the lockdowns and likelihood of working from home ongoing, i need to upgrade at home. My go to drink is a flat white - and would typically make two to four at a time - maybe up to 7-10 shots a day. My other considerations are space - not a lot to go around. Machine price range around $2.5 to $3k. I am looking forward to the process of making coffee - a bit like a slow cook on the BBQ - its an enjoyable break in the day!

    At first I was convinced I was going to get the Quick Mill Rubino - and went down a rabbit hole on Grinders. There are loads of machine reviews online - not much for grinders - and I fully appreciate the right grind is vitally important. Its a toss up between the Anfim Best on Demand, and the Eureka Specialita 55. I was initially looking around the $750 mark, but lifted to the $1k mark as the improvement in quality is worth the jump. Based on footprint - i think the Eureka will get the nod. (any other suggestions welcome - including confirming i have this right is welcome)

    Back to the machine! With size as a factor - The Rubino was a go to, then the ECM Mechanika v Slim got a look - Rocket Apartmento briefly, Crem One and therefore VBM - the list gets long - and finally the reviews on the Lelit Mara X - and now the Elizabeth make that more of a discussion.

    I like the Rubino - I think it will suit me - but some of the reports on here re quality internals and long term reliability pushed me towards ECM. And some of the more recent comments on the Mara X (given its narrow width) make it appealing.

    So, any advise on which of the above machines makes the best coffee - would be welcome. And given i have been down a rabbit hole on machines - any others to add to the list is welcome!

    Thanks for any responses i may get - but happy to call and talk to anyone in the know!

    Thanks

  • #2
    Hi mrfigures and welcome to CS.

    The machines you mention will all do the job but they vary widely in build, aesthetics and features. For the "best coffee" a machine needs to be temperature stable which is usually the characteristic which sets them apart. (All the ones on your list have the same type of pump and brew pressure isn't normally an issue anyway)

    All of the machines on your list are HX (heat exchanger) with E61 group head except for the Lelit Elizabeth (dual boiler ring group). With a HX/E61 machine, temperature stability can be anything from awful to great depending on how well the heat exchanger has been designed. If the machine needs a cooling flush after idling then it probably needs another tweak or two ...

    The Lelit Elizabeth has two independent boilers with PID control and a group head attached to the brew boiler so temperature stability is great and heat up time is relatively short compared to most HX/E61 machines.

    To narrow your list our sales team are happy to help - contact details here.

    charlie

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    • #3
      There is a CS facility to ask site sponsors for a quote. I suspect that its more for a specific machine but it might be you was popping in your budget and seen what they come back with. https://coffeesnobs.com.au/SponsorQuotes

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      • mrfigures
        mrfigures commented
        Editing a comment
        Didn't know that - looks like a good idea! Thanks

    • #4
      You can't go wrong with the Mara X and the Specialita. You'll probably want it on a timer so that it heats up by the time you're in the kitchen as it takes around 30min

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      • #5
        Hello mrfigures,

        Welcome to the CS community.

        A well built and set up HX machine would be our recommendation.

        ECM, Rocket, Bezzera, Profitec and Izzo generally are the pick of the bunch in that bracket of HX machines.

        We do have a package deal on an Izzo Vivi PID and Mahlkonig grinder that has been very popular
        https://www.casaespresso.com.au/izzo-vivi-pid.html

        Like anything, it can be tailored to your budget.

        Feel free to contact us for any other advice

        Regards

        www.casaespresso.com.au

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