|
RECOMMENDED ESPRESSO MACHINES & GRINDERS
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(@ Jan 2005) Read about how and why this list was created, and my coffee history here.
Original 1901 Bezzera Patent Drawing
|
1906 Milan International Fair
|
Espresso history — A brief chronology (scroll down). Interesting photos, machines of yore from the Coffee Museum in London. More glorious details here.
Basic guide to operation — How a generic pump-powered espresso machine works and a super basic FAQ. More advanced technique can be seen here: operating a Rancilio Slivia.
For deals on used equipment, become a member at CoffeeGeek forums
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums - check the buy/sell section.
A] SPECIAL DEALS -- BOTTOM LINE: BEST PRICE/PERFORMANCE
ON THE CHEAP
[worth reading this post from Nov 4, 2004:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/questions/86176
Refurbished setup -- CHEAPEST OK LOW-COST SETUP:
1a) $325. (total for machine+grinder)
GAGGIA 'Coffee' $225. / 'Baby,' or 'Classic': $300.,
Refurbished (see link, just below) or, new Gaggia Carezza
WITH A
Capresso Infinity grinder: BLACK=$100.
1b) Step Up: Innova Conical Burr Grinder [$180.]
1c) Or: other LUX Grinder, used Rocky
"I prefer the Classic because of the three way solenoid valve,
but for the price difference these above Gaggias seem a better value."
2) BETTER-Under $500. SETUP:
$470.-$500. A Refurb GAGGIA CLASSIC + LUX, GAGGIA MDF, or INNOVA Conical grinder
Almost-Best Cheaper espresso combo. Spend more on the Grinder:
3) BEST-Under $550.
$540.: GAGGIA CLASSIC Refurb. + INNOVA FLAT BURR GRINDER [$240.]
GAGGIA REFURBISHED machines:
http://www.electra-craft.com/refurbished-machines.htm
Other CHEAP Options:
4) $500. (total: machine/grinder). SOLIS Crema SL70 [at target.com $350.]
Capresso Infinity grinder: BLACK=$100. or LUX Grinder, etc.
(review below is worth reading - purchase optional non-pressurized portafilter)
5) $460.00 [Combo Unit] La Pavoni Napolitana (Check eBay for this)
[same as NEMOX La Napoletana, at $550.?]
Espresso Machine and Built-in conical-burr grinder:
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/nemox/71361270.htm
[frothing attachment is a bit weird?]
Not Fond of COMBO UNITS
B] ESPRESSO MACHINES
LOW END
$200. GAGGIA Carezza [[or Baby [$270.], or 'Espresso' [$260.] models]
(cheapest recommended by coffeegeek.com.
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/carezza.cfm
http://www.coffeegeek.com/holiday/under300/gaggiacarezza
(Gaggia is owned by Saeco, from 2002).
$280. Inova Arc -- nice looking too.
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/firstlook/innovaarc
$300. NEMOX Junior Espresso Machine
listhttp://www.coffeegeek.com/holiday/under300/nemoxjunior
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/nemox/71261270.htm
$360. NOT RECOMMENDED: FRANCIS Francis X1 or X3 selling for $360.00+ on eBay
(no 3-way solenoid, reduced-coffe allowable due to
poor portafilter design, overcycling of boiler.
Choose GAGGIA BABY or CLASSIC (see refurbs).
Read the reviews here:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/firstlook/francisfrancisx1/details
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/francisfrancis_x1/drewgiacobe
$375. list. SOLIS Crema SL70 Espresso Machine (Gaggias are a better deal though)
http://www.coffeegeek.com/holiday/over300/solissl70
(review is worth reading - purchase optional non-pressurized portafilter)
MIDRANGE
$450. GAGGIA BABY or CLASSIC (but refurbs available at $300.)
http://www.electra-craft.com/refurbished-machines.htm
$400. FRANCIS Francis X5
http://www.coffeegeek.com/holiday/over300/ffx3
$460. Solis SL-90 Crema Espresso Machine
Recommended by Sweet Maria's for its ease (it's an automatic) and reliable shot making, claimed to be better than the Francis machines. http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.solis-espresso.shtml#solis.sl-90
$480. RANCILIO Silvia -- A STANDARD! (great reviews everywhere - ultra reliable,
H.Duty construction, a finicky machine: you need a good grinder for it,
Possible mod to PID [electronic temp. control] for about $200, creates
an espresso machine rivaling an $800. machine in espresso quality.)
HIGHER RANGE (all better than Silvia, it has been said):
$650./ $530. (street?) ISOMAC Venus (better temp. control than Silvia, adjustable pressure, & gauge) [poss. problems with thermostats?]
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/isomacvenus/Columbo
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/consumer/isomacvenus/chinchilla
$780. (best price?) EXPOBAR Office Pulser
(Cheapest good heat-exchanger unit, comprable E61 group).
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Expobar/Expobar.cfm
"If you see yourself preparing lots of cappuccinos or lattes, you may want to consider an HX (Heat-Exchanger) machine like the Expobar Pulser. I see it advertised for about $300 more than Silvia. (HX machines: Expobar, Tea, Giotto, La Valentina...)"
$1000. list [$800.?] ISOMAC Zaffiro (E61 Group, 27oz boiler, adj. thermostat has high failure rate? has pressure adjust). Possibly best single boiler machine.
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/detailed/isomaczaffiro/operation
$1000. ISOMAC Tea [TI-A], quite popular, at the price.
$1100. ISOMAC Millennium (1.4 litre, heat-exchanger, copper boiler) Popular, though the EXPOBAR has overtaken it, due to price. This one is a beauty though.
COMPLETELY WONDERFUL or RIDICULOUS (to dream on)
$1250. [$1100.] Andreja Premium by Quick Mill
http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/newitems/andrejapremium
$1300. La Valentina [A la di Vittoria La Valentina Espresso Machine]
(heat exchanger, semi-auto, beautiful), better than Pulser?
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/1stline/
$1400. Pasquini Livia 90 Semi Automatic
http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/espresso/livia
$1500. EXPOBAR Brewtus
(auto refill double boilers, PID temp. control, E61, commerical portafilter, progressive infusion, etc. Nice eh.)
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Expobar/brewtus.cfm
More, much more available in the $1,700. - $2,500. range.
http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/espresso
$1800.-$2400.Wega Lyra
THE ULTIMATE
$8000. The La Marzocco Linea "There are reasons why World Champion Baristas use La Marzoccos. Interested?"
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/commercial/lamarzocco_linea/corey
http://www.coffeekid.com/espresso/lamarzocco
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/commercial/lamarzocco_linea/quickfixcoffee
C] GRINDERS
Detailed info on some good grinders:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.electricmills.shtml
Quick Grinder Comparison:
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Compare.cfm?next=1
Best Grinder Price/Performance: INNOVA CONICAL or FLAT BURR Grinders
INNOVA Conical Burr Grinder [$180.]
http://www.espressoparts.com/index.php/detail/13/157/1018/I-2
INNOVA Flat Burr Grinder w/Doser [$240.]
See review:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/detailed/innovagrinder
Cheapest Grinders:
Capresso Infinity Burr Grinder: BLACK=$100! [$140. for brushed steel]
http://www.coffeegeek.com/reviews/grinders/capressoinfinity
http://www.1stincoffee.com/capresso-infinity.htm
NOT RECOMMENDED - people have probs:
SOLIS Maestro Plus (grinds beans this hot@94deg. 40 settings)
$150. http://www.wholelattelove.com/Solis/maestrop.cfm
other LUX type $170.00 ish: [Innova/Iberital/Pavoni/Lux family of conical burr grinders]
A better grinder than LUX (?):
Cunill Tranquilo for about $190. (if you can find one) Maybe the Gaggia MDF
LUX Grinders:
http://www.1-800-espresso.com/lux-coffee-grinder.html
http://www.espressoparts.com/index.php/detail/13/156/1017/I-2
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/nemox/79751250.htm
Gaggia MDF Coffee Grinder (34 grind settings,
other brand portafilters may not fit so well)
$200.00 http://www.wholelattelove.com/Gaggia/mdf.cfm
UP from GAGGIA/INNOVA (Rocky, home-market mistress: 54 settings, low temp bean grinding)
$295. Rancillio Rocky -- A STANDARD!
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Rancilio/rockyracilio.cfm
UP from ROCKY (the master of the home market)
$400. Mazzer Mini
http://www.wholelattelove.com/Mazzer/mini.cfm
or, MACAP M5 $400.
http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home/grinders/macap
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/firstlook/macapm5/details
Grinders - & notes:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/alanfrew/08-30-2002
(grinder roundup, now a bit old)
http://www.coffeekid.com/other/newbies/grinders
Notes on pumps. Ignore "bar" ratings on vibration pumps. All vibration pumps are similar, over a pretty wide range. But wattage is a factor.
Heating elements. "Thermoblock" heaters are inferior. (Sunbeam, DeLonghi, Krups, Dualit/Breville).
Boilers
Aluminium Boilers: Gaggia boilers are (not my favorite) 120ml. Atached to copper groups, the dissimilar metals corrode.
Stainless Steel 180ml. (Saeco Via Venezia, La Pavoni, Spidem, Krups)
Brass 300ml. boiler: Quaha Junior, Napoletana; Rancilio Audrey, Silvia, Lucy; Solis SL70, SL90. Much larger than those above, with better heater elements (better thermal stability and faster recovery).
Groups
Of all domestic machines, only the Rancilio Silvia has a commercial brass group and S/S (stainless steel shower) screen setup. Both Gaggia and Rancilio use commercial portafilters and baskets on their domestic machines. Solis and Quaha have brass portafilters but non-commercial filter baskets. Saeco uses its patented pressurized portafilter, made mostly of plastic but with some brass, as does Krups on its higher end machines. The Saeco portafilter pops up on other brands of machines such as La Pavoni and Spidem, so it's a good bet that these brands are "rebadges", Saeco inside another manufacturer's body design.
Solenoid "3-way" valves
are only available on higher end machines (incl. Silvia), they relieve pressure in the portafilter immediately after brewing so you can pull consecutive shots.
Why the Silvia is a good machine, and how to make it better:
Built like a brick shithouse; reliable.
http://www.murphyslawonline.com/silvia/
Silvia beats out ISOMAC Super Giada
(Commerical Group, 3-way solenoid valve)
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/comparisons/$400range.htm
Silvia: improved steam tip and group baskets at low cost
http://www.1st-line.com/machines/home_mod/rancilio/silvia.htm
Typical Silvia review: Oct. 2004
http://www.wholelattelove.com/reviews.cfm?itemID=39&reviewID=3847&page=1#reviewdetail
"Like most people interested in purchasing an espresso machine, I researched the internet. And like most people interested in purchasing an espresso machine, found that your biggest bang for your buck is the Silivia. It's is just a fantastic machine with a well deserved reputation. Beautiful, simple, and classic in design. All most all SS and brass construction. Most important, it produces a fantastic shot of espresso."
Links:
http://www.coffeegeek.com/
http://www.wholelattelove.com/
http://www.1st-line.com/
http://www.chriscoffee.com/products/home
http://www.sweetmarias.com/reading.html
http://www.freshcup.com/
Quick overview (another):
http://www.consumersearch.com/www/kitchen/espresso_machines/
(another)
http://www.coffeekid.com/other/newbies/espresso
How to PID a Silvia - links at the bottom of this page:
http://www.sweetmarias.com/prod.rancilio.shtml
Personal Coffee Sites:
http://www.bloggle.com/coffee/
http://www.kwilson.fsnet.co.uk/coffee_index.htm
http://www.spacestar.net/users/dwaterfi/coffee.html
http://www.lucidcafe.com/cafe.html
More links:
http://www.ifyoulovecoffee.com/
http://www.coffeeco.com.au/
shipped from Europe:
www.espressocoffeeshop.com
Innova Equipment (Morala Imports, Canada)
http://www.morala.com/catalog_products.cfm?category=machines&type=2
Recommended Espresso Machines, in order of price. A review, from July, 2002 (Australia): http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/alanfrew/07-01-2002
A review adding to the above review -- great detail on what is an espresso shot and what makes for a good machine: http://www.coffeegeek.com/opinions/alanfrew/08-22-2003
top
|
La Marzocco Linea
|
|