espresso making mags?

[bagtagley]

iscariot, thanks for the information.

PATT, thanks for the suggestion. The wife really likes the PL041, and we've upped the budget a bit since I'll likely be using it as much as her. Any idea how difficult parts are to come by? Somewhat concerning that they're the only place in the US that carries Le'Lit.

Here's where I'm stuck. Everybody says a burr grinder is a must with a machine like the PL041, but it's not in the budget right now. Can I not order the "optimal" grind from somebody like Intelligentsia or Lavazza? I assume those fuckers know how to properly grind beans. Not ideal, but at least a solution until we can sport for a burr grinder.

[climberevan]

The Le'lit PL041 is a great little machine. We've been using one for about 18 months and bought it used. Parts are available, but you probably won't need them--it's pretty bulletproof. The only downside for a small machine is the non-standard diameter portafilter, but that's a pretty small niggle.

I PIDd mine and it's a big improvement. Search for "PID espresso machine" for info. Basically you add a digital temperature controller that really addresses the biggest problem with small machines, temperature stability.

DO NOT neglect the importance of a good grinder. I'm currently using a commercial one that's bigger than the espresso machine, but which I got for $200 on CL. That was a crazy deal, but those kinds of deals come up. Look for something from Mazzer, Nuova Simonelli, etc.

The Kyocera hand crank grinder (about $40) is the best way to go if you can't afford or can't dedicate the counter space to a real grinder. It will do a nice, consistent grind (the key), but is pretty slow. Changing the grind is lame-o since it takes a couple of minutes to do a new batch.

You can get away with a cheaper espresso machine if you have a good grinder. Your espresso will be absolute garbage if you get pre-ground coffee and the cheap grinders just can't do the job. Hard truth: if you can't afford to buy both a good grinder AND an espresso machine, then you can't afford to have espresso in your house.

You wouldn't buy a pair of Lotus 138s and then try to ski them with rental boots, would you?

BTW: coffeegeek.com and home-barista.com are the TGR of espresso.

[iscariot]

BTW: coffeegeek.com and home-barista.com are the TGR of espresso.

Yup. Good info/reviews/etc on those sites.

[Max Archer]

Maybe I'll see what you guys think. I had a Nespresso for about a week in a hotel room earlier this year, and have tried them elsewhere, and have been impressed compared to similarly-priced home machines. I know the pod thing is a hassle but it seems like the money I'd save by not having to buy a grinder would make up for a lot of it, plus I have pretty limited counter space. Should I just go ahead and get one, or is there another setup I should seriously consider? I'd love to be able to get a decent small machine and a hand grinder and do all of that stuff, but it's more hassle than I need when I get up in the morning.

I see that Illy has a similar setup to the Nespresso and the Starbucks one looks kinda interesting too, especially since the latter would be easier to pick up pods for. Are they worth a look?

[Crampedon]

Ditto. I showed up to my condo share last week to find a new shiny Nespresso on the counter and a big bowl of pods. Fired it up and bingo! Double expresso. First rate, getting one for an employee for christmas.

You can get empty pods so I can fill it with Maui coffee too!

[Danno]

My new coffee shrine:



Still trying to figure out the "dosing" on the espresso machine.

[bagtagley]

Those forums are the fucking devil! Holy timesuck. What day is it?

It had gotten to the point that I was pricing out a Quickmill Silvano and a Vario grinder. Need to step back from the edge.

[sfotex]

I got a Rancilio Silvia and a Gino Rossi RR45 Grinder ($100 on CL) this summer and haven't looked back. Swapped the grinder over to the 80 step collar and got a bottomless portafilter I can consistently pull better shots then I can buy.x1000 on the importance of a good grinder!

[jon gaper]

Descaling. Any recommendations for DIY solution to avoid the high priced branded acids? Citric acid? Vitamin C crystals?(I have those) Other?

[berko]

Just buy Durgol. Works well, doesnt cost that much.

[DasBlunt]

Pulled out my little piece of shit Krupes il Primo after a 6 years of non-use, shots taste terrible.

I am a very sweet espresso drinker (lots of sugar), so I know the taste won't equal an expensive machine, but something seems wrong.

clean? thinking vinagar, but read some conflicting info.

[crackboy]

you can just use white vinegar to descale, just run it through the resevoir a bunch of times

[rugbydave]

I've had this machine (http://www.breville.ca/beverages/esp...e-800esxl.html) for a year or so now and couldn't be more stoked on it. Have a generic burr grinder as well (might step up to a nicer one) and get perfect crema every time... Easily one of the best gifts my old man ever gave me. Was looking to get one for the lady-friend for Xmas but didn't realize how expensive they are...

[Max Archer]

So I went home to LA for a pre-xmas visit for a few days this week and found a Nespresso Pixie with the Aeroccino 3 under the tree. Holy shit this thing is badass. I've never seen a machine under $500 that could produce espresso this good, much less one that could do it this quickly. I think Nespresso must be subsidizing the machines and making the profit back on capsule sales. The Aeroccino thing is pretty amazing too, you'd never know it wasn't real steam milk foam and it takes like 70 seconds to make.

Now I just have to resign myself to wasting all my money on espresso "pods."

[iceman]

So I went to Italy for a couple weeks early this month and drank a shitton of espresso, and I've always liked it anyways and long story short I bought a Saeco Aroma and it arrived yesterday. This morning I've been fucking around with it a bunch, messing with the grind and the amount of coffee and all that shit and it's damn good I'd have to say. But mainly I came here to say holy fuck am I caffeinated right now.

[Huck_Schmuck]

NESPRESSO FANS: Yes, it's OK to love the simplicity of these awesome machines. No, no other "pod" systems compare.

(I'm pretty sure I have posted this in here before. I used run a ski lodge in Switzerland where we had an awesome Simonelli. Eventually we bought a Nespresso so that guests could make their own coffee at any time, I was an instant convert. That's what we have at home now, these things rock, sure it's not the worlds best espresso but I don't expect to make that at home and there's no mess.....)

[ColoMike]

Bump because Huck is right. Nespresso=almost idiot-proof, decent espresso @ $.60/cup from a machine that does not break the bank. Otherwise, I like my Bialetti Moka pot jet fuel maker for raw power.

[narc]

I started down the espresso road a little while ago and honestly it is a whole lot harder than I ever realised it might be but I think part of that is having a cheaper machine and needing to work around it's shortcomings. Machine is a used Gaggia Classic off ebay and replaced the steam wand with one from a silvia and grinder is mazzer mini E. In the end I bought a k-type thermocouple thermometer and stuck it on the boiler since anything else was like working blind. I also had to DIY a pressure gauge to adjust the overpressure valve so it was putting out 9 bar (was 10.5). There is sometimes some messing around to dial in a new coffee but I have a good handle on it, steaming milk to get microfoam was tough to learn again something probably much easier on a better machine.

Even after figuring all this out making two reasonable sized lattes with a single boiler machine like this takes about 20min of mucking about and mess - a proper dual boiler machine is like £1200+. I can see why so many people go for nespresso.

[Alaskan Rover]

Some friends of mine came back from a trip to England with one of these little manual, totally non-electric little beasties!!

It takes a knack to get the pressure just right and uniform during the "squeeze"...but you learn. Once you get used to it, it puts out an admirably tasty little cup of espresso!!

The best things about it: its simplicity and its agreeable price - $135.

Its called the ROK Espresso machine. Look it up!! The thing is also very ruggedly made...which is a definite plus.

Oddly, the thing reminds me nearly exactly of the "martian-machines" from War of the Worlds.

[beaterdit]

Bumping this, just graduated to a Gaggia Classic after my roommate's "Espressione" shit the bed. Disappointing results so far, my shots pour out in less than 10 seconds so I guess I'm under-extracting. Minimal crema, less than 20%. This all leads me to believe that my grinder, a cheapo Krups bur grinder is grossly inadequate.

Ordered the Ascaso i-Mini mentioned above. Reviews indicate it can be finicky but produces a great grind. Looking forward to trying it out.

[mobygrape]

dammit, why'd you have to bump this thread. I forgot all about it.

Now I am going to have to start shopping. Really needing an espresso bump at home...

[iceman]

I bought the Saeco Aroma like 7 months ago. Works perfect, love it. There are user complaints about the milk-foaming doohickey being awkward to use but I never use it so I dunno. Good espresso fast is what I wanted and it's perfect for that.

[XXX-er]

I've had this machine (http://www.breville.ca/beverages/esp...e-800esxl.html) for a year or so now and couldn't be more stoked on it. Have a generic burr grinder as well (might step up to a nicer one) and get perfect crema every time... Easily one of the best gifts my old man ever gave me. Was looking to get one for the lady-friend for Xmas but didn't realize how expensive they are...

http://www.breville.ca/cafe-roma-espresso-machine.html

Then get one of these ^^ Dave, I had one before I got the Racillio Sylvia, I still use it often cuz I traded the roma to my neighbor for a pair of 223 DH's

and forget that 199$ price tag cuz they are often on sale at london drugs

[Supermoon]

For quick, single serving espresso-like drink I have switched entirely to an Aeropress (not sure if it's been mentioned here yet). It's not a true espresso, but if you brew a batch and add a bit of water and half and half it's a great Americano equivalent in about 3 minutes total.

Plus at $30 it's a steal compared to at-home machines.

http://aerobie.com/products/aeropress.htm

[XXX-er]

That ROK looks cool but unless a M/C is electric you got more fussing waiting for hot water

I can hit the timer on the burr grinder/hit the pump switch on the Sylvia /load the toaster/fry an egg all at the same time

and maybe only burn the toast