Best Super-Automatic Espresso machine to make lattes?

[RWebb]

Best means a decent quality brew AND easiest to run with the fewest steps for those pre-caffeinated mornings...

I saw the Jura call outs on the other thread, red...

[tabs]

more to go wrong with the autos

[mgatepi]

I have had a Delonghi automatic for 10 years.....absolutely no issues. Put beans in the top, water in the container, plug the milk container in....... push button.......awesome Latte!!!!!
Every morning

[LWJ]

I have a very basic non-auto machine. It is killer. Simple. Repeatable.

I’m on vacation now and can’t remember the brand. My wife spoiled me with it a few years ago.

Shoot a pm if you want me to do some research or to chat.

I am a fan.

Also, my client that sells millions of coffee was slightly impressed. So there is that.

[rusnak]

I've got a Breville Oracle. I got my nephew an Oracle Touch for the baby shower.

I think it's great. Paired with Lavazza Perfetto.

[cstreit]

I have the Delonghi Magnifica S. Reliable now for over 2 years.

Grab the milk jug out of the fridge and plug it into the machine. Hit Latte. Done.

It grinds, tamps, froths, pulls all with no drama.

[Gogar]

If you're making lots of milk drinks

Gaggia Cadorna prestige (new model)

Or find a NOS gaggia accademia (ended last year.)

Also The saeco Incanto is nearly identical machine to the Gaggia Accademia and shares parts.

Whatever you do try to find a machine where You fill the milk pitcher and leave it in the fridge and only pull it out when you need it, as opposed to a carafe/milk straw like many other mfrs.

I like the ones I listed because the milk lines get flushed after every single drink, which is a good thing.

Juras are great design-wise but they are 98% plastic. Jura does seem to have better parts availability than some other brands, however.

[red-beard]

You cannot go wrong for making COFFEE with a Super-Auto, especially pre-caffeinated. Mrs. Beard does still regularly press the wrong button.

On a "Latte", I guess it all depends on what you mean by a latte. if you are just steaming the milk, ANY of the Jura Capresso machines have a good steaming wand. If you are trying for foaming crap, I do not know which do it better. The super-serious Jura Carpesso machines have milk bottles and you just press a button and it make whatever you want, mixing an foaming automatically.

Again, I have an E8, and it makes fantastic medium roast coffee with a single button press. And you can dial it from 1oz of water to 8oz, and 3 strength levels (by pressing the coffee button three times).

[Gogar]

Ms gogar has an e8 and it does a nice job.
I rebuilt it a few months ago and it was a little fun puzzle but not too bad.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Ms gogar has an e8 and it does a nice job.
I rebuilt it a few months ago and it was a little fun puzzle but not too bad.

I've rebuilt 3, and one required quite a few parts (pump, main drive motor). Most of them just need o-rings replaced (leaks). Opening the top, vacuuming out the machine and then lubricating the main group really helps. They should have made it easier to do this.

Replacing the rear screw with Philips or torx makes a lot of sense.

[mjohnson]

(jura guy here - so take it or leave it)

I only hook up the plumbing for an event - as in four or more latte/capps in a session. The cleanup has me too stressed out. I've never had a bad time with it but just the thought of a bad-milk-time has me sketchy)

Can you do some sort of microwave/handheld whipper thing and keep everyone happy wile keeping the coffee side just the coffee?

We do that with our Jura at work. Total "you'll be beaten with toilet brushes if you put milk in this" territory.

Nearly ten years and we're milk-free.

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by mjohnson

Nearly ten years and we're milk-free.

Espresso life! Go get your coffee milkshakes elsewhere...

[dan79brooklyn]

I have a Gaggia Brera. Bought it 4 or 5 years ago on sale at WholeLatteLove $500.
Used it daily with zero problems.
You do have to steam the milk manually which I like doing but it grinds and brews automatically.

[LWJ]

Got it. profitec. Could be mis-spelled.

Very pleased.

[aigel]

I have a non-milk Jura. It is called the micro 5. I have had it for 4 or 5 years and easily 5 shots per day. Having a foaming wand with milk will make things messy and not turn key. Milk calcifies and the stuff will eventually get into the steam valves etc. I see this at work where we have had Jura and other milk steaming machines. My MO if I want a latte is to warm up the milk in the microwave and then put it under the micro 5 for a double shot. If I want to get fancy, I can whip the milk coming from the microwave with one of those high speed battery operated stirs. I really could care less about the foam. I mix it up, I like a latte in the morning, I do a long double shot (just a large cup of coffee) mid day and evenings after dinner I usually have a double shot of espresso.

[Gogar]

Funny thing I bought this "broken" gaggia accademia off nextdoor yesterday for $400. It Has a bad safety thermostat. $30 and it's back in the zone!

I like the complexity of these things just for the puzzle. I understand how if you're really going crazy about pulling shots these aren't the thing.

[RWebb]

Thx for the replies folks!

[cstreit]

That’s a lot of complicated stuff,.

My delonghi requires I turn a dial to clean the milk circuit. Then it goes back in the fridge. Once a week I soak it all in hot soapy water. Two years running.

[wdfifteen]

I had to take my Saeco Incanto down to clean the grinder. HUGE pain in the butt.



The grinder was so clogged with powdered coffee that it was kicking half-ground beans out of the grinding chamber and back into the hopper.



The coffee is supposed to go down the center, through the burrs, into carrier chambers that take it around and out to the ejection chute.



Looking through the ejection chute you can see the carrier chambers were packed with finely ground coffee beans. I dug it out with a small screwdriver because even blowing 120 psi compressed air at it didn't get it all out. After cleaning them I sprayed them with food grade silicone.

This is what happens when the beans you are using have too much oil in them. My old Incanto would choke down any kind of beans, but this one is a real prima donna.

[red-beard]

I repaired one of my Jura Capresso units. They are not that bad once you open them up. Not like a 911 engine or transmission.

Most of the time, water leaks are just bad o-rings. And most of the brew group issues could have been prevented with an occasional internal vacuum and lubrication.