Espresso Question

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

We have a similar Breville for more than a few years. No complaints. I buy whole been light espresso roast and the wife and I have a fresh ground double shot Americano with a dash of cream each morning. We are happy.

I have been around peers who slide down the slippery slope of finding their perfection over a simple shot of espresso. It is very slick and costs and time come into play if you are not careful. We love good food, nice wine, and a great jolt in the morning. Only hope the OP does not follow the rabbit hole to "if only it could be better". Drive over to your local 7/11 and drink a cup of their swill for a correction. Your brew, on it's worst day, blows that stuff out of the water.

I really, really loved my Breville DB for the first 3 years. It did things that only 3-7k$ machines did. Then all the little o ring and circlips started to blow and leak, and it was a giant headache. I'd have another if it was built like an E61 tank.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by greglepore

I really, really loved my Breville DB for the first 3 years. It did things that only 3-7k$ machines did. Then all the little o ring and circlips started to blow and leak, and it was a giant headache. I'd have another if it was built like an E61 tank.

I needed another machine. Got a good deal on a very lightly used oracle warranty replacement. Great temp control, built in grinder was garbage but… the machine made really good espresso - for 3 days. It started blowing steam from inside when machine was off. Freaked me out that it would heat the steam boiler when it was off. I ran descale 4-5 times, called support and they were great but the machine was like the girl from the exorcist. Since my machine had 9 months left on its warranty replacement warranty they had me send it it and they fixed it. Took a month but finally i sold the fixed machine for what id paid.

Breville support was fantastic, their instructions are first rate but absolutely they wont sell their proprietary parts and clips. Insists all repairs are done by them. Showstopper for me right there, cant be mailing an espresso machine around.

[charlesbahn]

We have a very good Jura machine that my wife loves. But I have gone "old school." I like black espresso and the stronger the better. I picked up a Pavoni lever machine. My first attempts weren't too good. There is an art to the beans, grind (fineness and amount), and tamping pressure. I've learned that if you change one component, you have to modify others. But it isn't scientific, it is a learned skill, really an art. I now have great respect for a barista that can "pull" a good espresso with a lever machine.

If you want to make espressos for a large group and need them quickly, a lever is not for you, get a Jura. If you want to learn a new craft and savor each pull, old school fills the bill.

These are our machines:



Charles

[red-beard]

If you're not pulling a shot, you're not a barista

[Bill Douglas]

Originally Posted by red-beard

If you're not pulling a shot, you're not a barista

That's what I recon.

I like my Vibiemme E61 type machine. People say they can make amazing coffees with their automated blah blah machines. But I say it's a bit like cars. A Honda Civic with CVT transmission is probably a far superior car to my 911SC but I choose the 911 every time.