Is there a worthwile espresso machine for under $250?

[tabs]

DAM its time for another Latte...

[71T Targa]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Goto the Whole Latte love website. Select Espresso Machines. Sort by price. Both machines are on page 2. Click the little boxes and then go to the bottom of the page and select compare. It will produce a good run down.

They both have positive attributes. The Portafilter on the baby is better, and it has higher wattage heaters. The Seeco uses a lot of stainless. But it also says it has a plastic boiler.

Thanks Red, not sure how I missed that. I must need a little 'pick me up' this morning. :-)

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by mossguy

David, Aren't you concerned that the coffee will lose something by grinding it so far in advance of brewing it?

Best,
Tom

I have had many fears in life. This has never been one of them...

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

I have had many fears in life. This has never been one of them...

Sniper, What are you even doing on this thread??

Best,
Tom

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Moses

Where's Jeremy? Gogar has an espresso machine that was cobbled together with parts from the space shuttle. Caffeinated titanium madness.

This is a SUPER-Auto, FWIW. But it's Italian, so you need to be prepared to fix it when it breaks, because it's Italian, so it breaks. And then you fix it.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Gogar

This is a SUPER-Auto, FWIW. But it's Italian, so you need to be prepared to fix it when it breaks, because it's Italian, so it breaks. And then you fix it.

ROFL

You need to put up a video of the clown attorney, with his super-automatic, saying just that, then doing the clown attorney dance.

[HardDrive]

I have a Krups XP2070 that I have been very pleased with, but the reviews of the thing are just horrible. Evidently folks have not have much luck with them. The instructions are seriously the most laughable things I have ever read. I swear they were translated from German into Chinese, and then into English.

[greglepore]

The brass group and portafilter on the Gaggia are a big, big plus. Temperature stability is one of the keys to good shots. 16 oz v 6 in weight is huge...but you'll have to leave the Gaggia on for a while to get it to temp. I leave my machine (a NS Oscar) on 24/7 anyway...

I know you can make good coffee w/ the Saeco, but I hate the pressurized portafilter-it makes "fake" crema and disguises the actual quality of the shot. There is a learning curve for espresso, and this device makes it difficult to learn. You can strip these parts out, fwiw, but you can't make the light aluminum portafilter a heavy heatsink.

The boilers on both machines are similar quality-the Gaggia's is smaller but will heat faster.

The Saeco puts the money into the ss exterior-the better comparison is between the new baby and Black Aroma-there's a reason why the gaggia is a lot more money with a similar exterior.

[71T Targa]

Pulled the trigger on the Gaggia New Baby.

I can't spring for the grinder now so I will be getting ground from the local place.

What else should I have on hand when it arrives?

[red-beard]

Buy a proper hand tamper

[tabs]

WOW it is already time for another...

[greglepore]

Originally Posted by red-beard

Buy a proper hand tamper

Ditto, and a knockbox-talk to wholelatte and make sure it uses a true 58mm, then get a good heavy tamper.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by red-beard

...

You want a pump espresso machine. Do not get one that makes espresso by making pressure by boiling water. The temp is too high,.

What you really want to do is buy a cheap boiling type machine but do NOT let it boil the water. Just add a fitting and run your air compressor line to it - that will pump it up good. You'll get a hell of a nice thick and dense Espresso froth too.

[red-beard]

dense is the word

[holtjv]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

Pulled the trigger on the Gaggia New Baby.

I can't spring for the grinder now so I will be getting ground from the local place.

What else should I have on hand when it arrives?

You get the Gaggia yet? What's your review?

Thanks..J

[holtjv]

Update. Just pulled the trigger and bought the gaggio classic--too many bad reviews of the baby. Also bought a Rancilio Doserless Rocky burr grinder. The WLL site is great--the grinder I bought is doserless, since chances are I'll do just one or two cups in the morning. Also got a good tamper, pitchers, therometer, etc. Can't wait to get started!

tabs, my next machine will be yours--I love the whole thing: 6 year warranty, beautiful, handmade, solid as a locomotive. But couldn't handle the $2k price--for now.

Jack

[DARISC]

This is mine. I hate it. $150 for Nunzio to come by and polish it every week and $400/year for Brasso.

[71T Targa]

Got it, and love it. We don't have anything to compare it to as it's out first, but love it.

The only negative I can think of is that we need to keep it 'on' all the time. It does take a while to heat otherwise.

[tabs]

Originally Posted by DARISC

This is mine. I hate it. $150 for Nunzio to come by and polish it every week and $400/year for Brasso.

I guess being a Liberal is more lucrative than most people would think. U got your hands in the trough of the US Treasury or are U robbin Welfare Checks outa mailboxs...That machine or yourn is no coupla grand machine.. Talk about rich Liberal pigs...do you know how many starrving kids in Haiti the cost of that machine could feed? Or it could pay for the school tution of some Ghetto kid. You talk shyte about all the social justice BO is bringing to the people all the while you is hoggin it up...

[DARISC]

Originally Posted by tabs

I guess being a Liberal is more lucrative than most people would think.

Dunno; I'm registered Independant.

U got your hands in the trough of the US Treasury or are U robbin Welfare Checks outa mailboxs...

Little bit o' both (but the welfare checks barely cover Nunzio's wages ).

That machine or yourn is no coupla grand machine..

Ya think?

Talk about rich Liberal pigs...

Nah, boring. You can though!

do you know how many starrving kids in Haiti the cost of that machine could feed?

Depends on how starrrving they are...I guess.

Or it could pay for the school tution of some Ghetto kid.

WTF? And go without my espresso? Hey, I pay them well enough for stealing the welfare checks!

You talk shyte about all the social justice BO is bringing to the people

I do?! You have me confused with someone else.

all the while you is hoggin it up...

You oughta see my "spoon" collection.

..