Quote:
Originally posted by djmcmath
[B
But back to espresso -- you'll find that the grind and tamp go together as critical elements. The machine, then, is required to produce a precisely regulated temperature, pressure, and flow rate of water through the puck. My machine has two self-installed digital controllers, one for each boiler, and produces absolutely fantastic coffee. If I had spent another $100 on the grinder, I'd probably get more consistent results, too.
Dan [/B]
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Yup. I have friends like that who even keep log books. After months of effort, they find their ideal settings.
I agree, quality beans are the key.
Personally, I wouldn't mind getting more involved in the process with a more manual machine but my wife LOVES being able to just press a button for good coffee.
As much as I tried, I couldn't justify anything more expensive than my $800 Gaggia Synchrony. It has a fair amount of plastic and feels a bit cheap in places but has very good ratings and is very reliable. I definitely prefer my coffee when compared to most any coffee shop.
A good source of info at
www.wholelattelove.com
Jon