Isomac maverick

Kelsey

That's a great option too c-man! I've dropped by Jetblack in Sydney and they couldn't be a nicer bunch.

FreshCoffee2

C-man wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R676gT9yDJY........and .............look haw jacked he gets at the end........ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrzZKz-Cznw

I see you have been watching the kind of "wind you up" internet that doesnt represent true life 😉 You certainly wont get any of those results from 249 dollar machines, also beware of pretentious stuff like the "wow, unbelievable body.....". Well yeah, when you make a single eXpresso portion with a "triple shot" 21 gram filter, it goes without saying you will get a lot of body, even if it is indistinct and muddy..... Beware used machines on the bay of weevils whether they be BZ 99's or other, lest you are an espresso machine tech and wanted a project to work on instead of a cup of coffee, and if you were looking at used gear, Charlies advice re pre and post sales service was spot on. I see a lot of people giving advice here, but not much cooperative effort in return so far, so I am not sure you have actually worked out what you really want yet which leaves us all hanging............. Hope that helps.

UNM

and just to confuse you even more. I have to disagree with fresh-coffee. My gaggia classic makes great shots reliably and consistently. It has PID temp control and a rancilio steam wand and cost me under $100 all up including mods. Thing is, to go that route you have to be confident tinkering and willing to take risks. The gaggia has many good features (3 way valve and brass group head among them) but steaming milk for more than two is a struggle. a good start is visit a reputable retailer and have a chat with them. Their opinions may be different to mine and to yours but will certainly give you somethings to think about and possibly eliminate a few unsuitable options.

C-man

Fresh Coffee wrote:

I see you have been watching the kind of "wind you up" internet that doesnt represent true life 😉 You certainly wont get any of those results from 249 dollar machines, also beware of pretentious stuff like the "wow, unbelievable body.....". Well yeah, when you make a single eXpresso portion with a "triple shot" 21 gram filter, it goes without saying you will get a lot of body, even if it is indistinct and muddy..... Beware used machines on the bay of weevils whether they be BZ 99's or other, lest you are an espresso machine tech and wanted a project to work on instead of a cup of coffee, and if you were looking at used gear, Charlies advice re pre and post sales service was spot on. I see a lot of people giving advice here, but not much cooperative effort in return so far, so I am not sure you have actually worked out what you really want yet which leaves us all hanging............. Hope that helps.

I have been behind the counter in 3 of the 4 roasters up here making friends and talking with the owners, watching and tasting shots while they were helping me, Even with big Robour ( Clandistino has 3 ) grinders and commercial machines the shots were good but nothing great. I think the so called "god shots" are just a myth I love things of beauty and would enjoy a great machine but I just don't have the coin. I still say there is no such thing as great coffee, just a great cup!

C-man

UNM wrote:

and just to confuse you even more. In have to disagree with fresh-coffee. My gaggia classic makes great shots reliably and consistently. It has PID temp control and a rancilio steam wand and cost me under $100 all up including mods. Thing is, to go that route you have to be confident tinkering and willing to take risks. The gaggia has many good features (3 way valve and brass group head among them) but steaming milk for more than two is a struggle. a good start is visit a reputable retailer and have a chat with them. Their opinions may be different to mine and to yours but will certainly give you somethings to think about and possibly eliminate a few unsuitable options.

this was my orig. thinking, there is only 2 of us and I don't mind doing a few mods, did you re-set the pressure? I have seen brand new Classics for $349.00 on the bay.

march83

the classic with pid, silvia wand and a tuned opv is a pretty capable machine (i owned one for about 6 years), but i have to concede that despite all of this extra tuning the espresso is noticeably poorer than what comes out of my both my bfc junior levetta and my ponte vecchio lusso. whether the bfc or pvl are that much better to justify the price difference is up to the drinker.

Kelsey

C-man wrote:

I have been behind the counter in 3 of the 4 roasters up here making friends and talking with the owners, watching and tasting shots while they were helping me, Even with big Robour ( Clandistino has 3 ) grinders and commercial machines the shots were good but nothing great. I think the so called "god shots" are just a myth I love things of beauty and would enjoy a great machine but I just don't have the coin. I still say there is no such thing as great coffee, just a great cup!

I'd have to point out that 'god shots' aren't the myth - you just haven't found a brewer that suits your palate yet. There times when I bust out what I would consider to be a godshot every second shot for weeks at a time. Then there are times when I'm lucky to get one in a multi-week period. And then there's the unalterable fact that what is a godshot for me is simple a good coffee for you - and vice versa. We all like what we like - what others like is immaterial. There is no single definitive god shot - only YOUR god shot.

FreshCoffee2

I have no problem with people disagreeing with me especially when they know their stuff, and you blokes have rightly mentioned that there are still shortcomings after the tinkering with and "upgrading" of, low end machines. One thing that hasnt been mentioned outright is that low end equipment is simply harder / more fiddly to use.....I cant begin to tell you how many of my clients have come back to mention (following the purchase of a small HX machine) how much easier they are to use / get consistent results from, than the smaller domestic machines they learned on and upgraded from. In any case that isn't an issue any more as it seems we have finally hit upon the budget... Attilio very first Crema site sponsor.

derrilex

Totally agree Attilio. As soon as I pissed the 6910 off and all of its whacky variables ( of which I was one I might add) and got the BZ99, I noticed how much easier it was to achieve consistency. A few tricks to learn re cooling flushes but once a routine is set the machine is so predictable. It just does its thing, every time. Its so good to not have machine variables thrown into the equation

Brett_H

I can also vouch for Cosmorex pre and post sale service. As a Brisbane-based customer I received customer service above and beyond my highest expectations. Don't let distance stop you from buying your dream machine once, rather than 5 nightmares along the journey.

« Previous Page