Sunbeam Cafe Aromatic (EM5800) Problems

System

Hi all,

I have recently (under three weeks ago) purchased this machine, along with a krups grinder (GVX2) and a Sunbeam bang bang waste box. I know this isn't quite as nice as the ever popular silvia / rocky setup but it is a setup I was quite proud of up until today, as I had been making some nice coffee using fresh beans from a little roaster with an online shop. When I say nice, I mean a hell of a lot better than I have ever had at home before (previously using french press and supermarket coffee)

So anyway, I have been reading this site and others, tasting new beans, trying different grinds of previous ones, playing with tamps, working on my milk, attempting late art (which I just cannot do btw but thats another story) but anyway. So over the three weeks since I have had it, it has been in constant use. I mean I work full time so not all day, but I have been pulling at at least 10 double shots a day from it (I don't drink them all :D some are just practice / for others) I know this is a personal machine and nothing like a high use cafe machine, but even so I thought this machine could deal with it.

This morning whilst making my coffee, the handle / head came off and sent coffee and grinds everywhere. This annoyed me somewhat, but after reading the manual and finding I had done everything right (and pretty much as per the previous however many shots) I put it down to me not paying attention and not securing the handle correctly. But then this afternoon, it happened again! This time it wasn't on the metal cups they had provided but on the fine itialian espresso glasses my girlfriend had sourced for me! It cracked them, and sent hot water everywhere. Now, this was just a warmup shot (to get the glasses and head nice and warm) so it was definitely not my grind or tamp as the manual suggests, and as this happened this morning I had been very careful when securing everything so it was not that. The manual says the rubber needs to be replaced every 6-12 months and I have had the machine less than three weeks so the only thing I can see it being is a defective head.

Anyway, I am not all that impressed anymore and am wondering what I should do about it. Of course I will contact a service center tomorrow and see what they suggest, but what do you guys think? I don't know if I should stay with this machine. I am still very much an amature at this stuff, so would it be a waste of money shelling out for say a silvia? Should I demand my money back and get sunbeams new paul bassett machine? I am just not comfortable putting nice cups under this machine anymore

What do you all think? Should I just fix my current machine and spend a little more on a nice tamp and some more quality coffee? (I am still using the plastic tamper that came with the machine) or should I get my money back and go with something else? Am I being unreasonable / silly not wanting to place nice cups under this machine anymore?

Thanks for any replies and sorry about the essay


More Information:
Grinder - http://www.krups.com/krups/All+Products/Coffee+Grinders/Products/GVX2/GVX2.htm
Machine - http://www.sunbeam.com.au/products/product_details.cfm?rec_id=279&sec_id=26
Grinds Bin - http://www.sunbeam.com.au/products/product_details.cfm?rec_id=342&sec_id=21

Honest_Gaza

Muzzi, sounds like you're having a bit of fun with it.  This was one of the machines that I was looking at but decided to go with the EM6900....perhaps a good choice ? However, having said that, I'm also about to ring the Sunbeam Helpline regarding the EM6900.  If power is left on, and the machine goes into standby mode, it comes to life as soon as you touch any of the buttons.  But if you turn power completely off.....it intermittently has a problem where the Steaming Wand does not become active.  I'll ask Sunbeam for advice. I hope they resolve your probelm quickly.

mattyj

sigh ... I just posted a lengthy reply over at coffeesnobs.com, then came here and saw you'd posted exactly the same thing! I feel your pain ... check out the coffeesnobs reply. for anyone esle reading this thread wh owants to know the solution, I'll post a link when I can be bothered...

Unknown

Thanks for the replies! Honest_Gaza I think you did make the right choice going for the EM6900. Your problem sounds frustrating, I hope sunbeams helpline is useful. I have just read on another forum that there has been a second release of this machine with a number of bug fixes, maybe they can fix it up for you. mattyj, I check all of the forums I have replied to the coffeesnobs post too I initially posted on coffeegeek yesterday about this, but got anxious about the lack of replies so I cross posted  :-/ Now all of my posts have been replied too

Unknown

For anyone who is interested, here are the other threads regarding this topic: http://coffeesnobs.com.au/YaBB.pl?num=1128380756/0 http://www.coffeegeek.com/forums/espresso/machines/176647

Honest_Gaza

Muzzi....rather than hijack your thread, I'll start a new one now that I have spoken to Sunbeam.