Things you hate about espresso machines

Kelsey

#5, #7 and #8 are the ones that get me too. I like my machine shiny, I need to figure out how I can ensure the boiler is filled each evening before I switch off so that it doesn't wake my son at 6am when I turn it on and the whole shebang takes up 1/3 of my kitchen!!!

Koffee_Kosmo

As an extension of the machine I vote for - The nut behind the machine KK :stir

Kelsey

When you work for yourself you always have an a$$hole for a boss!

derrilex

Speak for yourself Kelsey 😃. My boss is awesome

Brett_H

Nice list! #7 as well as grinder noise are pet hates for me. Also #5 with the addition: My biggest pet hate is stray grounds getting everywhere because among the usual reasons, my setup is near a window.

Kelsey

That's my wife's pet hate, Brett! "You PROMISED I wouldn't be cleaning up grinds!"

Brett_H

:rofl: :angel:

UNM

#10 There are too many of them. It seems every household or business serving coffee has at least one espresso machine. We all know espresso is not the best way to make coffee, and yet can't resist the fascination of bling over functionality. #11. Waiting. Not just for a domestic machine to heat up (with modern materials and technology there is less excuse than there used to be). Also the wait for a 'barista' to actually deliver to the customers order in a commercial coffee outlet. Espresso machines are really inefficient in a high throughput environment. I agree with #5 but not in the way you might think. Working machines should not be pristine and shiny. Steam wands or panels with no chrome left and scratched brass from frequent use of a scourer are just fine by me. Functional cleanliness is all that is required. Shiny shows that someone has too much spare time or OCD - or both.

Kelsey

Brett H wrote:

:rofl: :angel:

In fact, this thread prompted me to do something about that complaint! [attach=1] Jus finally realised last week that's it's a different machine on the bench when she tried to make herself a coffee while I was out: "How come there's THREE buttons to brew coffee now?!?!?" She hasn't noticed this yet tho. :rofl:

derrilex

What are we looking at Kelsey ?

derrilex

UNM wrote:

#10 We all know espresso is not the best way to make coffee #11. Waiting. Also the wait for a 'barista' to actually deliver to the customers order in a commercial coffee outlet.

Re # 10 - beg to differ Re # 11 - couldn't agree more. What the hell takes so bloody long. I dont care if they have 10 orders, they have 3 or 4 groups. Get busy and stop bollocking around with ya nose piercing 😃

Kelsey

derrilex wrote:

What are we looking at Kelsey ?

The red knockbox D!

derrilex

Oh, ok. What were you using before ? Plastic bag in the sink KK style?

Jonty

#12 - I use a timer for my 7 days a week pattern. Hate it when you have a big night or change in normal routine that impacts the 'warm up' phase of the machine and my fix... #13 - When I know on a Sunday I have to empty the knockbox, what a bloody choir that is!

Lacehim

Kelsey wrote:

The red knockbox D!

You got a red one just like mine! It's a grindenstein knock box, they are very good. Small but that makes you clear it out more often (stops you get green pucks at least) and you can put the whole thing in the dishwasher. No dismantling required. 🙂

Kelsey

derrilex wrote:

Oh, ok. What were you using before ? Plastic bag in the sink KK style?

Smack it on the sink and leave the pucks there until the end of the day. We do a lot of our shopping at farmers markets so we don't have bags to spare usually.

Kelsey

Lacehim wrote:

You got a red one just like mine! It's a grindenstein knock box, they are very good. Small but that makes you clear it out more often (stops you get green pucks at least) and you can put the whole thing in the dishwasher. No dismantling required. 🙂

I didn't know that! Cool!

galumay

You guys just need to get a Caravel!

Rider

14. Specific to boiler, HX etc etc usually of Italian origin..... No bloody warning on low water. Sunnies and I assume the Breville do.... Nothing better than a truncated shot at 5.15 am.... particularly when I then have to refill so my darling wife is sorted a bit later... 15. My wife using the group head to rinse the group handle after a shot to actually create item 14 above... :🙂

Brett_H

Rider wrote:

14. Specific to boiler, HX etc etc usually of Italian origin..... No bloody warning on low water. Sunnies and I assume the Breville do.... Nothing better than a truncated shot at 5.15 am.... particularly when I then have to refill so my darling wife is sorted a bit later... 15. My wife using the group head to rinse the group handle after a shot to actually create item 14 above... :🙂

Oh yeah.... Yeah, these are good ones right here. I'll add these to my list. Is it just me or does anyone else hate when you choke a domestic lever and you have to depressurise and wait an age to get your porter filter out and start again. I mean, I would have happily paid the extra $9.68 to have a dump/release valve on the lever chamber. :tearhair: