Machine under $500 - newbie

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• One-a-day

  December 2005

  One-a-day, I read somewhere that the $99 machine makes worse coffee than instant. No wonder they are selling them at $99 rather then the suggested rrp of $449.  But don't write off cheaper machines. I read on these forums that a sunbeam cafe ristretto did the job well for some one when they where travelling and it retails between $70 to $100 Big price tag doesn't always mean great quality. Things like knock boxes crack me up ,I can see there purpose and there's obviously a market for them but forking out the dollars on what is essentially a small plastic box made in china for 20c when you are then going to have to empty it again into another bin or your worm farm isn't that double handling and time wasteing . Thats just the common sense/tradesman part of me talking no offense.  

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• Honest_Gaza

  December 2005

  [quote author=One-a-day   Things like knock boxes crack me up ,I can see there purpose and there's obviously a market for them but forking out the dollars on what is essentially a small plastic box made in china for 20c when you are then going to have to empty it again into another bin or your worm farm isn't that double handling and time wasteing . Thats just the common sense/tradesman part of me talking no offense.

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• mattyj

  December 2005

  knock boxes make life easy. I had plans to make one, but it was just so much easier to walk across the road and buy one, even though it was more expensive.

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• Remus

  December 2005

  One-a-day, I read somewhere that the $99 machine makes worse coffee than instant. No wonder they are selling them at $99 rather then the suggested rrp of $449.

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• cheeky

  December 2005

  Thanks so much for all your invaluable advice  I bit the bullet and bought a Gaggia Classic and a Lux :P  Needless to say, I completely blew my budget!  I hope it was a good decision. I told my husband and he's happy with it.  Now, I just have to learn how to make a good coffee.  Too bad I don't drink it (due to its bitterness), I might have to learn to appreciate it...  Maybe my husband and I should do a barista's course together.

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• nzroaster

  December 2005

  Congrats on the purchase. I would highly advise a barista course as you may have read elsewhere on the forum that the barista is a vital step in the process. As for bitterness - use good beans and get great training and coffee will not be bitter.

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• One-a-day

  December 2005

  Good one Gaza , no matter how things end up looking it's the satisfaction from creating it your self. If only I was still working at that workshop with the set of rolls, hydralic press, tig welders and any size/type of stainless steel you could imagine for a foreny. Only dealing with my plunger I don't have a lot of hassle with the grounds ,it's straight into my $2 fluoro yello mini bin with giant smiley face on the front with the rest of the organic waste then onto the worm farm. I guess I'll have to pimp it up after I get a machine.

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• Remus

  December 2005

  Thanks so much for all your invaluable advice

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