Espresso machines
My espresso machine needs to be pensioned off.
Any caffeine freaks here with recommendations?
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Comments
Dave
Only one to consider in my opinion - La Pavoni Piccolo. Classic timeless Italian design with a hand pull lever action. Definitely hands on machine so if you are used to an easy press button type it may not be your thing.
Not cheap but last a lifetime as they are totally re-buildable with 100% spares availability.
Mervyn
No this one.
Sorry pic missing - still getting to grips with this technology !
Try this link
http://www.italy-outlet.co.uk/en-gbp/i/cat63/product443.html
They are relatively easy to use but being Italian require some tlc and can be a bit moody ! I enjoy the hands-on involvement and the fact you can repair them yourself. If this is not your thing have a look at Saeco machines which have a good reputation in Italy.(they rarely use domestic expresso machines in Italy only rhe little aluminium hob top ones ).
HTH
Mervyn
For a really good, but basic espresso machine, the Gaggia Classic is hard to beat. They can be had for sensible money if you shop around.
Much of Gaggia's other stuff (including sister company Saeco machines) and particularly their automatic machines are troublesome and not terribly good. Perhaps I should not say that, since I have a Gaggia Titanium automatic machine that I need to sell! Another espresso machine which can be got from eBay etc at good prices
(occasionally) is the KitchenAid Artisan - this is made by Gaggia and is
pretty much a posh Classic, but with a separate steam boiler and
nuclear-blast proof cast alloy body.
My main rule for espresso machines is that they should not have aluminium parts, otherwise you get corrosion and aluminium salts clogging the filter basket etc. Not nice, and probably not good for health either. With the right beans and good technique, though, you can get a perfect coffee from the most unpromising looking equipment, but not IME from stove-top makers, since these have to boil the water and boiling water burns the coffee. Yuk!
If you must have an automatic machine, then be prepared to lash out on one from Jura, which hail from Switzerland. These are well-engineered and flexible in terms of setup. The likes of Siemens also do creditable machines, but the problem with them all is that the beans in the hopper do go off very quickly indeed, so unless you are drinking gallons of coffee each day, you will probably be rather disappointed with the results, compared with a cheaper manual machine.
For the best coffee available, take a look at Climpsons in Broadway Market, London.
we call it moka
ciao
s.
I can remember the days when you could go into a cafe and have a nice quiet chat with a friend.
These days the noise is like being at a steam train convention so that someone who is simply making a coffee for you can show off that he is boiling some water.
Fine at home, I am sure, but a real nuisance in public.
That said I am a tea drinker, so my opinion is a little biased.
what's the machine Dave ? The boss ie SWMBO has being toying with the idea of a Nespresso machine which do seem to have improved considerably recently.
We use a Nespresso frother which I can heartily recommend. Consistent temperature and froth !!!
I'm having to thin out my family of espresso coffee machines, which I seem to accumulate at the same rate as record players! On the list to go on eBay when they have a cheap listing offer are a Gaggia Titanium automatic bean to cup machine and a nearly new Kitchenaid Artisan espresso machine (red enamel finish).
For anyone thinking about Nespresso machines, they are OK but the capsules are expensive and if you want a bit of strength the only option is to use two capsules, which makes a cup of coffee extra-expensive! Mainly for that reason I would favour the ESE pods, also because there are many suppliers of such things if you look around and some contain very good coffee.
Good luck with the new machine Dave - definitely looks the business.
How's about a coffee machine bake-off ?? I could bring my collection of La Pavoni's and sounds like Hugo could conjure up a few !!
Agree with Hugo about strength of Nespresso machines - I tried one when they first came out but believe they have improved since then wth greater selection of coffees. Still v expensive though per cup and will research the ESE pods as Hugo suggests.