Espresso/Capaccino machines

[Ken Gargett]

I'm not sure I understand - could you espresso yourself a bit more clearly?

put down the tube of glue...

[Colt45]

put down the tube of glue...

stop mocha-ing things up.

[rock]

hey guys,

I'm dying to make my own espresso and cappuccino at home and am looking for some opinions on a good machine to buy for home use. I'm not looking for a commercial size unit or to spend over $1000 US, preferably much less, but I know quality comes at a price.

What are you guys using and do you have any suggestions?

Gracias!

THROW OUT SOME CASH FOR THE REAL THING AND GET A SWISS MARVEL THE JURA Z5 OR THE Z6 THEY ARE WELL WORTH IT.

[Ken Gargett]

stop mocha-ing things up.

you are why they invented the double shot.

[Colt45]

you are why they invented the double shot.

you are quite the doppio yourself, but really - no need to get so steamed.

[gfoster]

I think if I were going to spend $3600 USD on a machine, I'd want a lot better one for my money than a Z6.

-- Gary F.

[fattires]

Roast my own coffee, blend my own espresso, and make my coffee's at home - everything else tastes like crap now that I started this.

Absolutely the machine is only as good as a grinder. I to have have the Miss Silvia/Rocky combo and love it. For the money (its price point), it is the best single broiler on the market. Personally I hate super automatics, I want more control over the shot and the quality of the shot.

This is the best entry level setup for really good, sometimes great espresso, IMHO.

I didn't see this link posted earlier, but is helpful in understanding how demanding the espresso process is, and why you have to pay in time and currency to produce it.

http://espressomyespresso.com/

[samb]

I use a moka pot and really enjoy the brew it puts out. I use it mainly for cuban style coffee, but I cant get any espumita out of it, lol. Does great for an easy everyday espresso.

[Jimmy2]

If i am going to spend 1,500 to 3,000 on a yuppie expresso makers i would rather spend it on cigars !!

Bialetti 3-cup demitasse / moka express cost $20.00 on sale like it you will be a happy camper dont like it you it will not break the piggie bank.

I will tell you i have drank coffee every way possible and i still go back to the Bialetti .It makes the coffee so creamy thick and rich the best i have every tasted its a wonder why its been in use for over a hundred years.. Trust me you wont regret it sometimes simple is better.

http://www.cubascoffee.com/cart/viewprod.a...t=33&Curr=2

[Bartolomeo]

I am in the market for an Expresso machine but after reading this thread, I am utterly confused

Need to go do some more homework

Bart

[innova]

if you want to really learn to pull a great shot manually, get a Rancilio Silvia (preferably with a PID on it). That will get you as close to a commercial machine under $1k as you can get. The PID will eliminate the temp surfing. You'll figure out what that means as you start to become obsessed. I went this route and would do it all over again. Pair it with a Rocky Grinder and you're set ! I'm not just saying this b/c I'm selling this exact combo either , it's too heavy to ship there, hehe.

Show us a pic of your first "god shot".

-innova

[thechenman]

I'd rather just head to Starbucks or when in Manhattan, Cup O Joes...

[MIKA27]

I'd rather just head to Starbucks or when in Manhattan, Cup O Joes...

Big difference between good coffee (Starbucks if you're lucky) and great coffee (Home brewed)...

[android]

Starbucks blows!

[El Presidente]

When I started cigars, I spent 6 years in Dean Merlo's Roasting Factory (we had a humidor there) which is still (in my opinion) some of the best coffee in the world (http://www.merlo.com.au/).

I was lucky in that I got to learn bean selection, roasting, blending, storage, grind as well as work on the best commercial and domestic machines at that time.

Proper grind is essential. Using fresh roasted coffee is a given. Filtered water a must. Throwing out the first two cups of coffee out of a machine every day a good habit.

In my experience the best domestic or semi pro machine is the one you will feel comfortable with and actually use. I have been guilty of buying great Ille and Sieco machines only to see them end up as ornaments.

Know yourself. How much work are YOU prepared to put in for maintenance/cleaning, practice etc.

I drink coffee black no sugar. From a plunger using Fresh Espresso (no more than 3 days old) I can have a thick Crema which more than meets my needs and my lifestyle. 8 heaped scoops of coffee, stir vigorously 20 seconds as gently adding off the boil water, Plunge, pour.

Makes three crema topped mugs of steaming black coffee and that is how Lise, Smithy and I start the day here. I still like to use a professional machine or very good Semi pro but I just don't have the patience or time for perfection and once you have had perfect coffee that is all you strive for.

[Jimmy2]

Drink what you like thechenman i like StarBucks to ..Homebrew is doo doo...

[Guest rob]

El Pres' post is spot on. Exactly perfect!

It doesn;t matter how good your gear is - if you arent cleaning it and maintaining it... you are going to end up drinking muddy water after a short while. This relates to the grinder, the handles, the espresso machine... the whole lot. It needs to be CLEAN!

It does take time and diligence... but is you are serious about it then you will be rewarded with awesome results.

[sepp]

Rancilio Silvia with a Rocky Grinder. Going strong 6 years pulling average 4 double shots a day, seven days a week. Agree with the comments on buying a $700-$1000 dollar machine and then a $30 grinder. It's a waste as you will be disappointed in the machine and not rightly so.

[MIKA27]

El Pres' post is spot on. Exactly perfect!

It doesn;t matter how good your gear is - if you arent cleaning it and maintaining it... you are going to end up drinking muddy water after a short while. This relates to the grinder, the handles, the espresso machine... the whole lot. It needs to be CLEAN!

It does take time and diligence... but is you are serious about it then you will be rewarded with awesome results.

Spot on.

I work in the CBD and it is surprising to find many places that use excellent coffee but for some reason their coffees taste like S**t.

I am positive many places do not clean their gear and in turn, they do not get my return business. I have found a place now where I get my lattes daily and its fantastic.

As for home, I am so addicted to my Nespresso coffee. I can not recommend it enough.

[Guest rob]

I have found a place now where I get my lattes daily and its fantastic.

When in Melbourne CBD, I always buy my coffee from Degraves Espresso bar in Degraves Street and also a nice little place called Postal Hall on the corner of Russel and Little Collins.

[MIKA27]

When in Melbourne CBD, I always buy my coffee from Degraves Espresso bar in Degraves Street and also a nice little place called Postal Hall on the corner of Russel and Little Collins.

I've never been to Degraves espresso bar but I have been to Postal and it is a great coffee.

For me however, Postal is a little way from my work, I'm closer to La Trobe street so I head to Degani on Lonsdale Street. In fact, I was just there around 10 minutes ago for my second coffee. (Yes, I am an addict.)

[Buch0]

While we are on the topic of coffee, what is everyone's experience with Cuban coffee? Anything like the uniqueness of their cigars?

[sfordham]

While we are on the topic of coffee, what is everyone's experience with Cuban coffee? Anything like the uniqueness of their cigars?

All depends on what you get, how old it is, and how it is roasted. Most commercial coffee such as Cubita, IMHO, is over roasted and very difficult to get fresh.

Yearly I get a good supply of Cuban green coffee to roast myself. The two variations being Serrano and Turquino are quite different and do better under different roast profiles.

Serrano is an excellent and very smooth coffee when roasted to City to City+. Medium acidity, fairly sweet and nutty. Turquino I find to be a full body coffee with less nuttiness and not as balanced as Serrano. Both have a full body, but I find Turquino's to be fuller making it a great espresso base. Both are quite good as a single varietal brew and very smooth.

In 2009 Serrano was difficult to find; in fact I was able to only get Turquino green. The huricanes did a number on the coffee crops.

[JMacSr]

Check out http://www.nespresso.com. I have the LATTISSIMA EN680 at work and love it. Simple without all the mess.

I have used the CITIZ line and it is also great, runs about $ 349.00 US

[Wiley]

I wish to defend the virtues of espresso with milk! Even though I dislike lattes (and lattes mislabeled as cappuccinos), a proper cappuccino in the morning and a macchiato later are both cups of divine intervention! Glorious! Life altering!

Also, I am in agreement with people who mentioned using medium roast. Dark roast sucks for espresso. I'm sorry, but this is not opinion, it's plain fact.