Best espresso machine for around $1500 USD budget? - Page 4

Recommendations for buyers and upgraders from the site's members.
auvgeek (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 8 years ago

#31: Post by auvgeek (original poster) »

day wrote:If you can get him to do the brewtus I think it's an easy call. with many different people using it, and knowing your boss in particular doesn't even want to take a few seconds to grind, the comforts of being able to walk up and have it at a set temperature is obviously a tremendous benefit over the hx. Moreover, if others can start to appreciate good espresso via sharing your Pharos then they are more likely to support good beans and a good grinder, saving you money. I think that's much more likely to happen with a dual boiler than an hx if they aren't going to take the time to learn how to use it properly to begin with. Just my position though.
Great post; just the kind of insight I was hoping for. I'll approach him about the Brewtus on Monday, and we'll see if he's willing to go that high. If not, I'll look harder at some of the models mentioned here closer to $1k, like the EVO, Office Control, and Breville.

I would definitely prefer a setup where we all the cost of fresh beans and use a nice automatic grinder, but that just doesn't seem realistic.

auvgeek (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 8 years ago

#32: Post by auvgeek (original poster) »

Well, just an update. We ended up going with the Londinium 1 (gasp!), and the boss is going to go for a Baratza Sette grinder. He ended up letting us add a grinder, but wanted to keep it under $500. So we'll have to wait until October for the grinder, but that's fine.

I'm really excited about the new setup. Just gotta figure out which beans to go with.

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MB
Posts: 792
Joined: 10 years ago

#33: Post by MB »

Awesome! Your place hiring? :lol:
LMWDP #472

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Coffeecritter
Posts: 104
Joined: 17 years ago

#34: Post by Coffeecritter »

What a wonderful boss! You must be a great nurture-worthy group of employees :)
Life's too short to live in Dallas!

LMWDP #157

auvgeek (original poster)
Posts: 33
Joined: 8 years ago

#35: Post by auvgeek (original poster) »

Yeah, for a mangy bunch of grad students, he sure spoils us silly. He's also one of the most genuinely nice people I've had the pleasure of working for.

I think the L1 was easily double what he wanted to spend, but he seems to like the idea that it's all mechanical so we can take it apart and fix the seals, etc. I'm really hoping that with care, it will last decades. If anyone's interested, I'm happy to report back my user experience with the L1.

I'm really pleased we ended up with a grinder, too. That allows me to select the beans and dial in the grind, dosage, etc, so everyone in the lab can pull a decent shot with minimal effort. Only (small) bummer is that the Sette isn't available until October.

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CoffeeBar
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#36: Post by CoffeeBar »

what a good choice :D

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