networkcrasher wrote:Jason, you sure you don't want one of these???

No, actually I don't. I really dislike the "Speedster" body style . . .

Ah well. I thought maybe the form factor of the Idro was a stumbling block.

No, simply the price . . . and the logical part of me -- small though it may be -- that says I really don't need this!

Hey Ken,

Ken Fox wrote:I've really wanted to love my GS/3, however the machine has made it very hard to do so.
<snip>
I have never owned a Speedster, nor seen one in the flesh, but my conversations with Andy Schecter lead me to believe that the quality of the Speedster is of a wholly different level than of the GS/3.

I wonder if I would love the Speedster's drip-tray so much had I not owned the rattle-prone GS/3.

A friend had not used my GS/3 for two months when he decided to go ahead and order his Speedster before the upcoming price increase. He claims to not have not nearly enough free fingers to press down on the GS/3 to combat the rattles (although the longer braided line has quieted the rattles somewhat). And, like me, he enjoyed the occasional water runs over the side of the drip-tray cover and onto the counter/floor.

The owner experience with the Speedster has been hugely improved. Line-pressure PI rocks on this machine (3.5-4 bar for me) and seems to treat the puck more gently as compared to my pump-pressure PI GS/3. Shift-lever brew operation is much more engaging and fun to use than volumetric (which I had overridden while using the GS/3). About the only thing I miss about the GS/3 is the pre-programmed cleaning operation.

Washington state is within reasonable driving distance, too, Ken. Forget the TSA!

Cheers,
Mark

I checked back with my sources whom I thought had seen a new Cimbali Junior at a trade show in Italy. I was told that the new machine they saw was not a Junior and not a single group machine. I had heard about this third hand, and I made the mistake of not checking it out myself. There were no new Juniors to be seen and they have never seen one.

I therefore need to retract my statements that a new Cimbali Junior is in the offing, and that the release is imminent. I hope that this is true, but I have no evidence of it.

All of the above having been said, the Juniors I have owned have given me virtually trouble free service over a period of more than 15 years, in spite of many modifications I have done that could have damaged them. They are designed in a way that almost anyone with any skill can work on them, with a very logical layout and easily accessed components. They are bulletproof, well designed, and reliable machines.

I hope that one day I will be able to recommend the purchase of an LM GS/3, however I am still awaiting the resolution of my machine's problems, and therefore cannot give the same sort of (or in fact any sort of) recommendation for that machine.

ken

This is an interesting thread filled with a ton of good information about the merits of commercial versus prosumer machines. I didn't think it was appropriate to start a new thread for my question since it fits in, I think, with the information here already.

My question is, if a used one group Linea in working condition was available for a price near the cost of a new Alex Duetto, or Vivaldi or any other new machine, and you could install a 220 line to supply the Linea, would you buy the La Marzocco or buy one of the new machines? And why? I've absorbed much information from this site and read often that the Marzocco is--from what I've read a holy grail--like buying a Ferrari. I bet the Marzocco is not in the shop as often, but in terms of build quality and workmanship they are comparable.

We have a Traulsen combo refrigerator/freezer single width in our kitchen and really, the Marzocco would fit right in with the industrial look. I do a lot of cooking for friends and they often enjoy coffee after a meal. I used to do a lot of cooking for pay and cooking for friends is much more fun. People are always impressed with the fridge, would be great to keep the awe factor up till they get to the coffee.

And Nik, your post about the Caddy probably happened about the same time I heard of people taking off the door trim to find a coke can rattling in the door.

PictureThyme wrote:My question is, if a used one group Linea in working condition was available for a price near the cost of a new Alex Duetto, or Vivaldi or any other new machine, and you could install a 220 line to supply the Linea, would you buy the La Marzocco or buy one of the new machines?

I have no experience with those specific prosumer machines, but just went from a Quick Mill Aquila (E61 HX) to a Linea single and absolutely love it. My machine was a brand new semi-auto and cost about 80% of a brand new GS/3, no regrets but had it been more expensive I probably would've gone with a GS/3 paddle instead. Between a used Linea and a new prosumer machine at equal pricing it's a no-brainer, assuming the Linea isn't totally beat up I'd absolutely go for it. Once you go full commercial you don't go back!

Agreed. I'd grab the Linea . . .

Thank you both for the advice. After reading so much on here it seems like a no-brainer. But you never know, someone might have said, no don't do it. I'll keep everyone posted.
Steve

zin1953 wrote:Agreed. I'd grab the Linea . . .

Thanks for the advice; I grabbed it. It came with an Everpure water filter/softener system, a rebuild a couple years ago and very gunked up portaflters and a head gasket that had hardened to the head. Well, I wanted a project and I got one. After spending the afternoon running power for it, I found out it works great. just needs a little TLC.