Urban Dictionary wrote:Upgraditis - A terminal condition, the main symptom of which presents as the insatiable desire to upgrade. A word originally coined by Isaac Sibson, and now increasingly prevalent in internet based discussions.

'Isaac, I have a great new cam, but now I want loads of accessories too.'
'Yes Brad, you have upgraditis.'

You know, when I was in my twenties I had to have the latest and greatest thingamajig that I could research out and find for whatever I was interested in at that time. For example, golf equipment.

I took my first golf lesson from a professional before I ever even attempted a swing. My thought here was "Why start bad habits, get educated FIRST." The first day, the Pro told me I needed to go buy some clubs, something like some Sam's Club or Walmart special for $200, or something along those lines. Man o man, I went strait out and bought a $1800 set of Callaway's. I cut to the chase! I didn't want to spend $200, then $1000 and then $1,800. I just went ahead and spent the $1,800. I never looked back and I think my golf game improved like a rocket because of the quality of equipment I was using, of course the proper mechanics via good training were equally helpful. Within a year I was shooting in the high 80's. Then, here came the driver upgraditis. I went ahead and bought a Big Bertha Driver when I bought the irons and I could hit a ball about 280 yards, after I learned how to hit the ball. But, about two years ago Callaway came out with a new "Fusion Driver." I took the demo out to the first tee outside the clubhouse and smacked the ball on first strike to the green, 310 yards. The next ball rolled past the green, 330 yards. The next one did about 295 to the front edge of the green. Here is my credit card: SOLD!. That club is crazy, just stupid crazy.

But, with espresso? Do you have upgraditis? Did you start out with a Rancilio Silvia and find yourself wanting something better in a few months? And after that, even something better? Just like with the clubs, my first machine was a Faema 2 group, 220v and plumbed into the water and drainage. I remember thinking as I was driving the machine home "Man, this is going to be great. I am going to plumb and wire this machine and magically FANTASTIC espresso will drop from the group!"

Did anybody else think this? What a mistake. It took a good month and about $200 of espresso beans before I even liked what I was doing. The problem was I had a high expectation on what I thought espresso should taste like because the exposure I had at Coffee & Crema in Greenville, SC (http://coffeeandcrema.com) was fantastic.

Now, if you have had your machine for six months, a year, two years or whatever and your making very good espresso, do you have upgraditis?

Me personally? Sometimes I think I would like to trade my commercial machine for a Expobar Brewtus or another E61 type of group head. Smaller, still plumbed in and a little better results. But, going through the learning curve? I don't think I want to go through all of that. At least not for a long while.

Well, not any more! After letting me drill two holes through the granite countertop and installing an Elektra T1, if I told her I wanted to upgrade my machine, I think she WOULD kill me!

I am still toying around with upgrading my "backup" grinder (my stepless, doserless QuickMill) . . . I love the idea of this, but that's hardly a backup. Then again, maybe this might be an option . . .

zin1953 wrote:Well, not any more! After letting me drill two holes through the granite countertop and installing an Elektra T1, if I told her I wanted to upgrade my machine, I think she WOULD kill me!

Not anymore here either, an Elektra T1 seems just fine. However I did have to promise to install a granite counter along with a kitchen remodel. Now the grinder, well I have similar thoughts as Jason. The KA Proline is awaiting replacement. My rebuilt Cadet is just too big, really hoping for good reviews of the Baratza Vario.

Mark

No particular desire to upgrade machine; rotory pump would be nice, but fine with what I have. Grinder is a different story though. Would like to get a SJ, Major, MXK7, or something in that class of grinder.

I don't have upgraditis anymore, and I actually feel like I have more equipment than I need, but I still hesitate to sell any of it lol. If I was thinking of upgrading to something such as a GS3, I'd probably rather get a nice drum roaster (Diedrich, Ambex, etc.) instead because I am really enjoying the roasting part just as much as pulling shots and making drinks.

Machine: La Pavoni -> Andreja -> GS/3. Very happy with each step.

Grinder: De Longhi -> Baratza -> Macap Electronic -> Macap MK7R -> Versalab M3. Huge improvements in quality except for the last step. That was for convenience/counter space (and the quality is stellar).

Still wish I had a Robur

Matt

I no longer suffer from upgraditis, but I certainly did at one time. In retrospect, much of my interest was prompted by online discussions of the latest-and-greatest. Nowadays I realize that beyond the typical E61 espresso machine/Mazzer grinder, equipment upgrades represent only small incremental improvements. If it weren't for the necessary background testing as part of the site's reviews, I would definitely thin the equipment herd. For example, I'd keep only the Elektra Semiautomatica and Mazzer Super Jolly and sell the Mazzer Robur/Mazzer Mini to free up funds and space.

To answer your question no upgraditits. Sure someday may upgrade from my rotary HX Bric' to a dual boiler but it'll be more for super easy temp management not shot quality increase. (Kind of spoiled with PID'd Linea at my cafe.) And I'll very likely upgrade grinder again at home first.

Your analogy had a big problem I think all too common. With golf you got professional training before deciding on the equipment. Your story sounds like you decided on the espresso equipment, got no training, and expected the machine to produce great shots. The espresso machine is the least important factor!

Spresso_Bean wrote:I don't have upgraditis anymore, and I actually feel like I have more equipment than I need, but I still hesitate to sell any of it lol. If I was thinking of upgrading to something such as a GS3, I'd probably rather get a nice drum roaster (Diedrich, Ambex, etc.) instead because I am really enjoying the roasting part just as much as pulling shots and making drinks.

If/when you do decide to get a professional grade roaster highly suggest you include US Roaster Corp in your decision research. Know a couple people with the USRC .5k roasters who tested SF & Deidrich before going with USRC. I'm way happy with the roast quality, control and batch size limits of my USRC 3k, it'll run circles around a Diedrich 3k easily doing 8# batches. 10# batch is pushing it but doable in good roast times, but not much profile control, and have a timely cooling problem since the cooling bin wasn't desgned for that big a load and haven't implemented it's in drum water quench capability yet. But hey, it's a rated 3k=7.2# not 10#.

miKe mcKoffee wrote:If/when you do decide to get a professional grade roaster highly suggest you include US Roaster Corp in your decision research.

Thanks - yes, I remember hearing great things about USRC. Sure would be nice - maybe some day...

miKe mcKoffee wrote:
Your analogy had a big problem I think all too common. With golf you got professional training before deciding on the equipment. Your story sounds like you decided on the espresso equipment, got no training, and expected the machine to produce great shots. The espresso machine is the least important factor!

I probably should have told more of that part of the story. Both the wife and I went to Counter Culture and spent the day in the Espresso 101 lab before we pulled the first shot. I found that Saturday spent with CCC absolutly invaluable and I wish they would let me take the second class, but it is for working baristas only. I wanted to go to Charlotte for Dilworth Coffee's barista jam, invited, but just couldn't make it last weekend.

Does downgraditis count? I've seriously considered trading some local shops one of my Majors for one of their SJ's (usually their decaf grinder) straight across just to get something more 'manageable'. And the giant raised-group two-group that takes over most of my kitchen? I might trade that out for a decent rotary driven, plumbed, PID'd dual-boiler single-group, if the right one came along. I'm still looking to get my other machine's re-hab finished, and then I'll have a 220V *and* a 110V two-group! I may just make the 110V a travel machine...

I sometimes (hah) suffer from the itch for better or fancier. To the present time I've gone from steam toy and Moka pot to Serious Hardware and Moka pot. If I can snag a good machine of any kind at a low price and improve it with elbow grease, I may. But, since I am getting closer to 70, and live alone, I am trying to find what suits me best before I downsize. As so many have pointed out, the final quality is at my end of the portafilter handle.
Cheers!
Richard

Psyd wrote:Does downgraditis count? I've seriously considered trading some local shops one of my Majors for one of their SJ's (usually their decaf grinder) straight across just to get something more 'manageable'....

I will make you a deal. How about my Mazzer Mini (NSF professional) which I will trade you and give you some "boot."

I am serious. The only thing I am really upgraditis about is the grinder. I really would like to have a Robur and one was offered to me for $1200 and it is hardly used, but I just can't swing that right now with private school tuition starting for two kids (k4 and K5) in a week AND my wife starting Nursing school at the community college.

In all reality, I am stupid for "wanting" to upgrade. It is ridiculous. That mini is really a fantastic grinder. Burrs are new and the speed is fair. But, I bet 83mm burrs are ridiculously fast! I am not looking for fast, as much as I am quality. I don't even know if going to the Major would help the quality.

EDIT:: And the Mazzer Mini has also had a value added package installed the Schectermatic Laboratories Schectermatic Shnozzola (tm) developed by the (in)famous Andy Schecter
( how-to-tame-messy-mazzer-doser-t6499.html )

http://wilsonhines.wordpress.com/...spresso-technique/

WilsonHines wrote:I will make you a deal. How about my Mazzer Mini (NSF professional) which I will trade you and give you some "boot."
I am serious. The only thing I am really upgraditis about is the grinder. I really would like to have a Robur

I dunno, a 'mini', hunh? I know the SJ, but the 'mini' sounds like barely a step up from the paired Rockys at my girlfriend's.
OTOH, I too, lusted after a Robur. Right up until the ESI kids asked me to help them unload one off the truck, and heft it up on the counter, for a jam. Imagine an over-sized German Shepard on your counter. Yeah. It is just like that.
I'll have to contemplate the mini thing for a while...

but the 'mini' sounds like barely a step up from the paired Rockys at my girlfriend's.

Hey Psyd, you need to go to ESI's site and compare the measurements. It's hopper is slightly smaller. Holds a good 1.5 lbs I think and it's body is just a tad bit shorter than the SJ. The burrs are slightly smaller, by 10mm, than the SJ, therefore it's production is slightly smaller. Usually takes me about 12 seconds to pull the necessary grinds for a triple basket.

Like I said, I have been extremely happy with it. I just WANT something bigger. Just like you kinda WANT something smaller. When I first heard of a Mazzer Mini, I thought the same thing: "something like a Rocky." But, this thing is just as serious as the SJ and makes just as good a grind.

YEEEES!

I want Elektra A Leva Chrome AND WIFE


edit:
but I have to add, that no way I would sell Vivaldi. I don't even have the fever for preinfusion (but probably would get it if it was not overseas matter). Elektra is really cute, yet for now my little new toy (Arrarex) completely satisfies my curiosity and adventure-hunger.

Do I suffer from upgraditis? No- I enjoy it immensely!

Buying a machine out of your normal price range and needs is also a cure... a VBM DS and Kony, if not a cure, is certainly a viable immunization that should last quite a long time... My current thoughts are to plumb the thing in... we shall see.

I'm always thinking about the next best thing (ie better grinder or plumbed in machine). But there is still a lot of learning and tweaking I can do with what I have. Its not that I'm dissatisfied with Ms. Anita and Miz. Cremina (yes a MIZ to be sure), but its my nature to be on the lookout. Dumb, I know.